Spanglish Notes: Work Conversations
Level up your work vocab (Spanglish style!)
Last week's coffee chat fell just before International Workers’ Day—perfect timing for diving into the theme of work. We were lucky to be joined by some fellow language teachers (thank you for your ongoing support!), which led to a rich and layered conversation.
As we explored how to talk about our professions, it quickly became clear that job titles are just the beginning. Explaining what we do is often also about expressing our values, our identity, and what drives us. What started as simple “I teach English/Spanish” statements soon evolved into deeper reflections on teaching philosophies, work-life balance, and the freedom (and challenges) of being your own boss. This is exactly the kind of shift we love to see: from textbook-style dialogue to real, meaningful exchanges.
Another thread that came up was how culture and day-to-day realities shape the way we talk about work. Even seemingly straightforward terms like “freelancer” or “autónomo” carry different connotations across regions, and that influences how natural certain expressions feel in one language versus the other. It’s a reminder that switching languages is never just about words —it’s about changing perspectives.
🔄 Spanish-English Notes: Beyond "What do you do for a living?"
Every profession develops its own "insider language" or jargon—terms that make perfect sense within the field but can be baffling to others. Add a second language to the mix, and suddenly it’s not just about translation, but about navigating different professional traditions altogether. For instance, as language teachers, we may use different terms to talk about language levels depending on where we work (A1, A2, B1… vs. Novice, Intermediate, Advanced…). These subtle distinctions are especially relevant in today’s interconnected world.
Here are some of the terms we explored together—plus a few extras we’ve added. Hopefully, they’ll be useful in your own context, too.
💼 Workplace vocabulary
📋 Employment status
Notes:
While "autónomo" is particularly common in Spain and often has specific tax implications, the term is also used in other Spanish-speaking countries. "Freelance" has been adopted into Spanish as well—although it's an anglicism, it's widely used and often coexists with traditional Spanish terms like "trabajador(a) independiente" or "profesional autónomo."
During our session, L. shared that "estar en planilla" is commonly used in Peru to talk about being officially employed with benefits, while in other Spanish-speaking countries you might hear "estar en nómina" among other expressions.
🤓 Learning & professional development
These are just starting points. We encourage you to build your own list of go-to terms—ones that reflect your specific industry, experiences, and work context.
🗣️ Your turn: Describe your work
One of the most rewarding parts of our session was hearing people describe their work in ways that felt real and personal in their target language. Now it's your turn!
Here’s a simple exercise you can try:
What do you actually do (beyond your job title)?
Who benefits from your work?
What do you find meaningful about it?
You might even experiment with two versions:
→ one formal, like if you were introducing yourself at a conference
→ one informal, like if someone casually asked, “¿En qué consiste tu trabajo?” / “What does your job/work involve?”
Share your professional descriptions in the comments! We'd love to learn more about what you do.
📅 Join our next coffee chat: Non-verbal communication across cultures
Ready to practice Spanish and/or English in a supportive, bilingual environment?
Our next session explores the fascinating world of non-verbal communication and body language. Whether you're curious about cultural differences in making gestures, want to share your own observations about body language, or simply enjoy thought-provoking conversations, join us for another relaxed session where everyone's welcome to express themselves in English, Spanish, or a bit of both!
Date: Wednesday, 7th May at 11:30 am EDT / 4:30 pm BST
Spaces: Limited to 6 participants