Part 1
1. Have you ever considered taking on an apprenticeship to learn a specific skill or trade? Why or why not?
2. What types of jobs do you think are particularly demanding in terms of time and energy? How do people cope with such demanding roles?
3. Can you describe an engaging project or task you've worked on in the past? What made it so interesting for you?
4. Have you ever thought about pursuing a freelance career? What are some advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed?
5. How important do you think a clear hierarchy is in the workplace? Do you prefer working in a structured hierarchy or a more flat organisational structure?
6. What are your thoughts on job security in today's rapidly changing job market? How do you think it affects people's career choices?
7. Have you or someone you know experienced layoffs in the past? How did it impact you or them, and how did you/they handle it?
8. What are some lucrative professions that you're aware of? What factors contribute to their high earning potential?
Part 2
9. Have you ever worked in a role that involved a lot of manual work? How did you find the experience compared to other types of work?
10. Can you think of a job or task that you would describe as monotonous? How do companies keep employees motivated in very monotonous jobs?
11. When considering your career prospects, what factors do you take into account? How important are factors like salary, job security, and growth opportunities to you?
12. What kind of work do you find most rewarding, personally and professionally? Can you give an example?
13. Have you ever worked shifts, such as night shifts or rotating shifts? How did you manage your schedule and adapt to different work hours?
14. How much time off should employees be able to take each year? What are your thoughts on the 4 day work week?
15. Do you think vocational education is valued enough in society? What are the benefits of vocational training compared to traditional academic education?
16. Do you prefer to have a heavy or a light workload? Why?
VOCABULARY
Topic Vocabulary:
apprenticeship (noun [c]):
Definition: A system of training new workers in a trade or profession with on-the-job training.
Example: She decided to apply for an apprenticeship to become an electrician.
demanding (adjective):
Definition: Describes a task, job, or situation that requires a lot of effort, skill, or time.
Example: Working in the healthcare industry can be demanding because of the high pressure.
engaging (adjective):
Definition: A task, job, or situation that is interesting and keeps one's attention.
Example: He was glad to be involved in the project as it was engaging work that he enjoyed.
freelance (adjective):
Definition: Working for different employers on a project basis rather than being employed by only one company.
Example: She chose freelance work as she wanted to be her own boss.
hierarchy (noun [u]):
Definition: A system or structure where people or things are ranked according to their importance or authority.
Example: He became CEO after 30 years of moving up the company hierarchy.
job security (noun phrase):
Definition: How likely you will keep your job in a company in the future.
Example: Job security is important, especially when the economy is not so good.
layoffs (noun [pl]):
Definition: The act of firing employees, often as a result of financial problems or restructuring.
Example: The company announced layoffs due to a decline in sales.
lucrative (adjective):
Definition: Describes a job or business that can earn a lot of money.
Example: Being a successful YouTuber can be very lucrative if you have a lot of viewers and advertisers.
manual work (noun phrase):
Definition: A type of work that involves physical labour rather than intellectual or office work.
Example: The construction industry involves manual work such as carpentry, plumbing, and bricklaying.
monotonous (adjective):
Definition: Repetitive and boring.
Example: Folding clothes at the store can be monotonous because you do the same task over and over again.
prospects (noun [pl]):
Definition: Chances or opportunities for success or promotion in the future.
Example: The company offered good prospects as it had many branches and offices around the world.
rewarding (adjective):
Definition: Providing a feeling of satisfaction because you are doing something worthwhile.
Example: The volunteer work was challenging but very rewarding.
self-employed (adjective):
Definition: Providing services independently, rather than working for someone else.
Example: My neighbour is self-employed; he runs his own small business making custom furniture.
shift work (noun phrase):
Definition: Working in specific time periods or "shifts," which can include evenings, nights, or weekends.
Example: Nurses often do shift work, working during the day one week and at night the next.
take on (phrasal verb):
Definition: To accept and begin doing additional duties or tasks.
Example: She recently took on the role of CEO.
take time off (verb phrase):
Definition: Requesting and receiving permission to be away from work for a certain period.
Example: After a busy month, I decided to take some time off and relax at the beach.
vocational (adjective):
Definition: Referring to education or training that prepares students for a specific career or trade.
Example: The vocational school offered programs in welding, plumbing, and electrical work.
white collar worker (noun phrase):
Definition: Someone who works in a professional or administrative job, typically in an office.
Example: Lawyers, and accountants are examples of white-collar workers.
work-life balance (noun phrase):
Definition: Achieving a healthy balance between your job or career and your personal life.
Example: She tries to maintain a good work-life balance by leaving the office on time every day.
workload (noun [c]):
Definition: The amount of work that a person has to do.
Example: During their final exams, students often have a heavy workload with lots of studying and assignments.
Exercise 1: Matching Exercise
Match a word(s) from A with a word from B.
A
job
manual
shift
take
take time
white collar
work-life
B
work (x2)
balance
off
security
worker
on
Exercise 2: Matching Exercise
Match the adjectives with the correct definitions below.
1. demanding
2. engaging
3. freelance
4. lucrative
5. monotonous
6. rewarding
7. self-employed
8. vocational
a. Repetitive and boring.
b. Providing services independently, rather than working for someone else.
c. A task, job, or situation that is interesting and keeps one's attention.
d. Describes a job or business that can earn a lot of money.
e. Providing a feeling of satisfaction because you are doing something worthwhile.
f. Referring to education or training that prepares students for a specific career or trade.
g. A task, job, or situation that requires a lot of effort, skill, or time.
h. Working for different employers on a project basis rather than being employed by only one company.
Exercise 3: Gap-fill Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word or phrase from the list provided.
1. The heavy ___________ of the new project was overwhelming for the team.
2. After years of working for large companies, she decided to become ___________.
3. Completing the apprenticeship was a ___________ experience for the young carpenter.
4. Although the company pays a low salary, it offers very good ___________ for promotion.
5. The ___________ nature of the job made it difficult to stay motivated.
6. The government wants to increase ___________ training opportunities for school leavers.
7. The ___________ worker spent most of his time in the office.
8. The company implemented ___________ during the economic recession.
9. Maintaining a healthy ___________ is essential for overall well-being.
10. He decided to ___________ a new project to challenge himself.
11. ___________ often requires working unsociable hours.
12. The ___________ in the organisation was clearly defined.
take on
monotonous
work-life balance
self-employed
prospects
hierarchy
vocational
workload
shift work
white collar
rewarding
lay offs
Vocabulary Answer Key:
Exercise 1: job security, manual work, shift work, take on, take time off, white collar worker, work-life balance
Exercise 2: 1g, 2c, 3h, 4d, 5a, 6e, 7b, 8f
Exercise 3: 1. workload, 2. self-employed, 3. rewarding, 4. prospects, 5. monotonous, 6. vocational, 7. white collar, 8. lay offs, 9. work-life balance, 10. take on, 11. Shift work, 12. hierarchy
Advanced Discussion Questions
20. Work
SPEAKING
