English Lesson 19
Jobs and people you admire
Education and jobs, a family member you admire, and why we admire some people.
How to practise
- Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
- Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
- Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
- Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
- Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Part 1 · Interview
Studies and jobs
Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.
What was your major at university?
My major was civil engineering. I studied for four years, and I learned how to design buildings, roads and bridges. It was hard, especially maths and physics, but I'm glad I chose it.
- My major was…major = the main subject you study at university
- I learned how to…describe what you studied
- I'm glad I chose itglad = happy about something
Which is more important for a job, experience or education? Why?
I think experience is a bit more important. Education gives you the basics, but you learn most of the real skills at work. For example, I learned more in my first year of work than in four years at university. Still, for some jobs, like doctors, education is essential.
- a bit more importanta little more important
- the basicsthe simple, first things you need to know
- Still, …means but, even so
- essentialvery necessary
What type of job do you prefer? Why?
I prefer a job where I can work in a team and solve problems. I don't like doing the same thing every day, so I need some variety. I'd also like a job that lets me travel sometimes, because I love seeing new places.
- I prefer a job where…describe the job you like
- I need some varietyvariety = different things, not the same
- a job that lets me…let = allow
What are the most common types of jobs in your hometown?
My hometown is near the sea, so many people work in fishing and tourism. In summer, a lot of people run small hotels and restaurants. There are also many farmers, because the land is good for growing rice and fruit.
- many people work in…work in + an industry
- run small hotelsrun = manage a business
- the land is good for growing…explain the reason
Part 2 · Cue card
Someone in your family you really admire
You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.
Candidate task card
Describe someone in your family who you really admire.
You should say:
- who he or she is
- how you are related
- what you do together
- and explain why you admire this person so much
Start
I'd like to talk about my grandmother. She's eighty years old, and she's the person I admire most in my family.
Who she is
She's a small, quiet woman, but she's very strong inside. She grew up in a village, and she raised six children almost alone, because my grandfather worked in another city.
How you are related
She's my mother's mother. She lives in a small house near us, so I visit her at least twice a week.
What you do together
We usually drink tea and talk. She tells me stories about her life in the village, when there was no electricity or running water. Sometimes she teaches me how to cook traditional dishes. Her soup is the best in the world.
Why you admire her
I admire her because she had a very hard life, but she never complained. She's always positive and kind to everyone. Even now, she helps her neighbours and gives food to people in need. When I have a problem, I think about her, and I realise my problems are small.
- the person I admire mostadmire = respect a lot
- very strong insideemotionally strong
- raised six childrenraise = look after a child until they are adult
- running waterwater that comes from a tap
- she never complainedcomplain = say you are unhappy about something
- people in needpeople who don't have enough money or food
Part 3 · Discussion
Admiration and role models
Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.
What qualities do people generally admire in others?
People usually admire honesty, kindness and hard work. We also admire people who stay calm in difficult situations. And of course, people admire success, especially when someone started with nothing and reached their goals through their own effort.
- generallyusually, in most cases
- stay calm in difficult situationsdon't panic when things are hard
- started with nothinghad no money or help at the beginning
- through their own effortbecause they worked hard
Why is it important for parents to set a good example for their children?
Because children learn more from what parents do than from what they say. For example, if parents tell their children not to lie, but then they lie themselves, children will copy the lying. So parents need to behave the way they want their children to behave.
- set a good examplebehave in a way others should copy
- learn more from what parents do than from what they saya key idea
- children will copy…copy = do the same
- behave the way they want…act in the right way
Why do people value honesty in a friend?
Because a friendship is built on trust. If a friend lies to you, you can't really feel safe with them. An honest friend tells you the truth, even when it's hard to hear. That helps you see your mistakes and become a better person.
- valuethink something is important
- is built on trusttrust is its base
- feel safe with themfeel you can trust them
- even when it's hard to heareven if it is unpleasant
Why do we like some people more than others?
I think we like people who are similar to us. If someone has the same interests or sense of humour, it's easy to talk to them. We also like people who make us feel good, for example people who listen to us and are positive.
- similar to uslike us
- sense of humourthe kind of things that make you laugh
- make us feel goodmake us happy
Why does the young generation admire celebrities so much?
Young people see celebrities on social media every day, so they feel close to them. Celebrities seem to have a perfect life, with money, beautiful clothes and lots of travel. Many teenagers dream about that life. But they often don't see the hard work and problems behind the pictures.
- the young generationyoung people of today
- celebritiesfamous people, like actors and singers
- seem to have a perfect lifelook like their life is perfect
- behind the picturesthe real life that we don't see
What kinds of people are famous in your country? Why?
Football players are probably the most famous, because football is the most popular sport. Actors and singers are also very famous. Recently, some social media influencers have become famous too, because millions of young people follow them online.
- are probably the most famousgive the main example
- the most popular sportthe sport most people like
- influencerspeople who are famous on social media
- follow them onlinefollow = see someone's posts regularly
Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.