Talking about Jobs and Occupations in English - Free English Lesson

Summary

In this video, Nara explains how to confidently discuss your profession in English. She covers common questions like 'What do you do?' and 'What do you do for a living?' along with various ways to describe your job, such as your job title, the nature of your work, and the industry you're in. Nara also touches on phrases for specific roles like being an entrepreneur, freelancer, intern, or volunteer. Additionally, she highlights the importance of talking about your job passion and work environment to keep conversations engaging and fluid.

Takeaways

• 😀 What do you do? is the most common question to ask about someone's profession.
• 😀 The correct way to ask about someone's job is 'What do you do?' and not 'What are you doing?'
• 😀 If you have your own business, you can refer to yourself as a businessman, self-employed, or entrepreneur.
• 😀 Homemakers can describe their role as a homemaker or housewife.
• 😀 'What do you do for a living?' is a variation of asking about someone's job, often used for younger people.
• 😀 If asked about your job nature, the correct response gives details about your specific role, such as 'I teach English at a high school.'
• 😀 'What line of work are you in?' refers to the industry or field someone works in, such as education, media, or retail.
• 😀 When asked 'Whom do you work for?', you can mention your company or institution, e.g., 'I work for St. Mary's High School.'
• 😀 Internships are on-job training, and you can say 'I am doing an internship with an IT company' if you're in that position.
• 😀 People who work on a temporary or part-time basis can refer to themselves as part-time workers or freelancers.
• 😀 Voluntary work or social service refers to unpaid jobs aimed at helping others or contributing to society.

Q & A

What is the most common question people ask about your profession?

The most common question people ask is 'What do you do?' This is used to inquire about your job title or profession.

What is the difference between 'What do you do?' and 'What are you doing?' when asking about someone's profession?

'What do you do?' is the correct question to ask about someone's profession. 'What are you doing?' refers to current actions, such as cooking or reading, which is not the correct question for inquiring about a job title.

How should you respond if someone asks 'What do you do?' and you are a teacher?

If you are a teacher, you should respond by saying 'I am a teacher.' This clearly communicates your job title.

How can you talk about having your own business?

If you have your own business, you can say 'I am a businessman' or 'I am self-employed.' You could also refer to yourself as an entrepreneur.

What is the appropriate response if someone asks 'What do you do for a living?'

If someone asks 'What do you do for a living?' the correct way to respond is by stating your profession, such as 'I work as a teacher' or 'I work as a news reporter.' This question is commonly asked to younger individuals.

What does the question 'What sort of work do you do?' ask, and how should you respond?

'What sort of work do you do?' asks about the nature of your job. You should provide more detail about your specific role, such as 'I teach English at a high school' or 'I am a crime reporter and do a lot of fieldwork.'

What does the question 'What line of work are you in?' mean?

'What line of work are you in?' asks about the industry or field you work in, such as 'I am in education,' 'I work in media,' or 'I am into retailing.'

How should you respond if asked 'Whom do you work for?'?

When asked 'Whom do you work for?' you should respond with the name of your employer or organization. For example, 'I work for St. Mary's High School' or 'I work for CNN.'

How do you describe an internship in your profession?

If you are an intern, you can say 'I am doing an internship with an IT company' or 'I am training to be a nurse.' An internship is an on-the-job training opportunity, often part of your education.

What is a sabbatical, and how should you refer to it?

A sabbatical is a break from your job, often for personal or educational purposes. If you are on sabbatical, you can say 'I am on a sabbatical' or 'I am on a break.'