How do I revise Employment for Edexcel GCSE?

Use the 12-minute preparation time for speaking tasks to consider questions and make brief notes, but do not write out full sentences.

What exam tips are there for Employment? (2)

In speaking tasks, use rephrasing or repair strategies if you do not know a specific word.

What exam tips are there for Employment? (3)

Ensure you use the correct register (formal or informal) as specified in the task instructions.

What mistakes should I avoid in Employment?

Incorrect use of timeframes (past, present, future).

What are common errors in Employment exams? (2)

Mother-tongue interference in sentence structure.

Employment

EDEXCEL

GCSE

This topic covers the world of work, including jobs, careers, and professions, as well as the use of languages in employment contexts.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

Employment is a key topic in Edexcel GCSE Chinese, focusing on vocabulary and phrases related to jobs, work environments, and career aspirations. You will learn to describe different professions, discuss part-time and full-time work, and express opinions about employment. This topic also covers work-life balance, unemployment, and future career plans, enabling you to engage in conversations and write essays about work-related themes.

Understanding employment vocabulary is essential for both the speaking and writing exams, as it frequently appears in role-plays, picture-based tasks, and essay questions. You will need to use a range of tenses (past, present, future) to discuss work experiences and ambitions. Additionally, cultural knowledge about the Chinese job market, such as the importance of guanxi (connections) and the rise of gig economy platforms like Meituan, can add depth to your answers.

This topic connects to broader themes like education (as preparation for careers) and social issues (e.g., unemployment). Mastering employment vocabulary will also help you in listening and reading exams, where you might encounter job advertisements, interviews, or discussions about work conditions. By the end of this topic, you should be able to describe your dream job, explain why you chose certain subjects, and discuss the pros and cons of different careers.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Ability to convey information and narrate events coherently and confidently.
Use of a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures accurately, including complex forms.
Reference to past, present, and future events.
Ability to express, justify, and exchange opinions.
Use of appropriate register (formal vs informal) in role plays and writing tasks.
Spontaneous interaction and ability to sustain communication.
Creative use of language to express individual thoughts and ideas.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Ability to convey information and narrate events coherently and confidently.
Use of a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures accurately, including complex forms.
Reference to past, present, and future events.
Ability to express, justify, and exchange opinions.
Use of appropriate register (formal vs informal) in role plays and writing tasks.
Spontaneous interaction and ability to sustain communication.
Creative use of language to express individual thoughts and ideas.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Use the 12-minute preparation time for speaking tasks to consider questions and make brief notes, but do not write out full sentences.
💡In speaking tasks, use rephrasing or repair strategies if you do not know a specific word.
💡Ensure you use the correct register (formal or informal) as specified in the task instructions.
💡For writing tasks, ensure you cover all bullet points to access the higher mark bands.
💡Practice using a variety of grammatical structures and complex language to move beyond simple, repetitive sentences.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Incorrect use of timeframes (past, present, future).
Mother-tongue interference in sentence structure.
Inaccurate use of tones affecting clarity of communication.
Failure to cover all bullet points in writing tasks.
Over-reliance on rehearsed language in speaking tasks.
Incorrect word order making it unclear who is performing the action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Job applications and interviews - focus on formal register, honorifics, and the articulation of transferable skills such as 'I am reliable' or 'I have experience'.

Work-life balance and workplace culture - exploring specific cultural phenomena like the '996' system or the 'siesta', using comparative structures to evaluate societal norms.

Future aspirations and the changing world of work - incorporating conditional and future tenses to discuss the impact of technology, remote working, and the gig economy.

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Describe

Narrate

Inform

Express opinions

Justify

Translate

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

Employment

Topic Overview

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terminology

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in EDEXCEL GCSE Chinese

Access to natural resources

Ambitions

Asking for help and dealing with problems

Being 'green'

Employment

Topic Overview

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'part-time job' in Chinese?

What is the difference between 工作 and 职业?

How do I describe my dream job in the exam?

What vocabulary do I need for a job interview role-play?

How do I talk about unemployment in Chinese?

Can I use English job titles in the Chinese exam?

Key Terminology

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in EDEXCEL GCSE Chinese

Access to natural resources

Ambitions

Asking for help and dealing with problems

Being 'green'