Visa English Academy

Created by Briana Songer

2014

Speaking: Describing your Job

Listening: Attitudes Toward Work
Grammar: Present Simple and Continuous
Writing: Letter of Referral for a Colleague

Read the statements below. Which ones do you

think are true and why?
People are naturally lazy and avoid work if they can
People find satisfaction in work
Everybody in an organization is capable of creativity
Work is a necessary evil
People prefer to follow orders and instructions
Work is as natural as play or rest

Fill in the sentences with the most appropriate word.

application
references
interview
salary
qualified
experience

skills
part-time
full-time
overtime
commute
freelance

qualified
1. He is clearly __________________
for the job, but he wants a very
salary
high ___________________.
application
2. Scott put in an ____________________
for the sales assistant, and he
has an _____________________
next Friday.
interview
references
3. Although she had excellent _________________
from former
employers and was offered the job, the company was over an hour
commute
from her house. She would have to ________________by
the train or
bus, so she didnt take the job.

application
references
interview
salary
qualified
experience

skills
part-time
full-time
overtime
commute
freelance

full-time
4. The normal working hours for _________________are
around 35 hours
part-time
per week, while the average for _________________ is more like 20 hours
per week.
5. If you work over 35 hours a week, it is considered
over-time
_________________and
you must be paid extra money per hour.
freelance
6. Nowadays, many designers or writers are ____________________which
means they sell their work or services to other organizations.
experience
7. Sheila has 9 years of ________________as
an office assistant, but she
wants to go back to school and change careers.
7. In order to get hired almost anywhere these days, one must have
skills
________________in
using technology, such as creating digital
presentations.

1.

How much experience do you have in your career? Do you

enjoy your job?

2.

How far do you or would you commute in order to get to work?

3.

What skills are needed for you to be successful in your job?

What do you still need to learn?

4.

Do you work part-time or full-time? How often do you work

overtime?

5.

If you were looking for a new job, who would you list as a

reference and why?

Interviewer: A new survey out today shows how young peoples attitudes
towards work have changed. 10,000 people under the age of twenty-five
were questioned. Here with me is Mandy Taylor, our Industry
Correspondent, whos going to tell us what it all means.
Mandy-Well, John, essentially the report shows that the young are
turning their backs on traditional employment, you know, working for a
wage, and becoming self-employed or going freelance.

Interviewer: And whats made them do that?

Mandy-Basically seeing their parents generation struggle with
unemployment and job insecurity. Theyve seen established firms lay off
employees whove worked for them for years. Also, theyve understood
that benefits like cards, pensions, and so on, not to mention a fairly
secure job in the longer term, are all disappearing fast. In their place
youve got insecurity, part-time work, and short-term contracts. An
ordinary job simply isnt attractive any more.

Interviewer: So what are they doing instead, the young that is?

Mandy: Well, theyre using their qualifications, skills, and knowledge of

things like computer games, to set up their own businesses. They are
ready to work now if there is a good chance of being rewarded later. They
arent interested in making other people rich but want to be rich
themselves.
Interviewer: I see. And are there many examples of this happening?
Mandy: Oh yeah, lots. Two young men, who set up their own computer
company, are now worth 13 million each, just wo years after leaving
university!

Interviewer: Goodness, where did we go wrong? And so what does this

mean for older, existing businesses then?

Mandy: Quite simply, theyre finding that the people they need to take on
are using their skills to work for themselves.

Tense

Used for

Structure

Present Simple

Expresses:
-routines/habits
-schedules/times
-facts
-general occurrences
-present actions happening
one after another

Infinitive
(affirmative 3rd person
singular: infinitive + 's;
negative 3rd person singular: no
s)
I write
you write
we write
they write
he / she / it writes

Present
Continuous

Expresses:
-something happening right
now or in progress
-several actions happening at
the same time
-near future

form of 'be' and verb + ing

I am (Im ) speaking
you are (Youre) speaking
we are (were ) speaking
they are (theyre) speaking

he / she / it is (hes/shes/its)
speaking

How do you know which tense to use? These signal words

describe the difference in time. Use a dictionary to look up
words you dont know.
Present Simple Signal Words

Present Continuous Signal Words

Every Monday/month/year
(or monthly/daily)
Everyday/Daily (Monday-Sunday)
Every weekend (Saturday-Sunday)
Always (100%)
Often (85%)
normally (85%)
Usually (85%)
Sometimes (50%)
Seldom /Almost never (25%)
Never (0%)
First, then, also, finally

Currently
Right now
At the moment/In the moment
Tomorrow morning/afternoon/night
Tonight
Later
Soon
Commands:
Listen!
Look!
Help!

Fill in the sentences with present simple or present

continuous. Pay attention to the signal words and context.
1.
2.

(Its)taking (take) forever to finish this report!

It is
____________
earn
Even though I _______________(earn)
a great salary every
am (Im) looking (look for) another job that is
month, I ___________________
more satisfying.

3.

drive
We _____________(drive)
in a carpool to work everyday to
save money on gas and help the environment.

4.

going up
Minimum wage is
____________(go
up) next month.

5.

Heis_______________(have)problems
with copy machine
(Hes) having
again. Please help him!

6.
7.

do
I _________
(do) the sales report every month.
feels
earns
He ___________(feel)
tired because he __________(work)
everyday.

8.

Currently, management ____________(think

is thinking
about)
downsizing staff due to budget cuts.

9.

She really isnt qualified and she never does her job
belong
properly; she doesnt ___________(belong)
in this
company.

10.

am (Im) quitting
I am tired of my job, so tomorrow, I ______________(quit)!

Answer the following questions orally, focusing on using present

simple or present progressive correctly.
1.

What do you do?

2.

What time do you start/finish work?

3.

Do you usually work on the weekends?

4.

Are you currently working on any major projects?

5.

What do you do in your free time?

6.

What are you doing after class?

7.

What are you doing tomorrow?

8.

Do you get a paid vacation at your job?

You will write a reference letter for an employee that you work
with.
Read the example referral letter first.
Choose a colleague and include the following in your letter:

Open with a Greeting

1.
Describe your relationship with the person
2.
Describe the persons role in the company and years of
experience
3.
Explain the persons skills and qualifications
4.
Tell why you recommend the person
5.
Give your contact information
Closing
Timing: 15 minutes to write a draft. 15 minutes to edit and finalize
the letter. Email the final copy to your teacher within 24 hours.