Module 03 —Work and Jobs
Present perfect for experience (ever/never) · Reading signs & notices · Listening short dialogues
A2 Key parts in this lesson
Why this lesson now? Recycles the Speaking 3 discussion task from Lesson 03.
Your level · You are here
Get ready · 01
5 minGet talking
Ask your partner: 'Have you ever worked in a shop or a restaurant?' Answer with a short story if 'yes'.
Tell your partner about a job you would like to try. Why?
Look at a sign in an office kitchen. What information does it give?
Grammar for the Exam · 02
8–10 minPresent perfect for experience: ever / never
Have you ever + past participle...? = a question about experience, no exact time. I've never... = it hasn't happened. Add a past simple sentence to give more details.
- 1We use the present perfect with ever and never to talk about life experience, when we don't say exactly when something happened.
- 2Have you ever worked at night? asks about experience in general.
- 3If the answer is yes, we often continue with the past simple to give a detail: 'Yes, I have.
- 4I worked night shifts at a hospital last year.'
- 5Never means the experience hasn't happened at any time up to now: I've never had my own office.
Have you ever worked as a waiter? — Yes, I have. I worked in a café for a summer.
I've never used a computer at work before, so the new job will be difficult at first.
Has Marta ever managed a team? — No, she hasn't, but she's ready to try.
We've never met our new boss in person, only on video calls.
Question 1.Have you ____ worked in a call centre?
Question 2.I ____ never had a job interview in English.
Question 3.Choose the correct follow-up: 'Have you ever been late for work?' — 'Yes, I have. I ____ late last Monday.'
Question 4.Sofia ____ never worked weekends.
Question 5.'Has your brother ever ____ a job in another country?'
Quick check 1.Which sentence talks about experience with no exact time?
Exam Vocabulary · 03
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
to send a form or letter asking for a job
Have you ever applied for a job online?
working all week / working only some hours
Would you prefer a full-time or a part-time job? Why?
the money you are paid for a job, usually monthly
Is salary the most important thing in a job for you?
a meeting where an employer asks you questions about a job
What is one question you expect in a job interview?
What to do
Match each work word with its meaning.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Activation · Personalise · Recycle
Use the work vocabulary in full sentences with 'ever' or 'never'.
Ask your partner
- Have you ever applied for a job you didn't get?
- Have you ever had a difficult colleague?
- Have you ever worked a night shift?
"For me, the most important thing about a job is..."salary
Is it better to work full-time or part-time while studying? Give a reason.
Give your answer + one reason.
Write 30 words about the last time you applied for a job.
Pronunciation for Speaking · 04
3–4 minWeak form of 'have' in the present perfect
Have you ever...? sounds like /əv juː ˈevə/. Don't say the full have — keep it short and weak.
- • Have you ever worked abroad?
- • I've never had my own office.
- • Has she ever managed people?
- • We've never met the new boss.
Reading Skills · 05
8–10 minReading — my first job
Read along — listen to the text
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
My name is Leo, and I've had three different jobs since I left school. My first job was in a small bookshop near my house. I worked there part-time, only on Saturdays, and I really enjoyed talking to customers about books. I've never forgotten how kind my manager was — she taught me everything.
After two years, I applied for a full-time job in an office. It was very different: I sat at a desk all day and answered phone calls. I liked the higher salary, but I missed talking to people face to face, so after a year I looked for something new.
Now I work in a café in the city centre. My shifts start early, at six in the morning, but I don't mind because I finish work by early afternoon. I've never had so many colleagues before — there are twelve of us! I think this is the job I have enjoyed the most so far, because every day is a little different.
Question 1.What was Leo's first job?
Question 2.Why did Leo remember his first manager?
Question 3.Why did Leo leave the office job?
Question 4.What time do Leo's café shifts start?
Question 5.Why does Leo like his café job the most?
What to do
- 1.Read the notices.
- 2.Choose the correct meaning, A, B or C.
