Speaking Activity for Adult ESL Students

. Talking Jobs

This conversation lesson is exceptional for your beginner adult students. 

It implements key vocabulary that is easy to follow while discussing the target topics of work, jobs, likes and dislikes. The essential ESL skills that are built during this lesson include reading, listening, communication, informative discussion, vocabulary and developing questions and answers that bolster practical conversation.

You will first focus on the reading and listening comprehension involved in this activity. Your beginner students will read a short text, after you read it out loud first in order to develop listening skills vital to conversation.

Sample Text:

Tom is a banker. He works banking hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Bank of Ohio. Tom truly likes his job and attended university for his degree in finance and accounting. Tom really likes his colleagues. He likes working with them, and he likes discussing their weekend experiences on Monday morning with them too. Tom also likes the people who come to the bank, especially his regulars.

Sample Comprehension Questions:

• What is Tom’s job?

• Where does he work?

• What does he like about his job?

• Did Tom go to university for his job?

• What did Tom study?

The simplicity of the comprehension questions is important for your beginner students. You want to keep them engaged without discouraging them with challenging questions right out of the gate.

Now that your students have a handle on Tom’s job and can answer questions relating to it, open the floor for them to discuss their work. This is when the practical conversation comes into play.

Ask them about their work. Even if you have already discussed these topics, your students are much more warmed up this time around. You can also record the follow-up discussion and discuss that with your students later.

Sample Conversation Questions:

• Would you like Tom’s job? Why or why not?

• Do you like your job? Why or why not?

• What do you like about your work?

• What don’t you like about your work?

• What are some different jobs done by your colleagues?