Part-time Job Debate Practice for ESL Students

Matthew W. Blake (Shanghai, China)
mw_blake[at]yahoo.com

Teacher Notes

Many university students are taking part-time jobs. Students often view working part-time as purely a good thing: a way to make extra money and make new friends. This topic gets them thinking and has led to some good debates.

To make students aware of the advantages and disadvantages of working a part-time job while at school.

Skills

Speaking, listening

Level

Intermediate to advanced

University students

Resources

blackboard and handout

Time

45 minutes

Introduction – 10 minutes

Tell the students that in today's class you will discuss part-time jobs.
Everyone in class stands up and interviews five students to ask them if they have a part-time job. If they have (had), what was it and did they like it?
Teacher asks how many students in class have (or had) part-time jobs.
Teacher ask how many students are seeking part-time jobs.

Building the Lesson - 10 minutes

Put the students in groups of four and ask them to brainstorm and write down 10 part-time jobs that are common for students in their city.
Teacher then asks each group for some examples and writes them on the blackboard.

Role play - 20 minutes

Teacher writes "pros" and "cons" on the blackboard and explains both terms. Ask the students to think of one example of a "pro" of having a part time jobs and a "con."
Get the students in pairs.

One student is "A" and receives the following handout.

Earn extra money
Learn new skills
Make new friends
Help future career
Good for your resume
Become more confident

The other student is "B" and receives the following handout.

No time for homework
No time for family
Dangerous to work at night
No time for friends
Salary is too small

Student A and Student B then debate the topic using the points on the handout and points of their own. If the class is at an advanced level the teacher can add to the list in the handout.

Conclusion - 5 minutes

Student go back to their seats. The teacher takes a vote on who wants to have a part-time job.

The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XI, No. 12, December 2005
http://iteslj.org/

http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Blake-Part-timeJob.html