
Understand how to complete four main sections of a job application
FOLLOW ESL DIRECTIONS ON
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST
Week of Dec. 22/25
This lesson plan will teach your beginner ESL students the vocabulary they need to buy clothes in a clothing store. The lesson includes warm-up questions, vocabulary practice, and skill-building activities such as video and open-ended…
Keep readingLesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the basic vocabulary related to four main sections on a typical job application. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 3-4) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 2 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students discuss how applying for work and working in general are different in Canada and in their home countries. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students will learn about four main sections of a standard job application. Students will understand the basic vocabulary used in each section. Students will practise filling in an open-ended application. form. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to learn about filling in some main sections of a job application.
- What is a job application?
- What does “filling our a job application” mean?
- There are at least four main sections on a job application form. Can anyone tell me their names?
Skill-building activities
- Vocabulary: Flashcards*
- Let’s listen to the vocabulary again* (Think about how to say each word or phrase and what they mean.)
Skill-using tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
- Filling in the Personal Information section:
- What does “personal information” mean? What questions might this section include?
- Open the box* (Match the words with examples.)
- Labelling activity* 🔊
- Spin the wheel* (Explain each term.)
- Filling in the Education section:
- What is “education”? What questions might this section include?
- Open the box* (Match the words with examples.)
- Labelling activity* 🔊
- Spin the wheel* (Explain each term.)
- Filling in the Work Experience section:
- What does work experience mean? What questions might this section include?
- Open the box* (Match the words with examples.)
- Labelling activity* 🔊
- Spin the wheel*
- Filling in the References section:
- What are job references? What questions might this section include?
- Open the box* (Match the words with examples.)
- Labelling activity* 🔊
- Spin the wheel* (Explain each term.)
- Job application group sort* (Sort the questions into one of the four job application sections.)
Assessment/review tasks
- Let’s fill in a job application!* (Open-ended activity.)
- Vocabulary review: Quiz*
Reflection questions
- Let’s review. What are the main sections on job application forms?
- What kind of questions are in each section?
- Have you ever filled out a job application form in Canada? How did that go?
- How do people find jobs in your first countries? How is it different finding a job in Canada?
- How is working different in Canada from working in your first country?
RELATED PAGES
Work
This page includes work-related lesson plans and resources for your beginners’ ESL classes (CLB 1-4). The page includes digital and interactive…
Keep readingPreparing for a job interview
This lesson plan for your beginner ESL students teaches job interview preparation. The plan includes vocabulary building, skill practice, and cultural…
Keep readingWORK YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Click on the small right arrow at the top right of this video to watch the videos to go to the YouTube Work Playlist.

WORK WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Work” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
SHARE THIS PAGE:

ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
FOLLOW ESL DIRECTIONS ON
CONTACT US






