What Do You Do for Work?
Jobs, workplaces & Present Simple questions. Maya (graphic designer), Leo (barista + business student), Jess (journalist), Omar (medical student) — different jobs, shared respect.
📖 Reading: Careers and Dreams
Maya, Leo, and their friends have very different jobs and dreams.
Maya is a graphic designer. She works from home on her computer. She designs logos, websites, and branding for companies. She loves her job because it is creative.
Leo works in a coffee shop. He prepares drinks and serves customers. He also studies business at university on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. His dream is to open his own café one day.
Jess is a journalist in New York. She writes articles for an online magazine. She works long hours but loves the excitement.
Omar studies medicine at university. He wants to be a doctor. It is a lot of work, but he is very dedicated.
"Every job is important," says Leo. "The doctor helps sick people, the journalist tells stories, and the designer makes the world more beautiful."
"And the barista makes the coffee that keeps us all going!" laughs Maya.
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| designer | A person who creates visual or functional things | n. — Maya is a graphic designer. |
| journalist | A person who writes news articles or reports | n. — Jess is a journalist. |
| barista | A person who makes and serves coffee professionally | n. — Leo is a barista. |
| branding | The visual identity of a company (logo, colors, style) | n. — She designs branding for companies. |
| dedicated | Working very hard and giving a lot of time to something | adj. — Omar is very dedicated. |
| creative | Using imagination to make new and original things | adj. — She loves her job because it is creative. |
| excitement | A feeling of being very enthusiastic and eager | n. — She loves the excitement of journalism. |
| career | The work you do for most of your life | n. — He is planning his career. |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
to work (at/for/from) | Leo works at a coffee shop. / Maya works from home. |
to design | She designs logos and websites. |
to study | Omar studies medicine at university. |
to want (to be) | He wants to be a doctor. / I want to open a café. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Common Jobs | |
Healthcare | doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist |
Education | teacher, professor, tutor |
Creative | designer, journalist, photographer, architect |
Food & Service | chef, waiter/waitress, barista |
Business | accountant, manager, lawyer, engineer |
Other | police officer, firefighter, pilot, programmer |
Present Simple — Full Forms
📚 Present Simple — Full Forms | |
Positive | I work. / She works. / They work. |
Negative | I don't work. / She doesn't work. |
Question | Do you work? / Does she work? |
Short answer | Yes, I do. / No, she doesn't. |
Asking About Work
📚 Asking About Work | |
What do you do? | "I am a designer." / "I work in a coffee shop." |
Where do you work? | "I work from home." / "I work at a hospital." |
What does he/she do? | "He is a student and a barista." |
Do you like your job? | "Yes, I love it!" / "It's OK." |
🎭 Dialogue: What Do You Do?
Priya, Leo, and Maya talk about their jobs and dreams. Doctor + designer + barista — very different paths, all important.
Leo, you work at a coffee shop, right? Is that your career?
No, I also study business at university. I want to open my own café!
That's amazing! And Maya, what do you do?
I'm a graphic designer. I work from home — I design logos and websites.
I love design! I'm studying medicine. I want to be a doctor.
A doctor and a designer — very different jobs!
But both important! What about you, Leo? Do you like your job?
I love it. Coffee + people = happiness!
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
What does Maya design?
What is Leo's dream?
Where does Jess work?
Practice Exercises
1 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Match each job to its typical workplace.
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Student A: You are at a professional networking event. Introduce yourself and your job.
- Student B: Ask questions about their job: What do you do? Where do you work? Do you like it?
- Then swap. Try to use 3 new job vocabulary words in the conversation.