I WORK FOR MYSELF

 This lesson focuses on self-employment and the language used to describe working independently. Students will learn how to talk about being their own boss, managing their own schedule, and the responsibilities involved in self-employment. This topic is ideal for practicing vocabulary related to jobs, work, and responsibilities, while also exploring the use of reflexive pronouns such as myself, yourself, and themselves.

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to talk about self-employment, explain their job responsibilities, and use reflexive pronouns correctly.

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GRAMMAR

1. Reflexive Pronouns

• Definition: Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence.

  • myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves

• Structure:

  • Subject + verb + reflexive pronoun.
  • I work for myself.
  • She taught herself how to start a business.

Examples

• Positive:

  • I work for myself as a graphic designer.
  • She takes care of herself while managing her own business.

• Negative:

  • He doesn’t work for himself; he works for a company.
  • They don’t do everything by themselves; they hire assistants.

• Questions:

  • Do you work for yourself?
  • Does she manage the business by herself?

2. Present Simple for Jobs

• Use: To describe facts or routines.
  • I work for myself.
  • She manages her schedule independently.

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VOCABULARY

1. Self-employed: Working independently, not for a company.
   Example: She is self-employed and runs her own business.

2. Freelancer: A person who works for different companies on short-term contracts.
   Example: He is a freelancer and writes articles for magazines.

3. Entrepreneur: A person who starts and runs a business.
   Example: Entrepreneurs need to work hard to succeed.

4. Boss: A person in charge of a business or team.
   Example: When you are self-employed, you are your own boss.

5. Schedule: A plan of activities or tasks.
   Example: She manages her own schedule.

6. Client: A person who uses the services of a business.
   Example: My clients are very satisfied with my work.

7. Project: A planned task or assignment.
   Example: I am working on a big project this week.

8. Skills: Abilities or knowledge needed to do a job well.
   Example: He has great communication skills.

9. Income: Money earned from work or business.
   Example: My income depends on the number of clients I have.

10. Independent: Not needing help or support.
    Example: Working for yourself means being independent.

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USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

• I work for myself.
• I am self-employed.
• I manage my own schedule.
• I run my own business.
• Being my own boss is challenging but rewarding.
• I handle all my projects independently.
• I enjoy the flexibility of working for myself.
• My clients are very happy with my work.
• It’s not always easy to find new clients.
• Self-employment requires discipline and organization.

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SENTENCES

Positive Sentences

1. I work for myself as a designer.
2. She runs her own business from home.
3. Being self-employed gives me a lot of freedom.

Negative Sentences

1. I don’t work for a company; I am self-employed.
2. He doesn’t have a boss because he works for himself.
3. They don’t rely on others to manage their projects.

Questions and Answers

1. Q: Do you work for yourself?
   A: Yes, I do. I run my own business.
2. Q: Does she work independently?
   A: Yes, she does. She is self-employed.
3. Q: Is it easy to work for yourself?
   A: Not always, but it’s very rewarding.

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CONVERSATION

Situation: Talking about self-employment

Emma: Hi, what do you do for a living?
Jack: I work for myself. I’m a web developer.
Emma: That sounds interesting. Do you enjoy it?
Jack: Yes, I love it. I can manage my own schedule and choose my projects.
Emma: Do you find it difficult to find clients?
Jack: Sometimes, but once you build a good reputation, it gets easier.
Emma: That’s great! I’d like to be self-employed one day.
Jack: You should try it. It’s challenging but very rewarding.

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READING

Working for Yourself

Anna is a freelance graphic designer. She works for herself and enjoys the flexibility it gives her. Every morning, Anna plans her schedule. She works on different projects for her clients and often meets deadlines.

Although Anna loves being her own boss, she sometimes finds it hard to balance her work and personal life. She needs to stay disciplined and organized to succeed.

One of the best parts of her job is the freedom to choose her projects and clients. Anna believes self-employment is not for everyone, but it’s perfect for people who like independence and creativity.

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Questions

1. What does Anna do?
   Answer: She is a freelance graphic designer.

2. Why does Anna enjoy working for herself?
   Answer: She enjoys the flexibility and freedom it gives her.

3. What challenges does Anna face?
   Answer: She finds it hard to balance work and personal life.

4. What are the best parts of Anna’s job?
   Answer: The freedom to choose her projects and clients.

5. Who is self-employment good for?
   Answer: It’s good for people who like independence and creativity.