Virtual Workroom on Workforce Readiness

WHAT KIND OF WORKER ARE YOU? (Beginning High to Advanced)

In this lesson students interpret and communicate information by asking and answering questions about what kind of workers they are. They demonstrate sociability by greeting each other, closing the conversation, and taking leave politely. At the end of the activity, they have a clearer understanding of the kind of worker they are.

Workplace Skills Used in this Lesson: Interpret and communicate, understand systems, demonstrate sociability.

Technique: Conversation Card Mixer

  • Each student receives a question card and circulates around the room.
  • Students find partners, politely greet each other and ask and answer the questions on the conversation cards.
  • Student pairs exchange cards, end the conversation politely, and find new partners.

Materials:Handout 1: Useful Phrases (Focus on the Starting and Ending a Conversation and Saying Goodbye phrases.)

Handout 2: What Kind of Worker Are You?
Make enough copies so that each student in the class has one card. Cut up conversation cards.

Tell students they are going to do a mixer conversation activity in which they learn about what kind of worker they are.

  • Introduce the activity by telling students: Today you are going to talk to your classmates and find out what kind of workers they are. You’ll find out if they like to work alone or with other people…if they like to work indoors or outdoors….
  • Explain that they will also practice starting and ending a conversation politely.
  • Model the activity with a volunteer. Greet the student… Hi! Can I ask you something? Ask a question and listen while the student answers. Respond after the student asks you a question. End the conversation by using a functional phrase and saying goodbye. I’ve got to go now. It was nice talking to you. Exchange cards.
  • Check student comprehension by asking:

–Is the question on the card? (Yes.)

–Is the answer on the card? (No.)

–Do you keep the same card all the time? (No.)

–Do you talk to the same student all the time? (No.)

  • Review the Useful Phrases sheet sections: Starting a Conversation, Ending a Conversation and Saying Goodbye.
  • Distribute one conversation card to each student.
  • Ask students to stand up, find a partner, greet their partner, ask and answer the questions, end the conversation politely, and exchange cards.
  • Have students find a new partner and repeat the process.
  • Warn students two or three minutes before the end of the activity.
  • After the activity, call on students and ask them to read the question card they ended up with. Have them select a classmate to answer the question.

Expansion Activity:

1) Write one or more questions on the board. Have students tell about various classmates they talked to.

2) Have students write sentences about their classmates based on the answers they heard. They ask the classmates they wrote about to check the content and mechanics of their sentences.

3) For higher level students, add the question Why? at the end of each question to keep the discussion going.

Teaching Tip:Make a poster of the Useful Phrases handout and post it on the wall. Refer to the phrases often during class so that students start to internalize the language. Jorge, can I ask you something? Do you follow me? Are you with me?

Conversation Questions:

What Kind of Worker Are You?

Questions to Ask / Questions to Ask / Questions to Ask / Questions to Ask
Do you like to go out for lunch or bring lunch from home? / Do you like to work alone or with other people? / Do you like to send e-mail messages or write letters at work? / Do you like to find information on the Internet or read information in a book?
Do you prefer to speak English or your native language at work? / Do you prefer to work in a big office or a small office? / Would you rather work indoors or outdoors? / Would you rather work in an office or a factory?
Would you rather work during the day or at night? / Would you rather work with your hands or work with machines? / Do you like to communicate in person or by email? / Would you rather talk to people or work at a computer?
Do you prefer to wear a uniform or business attire? / Do you prefer to work full time or part time? / Would you rather give or follow instructions? / Do you prefer to work weekdays or weekends?
Do you prefer sitting at a desk or standing and moving on the job? / Do you prefer to do the same thing every day or learn new skills? / Do you prefer a quiet or noisy work environment? / Do you prefer to work independently or work under supervision?
Would you rather solve problems or
have someone else make the decisions? / Would you rather help/teach others or be a learner? / Would you rather learn from a book or on the job? / Do you prefer doing paperwork or talking with customers?

Useful Phrases

Starting a conversation
Hi, my name is ______
Excuse me, can I talk to you for a minute?
Can I ask you something?
Can I talk to you for a minute? / Saying goodbye
It was nice talking to you.
Thanks for the information.
Talk to you soon.
Take care.
Take it easy.
See you later.
Ending a conversation
I'd love to continue this conversation, but…
Sorry, but I think I should be going now.
Well, I don't want to take up any more of your time.
I've got to go now. / Asking for repetition/clarification
I didn't catch that.
I didn't hear you.
I missed that.
I'm not following you.
Sorry, I don't see what you mean.
Would you mind saying that again?
Checking another person's understanding
Do you follow me?
Have you got it?
Are you with me?
Be sure to ask if you have any questions. / Showing understanding
Now I've got it.
I understand.
I'm with you.
Uh-huh.
Um-hmm.
Bringing in other people
What do you think, (person's name)?
What's your opinion, " " ?
Don't you agree with us, " " ?
You're quiet today, " " .
What are you thinking, " " ? / Giving advice/suggestions
If I were you, I'd …
I suggest that you…
I think you should…
Why don't you…
I recommend that you…
I think you'd better…
Responding to criticism
Please accept my apology.
It won't happen again.
I apologize.
Please forgive me. / Showing agreement or disagreement
I agree…..
I don’t agree……..

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