Class Job Fair ESL Lesson Plain

Putting on a class job fair is a fun way of exploring English skills related to employment. The following lesson plan extends much further than just a lesson. This series of exercises can be used over approximately three to five hours of classroom time and takes students from a general exploration of jobs students might be interested in, through vocabulary related to specific positions, into discussions of ideal employees and, finally, through the job application process. The class can be fun or focus on working on professional skills development. Students will learn a wide range of vocabulary related to work skills, as well as practice conversational skills, tense usage, and pronunciation.

This series of exercises include using an informational employment website. I recommend using the Occupational Outlook Handbook, but for more general classes it's a good idea to visit a listing of unique jobs that students might find more interesting. Jobsmonkey has a unique jobs page which lists a number of "fun" jobs.

Aim: Develop, extend and practice work-skills related vocabulary

Activity: In-class Job Fair

Level: Intermediate through advanced

Outline

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ESL Job Interview Lesson and Worksheet

By Kenneth Beare

• Write a number of professions on the board or brainstorm as a class. It's a good idea to have a mix of professions in order to generate a wider range of vocabulary (fire fighter, manager, engineer, programmer).
• Have a quick discussion of each type of profession. What skills does each profession require? What would they have to do? What type of person should they be? Etc.
• Put students in pairs or small groups and pass out the adjectives matching sheet. Ask students to match each adjective to a definition. Help students by making descriptions of professionals who are diligent, precise, etc.
• Correct as a class. Ask students to discuss which professions would require which characteristics using the vocabulary they have learned.
• Discuss as a class, or have students each stand-up and give an answer for the profession of their choice.
• Ask students what type of job they (would like to) have. Using one student's job as an example, navigate to the Occupational Outlook Handbook or similar job description site. Search for or choose the students position, and navigate the resources provided. It's a good idea to focus on the "What do they do?" section, as students will learn vocabulary related to the profession. Make sure the students get the url for any job site you recommend.
• Provide the worksheet on finding an ideal job. Students should name the job, write a brief overview of the job, as well as do research on the principal responsibilities of the job they have chosen.
• With their research in hand, have students pair up and interview each other about the jobs they have chosen.
• Ask students to find a partner to write up job fair advertisement. Together students will decide which job they'd like to create an announcement for.
• Using their informational sheets, ask students to create a job advertisement to announce a job opening based on the materials below. Provide large sheets of paper, colored markers, scissors and any other necessary equipment. If possible, students can print out or cut out pictures to accompany their poster.
• Students post their job advertisements up for other students to browse. Each student should choose at least two jobs they'd like to interview for.
• As a class, brainstorm typical questions they might be asked in an interview. Discuss possible answers with students.
• Get students back into the job poster pairs. Have each pair write up at least five interview questions about their position using their original information sheets including work duties.
• Have your job fair! It will be chaotic, but everyone will get a chance to practice using vocabulary they have learned throughout this activity. The job fair can be free form, or you can have students trade off roles at intervals.
• To expand the job interviewing of the aspect use this job interviewing practice lesson.

Match each adjective to its definition

brave
dependable
diligent
hard working
intelligent
outgoing
personable
precise
punctual

someone who is always on time
someone who can work steadily and with accuracy
someone who gets along well with others
someone who people like to like
someone who people can trust
someone who is smart
someone who works hard
someone who doesn't make mistakes

Can you think of more?

Answers

punctual - someone who is always on time
diligent - someone who can work steadily and with accuracy
outgoing - someone who gets along well with others
personable - someone who people like to like
dependable - someone who people can trust
intelligent - someone who is smart
hard working - someone who works hard
brave - someone who isn't afraid
precise - someone who doesn't make mistakes

Job Worksheet Questions

Which job did you choose?

Why did you choose it?

What type of person should do this job?

What do they do? Please describe with at least five sentences describing the position's responsibilities.