A
friend of yours from England has been asked to write a contribution to a blog about the world of work. His assignment is to write about the world of work in Spain. While doing his
research, he
came across these pictures related to work in Spain.
He sends them to you so that you can shed some light on the world of work in
your country. Your friend also asks you some questions about
this topic. You
decide to
send your friend a voice message with an explanation of 2 minutes.
1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you?
2. What is the current situation in your country / region as regards employment?
3. How do employees deal with any mistakes they make at work?
4. Do Spanish workers ever suffer from ‘burnout’ at work? What aspects might lead to this situation?
5. Are there any jobs Spanish people would refuse to do regardless of the pay?
6. What are the positive aspects and the downsides of technological advancements in the world of work in Spain? Are there any ‘endangered jobs’ in your area?
7. Do Spanish people often contemplate a change in their career path? Why? Why not?
8. What labour-intensive industries in Spain can you think of? Labour Intensive Industry refers to that industry, which requires substantial amount of human labour to produce the industrial products.
9. What would Spanish people change in their present jobs? Why?
10. What aspects contribute to a good work-life balance in Spain? Is it easy to achieve where you live?
Useful language to describe a chart: This chart illustrates how... This chartcompares... The results that are shown in the chart are... As can be seen from these results, ... According tothis chart, From the data in the above chart, it is apparent that ... We can see on this chart how... The chart indicates that... The chart represents... The information given in the chart... The percentage of people who... is shown on the chart. The chart shows quite clearly the impact of...
Task: we are going to discuss certain jobs at this time of health emergency due to the COVID-19.
Jobs: actor, comedian, politician, doctor and scientist.
Context: health crisis due to the COVID-19.
Task description: with every given word or expression below try to make a sentence using one of the jobs above in the context of COVID-19.
Expressions: 1.give somebody their marching orders meaning:
to be ordered to leave a place, a job, etc.
E.g.
Scientists shouldn't be given their marching orders at a time of crisis.
Students' own answers:
2. lay sb off
meaning:
to stop employing somebody because there is not enough work for them to do
E.g.
Many doctors have been laid off in recent years.
Students' own answers:
3. step down
meaning:
to leave an important job or position and let somebody else take your place E.g.
The scientific adviser decided to step down because he didn't see eye to eye with the president. 4. saddle sb with sth:
meaning:
to give somebody/yourself an unpleasant responsibility, task, debt, etc. E.g.
Scientists are saddle with the job of finding a cure or a vaccine
Students' own answers:
5. lean on sb:
meaning:
to depend on E.g.
Politicians lean on scientists and doctors
Students' own answers:
6. pull your weight
meaning:
to work as hard as everyone else in a job, an activity, etc.
E.g.
Scientists are currently pulling their weight.
Students' own answers:
7. burn the midnight oil
meaning:
to study or work until late at night
E.g.
Scientists are burning the midnight oil to develop a vaccine.
Students' own answers:
8. be thrown in at the deep end
meaning:
be made to start a new and difficult activity that you are not prepared for E.g.
Politicians have been thrown in at the deep end not knowing what to do at this time of health and economic crisis.
Students' own answers:
9. leave somebody to their own devices
meaning:
to leave somebody alone to do as they wish, and not tell them what to do
E.g.
At this time of crisis politicians cannot be left to their own devices.
Students' own answers:
10. wet behind the ears
meaning:
young and without much experience E.g.
Some politicians are wet behind the ears when it comes to a crisis of such extraordinary proportions.
Students' own answers:
11. free hand
meaning:
the opportunity to do what you want to do and to make your own decisions E.g.
If some politicians were given a free hand in making decisions at this time of a health emergency, disasters could happen.
Students' own answers:
12. of your own accord
meaning:
without being asked, forced or helped E.g.
The actor made a contribution of his own accord.
Students' own answers:
13. see fit
meaning:
to consider it right or acceptable to do something; to decide or choose to do something E.g.
Scientists give politicians their opinion, but at the end of the day, politicians do what they see fit.
