Listening: Describing A New Job

1 Pre-listening

You’re going to listen to a conversation with someone talking about her job as a pet food saleswoman. What do you think she does as part of her job? For example, “She visits clients.” Think of two other things.

Minimal pairs: /ɔ:/ and /ɜː/

A Listen and repeat these words with the /ɔ:/sound: door, bored, afford, thought, bought…

2 Listening I

Listen once to compare your ideas from the Pre-listening task. And now listen and repeat these words with the /ɜː/sound: bird, heard, third, dirty, sturdy, murder…

3 Listening II

Listen again. Then, answer the questions yes or no. 1. Has Zoe got a new job? 2. Does she sell pet food? 3. Does she sell it online? 4. Is she trying to sell a new range of cat food at the moment?

Discussion Ask and answer the questions.

What jobs have you had? What were some of your favourite jobs? What was the first job you ever had? Where was it? What did you have to do? What was your timetable? What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? What would your ideal job be? Why?

B Now listen and repeat these sentences that have words with the /ɔ:/sound: a) She closed the door. b) They were bored. c) We can’t afford it.

And these ones that have words with the /ɜː/sound: d) There was a bird on the table. e) We heard what they said. f ) You were third on the list.

C Write A for words with the /ɔ:/sound, and B for words with the /ɜː/ sound, according to the sounds of the words in bold. Then, listen to check your answers. 1. I walk to the office. 2. Do you work near here? 3. How much do they earn? 4. Did they burn it? 5. Do you like this one or that one?