New here? This is lesson 65 of a free 240-lesson English course.
What do you do in English
Danny leans on the Blue Plate counter and asks Ana what she does. She starts a long list of tasks.
Dee cuts in, hon and all, and wants the short version: the job, not the whole day.
By the end, you'll ask what someone does for work. You'll say your job, the place, and if you work full-time or part-time.
You'll also say you're looking for a job when you want one.
By the end of this lesson
Ask what someone does for work, say your job and workplace, and say full-time, part-time, or that you are looking.
- What do you do for work?What is your job?
- I work as a ___.This is my job title.
- I work at ___.This is the place where I work.
- I work full-time.I work the hours of a full-time job.
- I work part-time.I work fewer hours than a full-time worker.
- I'm looking for a job.I want to find a job.
Scene — danny at the counter
Same corner diner on Larch Street. Danny leans on the counter with a dish towel on his shoulder.
Ana sits on a stool with her teal tote at her feet. Dee holds the coffee pot and waits.
Murray sits at the end of the counter on two stools. His coffee is still full. The jukebox stays quiet.
Learn — say your job
Six short lines cover jobs. You'll ask what someone does, then name the job and the place.
You'll also say full-time, part-time, or that you are looking for a job.
What do you do for work?
What is your job?
When to use it: Ask this to learn someone's job.
Learn do you as one piece in this question.
Say it: The stress is on the second do and on work.
I work as a ___.
This is my job title.
When to use it: Say this when you tell someone your job title.
Put the job title in the blank after as a.
I work at ___.
This is the place where I work.
When to use it: Say this when you name the place you work.
Put the workplace in the blank after at.
I work full-time.
I work the hours of a full-time job.
When to use it: Say this when you work the hours of a full-time job.
Full-time is two words joined with a hyphen.
Say it: The stress is on full.
I work part-time.
I work fewer hours than a full-time worker.
When to use it: Say this when you work fewer hours than a full-time worker.
Part-time is two words joined with a hyphen.
I'm looking for a job.
I want to find a job.
When to use it: Say this when you want to find a job.
Looking is the -ing form here.
Say it: Looking has stress on look.
Story — just the title
Watch Danny ask Ana about work. She starts a long answer, and Dee wants a short one.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Danny leans on the counter. The dish towel hangs on his shoulder.
DannyHi. What do you do for work?a friendly hello, then he asks about her job- Ana takes a breath. She wants to get the job right.
AnaI work as a junior designer. I draw rooms and pick colors...She names her job, then lists too many tasks.
DeeJust the title, hon. Designer is enough.Dee wants a short job title, not a long list.- AnaI work as a designer. I work at a studio downtown.She names her job and the place she works.
- DannyWell, I work at the truck on the boulevard.He names the food truck as his workplace.
- AnaI work full-time. What about you?She works the hours of a full-time job, then asks him the same thing.
- DannyI work part-time.He works fewer hours than a full-time worker.
- A man by the pie case steps closer.
- StrangerI'm looking for a job.He wants to find a job.
- DeeTell Danny, sweetie. He is right here.Dee tells him to talk to Danny.
- StrangerI'm looking for part-time work.He wants a job with part-time hours.
- DannyCome by the boulevard. We'll talk.Danny asks him to come talk at the truck.
Practice — full-time or part-time
Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay short, so the round moves fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
I work as a ___.Drop the Simple English hereI work at ___.Drop the Simple English hereI work full-time.Drop the Simple English hereI work part-time.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
Pick the reply
Danny says:
Pick the reply
What do you do for work?
What is your job?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
I'm looking for a job.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
What is your job?
____ do you do for work?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You just told Danny your job. Now ask him to tell you his.
Build the line
Build the line
I work the hours of a full-time job.
-.
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You work fewer hours than a full-time worker. Fix the line.
I work ____-time.
True or false?
True or false?
You say this to name your job title.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Danny walks up to the counter and looks at you. Greet him.
Say it — tell him your job
Now you're Ana at the counter with Danny. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- DannyHi.a friendly hello
- Ana (you)Ask about his job.
Ask about his job.
What do you do for work?
What is your job?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| What do you do for work? | What is your job? | |
| I work as a ___. | This is my job title. | |
| I work at ___. | This is the place where I work. | |
| I work full-time. | I work the hours of a full-time job. | |
| I work part-time. | I work fewer hours than a full-time worker. | |
| I'm looking for a job. | I want to find a job. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these job lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your job lines ready.
Open Yak Cards