Students' own answers:
14. be at liberty to do something
meaning:
having the right or freedom to do something E.g.
Comedians are at liberty to express their own opinions humorously.
Students' own answers:
15. at will
meaning:
whenever you want and in whatever way you want
E.g.
I don't believe politicians should have the right to hire and fire their scientific advisers at will.
Students' own answers:
16. no mean feat
meaning:
something that is very difficult to do, so that someone who does it deserves to be admired
E.g.
The development of a vaccine is no mean feat for our scientists.
Students' own answers:
17. pull strings
meaning:
to secretly use your influence with important people in order to get what you want or to help someone else
E.g.
Some politicians manage to pull strings to get what they want.
Students' own answers:
18. pull the plug on something
meaning:
Prevent something from happening or continuing.
E.g.
Governments won't be able to pull the plug on hospital funding after this health crisis.
Students' own answers:
19. not pull any/your punches
meaning:
to express disapproval or criticism clearly, without trying to hide anything
E.g.
The president doesn't pull any/his punches; he can be quite offensive.
Students' own answers:
PART TWO
What's this man's occupation?
KEY:
Anthony Stephen Fauci ( /ˈfaÊŠtʃi/; born December 24, 1940) is an American doctor and immunologist who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984. Since January 2020, he has been one of the lead members of the Trump Administration's White House Coronavirus Task Force addressing the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Fauci is widely seen to be one of the most trusted medical figures in the country.
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of having this job?
- Put yourself in his shoes. What do you think he is thinking/feeling?
- In a TV interview Dr. Anthony Fauci was once asked what actor he would like to play him in a comedy sketch. Who do you think he chose? KEY https://youtu.be/pNzFw-xWWtU
Watch this video. What expressions from the list above spring to mind?
One of your classmates, Daniel, is
looking for a summer job in order to start making his own pocket money.
He is a sociable teenager, very talkative, extremely organised,
enthusiastic and responsible. He speaks English eloquently and
writes it well too. He loves participating in sport and nature
activities. However, he has never had a serious job before. He has only
done babysitting for his neighbours. He asks you for some ideas. You
find this infographic at your local youth club and think some of the
jobs here are just meant for him.
Task:
Select the jobs you find most suitable, explain to him why and expand on them. You can also say why you consider the others less appropriate. Finally, try to positively encourage him to choose one and strongly support him by telling him which aspects you value most about him.
Send him an email Write about 150 words
Useful language:
Hi Daniel!
The purpose of this email is to let you know that this morning I went to my youth club and I came across a leaflet with summer job offers. I immediately thought of you. As a matter of fact, several of them would be good for you.
The only exception would be the position of beach lifeguard. The reasons are that you need to be at least 20 and you also need some experience in this field.
As for the other possible jobs, one of them is a post of Red Cross volunteer. In this job you would have to take care of people who have had accidents or who are homeless or needy. Although they don't ask for any previous experience, they are looking for people who can speak English well. I am sure you wouldn't have any problems in this area.
Another job that you could do is the public relations officer one. If you chose it, your duty would be to advertise businesses online and on the street. Even though they don't require that candidates have any previous experience, they look for people who can not only speak good English but alsodo public speaking and write very well. Again, these are all skills you are great at.
That being said, I personally feel that you could apply for the position of group leader in a summer camp. Let me explain why. First and foremost, you will love this job since you will enjoy working with children. A second area to consider is that you fulfil the English requirement. I say that because you really have aflair for English. Don't worry if you have not done anything like this before as they don't require any previous experience. Having said that, you have sometimes told me that you often do babysitting for your neighbours' sons and daughters, therefore it goes without saying that you must have gained some valuable experience working with children.What's more, you must have learnt to be very patient with them. In addition, you always take part in the school sports and outdoor programme. Evidently, this experience will also come in handy. If this were not enough, you are a punctual and responsible person. And on top of all that, I am sure you will excel at this job because you are really keen, remarkably energetic and have an outgoing personality.
All in all, I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity and ask for an interview. You would be a great asset to an organisation like that. You won't let them down.
