the power of fun activities
ideas, activities, learning resources for English language teaching
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VOCABULARY
JOBS
WHAT JOB?
A fun speaking activity to teach JOBS vocabulary
SPEAKING ACTIVITY
GROUP WORK
ELEMENTARY
Teaching vocabulary about jobs can easily turn into a simple list-learning exercise. But vocabulary sticks much better when students use it to communicate, not just to memorise it.
That’s why What Job? is designed as a speaking-first activity that helps students practise job vocabulary through guessing, interaction and fun.
This activity is based on a guessing game using job cards and a worksheet.
↪️ You can download the worksheet here:
LESSON PLAN
procedure:
Students work in small groups and try to guess different jobs by listening to descriptions or watching mimed actions. The focus is not on accuracy alone, but on communication and engagement.
Warm-up
Start by writing Jobs on the board and ask students to say all the jobs they already know.
This activates prior knowledge and prepares them for the activity.
Vocabulary introduction
Show job pictures or cards and elicit the words.
Model pronunciation and write simple structures on the board:
He is a doctor.
She is a teacher.
What job is he/she?
Worksheet preparation
Students look at the worksheet and match jobs to pictures or descriptions.
This step helps them feel more confident before speaking.
Guess the job
Students work in groups of 3–4.
Each student takes a job card. They describe or mime the job without saying the word.
The others guess by asking or saying:
Is he a…?
She is a…
Once the job is guessed, students change roles and continue.
MATERIAL
job cards:
The Power of Fun Activities_teaching English_What Job?.pdfTeaching Tip!
Make this activity interactive and kinaesthetic: students enjoy miming, describing, and guessing roles rather than just writing or matching on paper. Extending vocabulary through real communication increases retention and confidence.
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