Adult ESL Lessons: Jobs (Beginner)

This is Lesson 3, “Jobs,” from our beginner-level book of adult ESL lessons, “ESL Pathways: Foundations.” The lesson features a reading passage about different people’s jobs, followed by discussion questions, multiple activities to review the material, and a grammar review. This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many other adult ESL lessons like this one in our book ESL Pathways: Foundations.

ADULT ESL LESSONS: Jobs (Text-Only Version)

Read about some different people’s jobs.

Freddy is a high school teacher.  He teaches math and P.E. (physical education) at Carver High School.  He likes his job very much.  He has worked there for ten years.  In math class Freddy teaches algebra to his students.  In PE class Freddy and his students play different kinds of sports.  He likes working with high school students but sometimes the job is tiring and he feels tired.  

Patrick is a seafood restaurant owner.  He has worked there for fifteen years.  The restaurant was his father’s before.  His father retired and gave the restaurant to Patrick.  He likes his job very much.  His restaurant sells many different kinds of seafood.  It sells fish, shrimp, oysters and other kinds of seafood. Patrick likes to be in the restaurant and serve fresh seafood to his customers, although, sometimes the seafood is a little smelly.

Marcia is a sales representative.  She works in an office.  She has worked there for seven years.  She sells watches to department stores and to boutiques.  She talks on the telephone and meets with her customers.  She likes her job very much, however sometimes her throat is sore because she has to talk a lot.    

Questions:

1. What is Freddy’s job?
2. Where does he work?
3. What does he do at his job?
4. How long has he worked there?
5. Does he like his job?
6. What doesn’t he like about his job?
7. What is Patrick’s job?
8. Where does he work?
9. What does he do at his job?
10. How long has he worked there?
11. Does he like his job?
12. What doesn’t he like about his job?
13. What is Marcia’s job?
14. Where does she work?
15. What does she do at her job?
16. How long has she worked there?
17. Does she like her job?
18. What doesn’t she like about her job?

Discussion Questions:  

1. What is your father’s / mother’s job?
2. Where does he / she work?
3. What does he / she do?
4. How long has he / she worked there?
5. Does he / she like his / her job?
6. What doesn’t he / she like about the job?
7. Would you like to have the same job as your father?  Why?
8. Would you like to have the same job as your mother?  Why?
9. What are some indoor jobs?
10. Which indoor jobs do you like?  Why?
11. Which indoor jobs do you dislike?  Why?
12. What are some outdoor jobs?
13. Which outdoor jobs do you like?  Why?
14. Which outdoor jobs do you dislike?  Why?

Grammar Focus:  Fill in the blanks.

Freddy _____ a high school teacher.  He _________ math and P.E. (physical

education) at Carver High School.  He ________ his job very much.  He _____

worked there for ten years.  In math class Freddy ___________ algebra to his

students.   In PE class Freddy and his students _______ different kinds of sports.

He _________ working with high school students but sometimes the job ___

tiring and he _________ tired.

Marcia _____ a sales representative.  She _________ in an office.  She ______

worked there for seven years.  She _______ watches to department stores and

to boutiques.  She ________ on the telephone and ________with her customers.

She ________ her job very much, however sometimes her throat ____ sore

because she has to ________ a lot.