Occupations

Helping language learners identify occupations broadens their ability to relate to people they are speaking to AND expands their vocabulary.  Being able to ask about someone’s profession can open up a basic conversation for second language learners. 

Vocabulary

Doctor

Police officer

Cashier

Hair stylist

Nurse

Dentist

Stay at home mom/stay at home dad

Teacher

Truck driver

Fire fighter

Writer

Reporter

Actor/actress

Athlete

Farmer 

Grammar Structure

What do you do?

What is your job?

I am a/an _____________________.

Warm Up

Video/Song

Procedure: listen to the song about jobs and sing along if you want

Video, Song, and Lyrics

Song Lyrics and Example Video

Word Search

Procedure: using a worksheet to introduce the new vocabulary (students do not have to know the meaning just look for the words)

Word Searches

Practice

Concentration

Procedure:

1.  Make cards by drawing an occupation on one card and writing the name of that occupation on another card
2. Have at least 10 sets of cards
3. Mix up all cards and turn face down
4. Students take turns turning over 2 cards at a time
5. If the 2 cards turned over are a match (picture matches the word) then the student keeps them pair and turns over 2 more
6. If the 2 cards turned over are not a match, the cards are turned face down again and the next player goes
7. The game is over when all pictures are correctly matched with an occupation  

Guess who:

Procedure:

1. Students play in pairs and are given copies of the same pictures of occupations 
2. Students secretly select an occupation and turn it face down 
3. All other pictures are face up
4. Students take turns asking  YES or NO questions WITHOUT saying the occupation (ex. Do you work with people?  Do you work with animals?) to figure out the other person's secret occupation
5. If the other person says no to their question, the student turns all occupations face down that answer no to the question (Do you work with people? No.  turn Doctors, teachers, dentists, etc. face down) 
6. The person who can correctly guess the other's secret occupation wins 

Who Am I?

Procedure:

1. Different occupations are taped to the back or on the forehead of students 
2. Students ask YES or NO questions to other students to try to guess their own occupation (ex. Do I use tools?  Do I work with animals?) 

Production

Runway Show with Oral Presentation 

Procedure: 

1. Students choose an occupation to dress up as
2. Students must include: uniform, job description, and any other important facts in presentation

Commercial

Procedure: Students can work in pairs or small groups to make a skit about specific occupations giving job description, income, etc. 

Modification: Students can work on their commercials outside of class and videotape them to share with the rest of the class