CROSSROADS CAFÉ

EPISODE 1

OPENING DAY

Pre-Intermediate → Intermediate → Upper-Intermediate

Episode Map

What is happening?

Victor Brashov is preparing to open a new restaurant called Crossroads Café.

He needs to organize the business, find people to work with him, and get the café ready to open.

As you watch, pay attention to who the people are, what they want, what experience they have, and how they communicate about work.

personal information jobs & employment interview language directions future with WILL second conditional

Choose Your Challenge

Three-Level Study Path

A2 focus: Understand the people, places, jobs and basic information.

Meet the Characters

The People at Crossroads Café

Tap each illustrated portrait to reveal information.

Rosa

Character in the café story

Rosa is one of the people connected with Crossroads Café.

Listen for: the information she gives and the conversations she has with the other characters.

Mr. Victor Brashov

Owner / organizer of the café

Victor Brashov is preparing the new restaurant and needs to organize people and work.

Listen for: questions about jobs, experience and plans.

Katherine

Character in the café story

Katherine is part of the network of people around Crossroads Café.

Listen for: personal information and workplace language.

Jamal

Character in the café story

Jamal is another person introduced in the Crossroads Café story.

Listen for: information about jobs, skills and experience.

Jess

Character in the café story

Jess is one of the people you meet as the story develops.

Listen for: questions, answers and useful expressions.

Henry

Character in the café story

Henry is also connected with the café story.

Listen for: what he says about work and his abilities.

Before You Watch

Activate Your English

Answer each question before watching. Then tap the button to compare your ideas with a suggested answer.

1. What jobs can you name in a café or restaurant?

Possible answers include: cook, chef, waiter or waitress, manager, dishwasher, cashier, delivery worker and cleaner.

2. What information does an employer usually ask for?

An employer may ask for your name, contact information, work experience, skills, availability and references.

3. What makes a good employee?

Useful qualities include reliability, communication, punctuality, flexibility, useful skills and a willingness to learn.

4. What can make opening a new business difficult?

Possible difficulties include money, finding staff, equipment, permits, suppliers, customers and time.

Language Targets

Listen for these expressions

"I'm looking for work."
"I have experience in..."
"What kind of work do you do?"
"Can you tell me about your experience?"
WILL for future decisions and predictions.
Second conditional: If I had..., I would...

Vocabulary Laboratory

Tap a card to reveal the meaning

Try to guess the meaning before revealing it.

candidate TAP TO REVEAL

A person who is applying for a job.

experience TAP TO REVEAL

Knowledge or skill gained by doing something.

employer TAP TO REVEAL

A person or company that hires workers.

handyman TAP TO REVEAL

Someone who does practical repair and maintenance jobs.

availability TAP TO REVEAL

The times when someone is free and able to work.

reference TAP TO REVEAL

A person who can provide information about your work or character.

hire TAP TO REVEAL

To give someone a job.

apply for TAP TO REVEAL

To formally ask to be considered for a job.

While You Watch

Three-Pass Viewing Strategy

First viewing

Don't stop the video. Follow the story. Identify the people and the main problem.

Second viewing

Pause when necessary. Write down jobs, skills, places and useful expressions.

Third viewing

Listen for grammar and details. Support your answers with evidence from the episode.

CROSSROADS CAFÉ

CONVERSATION PRACTICE

Jobs · Experience · Plans

Gap Fill → Grammar → Conversation

Language Toolkit

Useful Conversation Language

These are the expressions you will practise in the conversation activities below.

"I'm looking for work."

"I have experience in..."

"What kind of work do you do?"

"Can you tell me about your experience?"

"WILL"

"If I had..., I would..."

How to practise

Complete the conversation

Step 1: Read the dialogue.
Step 2: Type the missing words.
Step 3: Click Check Answers.
Step 4: Read the complete conversation aloud with your teacher or partner.

Practice 1

Looking for Work

Complete the conversation between a job seeker and a restaurant manager.

MANAGER:

Good morning. Can I help you?

CANDIDATE:

Yes. I'm .

MANAGER:

What kind of do you do?

CANDIDATE:

I in restaurants.

MANAGER:

Can you tell me about your ?

CANDIDATE:

I worked in a café for three years. I also have experience as a waiter.

Answers:

1. looking for work
2. work
3. have experience
4. experience

Practice 2

The Job Interview

Complete the questions and answers.

MANAGER:

What kind of do you do?

CANDIDATE:

I have in customer service.

MANAGER:

Can you about your experience?

CANDIDATE:

Certainly. I worked in a hotel for two years, and I learned how to deal with customers.

MANAGER:

Why are you ?

CANDIDATE:

I'm looking for a new challenge and I would like to develop my skills.

Answers:

1. work
2. experience
3. tell me
4. looking for work

Grammar Practice

WILL — Decisions & Predictions

Use will when we talk about future decisions, promises, offers or predictions.

Future decision

The speaker decides something at the moment of speaking.

"I think I'll apply for the job."

Prediction

The speaker predicts something about the future.

"The café will be very busy tonight."

Complete the sentences

1. I think the café busy tonight.

2. Don't worry. I you.

3. I'm sure Victor the right person.

4. I think I for the job.

Answers:

1. will be
2. will help
3. will find
4. will apply

Grammar Practice

Second Conditional

Use the second conditional to talk about an imaginary, unlikely or hypothetical situation.

Structure

If + past simple, would + base verb

If I had more experience, I would apply for the job.

Meaning

We imagine a situation and then say what we would do in that situation.

If I had more time, I would study English every day.

Complete the sentences

1. If I more experience, I would apply for the job.

2. If I had a restaurant, I good employees.

3. If I the manager, I would interview the candidate.

4. If I had more money, I a café.

Answers:

1. had
2. would hire
3. were
4. would open

Challenge

Mixed Conversation

Now combine the expressions and grammar from the lesson.

VICTOR:

Hello. What can I do for you?

CANDIDATE:

I'm .

VICTOR:

What kind of do you do?

CANDIDATE:

I in restaurants.

VICTOR:

Can you about your experience?

CANDIDATE:

Certainly. If I more experience, I for more positions.

VICTOR:

Don't worry. I think you very well.

Answers:

1. looking for work
2. work
3. have experience
4. tell me
5. had
6. would apply
7. will do

Speaking Practice

Now Have the Conversation

Work with your teacher or partner. One person is Victor and the other person is a job candidate.

1. What kind of work do you do?

2. Why are you looking for work?

3. Can you tell me about your experience?

4. What will you do if you get the job?

5. If you had your own café, what would you do?

Challenge: Try to use all four expressions from the lesson:

I'm looking for work.
I have experience in...
What kind of work do you do?
Can you tell me about your experience?