Jobs

• At what age do people usually begin to work in your country?
• At what age do people usually retire in your country?
• At what age would you like to retire?
  • What do you think you will do after you retire?
  • How much money do you think you need to retire with your lifestyle?
• Can you talk about what a typical day at your current job is like?
• Can you describe some of the people that you work with?
• Can you describe your current job?
• What was your first job?
• Do women usually work after they get married in your country?
• Do you ever work overtime?
  • If so, do you get paid more for overtime work?
• Do you have a part-time job? If so, what do you do?
• Do you have to attend a lot of meetings for your job?
• Do you have to do a lot of paperwork?
• Do you have to work overtime?
  • If so, how often?
  • Do you have to work on Sundays?
• Do you know someone who has worked as an undertaker?
  • What is the job of a an undertaker?
  • Can women do this job or is it better for a man to be an undertaker?
• Do you like your boss? Why or why not?
• Do you like your job?
• Do you like your job? Why or why not?
• Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?
• Do you think it’s acceptable for women to be in the military? Why/why not?
• Do you think people over 65 should be made to retire?
• Do you think women and men should be paid the same for the same job?
• Do you think women are good bosses?
  • Are there women bosses in your country?
• Do you think your company is well run?
  • Do you think that the place where you work is well run?
• Do you work on weekends?
  • Do you work on Sundays?
• Does your mother work?
  • Does your mother work outside of the house?
• Have you ever been promoted?
• Have you ever taken any courses that specifically help you with the job you are doing now?
• Have you ever worked on a farm?
  • Did you like it?
  • Would you like to go back on this farm job?
  • If not , why?
• How do you like your work?
• How have working conditions changed in recent years?
  • Do you think that working conditions have improved? If so, in what ways?
• How long do you plan to continue working where you are?
• How long have you been working at your present job?
• How many days a week do you work?
• How many hours a week do you work?
• How many times have you been promoted?
  • When was the last time you were promoted?
  • Did you get a large pay raise at that time?
• How much do you think a doctor should be paid a month?
  • How about a secretary?
  • How about a truck driver?
• How much money do you make? (Maybe this is not a good question to ask.)
• How much money does a secretary get paid per week?
• How old were you when you got your first job?
• How well do you get along with your boss?
• If you could own your own business, what would it be?
• If you had to choose between a satisfying job and a well-paid one, which would you choose?
• Is it common for men and women to have the same jobs in your country?
• Is it easy to find a job in Canada? How about in your country?
• Name three occupations that you could do. (For example, be a mortician)
  • Name three occupations that you could never do?
• What are some common occupations in your country?
  • What are some common jobs for men in your country?
  • What are some common jobs for women in your country?
  • What are some jobs that children do?
• What are some jobs that you think would be boring?
• What are some jobs that you think would be fun?
• What are some questions that are frequently asked in a job interview?
• What are you responsible for?
• What are you trying to do in order to find a job that you really like?
• What do you do?
  • What’s your job?
• What do you like most about that job?
• What do you think is the best job? What do you think is the worst?
• What do you think would be the most interesting job? The most boring?
• What does your father do? (What does your father do for a living?)
• What does your mother do?
• What influenced your choice of job? (Why did you choose your job?)
• What job do you want to have in five years’ time?
• What job would you most like to have, if social/cultural boundaries did not apply? (How different are they?)
• What job(s) do you wish to have in the future?
• What jobs in your country are considered to be good jobs? Why?
• What kind of volunteer work have you done?
• What kind of work do you do?
  • What kind of work do you want to do in the future?
• What plans have you made for your retirement?
• What three adjectives would describe yourself as a worker?
• What time do you get home from work?
  • Is it the same time every day?
• What time do your start and finish work?
• What would be your dream job?
  • Do you think it would be possible for you to get this job?
• What’s one job you wouldn’t like to do? Why not?
• What’s your brother’s occupation?
• When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
• When you were a child, what job did you want to have when you grew up?
• Where do you work and what is your current job?
