Class/Level: BE or ESOL,can be modified for most levels

Topic: Workforce Preparation

Objectives:

To learn how to find information about companies and jobs on the World Wide Web

To be able to critically evaluate information provided by a company to determine whether it is a suitable workplace for you

To understand and be able to use work-related vocabulary

Steps:

Teacher Preparation: Prepare a list of companies and their URLs. This can be done independently or as a prior class activity. See notes to teacher below for directions on how to find company Web sites to use in the lesson. For the purpose of the model I have pre-selected the following two URLs.

Web Sites:

Blockbuster Entertainment:
http://www.blockbuster.com/company

Metropolitan Transit Authority: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/

Pre-computer/classroom activity:

Lessons in which students explore different jobs and careers, conduct career-related self-assessments and identify characteristics of a quality workplace are appropriate preparatory lessons for this Web-based lesson.

Computer/online activity:

Divide students into pairs. Ask each pair group to select one of the provided company Web sites (substitute your own list of URLs here) and answer the questions below using information provided on the site.

Company Name

URL

Answer the following questions based on information you find at the company's Web site.

1. Describe the products or services the company provides.

2. If the company/organization has a mission, philosophy or motto, what is it and what do you think it means?

3. What employee benefits does the company offer?

4. What jobs are currently available?

5. What educational background and work experience are required for these jobs?

6. Do you have the qualifications to apply? If not, what can you do to become eligible?

7. How do you apply for these positions?

8. Would you like to work for this company? Why or why not?

NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS:

To find other company Web sites, go to

1. Monster Board at http://www.monsterboard.com and click on Companies. Then search alphabetically or geographically.

2. Yahoo's Directory of Companies

http://dir.yahoo.com/business_and_economy/companies/

3. If you are looking for a specific company, you can use a Search Engine, such as Yahoo at http://www.yahoo.com or AltaVista at http://www.altavista.com