Work

The world of work

This module teaches the Japanese words for jobs and workplaces. Every word comes with three things: the Japanese script, a romaji reading in brackets to help you say it, and the English meaning. You will not type in Japanese here - you will recognise the words and their meanings. (A native speaker should review the script before launch.)

Words about work

Start with some general words about working life:

Match each job to its English meaning

Which job?

Which Japanese word means 'doctor'?

• 医者 いしゃ (isha)
• 先生 せんせい (sensei)
• 看護師 かんごし (kangoshi)
• 運転手 うんてんしゅ (untenshu)

Where people work

Now some words for the places where people work: - 会社 かいしゃ (kaisha) = company / office - 病院 びょういん (byouin) = hospital - 学校 がっこう (gakkou) = school - レストラン (resutoran) = restaurant Use the romaji to practise saying each one aloud.

Match each workplace to its English meaning

Spot the jobs

Select the TWO words that are names of jobs (professions), not places.

• 医者 いしゃ (isha)
• 先生 せんせい (sensei)
• 病院 びょういん (byouin)
• 学校 がっこう (gakkou)

The person and the place

Keep two kinds of word apart: the person who does a job, and the place where they do it.

Which place?

Which Japanese word means 'hospital'?

• 病院 びょういん (byouin)
• 会社 かいしゃ (kaisha)
• 学校 がっこう (gakkou)
• レストラン (resutoran)

Jobs and workplaces in Japanese

A doctor is a _____. A teacher is a _____. A doctor works in a _____, and a teacher works in a _____. The money you earn is your _____.

Getting a job

Put the steps of starting a working life into a sensible order.

• Finish school
• Train or study for a career
• Apply for a job
• Have an interview
• Start work and earn a salary

Who does this job?

Read what each person does, and pick the Japanese word for their job.

• This person looks after sick people and gives them medicine. Which job?
• This person teaches children in a school. Which job?
• This person drives a bus or a taxi to take people around. Which job?

Your turn: write in Japanese

Write two or three sentences IN JAPANESE about a job you would like and where that person works. Write in kana and kanji - the romaji in brackets is a reading aid only, and Edexcel does not credit romaji.

• Name the job with 私は〜です。(わたしは〜です - I am ...)- 医者 いしゃ (isha), 先生 せんせい (sensei), 看護師 かんごし (kangoshi), 運転手 うんてんしゅ (untenshu) or エンジニア (enjinia)
• Say the workplace: 病院 びょういん (byouin), 学校 がっこう (gakkou), 会社 かいしゃ (kaisha) or レストラン (resutoran)
• Say you like it with 〜が好きです。(〜がすきです - I like ...)
• You may add 同僚 どうりょう (douryou) colleagues or 給料 きゅうりょう (kyuuryou) salary, and end each sentence with 。

Two word groups, kept linked

For the top marks, keep two groups of words clear and linked. First, the jobs - who someone is: 医者 いしゃ (isha) doctor, 先生 せんせい (sensei) teacher, 看護師 かんごし (kangoshi) nurse, 運転手 うんてんしゅ (untenshu) driver. Second, the workplaces - where they work: 病院 びょういん (byouin) hospital, 学校 がっこう (gakkou) school, 会社 かいしゃ (kaisha) company. Learn each with its script AND romaji, and you will recognise them instantly in the exam.