Education Systems

SKILLS
EFL.5.2.11 Express opinions on abstract and concrete topics while describing reactions to them and others’ opinions.
EFL.5.2.15 Engage in an extended conversation on most general topics and keep it going by expressing and responding to suggestions, opinions, attitudes, advice, and feelings.![]()
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REAL-LIFE APPLICATION
This topic helps students describe professional growth and career development. They learn how past habits and repeated actions shaped a person’s skills, confidence, discipline, and opportunities. This is useful for interviews, CV explanations, career counseling, and reflection on internships or work experience.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
SESSION 1 (80 min) ANTICIPATION
Part 1: Career Milestone Case Room (20 min)

The teacher presents short professional profiles around the classroom. Students analyze how each person reached a milestone and identify what habits probably helped them. The teacher asks: “What did this person use to do before reaching this achievement?” This introduces career development as a process.
Professional profiles:
- A student became a confident presenter.
- A student got a first internship.
- A student became team leader.
- A student improved customer service.
- A student learned to manage deadlines.
- A student created a small business.
- A student became better at interviews.
- A student learned technical skills.
- A student improved communication.
- A student gained workplace confidence.
CONSTRUCTION
Part 2: Vocabulary for Career Milestones and Soft Skills (15 min)
The teacher introduces professional vocabulary.
- career milestone
- internship
- entry-level job
- job interview
- workplace
- supervisor
- mentor
- task management
- deadline
- feedback
- responsibility
- teamwork
- leadership
- adaptability
- communication skills
- problem-solving
- initiative
- reliability
- punctuality
- professional growth
- work ethic
- customer service
- collaboration
- confidence
- networking

Model sentences:
“She used to ask for feedback after every task.”
“He would arrive early during his internship.”
“They used to practice interview answers before applying for jobs.”
Part 3: Grammar Input: Used to vs. Would in Career Narratives (25 min)
Explanation

Used to vs. Would in Career Narratives (25 min)
“Used to” and “would” describe repeated past habits, but they are not exactly the same. “Used to” can describe past habits, routines, and states. “Would” describes repeated past actions, especially when the time context is clear.
Examples:
“She used to be very disorganized.” Correct because it describes a past state.
“She would be very disorganized.” Not correct for this meaning.
“During her internship, she would check the schedule every morning.” Correct because it describes a repeated action.
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Exercise: Decide if the sentence needs used to, would, or both.
- He ______ be nervous during interviews.
- During the internship, she ______ ask her mentor for feedback.
- They ______ work on teamwork activities every Friday.
- I ______ have weak communication skills.
- Every morning, the intern ______ organize the task list.
- She ______ be interested in marketing.
- He ______ practice interview answers before applications.
- The team ______ meet after each project.
- I ______ feel uncomfortable speaking to clients.
- The students ______ attend career workshops after class.
Part 4: Career Growth Podcast Practice (20 min)
Students work in pairs and create a short podcast-style interview. One student is the host and the other is a young professional. The guest explains how past habits helped them reach a milestone. Students prepare keywords, not a full script.
Podcast questions:
- What did you use to struggle with?
- What habit helped you improve?
- What would you do every week during your internship?
- What soft skill did you develop first?
- What feedback did you use to receive?
- What would your mentor tell you?
- What responsibility did you use to have?
- What milestone changed your confidence?
- What would you do when you made a mistake?
- What advice would you give to students?
SESSION 2: CONSTRUCTION – REINFORCEMENT (40 min)
Part 1 – Professional Habit Auction (15 min)
Groups receive a fictional budget of 100 points. The teacher displays habits, and groups “buy” the habits they think are most valuable for professional growth. After each purchase, they must justify the choice using “used to” or “would.”
Habits
- arrive on time
- ask for feedback
- organize tasks
- practice speaking
- help teammates
- solve problems independently
- communicate clearly
- accept corrections
- prepare before meetings
- reflect after mistakes
Example:
“We bought ‘ask for feedback’ because successful interns would ask supervisors how to improve.”
Part 2 – Internship Problem Lab (15 min)

Students receive workplace problems and explain what habit the intern used to have and what new habit they would develop. This is practical and connected to soft skills.
Problems:
- The intern arrived late.
- The intern forgot deadlines.
- The intern avoided speaking to clients.
- The intern did not ask questions.
- The intern worked alone too much.
- The intern ignored feedback.
- The intern was afraid of presentations.
- The intern made careless mistakes.
- The intern did not organize tasks.
- The intern lacked confidence.
Response frame:
“He used to…”
“Later, he would…”
“This helped him develop…”
Part 3 – Interview Exit Answer (10 min)
Each student gives a short answer to this interview question: “What habit helped you grow professionally?” They must use either “used to” or “would.”
SESSION 3: CONSOLIDATION (80 min)

Part 1 – Preparation: Professional Milestone Interview Panel (15 min)
Students prepare for an interview panel. Each student creates a professional profile with one internship or job experience, two past habits, one soft skill, and one milestone. They prepare keywords only.
Profile options:
- marketing intern
- assistant teacher
- customer service assistant
- junior designer
- restaurant assistant
- tech support intern
- event assistant
- social media assistant
- sports coach assistant
- administrative assistant
Part 2 – Professional Milestone Interview Panel (50 min)
Students rotate through roles: candidate, interviewer, and observer. The candidate explains past habits and career growth. The interviewer asks questions about internships, jobs, and soft skills. The observer notes one strong use of grammar and one strong professional skill. This activity is interactive because students speak, question, evaluate, and rotate.
Required language:
- used to for past habits or states
- would for repeated past actions
- internship/job vocabulary
- soft skills vocabulary
- one career milestone
Interview questions:
- What did you use to do before your internship?
- What task would you complete every week?
- What skill did you use to struggle with?
- How did you use to react to feedback?
- What would you do when a client asked for help?
- What habit helped you become more professional?
- What responsibility did you use to have?
- What would your supervisor ask you to do?
- What milestone helped you feel more confident?
- How did your past habits prepare you for this role?
Part 3 – Hiring Decision Round (15 min)
Interviewers decide which candidate showed the strongest professional growth. They must justify the decision using one sentence with “used to” or “would.” The teacher closes by connecting repeated habits, soft skills, and career milestones.
RUBRIC: Career Milestones
NEE – Agregar el tipo de adaptaciones curriculares
Principio II: Pautas 6.1 – 6.3 – 6.4
Principio III: Pautas 7.1 – 8.1 – 9.1
ALUMNO 1: Constante monitoreo. Dar tiempo adicional para el desarrollo de la actividad y se reduce el número de ejercicios o se modifican los ejercicios con un nivel de dificultad reducido, de acuerdo con sus necesidades académicas.
ALUMNO 2: Constante monitoreo, Dar tiempo adicional para el desarrollo de la actividad y se reduce el número de ejercicios o se modifican los ejercicios con un nivel de dificultad reducido, de acuerdo con sus necesidades académicas.
ALUMNO 3: Constante monitoreo. Corroborar que el contenido entregado en clase haya sido comprendido por la estudiante mediante retroalimentación.