Staff kitchen
STAFF KITCHEN Please wash your own cup and plate. Do not leave food in the fridge over the weekend — it will be thrown away on Friday evening.
1.What does the notice tell staff?
2.Why has Dan sent this message?
We are hiring
WE ARE HIRING Part-time sales assistant needed, weekends only. Ask at the till for an application form — no CV needed.
3.What should someone interested in the job do?
Listening Skills · 06
8–10 minListening — five short dialogues about work
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Narrator:Dialogue 1. Listen to a man talking to his colleague.
Man:Have you ever worked weekends here?
Woman:Yes, quite a lot actually — I usually work Saturdays.
Narrator:Dialogue 2. Listen to two colleagues talking about lunch.
Woman:Are you going to the staff kitchen for lunch?
Man:No, I've brought my own sandwich today — I'm saving money.
Narrator:Dialogue 3. Listen to a job interview.
Interviewer:Have you ever managed a team before?
Candidate:No, never, but I've worked closely with a team for three years.
Narrator:Dialogue 4. Listen to a phone call about a shift.
Caller:Could you work the evening shift tomorrow instead of me?
Colleague:I'm sorry, I can't — I've already got plans tomorrow evening.
Narrator:Dialogue 5. Listen to two friends talking about salary.
Friend A:How's the new job? Is the salary good?
Friend B:It's better than my last one, but I still work a lot of hours.
Question 1.Dialogue 1: How often does the woman work Saturdays?
Question 2.Dialogue 2: Why hasn't the man gone to the staff kitchen?
Question 3.Dialogue 3: Has the candidate ever managed a team?
Question 4.Dialogue 4: Why can't the colleague help with the shift?
Question 5.Dialogue 5: What does Friend B say about the new job?
Exam Strategy · 07
5 minReading & Writing Part 1 and Listening Part 1
Read/listen for the whole meaning, not single words.
Task
- 1Reading Part 1: match short notices, signs and messages to their correct meaning (A, B or C).
- 2Listening Part 1: listen to five short dialogues and choose the correct picture or answer for each, twice.
Example
Notice: Do not leave food in the fridge over the weekend. The key idea is what happens to the food, not just the word fridge.
Writing Task · 08
5 minPut it in writing
Q1.Complete: 'Have you ____ worked at night?'
Q2.Complete: 'I've ____ managed a team, but I would like to try.'
Write a short message to a friend (25–35 words) about a new job. Say what the job is, where it is, and one thing you like about it.
Your writing draft
0 words SavedShow model answer & examiner comment
Hi! I've started a new job at a café in the city centre. My shifts start early, but I love it because I meet lots of interesting people every day. Come and visit me soon!
Examiner comment
| 5 | All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only. |
| 3 | Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding. |
| 1 | Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length. |
Speaking Task · 09
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
Talk with a partner about work and jobs. Ask and answer using 'ever/never' and everyday work vocabulary.
Examiner
"Now talk together about what makes a good job."
Discuss together
What makes a good job?
Now decide together
Together, choose the two most important things for a good job from the list above.
Useful discussion language
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Use if the class finishes early. ~14 min total
Homework · 10
Take-homeTake it home
Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.
Write five questions with 'Have you ever...?' about work, then answer them about yourself.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Example
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Read the three notices again and write one sentence explaining each in your own words.
Your response
0 words SavedAttempt the task first, then check your answers.
Listen to (or reread) the five dialogues and answer the quiz questions again from memory.
Your response
0 words SavedAttempt the task first, then check your answers.
Recap · 11
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Use the present perfect with 'ever' and 'never' to talk about life experience with no exact time.
- Add a past simple sentence to give more detail after a 'yes' experience answer.
- In Reading Part 1, always read the whole notice before choosing your answer.
- In Listening Part 1, read the options first and listen for the matching detail.
Need more practice?
Optional · your lesson progress stays the sameFix the common mistake
Practise this exam skill
Future plans and conditions
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Word partners
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