Universidad Santiago de Cali Level: 3

Instituto de Idiomas Objective: PROFILES AND JOB HUNTING

Teacher: Hernando Vega Arias

 Classify the correct job according to the list

 hotel manager

 disc jockey

 chef

 musician

 pilot

 receptionist

 host/hostess

 singer

 tour guide

 website
designer

 secretary

 dishwasher

 travel agent

 actor/actress

 sales manager

 waiter/waitress

Gerunds after Preposition- Combinations Followed by Gerunds

A PREPOSITION is a word that specifies places, directions and time .
Example 1: she wrote a poem about roses.
The preposition in the sentence is “about”
 Other prepositions are: at, for, in, to, of and with

Example 2: she is excited about writing poems.

The preposition is still “about” but this time is followed by a gerund.
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Example 3: he’s bored with cooking or I’m afraid of flying

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  Notice in these two examples that there is an adjective + preposition +
gerund combination.
Excited and bored= adjectives
With and of = prepositions
Flying and cooking= objects of the prepositions

ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + GERUND

ABOUT ANXIOUS – EXCITED – CONCERNED – HAPPY – WORRIED – ANGRY –SAD - DEPRESSED –CRAZY
OF AFRAID – SICK – TIRED – PROUD – SCARED
WITH BORED –DISSAPOINTED – CONTENT – PLEASED
AT BAD – CLEVER – GOOD
FOR FAMOUS – RESPONSIBLE – SORRY
EXAMPLES:
 Nancy was concerned about being late.
 She is scared of being alone at night.
 Tomas is content with winning second place
 He is clever at playing chess.
 He's sorry for eating in the lesson.

VERB + PREPOSITION + GERUND

ABOUT COMPLAIN – TALK – WORRY – THINK – ARGUE – ASK – CARE – LAUGH– READ – DREAM
IN BELIEVE – PERSIST – PARTICIPATE – TAKE PART –INSIST – INTEREST
TO OBJECT – OPPOSED – ADAPT – GET USED – LOOK FORWARD
FOR APOLOGIZE – PREPARE – BLAME – FORGIVE –USE – EXCUSE - FIGHT
EXAMPLES:
 We laughed about having to do such silly things.
 Many people took part in bringing the lost child home.
 She objects to discussing her feelings
 My friend didn’t apologize for talking behind my back.
A. EXERCISE
1. Complete these sentences using the correct form for “verb + preposition +
gerund”

a) I haven’t been in my country very long. I’m looking forward __to_ going back again
b) We’re oppose ______to_____ waiting __many hours_____
c) She insisted _____in__________ helping____other people ___________________
d) I always believe _______in ________ doing______things well_________________
e) Have you ever read a book ______about______ riding ________horses____________?
f) I have no excuse ____for________ being ________late______________

2. Now, complete the following sentences using the correct preposition:

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a) That actor is famous _____________ being extremely talented.

 b) My mom is tired  ______________ working ___________________
c) I'm very proud ________________ my daughter, she worked very hard.
d) My students are pleased _______________ the exam results
e) Unfortunately, I'm very bad _____________ English
f) Was your sister very excited _____________ getting married one year ago?

B. SPEAKING ACTIVITY: 'Find someone who...' activity, students ask and answer questions
with gerunds. Students go through the items and form the questions they need to ask in
order to do the activity, e.g. Do you love watching horror films?'
FIND SOMEONE WHO…

 Is sorry for being unfaithful

Name: ___valeria___________________ explanation: because he`s very adventorous
___________________________________

 Enjoys having many lovers

Name: ______nobody________________ explanation: _____because we are very serious
______________________________

 Is worried about failing English

Name: _________Daniel_____________ explanation:
___________________________________

 Doesn’t mind wearing sexy underwear

Name: ______________________ explanation: ___________________________________

 Is proud of dancing very well

Name: ______________________ explanation: ___________________________________

Gerunds as subjects of sentences

Gerunds are nouns that look like verbs ending in “ing”. The negative of a gerund is formed by
adding the word “not” before a gerund.

Example:
 Writing is fun.
In this example, “Writing” is the subject of the sentence. It is also a gerund.

 Not concentrating can be dangerous while driving.

In this example, “Not concentrating” is the subject of the sentence. It is also a gerund.

C. EXERCISE
Directions: Fill in the spaces with the appropriate gerund or statement

1) _________________ is a good way to get exercise.

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2) _________________ too much can cause sickness.

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3) Not _________________ is very relaxing.

4) _________________ is an activity done in winter.
 5) Not _________________ is harder than you think.
6) Studying English is _________________________________
7) Working hard is ___________________________________

More job interview questions

 Could I ask you about your professional experience? Which were your responsibilities?
 What major challenges and problems did you face in your last job?
 What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
 Have you been fired from previous jobs? Why? Why not?

 Could I ask you about a turning point regarding your academic/professional life?
 How do you feel working with others?
 Do you prefer to work alone or in groups? Explain.
 Could I ask you about your ambitions/goals?
 What are your salary expectations?

 Are you willing to fail?

 How do you handle stress?
 If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do?
 What motivates you? What inspires you in a job?
 What have you learned from your mistakes?
 What do people most often criticize about you?
 What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?
 What is the worst thing that you have gotten away with?

 Why are you interested in a lower-level job?

 Why do you want to change jobs?
 Why have you been out of work?
 Are you overqualified for this job?
 How would you handle it if your boss was wrong?
 Tell me about something you would have done differently at work.
 What do you expect from a supervisor?
 Tell me about your dream job.
 Why should I take a risk on you?
 Why shouldn't we hire you?
 Tell me about a time that you misjudged a person.
 Describe a decision you made that was a failure. What happened and why?
 Tell me about conflicting priorities. How did you determine the top priority?
 How do you balance social life and work?
 If you stayed with your current company, what would be your next move?
 How do you measure success?
 Describe a job that would be your worst nightmare.
 Tell me about a time when you mediated conflicts between employees or with clients.
 What does your current employer think you are doing today?
 Describe yourself in three words.
 Do you prefer to work for a man or a woman? Why?
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 Do you think that people are basically lazy and need to be pushed to perform?
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 Do you consider yourself to be more of a people person or a task-maker?

 Example: My University is a cheap place__ ._____________

 _____________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________
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B. Write your own examples now using the adjectives from previous lessons:
  Let’s talk about your job or a job you want to do:
Example: My job is really exhausting / My job is too dangerous
__________________________________________________________

 Let’s talk about Cali city

Example: People from Cali are very nice / people from care are too noisy
__________________________________________________________

2. VOCABULARY: YOU CAN ALSO DESCRIBE PEOPLE USING DIFFERENT CHARACTER TRAITS LIKE THE
ONES IN THESE LISTS.

Adventurous. Determined Imaginative. Perceptive.

Ambitious. Devoted.  Independent. Persuasive.
Autonomous. Diligent. Inexperienced. Punctual.
Calm. Easygoing.  Intuitive. Quiet. 
Charismatic Efficient. Meticulous. Relaxed.
Cheerful Eloquent. Neurotic Resourceful.
Clever Enthusiastic. Perfectionist. Thoughtless.
Competitive Flexible. Open-minded. Talkative.
Confident Friendly Organized. Sensitive.
Cooperative Honest Patient Team-worker
lazy Mean Polite Rude

 WRITE ONE POSITIVE AND ONE NEGATIVE CHARACTER TRAIT ACCORDING TO YOUR IMAGINATION

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________________________
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 Writing: you will write about you. You will write one positive feature about you
and one negative feature using the adverbs. After that, write about one
classmate.

 You:
___________________________________________________________

 Your classmate:
___________________________________________________________
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