• Where do you work?
• Which job are you best at?
• Which job would you never do?
• Which jobs do you think are the most prestigious?
• Who among the people you know has the most interesting job? What is it?
• Why did you leave your last job – did you resign or were you sacked?
• Would you be upset if your boss was a woman?
• Would you consider the military as a career choice? Why or why not?
• Would you consider yourself to be an ambitious person at work?
• Would you describe yourself as a workaholic?
• Would you like a job in which you traveled a lot?
• Would you like a job that required you to sit at a computer all day?
• Would you like to do the same job for the rest of your life?
• Would you like to work in an office? Why or why not?
• Would you rather be a doctor or a banker?
• Would you rather work inside or outside?
  

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• What job would you most like to do?
• What are the names of some of the people with that job?
• Do you personally know any one with that job?
• How long do you plan to keep it for?
• When do plan to retire?
• What other fields or work will that job make you qualified for?
• What are the work details of that job; what will be your duties at that job?
• What steps are required from you to become a/an…?
• So, how long before fore you become a/an…; at what ages will you both start and finish this/each job/career?
• What do you hope to spiritually gain from that job?
• What do you wish to physically gain; what kind of things would you like to buy with your money?
• How much money do you need to make to fulfill you dreams and desires?
• If money weren’t a problem for you, which job would you prefer to have?
• How does money affect your decisions?
• How do your wants and desires affect your career options and goals?
• How many years of schooling would you prefer to have?
• Can you improve on the way things are now being done in the field you choose?
• Which college courses are needed for you to be the very best in your field?
• Which college courses are required for you dream job?
• What other courses do you need to take so you can pursue your hobbies and personal interests?
• Which of the classes mentioned above are you giving the highest priority? Why?
• Who is the breadwinner (provider) in your family?
• Who makes the most money in your family? (This may not be a “polite” question to ask.)
• Is it common for people from your country to have one job for life?
• Do you see any unfair labour practices in your country’s workforce?
• Do you have an after-school job?
• Would you like to have a management position?
• What are the pros and cons of being a manager?
• What are the qualities a good boss should have?
• What is a fair wage for the skills you have?
• Are there any jobs which can only be done by one gender?
  • If so, what are they?
  • What are some jobs that some people think only one gender can do, but can be done by either gender?
• What should you not do during a job interview?
• Who would you hire a employee with a lot of experience or an employee with a lot of education?
• Have you ever worked?
• Getting a Job
  • What is the difference between work and a job?
  • Do you have a job?
  • How did you get it?
  • Did you have to go to university to get it?
  • What is the name of your job?
  • Is it a popular job?
  • Is it a job mainly for men, or for women?
  • Did you need any special training to get your job?
    • What type of special training did you need?
    • How long and where was the training?
  • Is it an indoor, or outdoor job?
  • Which do you think most people prefer, indoor or outdoor jobs?
  • Does your job pay a good salary?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages to your job?
  • Which do you think are some of the more demanding jobs?
    • Which are the least demanding jobs?
  • Which jobs are badly paid?
    • Which jobs are over-paid?
  • Which job are more popular than others, and why?
  • Is your job competitive?
  • What about promotions?
  • Is it too competitive?
  • How is your relationship with your co-workers?
  • Why would I choose you instead of the 50 others wanting this position?
• These were submitted as possible job interview questions.
  • What degrees do you have?
  • How much experience do you have?
  • Where have you worked?
  • Why did you choose this employment?
  • How much would you like to earn?
  • Have you ever worked in this field?
  • Where would you like to work? Why?
  • Why do you find your job interesting?

Money | Shopping

• About how much did you spend on presents last year?
• About how much do you usually spend each day?
• Are you a price conscious shopper?
• Are you good at saving money?
• Are you saving money to buy something?
  • If so, what are you planning to buy?
  • How much will it cost?
  • How much longer will you need to save before you can buy it?
• Do banks pay a higher percent of interest here or in your country?
• Do you compare prices at different stores when you shop?
