Lesson 2: Jobs & Occupations
What Do You Do?
When you meet a new person, after learning their name, you might ask about their job1 or occupation2. Talking about what you do for work is a very common part of adult conversation. This lesson will teach you the English words for some important jobs, especially those you might see in a city like Siem Reap.
Word Bank: Common Jobs
| Job / Occupation | Khmer | Meaning & Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| teacher3 | គ្រូ | A person who teaches students in a school. Example: "My English teacher is very kind." |
| student4 | សិស្ស | A person who is learning at a school or university. Example: "My brother is a student." |
| doctor5 | គ្រូពេទ្យ | A person who treats people who are sick or hurt. Example: "You should see a doctor." |
| farmer6 | កសិករ | A person who grows food like rice and vegetables. Example: "The farmer works in the rice fields." |
| tour guide7 | មគ្គុទ្ទេសក៍ | A person who shows tourists around places like Angkor Wat. Example: "Our tour guide was very friendly." |
| driver8 | អ្នកបើកបរ | A person who drives a vehicle like a car or tuk-tuk. Example: "The tuk-tuk driver took us to the market." |
| cook / chef9 | ចុងភៅ | A person who prepares and cooks food in a restaurant. Example: "The chef at this restaurant is famous." |
Usage Note: Asking About Someone's Job
To ask about someone's job, we **do not** usually say, "What is your job?". It is not natural.
The most common and polite question is: "What do you do?"
To answer, you can say: "I am a [Job Title]."
- "What do you do?" ➞ "I am a teacher."
- "What does she do?" ➞ "She is a doctor."
In Conversation
Maria is meeting Bora's friend, Srey, for the first time.
Maria: Hello Srey, it's nice to meet you. What do you do?
Srey: I am a teacher. I teach English to young students. What about you?
Maria: I am a writer. I am visiting Cambodia to write a book. I have a tour guide who helps me.
Srey: That sounds interesting! My father is a driver. He drives a tuk-tuk for tourists.
Maria: I love the tuk-tuk drivers here! My brother is a chef in Brazil. He loves to cook.
Srey: A chef! That is a great occupation.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. A person who shows tourists around Angkor Wat is a ______.
- a) doctor
- b) farmer
- c) tour guide
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) tour guide
2. What is the most natural way to ask about someone's job?
- a) What is your job?
- b) What do you do?
- c) Are you a job?
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) What do you do?
3. If you are sick, you should see a ______.
- a) teacher
- b) driver
- c) doctor
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) doctor
edit Your Mission
- My Job / Future Job: Write one sentence about your job or what you want to be in the future. (e.g., "I am a student." or "I want to be a doctor.")
- People I Know: Think about your family and friends. What are their jobs? Write two sentences. (e.g., "My father is a farmer. My friend is a chef.")
- Speak: Your mission is to ask a friend or classmate, "What do you do?". Be ready to answer the question about yourself, too!
book Lesson Glossary
- Job (noun) - Khmer: ការងារ - The work that a person does regularly to earn money. ↩
- Occupation (noun) - Khmer: មុខរបរ - A more formal word for a person's job or profession. ↩
- teacher (noun) - Khmer: គ្រូ - A person who teaches students. ↩
- student (noun) - Khmer: សិស្ស - A person who is learning at a school or university. ↩
- doctor (noun) - Khmer: គ្រូពេទ្យ - A person who treats sick people. ↩
- farmer (noun) - Khmer: កសិករ - A person who grows food. ↩
- tour guide (noun) - Khmer: មគ្គុទ្ទេសក៍ - A person who shows tourists around. ↩
- driver (noun) - Khmer: អ្នកបើកបរ - A person who drives a vehicle. ↩
- cook / chef (noun) - Khmer: ចុងភៅ - A person who cooks food in a restaurant. 'Chef' is a more professional title. ↩