Essential English Skills for Career, Life, and Community

Posted on Jun 28, 2025 in English

Job Search & Career Skills

Vocabulary: Job Word Partners

  • Accept a job offer: (aceitar uma oferta de emprego)
  • Apply for a job: (candidatar-se a um emprego)
  • Format a résumé: (formatar um currículo)
  • Prepare for an interview: (preparar-se para uma entrevista)
  • Print an email: (imprimir um e-mail)
  • Proofread a résumé: (revisar um currículo)
  • Provide references: (fornecer referências)
  • Research a job: (pesquisar um emprego)
  • Send a thank-you note: (enviar uma nota de agradecimento)
  • Translate a letter: (traduzir uma carta)

Grammar: Causative Verbs (Get & Have)

Use causative verbs to talk about having someone else do something for you.

  • Get + someone + to + verb: Get people to provide references for you.
  • Have + someone + verb: I plan to have a friend practice with me.
  • Get + something + past participle: Where can I get my résumé printed?
  • Have + something + past participle: I need to have my clothes dry-cleaned.

Interviewing Interactions

Taking Time to Think

  • Oh, let’s see…
  • Um, let me see…
  • Hmm, let me think…

Closing an Interview

  • Well, it’s been nice meeting you.
  • Well, it’s been great talking to you.
  • Well, I’ve really enjoyed talking to you.

Future Planning & Personal Goals

Vocabulary: Setting Goals

  • Be financially independent: (ser financeiramente independente)
  • Do volunteer work: (fazer trabalho voluntário)
  • Have a big wedding: (ter um grande casamento)
  • Live in the countryside: (morar no campo)
  • Prepare for my exams: (preparar-me para os meus exames)
  • Study abroad: (estudar no exterior)
  • Work as a journalist: (trabalhar como jornalista)
  • Write travel books: (escrever livros de viagem)

Grammar: Future Continuous vs. Future with Will

Future Continuous

Use the future continuous to describe actions in progress at a specific time in the future:

  • Where will you be studying next year?
  • I’ll be studying in Paris.
  • I won’t be working as a journalist then.

Future with Will

Use the future with will with verbs that are not usually used in the continuous form:

  • What will you achieve in twenty years?
  • Will you be financially independent?
  • Yes, I will. But I’ll have to work really hard.

Practice Dialogue

A: What will you be doing (do) a year from now?
B: I’ll be studying (study) abroad.

A: What will happen (happen) to your friends after graduation?
B: Sam and Ann will have (have) a big wedding. Jacob will be working (work) in the city.

A: Where will you be living (live) in ten years?
B: I don’t know, but I probably won’t be living (not/live) here.

A: What will your life be (be) like in the future?
B: I won’t be working (not/work) for a large company. I will be writing (write) travel books.

A: Will you go (go) on vacation in July?
B: Yes, I will go (go) to Rome. I will see (see) the Colosseum.

Environmental Awareness & Community Action

Vocabulary: Preventing Pollution

Ways to Prevent Air Pollution

  • Combine tasks if you drive (do together): combine tarefas se você dirigir (faça junto).
  • Commute by bicycle if possible (go to work): se desloque de bicicleta, se for possível (vá para o trabalho).
  • Maintain your car so that it’s more efficient (keep in good condition): Mantenha seu carro para que ele seja mais eficiente (mantenha-o em boas condições).
  • Avoid products that come in spray cans (don’t use): evite produtos que vêm em latas de spray (não use).

Ways to Prevent Water Pollution

  • Store paint and chemicals in safe containers (put or keep): armazene tinta e produtos químicos em recipientes seguros (colocar ou guardar).
  • Limit your use of harmful cleaning products (control the amount): limite o uso de produtos de limpeza prejudiciais (controle a quantidade).
  • Discard paint and batteries properly (throw away): descarte a tinta e as baterias corretamente (jogue fora).
  • Conserve water whenever possible (save): conserve a água sempre que possível (salve).

Ways to Prevent Land Pollution

  • Purchase products with little packaging (buy): compre produtos com pouca embalagem (compre).
  • Recycle any item you can (use again): recicle qualquer item que você puder (use novamente).
  • Identify where trash cans are (find or locate): identifique onde estão as lixeiras (ache ou localize).
  • Never dump motor oil on the ground (put carelessly): nunca despeje o óleo do motor no chão (coloque-o sem cuidado).

Grammar: Present Continuous Passive & Infinitive Passive

Present Continuous Passive

Use the present continuous passive to describe an action in progress when you want to focus on the receiver of the action instead of on the doer of the action:

  • Active: Commuters are parking bicycles in a new way.
  • Passive: Bicycles are being parked in a new way.

Infinitive Passive

Use the infinitive passive after verbs like have and need when you want to focus on the receiver of the action instead of on the doer of the action:

  • Active: Somebody had to do something. People needed to put the bikes somewhere.
  • Passive: Something had to be done. The bikes needed to be put somewhere.

Practice: Active to Passive Voice

  • Active: People are reusing more items every day.
    Passive: More items are being reused every day.
  • Active: People need to maintain cars for safety.
    Passive: Cars need to be maintained for safety.
  • Active: Guests are conserving water in hotels.
    Passive: Water is being conserved in hotels.
  • Active: You have to discard old batteries properly.
    Passive: Old batteries have to be discarded properly.
  • Active: Homeowners need to store chemicals safely.
    Passive: Chemicals need to be stored safely.

