School, education and careers

Q: Which tense is used to describe your school schedule and daily routines?

The Present Simple Tense is used because your schedule is a habit or a fact.

Q: What are "connectives" and why are they used when describing a school day?

Connectives (like First, Next, Then, Finally ) are words used to sequence events and make descriptions easier to follow.

Q: How can you express your future education plans politely in English?

You can use the phrases "I would like to..." or "I want to..." followed by your choice of study.

Q: How do you describe the duties of a specific job using English grammar?

Use the Present Simple tense to describe permanent facts about what a person in that job does (e.g., "A chef cooks food").

Q: How can you compare two different careers in English?

You can use comparative adjectives , such as "more difficult than" or "higher than," to show the difference between jobs.

Q: When and how do you use the Passive Voice?

Use the Passive Voice ( is/are + Verb 3 ) when the action is more important than who did it.

Q: What grammar structure is used for making promises or predictions about your future career?

Use the Future Simple tense, which is formed using will + verb .

Q: How do you use an "If-clause" to talk about future conditions?

Use the structure: If + Present Simple, will + verb .

Q: What is the difference between a "Subject" and a "Job" in English?

A Subject is what you study (e.g., Medicine), while a Job is the career title (e.g., Doctor).

English · Lower Secondary · 5 min read · Updated: 7 Sept 2026

Welcome to Your Future: School, Education, and Careers!

In this chapter, we explore the world you live in every day—your school—and where you are heading next—your career! Whether you dream of being a YouTuber, a doctor, or a chef, learning how to talk about your studies and your future jobs in English is a superpower that will help you anywhere in the world. We will cover vocabulary for school life, how to describe different jobs, and the grammar you need to talk about your plans.

1. Life at School (โรงเรียน)

School isn't just a building; it's where you learn the skills for your life. Let's look at the words we use to describe our daily routines.

Key School Vocabulary

Subjects (วิชา):

Facilities (สถานที่):

Activities:

Quick Tip: Use the Present Simple Tense to talk about your school schedule because it is a habit or a fact.
Example: "I study English every Monday morning."

Sequencing Your Day

To explain your school day clearly, use connectives to show the order of events:

First, we go to the assembly. Second, we start our first lesson. Next, we have a break. Then, we study Science. Finally, we go home.

Key Takeaway: Using words like First, Next, and Finally makes your speaking and writing much easier for others to follow!

2. Education and Further Study (การศึกษา)

As you move from ม.1 to ม.3, you start thinking about what comes next. In Thailand, after lower secondary school, you might choose different paths.

Types of Education

General Education: Continuing to ม.4–6 to prepare for university.
Vocational Education: Learning specific skills for a job (like mechanics, cooking, or accounting).
Further study: This means continuing to learn after you finish your current level.

Expressing Your Wants

When talking about your education plans, use these polite phrases:
"I would like to study Science in high school."
"I want to go to a vocational school because I like fixing things."

Did you know? By the end of ม.3, you should know between \(2,100\) and \(2,250\) English words! Many of these will be about your education and future.

3. The World of Work (อาชีพ)

What do you want to be when you grow up? To answer this, you need to know job titles and how to describe what people do.

Common Careers

Medical:

Creative:

Service:

Tech:

Describing Jobs

To explain a job, we often use Present Simple because it describes a permanent fact.
"A chef cooks food in a restaurant."
"A tour guide helps tourists travel safely."

Comparison (ม.1-3 skill): You can compare jobs using adjectives.
"Being a doctor is more difficult than being a clerk."
"A pilot's salary is higher than a waiter's."

4. Grammar You Need to Know

To talk about school and careers effectively, you need a few specific grammar tools.

The Passive Voice (For ม.2 and ม.3)

We use the passive voice when the action is more important than who did it. The formula is: is/are + past participle (Verb 3).
"The classroom is cleaned every day."
"English is spoken all over the world."

Talking About the Future

Use Future Simple (will + verb) for promises or things you think will happen.
"I will be a famous artist one day."
"I will study hard for my exams."

If-Clauses (For ม.3)

Use "If" to talk about conditions for your future.
"If I pass my exams, I will study engineering."

5. Polite Communication

In the workplace or at school, being polite is very important. Here are some formulas to remember:

Asking for Help

"Excuse me, could you help me with this assignment?"
"Would you mind explaining this again, please?"

Giving Opinions

When someone asks what you think about a career, you can say:
"I think being a teacher is rewarding because you help children."
"In my opinion, ICT is the most important subject today."

Key Takeaway: Always use "Please" and "Thank you," and use "I'm afraid..." if you need to say "No" politely. (e.g., "I'm afraid I can't help you right now.")

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting the 's' in Present Simple:
Wrong: "My brother work as a doctor."
Right: "My brother works as a doctor." (He/She/It needs an 's' on the verb!)

2. Confusing Subject and Job:
Wrong: "I want to study Doctor."
Right: "I want to study Medicine to become a doctor." (Medicine is the subject; Doctor is the job.)

3. Spelling Careers:
Be careful with words like Engineer, Business, and Secretary. Use a dictionary to check your spelling if you aren't sure!

Quick Review Quiz

1. Which connective shows the last step in a process? (Answer: Finally)
2. How do you say "I want to be" more politely? (Answer: I would like to be)
3. What is the Passive Voice of "The teacher marks the tests"? (Answer: The tests are marked by the teacher)
4. What tense do we use for daily school routines? (Answer: Present Simple)

Don't worry if these terms seem tricky at first! The more you practice talking about your own school day and your own dreams, the easier it will become. Keep practicing, and you'll be ready for your future career in no time!

Quick check

Can you answer these now?

Open each question to check the key ideas from this chapter.

Which tense is used to describe your school schedule and daily routines?

The Present Simple Tense is used because your schedule is a habit or a fact.

What are "connectives" and why are they used when describing a school day?

Connectives (like First, Next, Then, Finally) are words used to sequence events and make descriptions easier to follow.

What is the difference between General Education and Vocational Education in Thailand?

General Education prepares students for university (ม.4–6), while Vocational Education teaches specific job skills like mechanics or cooking.

How can you express your future education plans politely in English?

You can use the phrases "I would like to..." or "I want to..." followed by your choice of study.

How do you describe the duties of a specific job using English grammar?

Use the Present Simple tense to describe permanent facts about what a person in that job does (e.g., "A chef cooks food").

How can you compare two different careers in English?

You can use comparative adjectives, such as "more difficult than" or "higher than," to show the difference between jobs.

When and how do you use the Passive Voice?

Use the Passive Voice (is/are + Verb 3) when the action is more important than who did it.

What grammar structure is used for making promises or predictions about your future career?

Use the Future Simple tense, which is formed using will + verb.

How do you use an "If-clause" to talk about future conditions?

Use the structure: If + Present Simple, will + verb.

What is the difference between a "Subject" and a "Job" in English?

A Subject is what you study (e.g., Medicine), while a Job is the career title (e.g., Doctor).

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