Present Progressive and Simple- Jobs Miming

Actions in jobs miming present tenses practice

Choose one of the jobs below and mime one action which that person often does, e.g. miming “I’m carrying a heavy bag” or “I’m cycling” for “Postal worker”, and ask “What am I doing?” If your partner guesses correctly, ask “What do I do?” and get them to guess the related job. If they guess the wrong job, do the same for other actions for the same job until they get the right job.

(Security) guard/ Bouncer/ Bodyguard	Flight attendant/ Cabin crew	Architect	Artist, e.g. painter or sculptor
Athlete (= Sportsman)	Au pair/ Babysitter/ Nanny	Baker	Bank clerk
Barber/ Hairdresser	Barman/ Barmaid/ Bar tender	Builder/ Construction worker	Cameraman
Care worker	Carpenter	Cashier/ Shop assistant	Cleaner/ Maid
Cook/ Chef	Delivery man/ (Motor)cycle courier	Doctor/ GP/ Surgeon	Farmer
Fire fighter/ Fireman	Fisherman	Homemaker (= Housewife/husband)	Journalist/ Reporter
Librarian	Member of the royal family	Nurse	Office worker/ Clerk
Photographer	PI (= Private investigator/ detective)	Police officer (= Policeman)	Politician (e.g. mayor or MP)
Postal worker/ Postman/ Mailman	Priest/ Monk/ Nun	Receptionist	Secretary/ PA
Sailor	Server (= Waiter/ Waitress)	Soldier	Spy/ Secret agent
Tailor	Taxi driver/ Chauffeur	Teacher/ Lecturer/ Professor/ Tutor	Technician/ Service engineer/ Mechanic
Television celebrity/ Television presenter	Tour guide	Vet (= Veterinarian)

Ask about any jobs which you don’t understand, couldn’t make suitable actions for, etc.

Are there any differences between similar jobs above?

Which of these expressions is more recent/ politically correct? 

Air hostess/ Cabin crew                            Athlete/ Sportsman

Barmaid/ Bar tender                                  Fireman/ Fire fighter

Homemaker/ Housewife                                         Police officer/ Policeman

Postman/ Postal worker                                          Waitress/ Server

What do the older/ less politically correct expressions have in common?

 

What are the differences between the following words and expressions? 

Cameraman and photographer                Body guard and security guard

Babysitter, au pair and nanny                  Bank clerk and banker

Barber and hairdresser                             Doctor and surgeon

Office worker and businessman              Secretary and PA

Taxi driver and chauffeur

 

Mime an action below until your partner guesses the action and what job from above you are thinking of. If the sentence says “something”, you may need to think about which object you are using before you start.

You are answering the phone.                               You are bowing.

You are brushing something.                                You are carrying something.

You are changing something.                                 You are choosing.

You are cleaning.                                                                   You are clicking on something.

You are counting something.                                 You are cutting something.

You are drawing.                                                                    You are driving.

You are fixing something (= mending something = repairing something)

You are giving something.                                                    You are greeting someone.

You are holding something.                                    You are kneeling.

You are listening.                                                                   You are looking at something.

You are looking for something.                              You are measuring.

You are moving something.                                    You are picking up something.

You are pointing.                                                                   You are pulling something.

You are pushing something.                                   You are putting on some clothes.

You are reading something.                                   You are running.

You are serving someone.                                                    You are shaking hands.

You are showing something.                                 You are signing something.

You are speaking.                                                                  You are tidying (up).

You are typing.                                                          You are washing.

You are wearing something.                                   You are wiping.

You are writing.                                                         You are connecting something(s).

You are meeting someone.

You’re travelling (on a plane/ on a bus/ on a train/ in a taxi).