• Do you enjoy shopping?
• Do you ever buy second-hand things? (“used things”)
• Do you ever give money to charity?
  • How often do you give to charity?
  • How much do you give?
• Do you gamble?
• Do you give tips at a restaurant in your country? How about to taxi drivers?
• Do you haggle when you shop ?
• Do you have a credit card?
• Do you have a credit card? If so, do you have more than one?
• Do you have more than one bank account?
• Do you have to pay a sales tax in your country?
• Do you invest in the stock market?
• Do you often put money in the bank?
• Do you sometimes buy things that you don’t need?
  • If so, give some examples.
• Do you sometimes give money to charities?
• Do you think that money can buy love?
• Do your parents give you an allowance? (Did your parents give…?)
  • How much? (Maybe not a good question to ask.)
  • What do you use it for?
  • How often do they give it to you?
• Have you ever been in debt?
• Have you ever owed money to people?
• Have you ever bought a lottery ticket?
• Have you ever found any money? If so, what did you do with it?
• Have you ever given money to a beggar?
• Have you ever given money to a homeless person?
• Have you ever had any money stolen from you?
• How important is money to you?
  • If you had no money, do you think you could be happy?
• How many different kinds of coins are there in your country? What are they?
• How much did you spend last week?
• How much did you spend yesterday?
• How much do you have to spend to eat a good meal at a restaurant in your country?
• How much do you spend on food each week?
• How much do you think it costs to fly to Guam?
• How much do you think it costs to stay at a hotel in London?
• How much do you usually spend each month on entertainment?
• How much do you usually spend each month on food?
• How much do you usually spend each month on transportation?
• How much does it cost to get a haircut in your country?
• How much does it cost to ride a bus in your country?
• How much is a liter of gasoline in your country?
• How much money did you make on your first job?
  • (How much money do you think you will make on your first job?)
• How much money did you spend yesterday?
  • Where did you spend it?
  • What did you spend it on?
  • Do you often spend that amount in one day?
• How much money did your parents give you for an allowance when you were ten years old?
• How much money do you have on you now? (Maybe not a polite question to ask.)
• How much money do you have with you now? (Maybe not a good question to ask.)
• How much time did you spend the last time you went shopping?
• How often do you go shopping?
• If someone gave you a lot of money, what would you do with it?
  • If someone gave you a million dollars, what would you do with it?
• Some people say that “money makes the world go around.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
• What bank do you use?
• What do you need to buy next?
• What do you spend most of your money on?
• What do you spend the most money on each month?
• What do you want to buy next?
• What is something that you have bought recently that cost a lot of money?
• What is something that you have bought recently that was a good bargain?
• What is something that you have bought recently?
• What is something that you want to buy, but don’t have enough money to buy.
• What is something that you want to buy, but think you never will.
• What is the average salary in your country?
• What is the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
  • How much did it cost?
• What is your opinion of discount stores?
• What kind of things do you often shop for?
• What kinds of things are you saving your money for?
• What store did you like best and what store did you like least?
• What was the last thing you bought for someone else?
• What was the last thing you bought for yourself?
  • Where did you buy it?
  • why did you buy it?
• What was the last thing you spent money on?
• What’s the most expensive thing you have ever bought?
• What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
• What’s the most money you have spend on one thing?
• What’s the most money you have spent on something to eat?
• What’s the most money you have spent on something to wear?
  • What did you buy?
• What’s your favorite place to shop?
• What’s your favorite shopping area or store?
• Where did you buy ___? (your shoes / your watch / etc.)
  • How much did you pay?
  • When did you buy it/them?
• Where do you keep your money?
• Where do you usually buy food?
• Where is your favorite shopping area?
• Which costs more, a hamburger in America or a hamburger in your country?
• Which costs more, your telephone bill or your electric bill?
• Which do you prefer, large stores or small stores?
• Which do you think is more important, love or money?
• Which store do you go to the most often?
  • Where is it?
  • Why do you like to go there?
