Hi friends.
What are you doing in your mobility program? Are you an intern at a company? A student in university? Changing your career and learning new skills?
Below, you will learn common phrases used in professional English to use to speak about your mobility experience.
First, we'll start with some vocabulary and then get into expressions:
VOCABULARY
Apprentice: A person who learns a job or skill by working for a fixed period of time for someone who is very good at that job or skill. (noun)
Career: A profession for which one trains; a job or series of jobs that you do during your working life. (noun)
Intern: A student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get experience. (noun)
Now, let's get into some common questions and responses often asked in professional or academic settings.
WORK
Where do you work?
- I work at (a company).
- I work for (a company / a specific person)
- I work in (a place, city, country, department, or general area/industry)
- I work with (people / things)
How to use the correct preposition:
I work in…
a place:
- I work in an office.
- I work in a school.
- I work in a factory.
a city/country:
- I work in Milan.
- I work in Italy.
a particular department:
- I work in the Research & Development department.
- I work in human resources.
- I work in marketing.
a general area or industry:
- I work in education.
- I work in environmental research.
- I work in sports management.
I work with…
- I work with computers.
- I’m a coach. I work with athletes.
I work for... or I work at...
- I work at Starbucks. I work for Starbucks.
- I work at the mall.
- I work for my parents.
- I work for the New York Mets.
INTERNSHIPS
Where do you intern? -Or- Where are you interning?
Similar to the structure for talking about Work, you can use the following to speak about your internship.
- I intern at...
- I intern with…
- I intern for…
Often in conversation, English speakers use phrasing like:
- I’m interning at…a specific business.
Ex.: I’m interning at Essence Magazine
- I’m interning for a… general industry or business.
Ex.: I’m interning for an environmental law firm.
- I’m interning with… a person.
Ex.: I’m interning with Oprah for 3 months.
STUDYING
What do you study?
Often answered by stating the specific subject you are learning and where it is being learned.
- I study…subject at… name of school.
- I am studying…subject at… name of school.
Ex.: I study Energy and Environmental Physics at the University of the West Indies.
Ex.: I am studying electrical engineering at Howard University.
Now, that you’ve learned a few common expressions in professional and business English, take a look at these example statements before sharing yours.
Internship Example:
I began my mobility program in October 2022. I intern at a shipping firm in Stockholm and I’m learning about logistics. My internship is ends in January, so I’m really making the most out of my experience by assisting my colleagues on their projects, taking on new responsibilities and I even make sure to have lunch with my peers so we can get to know each other more informally too.
Career Change Example:
After a 14-year career as a car mechanic, I am now studying business management because I want to own several garages.
Apprenticeship Example:
I am an apprentice with an organic, biodynamic regenerative farmer. Using practical skills directly on the land is the best way for me to test agricultural ideas and theories. I’m also learning the business management side of regenerative agriculture because I will purchase land and manage my own small farm one day.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!
Click the Reply button below to tell us all about your mobility experience. In this way, other members can ask you about your experience.