2026.10.01_Talking about Hard Jobs

Listen UP! Talking about Hard Jobs – Pre Intermediate, Intermediate


https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english/260918

Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EymBa97aLMyDlzLO4mtUK


Vocabulary

ENGLISH

PRONUNCIATION

SLOVAK

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

temporary

/ˈtempərəri/

dočasný

It was only a temporary job.

customer service

/ˌkʌstəmə ˈsɜːvɪs/

zákaznícky servis

I worked in customer service.

fault

/fɔːlt/

vina

It wasn't my fault.

anxious

/ˈæŋkʃəs/

úzkostný, znepokojený

The situation made me feel anxious.

take something personally

/ˌteɪk ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˌpɜːsənəli/

brať si niečo osobne

Try not to take criticism personally.

take something to heart

/ˌteɪk ˌsʌmθɪŋ tə ˈhɑːt/

brať si niečo k srdcu

Don't take his comments to heart.

research

/rɪˈsɜːtʃ/

prieskum, zisťovanie informácií

You should do some research before accepting a job.

positive attitude

/ˌpɒzətɪv ˈætɪtjuːd/

pozitívny prístup

She has a very positive attitude.


Practical english

Useful idioms and expressions

Be snowed under – have a lot of stuff to do ( for example work, housework,...)
I'm completely snowed under with work this week.
Work your fingers to the bone –to work really hard
He works his fingers to the bone to support his family.
Go the extra mile  – do something extra ( spraviť niečo navyše )
She always goes the extra mile for her customers.
Call it a day– end work for today
I'm tired. Let's call it a day.  


Create your own sentences with the following words:
anxious, bad job, get paid, do your best, customer service


Questions 

1. What is more stressful: dealing with people or doing physically demanding work?
2. Would you accept a job that paid very well but made you unhappy?
3.  How important is work-life balance?
4.  What are the biggest disadvantages of temporary jobs?
5. What are the advantages of working abroad?
6.  How important is it to research a company before accepting a job?
7.  How can people deal with angry customers?
8.  Should employees be expected to stay calm when customers are rude?
9. Can a difficult job teach you something valuable?
10. What would you change about your current or previous job?
11. Why do you think Neil remembers the job even though it happened a long time ago? 

Challenge question:
Would you rather have a four-day working week with longer days or a five-day week with shorter days?







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