• Who do you often go shopping with?
• Who do you spend money on?
• In a marriage, do you think one person should handle the finances, or both?
• How do you think money helps make us happy?
• Do you think money is more important than love?
• How much money do you want to earn each month?
• What qualities must a person have to make BIG money?
• Should children get an allowance (pocket money) from their parents?
• When do you get your allowance?
  • How long does it last?
  • Is it enough money?
• How do you usually spend your money? What do you usually buy?
• How much should you give to your children?
• How much do you give to your children?
• Do you ever give money to beggars on the street? Why or why not?
• Do you ever give money to charity? Why or why not?
• If you found 100,000 won (or local currency) in a bag on the street, what would you do? Keep it?
• What are you saving your money for?
  • Do you want to buy something special?
• Who takes care of the money in your house?
• When you buy something, do you “shop around” and go to many stores to compare prices?
• When you buy something, what is most important to you: price, quality, fashion trend, status/image?
• Explain these proverbs: What do they mean? Say them in other English words.
  • The best things in life are free.
  • Time is money.
  • Save your pennies for a rainy day.
  • Money talks.
  • You can’t take it with you when you go.
  • Money doesn’t grow on trees
• Your rich uncle just died and gave you 50,000,000 won. (or local currency)
  • How would you spend it?
  • What would you buy?
  • Would you spend it on yourself, put it in the bank or buy something for your family?
  • Would you spend it all?
• What is the most you have ever spent on a gift?
  • What was it?
  • Who did you give it to?
  • What was the occasion?
• If you had to save money, what can you do without?
  • I would stop spending money on ___.
• If you needed to earn some extra money, how would you do that?
• If you had a large amount of money, what would you do with it?
• Have you or your family ever won any money in a lottery?
• How much money would you have to win to be happy?
• Why do people often want more money, no matter how much they have got?
• Why are poor people in many cases more generous than rich people?
• What are some reasons for people being poor? Can poverty be avoided?
• How do people become rich?
• Do you think that riches can have a bad effect on a person? How?
• What do you do if you can’t get the clerk’s attention at the store?
• Is it easier to return items in the U.S. or in your country?
• If you can’t find an item at the store, do you find a clerk and ask for help, or do you leave and go somewhere else?
• If you don’t want help when the clerk asks if you need help, what do you say?
• Is it OK to bring children to the market or the department store?
• Is it bad if one person or company controls the market that it specializes in?
  • For example, is it wrong for Microsoft to control most of the operating system software in the world?
  • Do you consider companies like Microsoft and people like Bill Gates smart and shrewd?
• Some questions about Taxation.
  In New Zealand at the moment the government is thinking of imposing a “flatulence tax” on farmers for the livestock they own, as the flatulence contributes to Ozone depletion (supposedly).
• What is the most ridiculous tax in your country, past, or present?
• Do you think taxes in your country are too high/low?
  • What about New Zealand Taxes? / What about taxes here?
• What is the effect on the economy of high taxation?
• What is the effect on the economy of low taxation?
• What are some of the different kinds of taxes your country has?
• If you were the ruler of your country, what would you do to change the taxation system?
  • What is the funniest tax you can think of to introduce?
• What do you like spending money on? What don’t you like spending on?
• What would you love to buy but you can’t afford?
• What is the next “big” thing you are going to buy?
• Have you ever given money to people who beg in the streets?
• Do you have a credit card? How many?
• Is it better to pay cash or by credit card?
• What things do you pay cash for?
• What things do you pay by credit card?
• Do you pay your credit card on time?
• Have you ever paid late your credit card? What happened?
• Are credits cards a good thing?
• Do/Did your parents give you an allowance? How much?
• Have your parents ever given you a credit card to pay for something? What did you buy?
• Should parents give a credit card to teenagers?
• Have you ever lent money to someone? Who? What did he/she need the money for?
• Have you ever borrowed money from someone? Who? What did you need the money for?
• Who wouldn’t you lend money to?
