Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking B1 - Lesson 3
Work & Study Terminology
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use specific B1-level vocabulary to talk about your work or your studies with more detail and professionalism.
Describing Work & Study Life
Using precise and professional vocabulary helps you to explain your life clearly and sound more competent. Let's look at how a student and a professional might describe their situations with more advanced vocabulary.
A University Student's Life:
"I'm in my final semester1 at university, where I major in2 marketing. The pressure is on because I have to submit a major assignment3 soon. The deadline4 is next Friday, so this weekend I'm going to have to cram for my exams5 as well. My goal is to graduate6 with a good degree and start a successful career path14."
A Professional's Life:
"I work as a project manager. My key responsibilities13 include managing a team and making sure our projects meet their deadlines. I have to collaborate with my colleagues8 from the marketing department11 every day. I also report to my supervisor9 in a weekly meeting12 to discuss our progress."
Your Professional & Academic Toolkit
Vocabulary for University Life
- semester: One of the two periods that the academic year is divided into: ឆមាស ↩
- to major in [subject]: To specialize in a particular subject for your degree: យកជំនាញ... ↩
- to submit an assignment: To hand in a piece of academic work: ដាក់កិច្ចការ ↩
- deadline: The final time or date by which a task must be finished: កាលបរិច្ឆេទកំណត់ ↩
- to cram for an exam: To study very hard in a short period of time just before a test: ប្រឹងប្រែងរៀនត្រៀមប្រឡង ↩
- to graduate: To successfully complete your university degree: បញ្ចប់ការសិក្សា ↩
Vocabulary for Work Life
- to collaborate with colleagues: To work together with the people from your office: សហការជាមួយសហសេវិក ↩
- to report to a supervisor: To give your manager updates on your work: រាយការណ៍ទៅអ្នកគ្រប់គ្រង ↩
- department: A section of a large company (e.g., sales, marketing): នាយកដ្ឋាន ↩
- meeting: An event where people discuss business: ការប្រជុំ ↩
- responsibilities: The duties and tasks that are part of your job: ការទទួលខុសត្រូវ ↩
- project: A carefully planned piece of work: គម្រោង
- career path: The progression of your professional life over time: មាគ៌ាអាជីព ↩
Pronunciation Focus: Word Stress
Pay attention to the stress in these important words. The stressed syllable is in CAPITALS.
- as-SIGN-ment
- se-MES-ter
- GRA-du-ate (verb)
- col-LA-bo-rate
- su-per-VI-sor
- de-PART-ment
- res-pon-si-BI-li-ty
Sounding More Professional
At B1 level, you can "upgrade" your language to sound more professional or academic.
- Instead of: "I work with my friends at work."
Try: "I collaborate with my colleagues on various projects." - Instead of: "I have to do my homework."
Try: "I have to complete several assignments before the deadline." - Instead of: "My boss is named Mr. Dara."
Try: "I report to my supervisor, Mr. Dara."
Practice Your Vocabulary
Activity 1: What's the Context?
Read the phrases. Do they belong in a "Work" or "University" context, or both?
- to meet a deadline -> (Both)
- to report to a supervisor -> (Work)
- to major in a subject -> (University)
- to collaborate on a project -> (Both)
Activity 2: Describe Your Life
Work with a partner. Choose a role (Student or Professional). Your partner will ask you questions. Answer them using the more advanced vocabulary from this lesson.
Questions: What are your main responsibilities this month? Do you have any important deadlines coming up? Who do you collaborate with?
Your Vocabulary Mission
This week in Battambang, your mission is to describe your work or study life with professional detail.
Write three sentences about your real life (or your future dream job). You must use at least three of the new B1 phrases from this lesson.
Example: "For my next project, I will need to collaborate with my colleagues from the marketing department."