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Courtesy of

EVA HOMOLOVA

ESL/EFL Teacher Trainer

homolova@fhv.umb.sk

 

Teaching Reading with Authentic Materials (Part 2 of 5)

ESL lesson using job advertisements (14-18 years)

 

Go to Introduction

 

 

In real life, job advertisements are written to be read. In the classroom we can use them for developing reading strategies such as:

- Skimming – a rapid glancing through the text to determine general content or a gist

- Scanning – a rapid glancing through the text to find a specific information (a deadline for the application, age, languages required etc.)

- This section includes activities whose primary aim is to concentrate on developing reading comprehension.

 

Identify parts of the text:

 

 Language and skills

skimming and scanning strategies, comparing and matching parts of a text

 

 

 Level

beginners / intermediate / advanced

 

 

 Time

5 minutes

 

 

 Materials

sets of advertisements cut into pieces   

 

Procedure: Pair work. Teacher elicits from learners what information should every job advertisement provide e.g. position, address, deadline, description of the job etc. It can be done in mother tongue.

 

Then s/he writes or dictates the parts of the advertisement:

- The company – its name and a short description

- The job – an indication of the job and main duties

- The person – the qualification, skulls and experience

- Rewards – the salary, holidays, company car, mobile phone, bonus etc.

- Methods of application – instruction how one should apply

 

Learners work in pair and try to identify parts of the text and put them in the correct order.

 

 

Identify parts and order them:

 

 Language and skills

skimming and scanning strategies, comparing and matching parts of a text

 

 

 Level

beginners / intermediate / advanced

 

 

 Time

5 minutes 

 

 

 Materials

a copy of a mixed up advertisement

 

Procedure: Teacher writes components of the advertisement on the blackboard:

 

The Company

A   B   C   D   E

The Job

A   B   C   D   E

The Person

A   B   C   D   E

Rewards

A   B   C   D   E

Methods of Application

A   B   C   D   E

 

Learners are given a handout with a mixed up text, each part labeled A,B,C,D or E. In the chart, they circle the letter corresponding to the given component.

 

 

Divide the text and make up an advert:

 

 Language and skills

reading and controlled writing

 

 

 Level

post beginners / intermediate / advanced

 

 

 Time

10 minutes 

 

 

 Materials

transparency or copies of the text  

 

 

 Preparation

none

 

Procedure: The teacher prepares the undivided text either on a transparency or hands out photocopies. Learners have to copy the text and organize it in the format of a job advertisement. They can design a company logo.

 

 

Identify a missing part and write it:

 

 Language and skills

skimming and scanning strategies, guided writing

 

 

 Level

beginners / intermediate / advanced

 

 

 Time

12 minutes 

 

 

 Materials

a copy of a mixed up advertisement with one component missing

 

 

 Preparation

list of positive adjectives and skills describing a person

 

Procedure:  Pair work. Learners get a copy of a mixed up advert and have to organize it according the structure (a company, job, person, reward, methods of application). One part of the text is missing e.g. the person.

 

Learners must list qualities and skills required and write the missing part. They can use the list prepared beforehand by the teacher or during a brainstorming stage of the lesson. It is advisable to choose a job that is as close to learners study program as possible (secretary, driver, manager, nurse).

 

Then the teacher can show the original part of the text and learners compare it with their own writing.

 

 

More adverts – more information:

 

 Language and skills

skimming and scanning strategies

 

 

 Level

beginners / intermediate

 

 

 Time

5 minutes 

 

 

 Materials

a handout with 6 adverts, a transparency with questions

 

 

 Preparation

list of questions focusing on details in adverts

 

Procedure: Individual work. Learners get a copy of six adverts on one handout. Each advert has its number. Learners read questions on the transparency and match the question to adverts that provides required information.

 

Examples of questions:

- Which secretarial job wants you to speak three languages?

- Which secretarial job wants you to be under 35?

- Which secretarial job wants you to have three and more years of experience?

- Which secretarial job considers a university degree?

- Which secretarial job wants you to send CV in English?

- Which job requires a supporting letter English?

 

This activity can be organized as a competition.

 

 

Addresses and numbers in adverts:

 

 Language and skills

skimming and scanning strategies, spelling and dictating controlled speaking

 Level

beginners/intermediate

 

 

 Time

7 minutes

 

 

 Materials

a handout with 6 adverts, (the same copy as above)

 

 

 Preparation

list of addresses and numbers which are similar but NOT the same as on the handout list of questions related to the text of adverts

 

Procedure: Individual work leading to group work. Learners read the adverts and focus on addresses of companies, fax and telephone numbers. They compare it to the ones given and identify mistakes in them.

 

 

Find the information as quickly as possible:

 

 Language and skills

skimming and scanning strategies, answering questions

 

 

 Level

beginners / intermediate

 

 

 Time

5 minutes 

 

 

 Materials

a copy of one advert

 

 

 Preparation

list of questions related to the advert

 

Procedure Individual work. Teacher reads the questions and learners have to find the answers as quickly as possible. The questions should not follow the structure of the advert. Examples of questions:

- How old should the candidate be?

- Does s/he have to send CV?

- Will s/he work in this country or abroad?

- Where?

- Is it possible to communicate with the company by e-mail?

- Public check.

 

  

That’s nearly me:

 

 Language and skills

skimming and scanning strategies, justifying opinions

 

 

 Level

beginners / intermediate

 

 

 Time

10 minutes 

 

 

 Materials

copies of several adverts (preferably corresponding to study learners´ program)

 

 

 Preparation

none

 

Procedure: Individual work leading to class work. Learners read several texts focusing on personal qualities and requirements. They try to mach them to their personalities and justify, why they think requirements match their personal qualities. They form statements beginning like:

- I’ve chosen this adverts because…

- In the future I’d like to…

- My father is a … and I want to … etc.

 

 

Reconstruct a job advert:

 

 Language and skills

reading and writing

 

 

 Level

intermediate / advanced

 

 

 Time

20 minutes 

 

 

 Materials

a copy of a divided advert for each pair

 

 

 Preparation

teacher prepares a copy of an advert “torn” into two halves

 

Procedure: Individual work leading to pair work. Every learner gets one half of an advert. The task is to reconstruct it (complete sentences and words) and check their version with a partner. Example:

 

STUDENT A

 

STUDENT B

 

Danish pharmaceutical

is looking

 

2 pharma

represen

 

for the

Bratislava and

Northern

 

Candidates must have

similar University degree, be

Skilled in PC

 

If you are interested in

send your CV in English

 

LUNDBECK

POBOX 140

820 05 Bratislava

 

company LUNDBECK

to employ

 

ceuticals

tatives

 

regions

Western Slovakia

Slovakia

 

pharmaceutical, medical or

fluent in English

holding driving license

 

mentioned positions please

to the following address:

 

 

 

 

Note: The outcome does not have to be the original text but it has to have a meaning.

 

 

 

Click here to return to Introduction or go to the 4 other lessons:

 

1. Warm Up

3. Teaching Vocabulary and Grammar

4. Teaching Writing

5. Teaching Communication

 

 

Copyright 2004 Eva Homolova

 

 

 

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