• Do you play the lottery?
• What kind of lottery do you play?
• Do you play football pools?
• Do you play slot machines?
• How much money do you spend for your son to go to the college?
• Can I put my money in a Swiss bank?
• Why do I always spend too much money?
• How much money do you need for happiness?
• How often do you go shopping? Are you a price-conscious shopper? Do you “shop around” and go to many stores to compare prices?
• Do you ever buy second-hand things (“used things”)?
• When you buy something, what things are most important to you? Price? Quality? Fashion trends? status? or image?
• Do you haggle (bargain with the seller) when you shop?
• Do you give tips at a restaurant in your country? At a bar? How about to taxi drivers? To hairdressers? At hotels? At airports to people who carry your bags?
• Do you feel comfortable tipping?
• Do you have more than one credit card?
• What bank do you use? Do you like the service you receive?
• Do you think that taxes are too high?
• How do you think the government uses all the taxes they collect?
• Do you sometimes buy things that you don’t need?
• Are you saving money to buy something? If so, what are you planning to buy? How much will it cost? How much longer will you need to save before buying it?
• Do you agree with the Beatles that “money can’t buy you love”?
• Did your parents give you an allowance (pocket money) when you were a child? What did you use it for?
• Should children get an allowance from their parents?
• Do you ever gamble? Did you win anything?
• Have you ever found any money on the street? If so, what did you do with it?
• Do you ever give money to charity? How much do you give?
• Have you ever given money to a beggar or homeless person?
• Have you ever had any money stolen from you? What happened?
• What would you love to buy but that you can’t afford?
• What would you do if you won a large sum of money? What is the first thing you would buy with it? Would you invest it?
• Would you give some money to charity?
• Would you help your family/friends?
• How long would it take you to spend 1 million dollars?
• Can a person be rich without having a lot of money or possessions? How?
• How important is money to you? If you had little money, could you be happy?
• How much do you spend each month on food? Where do you usually buy food?
• What do you spend most of your money on each month?
• How much did it cost you to fly here from your home country?
• How much does it cost to get a haircut in your country? Here?
• How much does it cost to ride a bus in your country? Here?
• How much is a liter of gasoline in your country? Here?
• Which costs more, a hamburger here or a hamburger in your country?
• If someone gave you a million dollars, what would you do with it?
• Some people say that “money makes the world go round.” Do you agree?
• What is something that you bought recently?
• What is something that you want to buy, but think you never will?
• When did you open your first bank account?
• How old were you when you earned your first salary? What did you spend it on?
• Do you think that it is right for someone to beg for money?
• Would you give money to a beggar? Why?
• When you buy something, what things are most important to you: price, quality, fashion trends, status, or image?
• Do you have more than one bank account? Are you good at saving money?
• Have you ever bought a lottery ticket? Did you ever gamble?
• How much did it cost you to fly to here from your home country?
• If you had to save money, what could you do without? “I would stop spending money on ___”.
• Why are poorer people in many cases more generous than rich people?
• If you don’t want help when the store clerk asks if you need help, what should you say to them? (Hint: You can say, “Thanks, I’m just looking.”)
• Do you think taxes in your country are too high/low? What are some of the different kinds of taxes your country has?
• If you were the leader of your country, what would you do to change the taxation system? What would you do to help your country’s economy?
• Which shopping centers and stores do you like best and which do you like least?
• What was the last thing you bought for someone else? Why did you buy it?
• What’s the most money you have spent on something to wear?
• Who takes care of the money in your family’s home?
• What qualities must a person have to make “big money”?
• Do you often buy products that advertised on TV, newspapers or magazines? If so, what was the last item that you bought?
• Do you consider consumerism good or bad?
• What differences can you notice between commercials from 10 or 15 years ago and commercials today?
• Can you explain these proverbs in other words?
  • The best things in life are free.
  • Time is money.
  • Save your pennies for a rainy day.
  • Money talks.
  • You can’t take it with you when you go.
  • Money doesn’t grow on trees.