Opinions about jobs (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Opinions about jobs
This topic focuses on expressing your views about different careers and discussing what you look for in employment. You'll learn essential vocabulary for jobs and professions, along with key phrases to share your opinions about work.
Key vocabulary
Understanding job-related terminology is crucial for discussing career preferences and workplace expectations. Here's essential vocabulary you'll need:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el salario | salary |
| la empresa | company, firm |
| la carrera | career |
| el/la policía | police officer |
| el/la profesor/a | teacher |
| el/la director/a | director, head teacher |
| la oportunidad | opportunity |
| el/la modelo | model |
| el/la jefe/a | boss |
| el/la artista | artist |
| el/la escritor/a | writer |
| el médico/la médica | doctor |
| el/la enfermero/a | nurse |
| el/la periodista | journalist |
| el actor/la actriz | actor |
| el/la científico/a | scientist |
| los medios | media |
| la industria | industry |
| el empleo | employment, job |
| ganar | to earn |
| la responsabilidad | responsibility |
| el diseño | design |
Notice how many job titles have both masculine and feminine forms. Pay attention to the patterns: some change the ending (-o/-a), others use the same form for both genders, and some have completely different words (actor/actriz).
Grammar focus: Using articles with professions
When discussing jobs and professions in Spanish, there are specific rules about when to include or omit the definite article. This is different from English usage, so pay careful attention to these patterns.
Critical Rule: The use of articles with professions in Spanish follows different patterns than in English. Master these three key rules to avoid common mistakes.
Rule 1: No article after 'ser'
When using the verb ser (to be) followed directly by a profession, you typically don't use an article:
Rule 1 Examples:
- Mi madre es médica y mi padre es profesor (My mother is a doctor and my father is a teacher)
- Yo soy estudiante (I am a student)
Rule 2: Article included with adjectives
However, when you add an adjective to describe the professional, you must include the indefinite article:
Rule 2 Examples:
- Mi madre es una médica excelente (My mother is an excellent doctor)
- Él es un profesor muy bueno (He is a very good teacher)
Rule 3: Generalising about professions
When making general statements about a profession, Spanish uses the definite article while English omits it:
Rule 3 Examples:
- Los policías ganan un buen salario (Police officers earn a good salary)
- Los médicos trabajan muchas horas (Doctors work many hours)
Expressing opinions about work
Learning to articulate your views about different aspects of employment is essential for discussions about career choices. These phrases will help you express what matters most to you in a job.
Starting your opinion:
- Para mí, el aspecto más importante de un trabajo es... (For me, the most important aspect of a job is...)
Expressing preferences:
- Me gustaría trabajar en el turismo (I would like to work in tourism)
- Me gustaría trabajar en el diseño (I would like to work in design)
- Me gustaría trabajar en la industria (I would like to work in industry)
The phrase "Me gustaría" is more polite and tentative than "Quiero" (I want). Use it when discussing future career aspirations or when being diplomatic about preferences.
Discussing your skills:
- Quiero usar mis conocimientos de idiomas (I want to use my knowledge of languages)
- Quiero usar mis conocimientos de ciencias (I want to use my knowledge of science)
- Quiero usar mis conocimientos de matemáticas (I want to use my knowledge of maths)
Expressing uncertainty:
- De momento, no sé qué quiero hacer en el futuro (At the moment, I don't know what I want to do in the future)
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse "conocimientos" (knowledge/skills) with "conocer" (to know a person or place). Use "conocimientos de..." when talking about subject knowledge or skills.
Example sentences and usage
Here are practical examples showing how to use this vocabulary and these structures in context:
Worked Examples: Expressing Job Opinions
Example 1: Discussing salary vs. job satisfaction
- El salario no es el aspecto más importante en mi opinión (Salary isn't the most important aspect in my opinion)
- Quiero ganar bastante, pero tienes que disfrutar del trabajo que haces (I want to earn quite a bit, but you have to enjoy the work you do)
Example 2: Talking about teamwork and relationships
- Me gustaría ser parte de un equipo y llevarme bien con mis compañeros (I would like to be part of a team and get along well with my colleagues)
Example 3: Expressing additional preferences
- Sería excelente tener oportunidades de viajar también (It would be excellent to have opportunities to travel as well)
Pronunciation tips
Understanding the pronunciation patterns will help you speak more confidently about careers and professions:
Pronunciation Guidelines:
- Remember that job titles ending in -a are often feminine (la médica, la artista)
- Job titles ending in -or often become -ora for feminine (el director → la directora)
- Some professions use the same form for both genders (el/la periodista, el/la artista)
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Translation Practice Exercises
Spanish to English:
- Me gustaría trabajar en la industria del turismo porque quiero viajar
- Para mí, la responsabilidad más importante es trabajar bien en equipo
English to Spanish:
- I want to use my knowledge of languages in my future career
- The most important aspect of a job is having good opportunities
Answers:
- I would like to work in the tourism industry because I want to travel
- For me, the most important responsibility is working well as a team
- Quiero usar mis conocimientos de idiomas en mi carrera futura
- El aspecto más importante de un trabajo es tener buenas oportunidades
Key Points to Remember:
- Use no article with 'ser' + profession, unless there's an adjective
- Start opinions with "Para mí..." to express your personal view
- Use "Me gustaría..." to express what you would like to do
- Remember that job vocabulary often has different masculine/feminine forms
- Practice expressing both positive aspects you want and concerns about different careers
- Master the three key rules for using articles with professions to avoid common mistakes