“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 5: Work and Career
Story 01: Popular Jobs and Careers
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Monotonous
- Impact
- Industry
- Evolving
- Creativity
- Technical skills
- Significant
- Tight deadlines
- Meaningful solutions
- High-quality work
Read or Listen to the following passage:
As a software engineer, I have always been fascinated by the power of code. Being able to create something out of nothing, solve complex problems, and make people’s lives easier is truly rewarding. However, there are also aspects of my job that I don’t particularly enjoy.
One thing that I love about my job is the challenge of it. Every project is different, and it requires me to use different tools and technologies. I enjoy learning new things and using that knowledge to solve problems. It’s also a job that requires constant learning and keeping up with the latest trends in the industry.
On the other hand, there are times when I feel frustrated with my job. Sometimes the work can be monotonous, and I feel like I’m just writing lines of code without making a significant impact. It can also be stressful when deadlines are tight, and there’s a lot of pressure to deliver high-quality work.
Despite the challenges, I know that I’m in a field that is always evolving, and I’m proud to be a part of it. Being a software engineer allows me to use my creativity and technical skills to create meaningful solutions.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is the main character’s profession?
- What does the main character enjoy about their job?
- Does the main character like every aspect of their job?
- What frustrates the main character about their job?
- Why is the main character proud to be a software engineer?
Conversations Starters:
- What factors do you consider when choosing a job or career?
- What are some popular jobs in your country? Why do you think they are popular?
- What are some in-demand jobs in your field or industry?
- What has been your personal experience with job interviews?
- What do you think are the most important skills to have in order to be successful in your chosen profession?
- Do you think people should pursue careers solely based on salary and benefits? Why or why not?
- What do you think are the pros and cons of working remotely?
- Have you ever had a job that you didn’t enjoy? What did you do about it?
- If you could have any job or a career, what would it be?
- What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in their career?