Interactions: Expressing Opinions

Supporting an Opinion

  • That’s a good point.
  • I see what you mean.
  • You make a very good point.

Not Supporting an Opinion

  • I don’t see it that way.
  • I see it a little differently.
  • Actually, I have a different opinion.

Vocabulary: Community Improvement

  • A beautification project makes a community more attractive: Um projeto de embelezamento torna a comunidade mais atraente.
  • At a community garden, people grow vegetables or flowers: Em uma horta comunitária, as pessoas cultivam vegetais ou flores.
  • At an employment center, people can get job information: Em um centro de emprego, as pessoas podem obter informações de emprego.
  • At a health clinic, people can get medical help.
  • With a neighborhood watch, neighbors try to limit crime.
  • A public library is used by everyone.
  • A recreation center is a place to play sports or games.
  • A recycling center is a place to take used materials.

Grammar: Linking Words

  • Reason: We no longer have a community garden because of a lack of interest.
  • Result: There’s still crime, so we’re planning to install video cameras.
  • Contrast: Although we have a neighborhood watch, there’s still crime.
  • Condition: Teens will have a place to go if we build a recreation center.
  • Purpose: We should build a recreation center so (that) teens have a place to go.

Personal & Professional Communication

Speaking Practice: Job Interview Preparation

When I have a job interview, I intend to present myself as best I can. I want to cut my hair, apply elegant makeup, and wear beautiful clothes. In addition, I intend to highlight all my professional qualities and experiences, so that the interviewer forms a positive impression of me and wants to hire me for the position offered. I always believe that the company should provide me with opportunities to grow professionally, and that I, in turn, should bring benefits to the company’s growth.

Speaking Practice: Self-Introduction for a Job

Hello, my name is Leticia. I am studying Production Engineering at UFRGS and am currently in my 7th semester. While I haven’t had extensive professional experience yet, I have participated in several significant activities, which I will now explain. I began by actively participating in the course directory (DAProd), where I led a project called “Course Drive.” Following that, I joined the scientific initiation fellowship at LAMEF, where I currently work as a Quality Analyst and Human Resources Manager. I possess strong teamwork and communication skills, and I am proficient in Excel, having completed a specialized training course. Furthermore, I excel at planning and organizing, which I consider my greatest strength. My weakness is anxiety; I tend to worry excessively about completing tasks, especially in stressful situations, and I only relax once everything is finalized. My goal is to become a successful professional, likely in the Human Resources field, working for a multinational company where I can continue to develop. I prefer not to work on weekends, as I need that time to keep up with my university studies and personal activities. My friends would likely describe me as a dedicated and competent person who always strives to complete tasks meticulously.

Speaking Practice: Personal & Career Goals

In the short term, my goals include securing a Human Resources internship at a multinational company, where I can develop significantly and become a highly skilled professional. Additionally, I aim to become fluent in English, particularly in conversational aspects, and to begin taking Spanish and Italian classes. In the medium term, I aspire to graduate from college with a well-executed thesis or project that can be published, ideally stemming from my internship experience. In the long term, I intend to live abroad with my boyfriend, perhaps in Canada, where we would build our family and periodically return to Brazil to visit family and friends.

Writing Practice: Letter of Interest

Dear Caroline,

I would like to express my interest in the Human Resources position recently advertised on your website. I am currently pursuing Production Engineering at UFRGS and am scheduled to graduate in two years. I possess an advanced level of English proficiency, though I aim to improve my conversational skills. I plan to enroll in private conversation classes to further develop in this area, as I consider it crucial for both my personal and professional growth. In the near future, I also intend to begin Spanish and Italian classes.

Enclosed is my résumé, which contains detailed information on my education and experience. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this position with you. I can be reached by cell phone at 992714332 or by email at leticia.koller@hotmail.com.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Leticia Koller

Speaking Practice: Improving Community Quality of Life

To improve the quality of life for people in my community, we would first need to raise funds to implement necessary initiatives. Initially, we should consider hiring a security company to enhance everyone’s peace of mind and safety. This would allow people to visit parks and stay late without fear of crime. We could also purchase more playground equipment for public squares, providing children with more opportunities to play. For adults, it would be beneficial to acquire equipment for heating water and preparing mate. For senior citizens, more comfortable seating options would alleviate discomfort. For young people, we could offer various cultural attractions. I believe that by fostering more outdoor and group activities, we could strengthen community bonds, benefiting everyone in multiple ways.

Writing Practice: Letter to a Community Leader

Dear Syndic,

I am a resident of apartment 401, and I believe that certain aspects of our condominium require immediate attention. We have recently experienced incidents of thieves entering at night and stealing belongings from residents’ garages. These occurrences happened when the electric fence was deactivated. Could you please clarify why it was turned off? We have this equipment specifically to enhance the safety of our residents.

Another pressing issue is that the front door is consistently left open. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for everyone if you implemented measures to ensure residents’ compliance? For instance, we could clearly state that after 6 PM, all doors must be locked, with a fine imposed on any resident who fails to adhere to this rule. These seemingly small actions would significantly improve the security for all condominium residents.