Actual learning
Exercises
Exercises on prepositions of time and place
1. Read the questions and complete the answers with the right preposition.
a) Where do you live?
I live in Saint-Nazaire on 188 First Avenue.
b) When is your birthday?
It is on November 7th.
c) What time do you usually get up on weekends?
I usually get up at 9:30.
d) Where do you work?
I work at the drugstore on Sacré-Cœur Street.
2. Fill in the blanks with the right preposition: in, on, at or to.
I was born in Alma, on October 10th 1984. Alma is in the province of Québec
in Canada. I moved when I was 20 years old. Now, I live in Banff on Moose Street. I study at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Alberta. I sometimes go to the movies
on Saturday evening. I meet my friends at the movie theatre at 7 o’clock. Every year, on Christmas Eve, I go home to celebrate with my family. During Spring Break
in March, I like to go skiing. Usually, I ski in the afternoon and in the evening I eat at the restaurant located on the Tunnel Mountain Road. Sometimes, I go to a bar at night with friends.
Note: For additional exercises on prepositions, go to page 22.1 / Looking for a job in Banff
Exercise
Job descriptions
Write one of the occupations below next to the right job description.
1 / Looking for a job in Banffarchitect
author
dentist
gardener
musician
nurse
pilot
police officer
professional athlete
teacher
travel agent
waiter
1 / Looking for a job in Banff1. I serve tables in a restaurant and I get tips. waiter
2. I help to maintain order, enforce the law, and prevent and detect
crime. police officer
3. I get paid a lot but the risk of injury is high and my career is usually
short. professional athlete
4. I am trained to care for the sick or disabled. nurse
5. I play and/or compose music as a profession. musician
6. I diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases of the teeth, gums, and
related structures of the mouth including the repair or replacement
of defective teeth. dentist
7. I am licensed to operate an aircraft in flight. pilot
8. I write books, articles, or other texts. author
9. I am employed to work in a garden. gardener
10. I help other people to learn about different subjects. teacher
11. I design and supervise the construction of buildings or other large
structures. architect
12. I sell or arrange trips or tours for customers. travel agent
Exercise
2. Comprehension questions: which position on the previous page is the best for these people? Choose only one position for each person.
Catherine Gagnon: Catherine is 21 years old and she is a full time student at adult education. She is looking for a part time job on weekends. She would like to work with people and she enjoys public relation work.
The best job for Catherine is ad #__2____.
Vincent Tremblay: Vincent is 19 years old and has a high school diploma. He loves working with children. He would like to find a full time job.
The best job for Vincent is ad #__4___ .
Aline Côté: Aline is 33 years old. She is looking for a full time job. She was trained as a secretary and she has 10 years of experience. She is an excellent typist and she knows how to use a computer.
The best job for Aline is ad #__1___ .
Charles Ouellet: Charles is 24 years old. He would like a part time position to help him pay his tuition fees. He can only work in the evenings. He is passionate about winter sports.
The best job for Charles is ad #__3____.
Isabelle Bergeron: Isabelle is 29 years old. She is bilingual. She is available full time for a job. She is a qualified lifeguard.
The best job for Isabelle is ad #__6____.
Nicolas Fournier: Nicolas is 16 years old. He is a full time high school student. He is looking for his first job.
The best job for Nicolas is ad #__5____.
Essential Knowledge
adverbs of time
Exercise
Banff is a lovely place to go skiing. Look at Louise’s personal schedule.
Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / SaturdayMovies with friends
10 / Pack
bags
11 / Last day of school
12 / Ski trip
departure
13 / Bus trip
14 / Ski
15 / Ski
16
Ski
17 / Cultural visit
18 / Bus trip
19 / Home
20 / Back to school
21 / 22 / 23
* Today is Wednesday March 13th. Louise is on the bus to Banff for her ski trip.
Work with a partner to make up 5 different questions on Louise’s schedule using “when”.
Then, answer your questions with complete sentences using different adverbs of time.
Example: When did she pack her bags?
answer: She packed her bags 3 days ago.
1. When did she go to the movies with friends?
answer: She went to the movies with friends three days ago.
2. When did she pack her bags?
answer: She packed her bags the day before yesterday.
3. When did she finish school?
answer: She finished school yesterday.
4. When will she begin skiing?
answer: She will begin skiing the day after tomorrow.
5. When will she be back home?
answer:She will be back home in 7 days / in one week.
Reading
How to Dress for anInterview
By Alison Doyle, About.com Guide
Copy or click on the link below
Read the text and do the following activities.
Group discussion
Would you dress like this to go on a job interview?
Answer the following questions on the text “How to Dress for an Interview”
by Alison Doyle.
1. Why is it important to wear appropriate clothing when going on a job interview?
-Because the first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one.
-The first judgement an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what
you are wearing.
-The candidate dressed in a suit and a tie is going to make a much better impression than
the candidate dressed in scruffy jeans.
2. What are the two things that both men and women should restrict using?
Jewelry and aftershave / perfume.
3. Should people bring electronical devices on a job interview?
No.
4. What should a candidate take to avoid bad breath before a job interview?
A candidate should bring a breath mint and use it before he/she enters the building.
Essential Knowledge
Adjectives of quality
In English, these adjectives usually come before the nouns (objects) we intend to describe. e.g.: "a real friend" - "blue jeans" - "an interesting book". They function to express quality. Aspects such as feelings, time, sound, quantity, taste, appearance, size, age, color, shape, and material are expressed through adjectives.
Exercise
A good employee
Suppose you own and run a small company. What kind of employees would you want working for you? What qualities would you look for in them?
