Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 33

LOWER INTERMEDIATE SALON 33

WHY WORK?

Aims:
1. To practice giving reasons and exchanging opinions
2. To extend fluency skills and work-related vocabulary

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Preparation
- Copies of worksheet student A ‘Why work?’ (p3)
- Cut copies of worksheet student B ‘Why work?’ (p4)

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- Cut copies of worksheet ‘To work or not to work?’ (p5)

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Procedure

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Warm-up:

1．Ask the student(s) what job they do and if they enjoy it. If they are still studying, ask about

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possible part-time jobs or what they want to do after they finish their studies.

2．Ask why they do their jobs, or why they want particular jobs.
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Main Activity 1 - Why work?
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1. Write the following job titles on the whiteboard – factory worker, nurse, sports centre manager.
Check comprehension and ask the student(s) to imagine why people do these jobs.
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2. Ask questions to encourage discussion e.g. What do you think is each person’s motivation?
What are the reasons why they do their job? Possible answers: The nurse likes helping people,
The factory worker does it for the money and likes his/her colleagues, The sports manager loves
sport.
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3. On the whiteboard write the opinions below and ask the student(s) if they agree or disagree
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with them

• I don’t do it for the money

• I work to live; I don’t live to work
• My work is my life
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4. Instruct the student(s) that they are going to think about why people work and reasons for not
working. Organise A/B pairs. In larger groups, put each half into small groups (3-4 students).
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5. Distribute the appropriate parts of the worksheets (A or B).

• Ask the ‘A’ student(s) or groups to read their information and help each other with
anything they do not understand. Tell them not to interview each other, just to
read the instructions.
• Ask the ‘B’ student(s) or groups to talk together about reasons for working and
not working. They should take notes.
• In one-to-one classes teacher and student can work as a pair.

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 33

6. Set a time for task completion (5 minutes). Circulate and help where necessary

7. Instruct student A to interview student B and find their scores. Allocate task completion time
(10 minutes). Monitor student output
8. Check task results by comparing scores and asking the students what they think. Ask student
B(s) if their final score(s) is a good description of them. Ask student A(s) what good or bad
reasons they heard for working or not working

9. Conduct a short feedback slot highlighting examples of language used in giving reasons,

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opinions and question formation

Follow-up Activity - To work or not to work?

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1. As a follow-up task, encourage a whole class discussion. Draw two columns on the whiteboard

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with the headings i) Agreeing/ Disagreeing ii) Giving/Asking for opinions. Elicit examples of target
language and note them in the appropriate column. Suggestions:

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I agree / You’re right / I don’t think / I disagree / I see your point but…
• I think / In my opinion / / It seems to me
• What do you think about…? /Don’t you think….? /How do you feel about…?

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2. Explain that the student(s) are going to participate in a discussion about whether it’s important
to work or not. Distribute the worksheet and set individual reading / preparation time (5 minutes).
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Check comprehension.

3. Encourage a whole class discussion and the use of target language. In one-to-one classes
teacher and student can work as a pair. Monitor for student output and set a time for task
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completion (10 – 15 minutes).
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4. Conduct a short feedback slot highlighting the main opinions and good / bad examples of
target language
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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 33

WHY WORK? – WORKSHEET STUDENT A

You are going to interview your partner. First, read and check the information

Interview - reasons for working

1. Tell your partner that you are going to give them six reasons for working. Ask your partner to give
each reason a score from 1 to 5.

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1. not important
2. not very important
3. fairly important

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4. important
5. very important

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2. Read the reasons below to your partner and write their scores.
3. Ask your partner if they have got any other reasons. Write their reasons in the list.

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4. Ask your partner to find give their reasons a score. Find the total score.

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1. To get money on 5. To meet people

2. To help other people 6. To be part of a team

3. To learn new skills 7. ………………………….

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4. To do something useful 8. …………………………..

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Interview – reasons for NOT working

5. Ask your partner if they can think of any reasons for NOT working. If they can, write their reasons
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below. Ask your partner to give each reason a score from 1 to 5. Find the total score
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How to find the total score:

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Reasons for working total score + reasons for not working total score = final score

• Under 15: You will have to win a lot of money or marry a millionaire because you have no interest
in work!
• 15-19: You must be more positive or you will never be happy in your job
• Over 20: You are interested in working but you can also see positive reasons for not working
• Over 30: You are interested in working. Good luck with your future!

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 33

WHY WORK? – WORKSHEET STUDENT B

1. How many reasons can you think of for working and not working? Talk with a partner / your group and
make notes

Reasons for working Reasons for not working

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2. How important are the reasons? What do you think? Give each reason a score from 1 to 5

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1. not important
2. not very important
3. fairly important
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4. important
5. very important
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WHY WORK? – WORKSHEET STUDENT B

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1. How many reasons can you think of for working and not working? Talk with a partner / your group and
make notes
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Reasons for working Reasons for not working

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2. How important are the reasons? What do you think? Give each reason a score from 1 to 5

1. not important
2. not very important
3. fairly important
4. important
5. very important

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 33

TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK? – DISCUSSION

Read the following questions and prepare to discuss them with your partner / group:

1. In your country, do people usually have a ‘job for life’ or do people often change jobs?
What are the advantages / disadvantages of each type of job?

2. If you had a lot of money and didn’t need to work, would you give up your job and stay
home or would you think about doing some charity work?

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3. Have you ever been unemployed or made redundant? What difficulties do you think
people in these situations face?

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4. Is it easy for young people to get jobs in your country? Why / Why not?

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TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK? – DISCUSSION

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Read the following questions and prepare to discuss them with your partner / group:
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1. In your country, do people usually have a ‘job for life’ or do people often change jobs?
What are the advantages / disadvantages of each type of job?

2. If you had a lot of money and didn’t need to work, would you give up your job and stay
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home or would you think about doing some charity work?
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3. Have you ever been unemployed or made redundant? What difficulties do you think
people in these situations face?
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4. Is it easy for young people to get jobs in your country? Why / Why not?
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TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK? – DISCUSSION

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Read the following questions and prepare to discuss them with your partner / group:

1. In your country, do people usually have a ‘job for life’ or do people often change jobs?
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What are the advantages / disadvantages of each type of job?

2. If you had a lot of money and didn’t need to work, would you give up your job and stay
home or would you think about doing some charity work?

3. Have you ever been unemployed or made redundant? What difficulties do you think
people in these situations face?

4. Is it easy for young people to get jobs in your country? Why / Why not?

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 33

Student Preparation Sheet

L.I.S. 33 – Why Work?

Why do people work? Is money the only reason?

Think of 3 other reasons and write them below:

1.

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2
.

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3.

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Why do some people NOT work?
Think of 3 reasons and write them below:

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1.

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2. on
3.
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