Careers in Context: Building Language for Life on the Job

Whether students are landing their first job, talking with coworkers, or sharing details about their daily routine, the topic of work and careers is bound to come up. This vocabulary set helps learners gain the confidence to talk about their current roles, future goals, and the jobs of those around them—an essential skill for everyday conversations and connecting with the world around them.

Jobs are one of the most universal topics in conversation. From small talk to serious interviews, people constantly ask and answer questions about their roles, responsibilities, and schedules. Having the language to say ‘I’m a nurse’ or ‘He works at a construction site’ may seem simple, but it’s a powerful tool for real-life communication. Knowing job titles and workplace verbs also helps learners engage with English-language media, forms, and instructions—key for navigating professional spaces.

But the value goes beyond employment. Talking about careers gives learners the chance to express dreams, values, and identities. For children, it sparks curiosity: ‘What does a judge do?’ For teens and adults, it can open doors to practical opportunities, like resume writing, interviews, and workplace safety. Even basic customer service exchanges rely on job-related vocabulary, whether you’re at a grocery store, in a hospital, or waiting for a delivery.

Classroom conversations about work are also great practice for asking questions, giving opinions, and using functional grammar. They help students practice language structures like the present simple (‘She works in a hospital’), modals (‘You should wear a helmet’), and conditionals (‘If I become a chef…’).

Ready to make this topic more visual and interactive? Add these images to your teacher library so your students can connect new vocabulary to real-world jobs!