Here is a list of different character traits. Circle the ones that you think are qualities of a valuable employee.
* Personal answers
1 / Looking for a job in Banffantisocial
arrogant
big mouth
careless
childish
creative
disloyal
easygoing
effective
energetic
enthusiastic
friendly
hard working
harsh
honest
intelligent
kind
lazy
liar
loyal
motivated
multitasked
nasty
neat
nice
organized
pessimistic
positive
productive
punctual
reliable
respectful
selfish
stubborn
tactless
talented
thoughtful
tongue-tied
troublemaker
well behaved
1 / Looking for a job in BanffGroup discussion
Now, discuss your choices with your classmates.
VIDEO
It could be a good idea for you to look for information about job interviews.
Watch the following videos and answer the questions below.
Listening #1
Interview Dos and Don'ts
Copy or click on the link below
Watch the video twice and complete the following chart.
Write at least one element for each category.
THINGS YOU SHOULD DO / THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DOclothing / dress appropriately
men: wear a suit, shirt, tie
women: wear a skirt or pant suit / wear large jewelry
loud colors
use too much make-up
handshakes / give a firm handshake
make eye contact and smile / give a limp handshake
give a bone-crushing handshake
tell about yourself / summarise career abilities
and goals
focus on areas that can be improved
avoid personality or character flaws / tell your lifestory
important things to remember
or tips / stand up and greet your interviewer
bring a copy of your resume
ask for your interviewer’s business card
turn off your cell phone / wear too much perfume or cologne
VIDEO
Listening #2
Job Interview Bootcamp - Answering Interview Questions
Copy or click on the link below
Watch the video twice and answer the following question.
What are the 5 things to remember when answering questions during a job interview?
#1 Listen to the question.
#2 Be honest.
#3 Be positive
#4 Answer only the question asked.
#5 Give a structured answer.
Group discussion
1. Do you think that these tips are useful?
2. How can you have a good job interview?
3. What are the typical questions asked during a job interview?
4. Name some skills and qualifications needed to get a job.
5. How can you be well-prepared for a job interview?
Writing
job application form
Please answer all the questions.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
First name: ______
Last name: ______
Date of birth: ______
month / day / year
Complete address: ______
No.StreetCityProvince Postal code
Phone number (home): ( ) ______
Cell phone: ( ) ______
Email: ______
Languages spoken: ______
POSITION / AVAILABILITY
Position applied for: ______
When are you available to start work? ______
EDUCATION
School: ______City: ______
Degree: ______Graduation year: ______
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Company name: ______
From: ______to: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
* personal answers
Reading
Interview questions
From various research sources, here are some of the most common interview questions job-seekers should expect in a job interview.
Read the questions.
Tell me about yourself.1 / What did you like or dislike about your previous job? 11
How would a good friend describe you? 2 / What were your responsibilities? 12
What is your greatest weakness? 3 / Why do you want this job? 13
What is your greatest strength? 4 / What makes you qualified for this position?14
How do you handle stress and pressure? 5 / Are you willing to travel for the job? 15
What motivates you? 6 / Do you prefer working alone or in teams? 16
How many hours do you normally work?
7 / Why did you decide to seek a position in this company? 17
What are your salary expectations? 8 / Why should I hire you? 18
What two or three things are most important to you in your job? 9 / In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company? 19
What is your work history?
(Name of company, position title and description, dates of employment) 10 / What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
20
Group discussion
Discuss the questions with your classmates and try to find some possible answers.
Exercise
Now, here are some possible answers for the questions of the previous page.
Cut the questions on the previous page.
Cut the possible answers on this page
Work in teams and try to match the answers with the questions.
Not really, I would prefer to be at home at night during the week. 15 / My motivation comes from my desire to be successful in my job. 6Stress is good for me. I need it to be productive. 5 / My contribution to your company would be my experience in customer service. 19
I normally work around forty hours a week.7 / Organization is not my strongest point. 3
I have the necessary skills and experience for this position.
14 / I see myself as a productive employee working in a great organization, like this company. 20
I was in charge of placing orders and changing the display when it was necessary. 12 / I need to have more information on the responsibilities related to your job offer before discussing the salary. 8
I am comfortable when I work in teams. But I also appreciate working alone from time to time. 16 / I want this job because it seems tailored to my qualifications and it’s the kind of job I would appreciate. 13
I am a very energetic, easy-going, reliable, and hard working person. 1 / My greatest strength is my motivation.
4
I worked at ABC supermarket from 2008 to 2011. I was the manager of the dairy product section. 10 / It’s important for me to have a good relationship with my colleagues and to work in a friendly atmosphere. 9
You should hire me because I am hard working, motivated and I would be a great addition to your team. 18 / This company is known for its good customer service and its excellent atmosphere. 17
I really liked the people I worked with. One of the reasons I left was the lack of challenge. 11 / My friend would tell you that I am loyal and positive.
2
When your matching exercise is finished, practice the job interview with a partner.
Group discussion
Have you already gone to a job interview?
Do you think that the questions are the same in French?
Additional exercises
If necessary, you will find below a list of additional exercises to complement those you have already done.
Just click on the links (or copy and paste them) to get to each exercise.
Occupations
(wordsearch)
(crossword)
(matching)
(matching)
(boardgame)
Prepositions of time
(notes)
(exercises)
Prepositions of place
(notes)
(exercises)
Job market extra activities
(listening)
(vocab)
(vocab)
Filling out forms vocabulary
(3 parts)
1 / Looking for a job in Banff