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Lesson 4: Comparing Jobs
You’re just as talkative as most Japanese taxi drivers.

I can compare jobs abroad to those in Japan.

INTRODUCE

When traveling abroad, you may notice that some jobs in other countries are very similar to the same jobs in Japan and some jobs are very different from the same jobs in Japan.

PRESENT

STEP A VOCABULARY

I. Listen and repeat.

respected

well-paid

high-tech

polite

professional

talkative

II. Which of the words above can you use to describe the following jobs?

  • programmer

  • teacher

III. Practice reading the words.

/p/

/d/

paid

date

polite

delight

professional

directional

STEP B GRAMMAR TIP

Use as (adjective) as to compare two things, people, or groups.

Use as (adjective) as to say that they are similar.

  • My Spanish teacher is as talkative as my English teacher.
  • The new manager looks as strict as the old one.

Use not as (adjective) as to say that they are different.

  • Traffic in Munich is not as awful as traffic in New York.
  • Your coworkers don’t sound as nice as my coworkers.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Mr. Goto is taking a taxi to work.

Mr. Goto:

That’s a nice picture.

Driver:

Thanks. It’s my family back in the Philippines. I taped it here so I won’t feel lonely.

Mr. Goto:

Oh, really? Interesting! Taxi drivers in Japan don’t usually decorate their taxis with personal things. I guess there are a lot of differences between taxi drivers here and back home. For example, American taxi drivers don’t look as professional as Japanese taxi drivers. (laughs) I mean, taxi drivers in Japan usually wear a suit with white gloves.

Driver:

Wow, really? I can’t imagine that!

Mr. Goto:

But some things are the same. For example, you’re just as talkative as most Japanese taxi drivers.

Driver:

Oh! I’m sorry about that.

Mr. Goto:

No, no, it’s okay. It’s good English practice for me!

TRIVIA

Did you know that about 96% of the taxi drivers in New York City are immigrants? Until recently, drivers had to pass an English proficiency test to get a taxi license, but New York City stopped the test in 2016. GPS and other kinds of technology help drivers who cannot speak English well.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Change the sentences to use as (adjective) as or not as (adjective) as.

1. My Japanese and American managers are both very professional.

→ My Japanese manager is _____ my American manager.

 

2. System engineers in California are better paid than system engineers in Tokyo.

→ System engineers in Tokyo are _____ system engineers in California.

 

3. I think both American comedians and Japanese comedians are really funny.

→ I think American comedians are _____ Japanese comedians.

STEP B EXERCISE

Make sentences with as (adjective) as using the pictures and words.

China

Sweden

ex. (manufacturing / not / high-tech)

Manufacturing in China is not as high-tech as manufacturing in Sweden.

 

Thailand

India

1. (performers / look / flashy)

 

the US

Japan

2. (airport staff / not / professional)

 

Canada

the US

3. (servers / friendly)

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You are visiting your friend in San Francisco. He/She took you to a restaurant, where you noticed some differences between American servers and Japanese servers.


Discuss the differences with your friend.

Today's grammar tip

  • as (adjective) as
  • not as (adjective) as

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

COMPARING JOBS

2

COWORKERS

3

GENERAL COMPARISONS

1

COMPARING JOBS

  1. What are two common jobs in Japan? How do they compare?
  2. What are two busy jobs? How do they compare?
  3. What are two jobs that need friendly employees? How do they compare?
  4. What are two fun jobs? How do they compare?

2COWORKERS

  1. Do you like to work with talkative coworkers?
  2. Do you prefer friendly coworkers or professional coworkers?
  3. Do you want your coworkers to be as professional as you?
  4. Do you think you are as respected as your other coworkers?

3GENERAL COMPARISONS

  1. Who do you think is more well-paid, actors or singers?
  2. At work, who do you think is more polite, older or younger employees?
  3. In Japan, which industry is more successful, IT or manufacturing?
  4. Which do you think is more difficult, teaching or learning?

FEEDBACK

I can compare jobs abroad to those in Japan.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK