Tag: work

Anxiety Shows Up With a Toxic Boss

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Working with a boss can be stressful, but some bosses make life much harder. A toxic boss can create anxiety, frustration, and even fear at work. These feelings are common, and they can affect your health and your performance.

In this article, we will look at eight ways anxiety can show up when you have a toxic boss, so you can understand your feelings and find ways to cope.

Read this article to learn more.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/toxic-boss-anxiety-goog_l_69a07b2ce4b059e1adf278e0

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to feel on edge” mean? “You frequently feel on edge and irritable.” Use this in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “to lash out at someone“? “You may find yourself choosing your words extremely carefully and speaking up less in meetings out of fear that they will lash out at you.” Make a sentence with this.
  3. What does it mean when “sh*t hits the fan“? “‘Oftentimes, the dread that you feel when you wake up for the day is about, ‘Is today the day that sh*t hits the fan?” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some physical signs of anxiety that the article says people might feel because of a toxic boss? How do these show that stress affects both mind and body?
  2. How can constant stress from a bad boss affect relationships outside of work, like family or friends?
  3. In your country, how common do you think it is for people to have a boss who creates stress, and why?
  4. What are healthy ways people can cope with work stress or anxiety caused by difficult people?
  5. What could governments or workplaces do to reduce the number of toxic bosses and protect workers’ mental health?

Challenges and Opportunities in a Multigenerational Workforce

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In modern workplaces, employees from multiple generations — including Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z — collaborate daily, each bringing unique viewpoints, work habits, and values. These generational differences can sometimes lead to misunderstandings in communication, expectations, and teamwork, especially as technology and workplace practices evolve quickly. Recognizing and understanding these differences is important because they affect how teams interact, solve problems, and create innovative solutions.

Closing the generational gap involves creating strategies that help people of all ages work together smoothly. This means valuing diverse communication methods, accommodating varying levels of tech proficiency, and acknowledging the strengths and preferences of each generation. Companies that manage to bridge these differences effectively often see stronger collaboration, higher employee engagement, and a richer mix of ideas and experiences within their teams.

Read the article about addressing challenges and uncovering opportunities in a multigenerational workforce.

Bridging the Generational Divide: Addressing Challenges and Uncovering Opportunities in a Multigenerational Workforce

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “adeptness” mean? “These differences can manifest in the workplace, impacting communication styles, technological adeptness, and preferred work environments. Clarifying these distinctions aides mutual understanding and collaboration.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “cohort” mean? “Failing to address these challenges can lead to intergenerational conflicts, reduced team efficiency, and an inability to attract or retain talent from across different generational cohorts.” Construct a sentence featuring this word.
  3. What does the word “dissonance” mean? “The urgency to resolve generational differences is acute, as organizations that do not evolve will struggle with internal dissonance and decreased competitiveness in a rapidly diversifying labor market.” Construct a sentence featuring this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think technology increases the generational divide at work? Why or why not?
  2. What strengths do older workers bring to a team? What strengths do younger workers bring to a team?
  3. Why is it important for companies to understand generational diversity?

Is Human Connection the New Job Security

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What looks radical today may be necessary in the future because it’s difficult to see how human professionals could survive in an era focused on AI. Similar to Jane Wurwand, the creator of the multimillion-dollar skincare brand Dermalogica, she views “high touch,” or human connection, as the counterpart to the evolving technology of today.

To find out more about the jobs that AI can’t replace, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to keep spinning something out” mean?  “Numbers. Checking. Organizing. You keep spinning that out.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “to take the strength” mean?  “So we have to take the strength and move with it.” Use this term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What is the meaning of “t0 box someone/something”? “As do many jobs. And even if and-it’s so-we shouldn’t to box things into that’s tech and this is human.” Use this idiom to make your own sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Jane’s idea of high touch as the counterpart of high-tech?
  2. Why do you think human connection is the “new” job security?
  3. Do you think that soft skills are becoming more important than hard skills? Share your thoughts.

Walk and Talk

B1 – Intermediate 

Is there a way to combine health and work productivity? Well, how about instead of one-on-one meetings, we have meetings while walking.

This way of working could have some benefits.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about walking meetings.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/walk-and-talk-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “go together” mean? “Health and work can go together, just like walking and meetings.” Use the phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “fresh idea” mean? “Fresh air and movement can bring fresh ideas, making work both effective and enjoyable.” Use the phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. Define “creative thinking”. “They also encourage creative thinking by taking people out of their usual office environment.” Use the phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “productivity” and why?
  2. What are the good and bad things about walking meetings?
  3. What is your opinion about walking meetings?
  4. Do you think your co-workers would like this idea? Why or why not?
  5. How can we conciliate health and work?
  6. Do you agree or disagree that fresh air and movement can bring fresh ideas? Share your opinion.

Nursing Degree Loses Professional Status

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The recent restrictions in President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” that omit nursing from a list of professional degrees shocked many. The law will limit the amount of student loans available to nursing students. It means lowering reimbursement to their tuitions, which could only suggest that nurses don’t matter anymore despite the shortage of healthcare personnel and the nature of the profession.

To find out more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “tucked into” mean? “A new set of regulations tucked into the Trump’ Administration’s Big Beautiful bill removes nursing from a list of professional degree.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “ socio-economic ladder” mean?  “You limit a lot of women and minorities women access to further climb the socio-economic ladder.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What is the “Title VIII funding”?  “Not only did they move into this rise committee, but they were moved title VIII funding.” Use this expression to make your own sentence and give a synonym

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the removal of nursing from the professional list in the US?
  2. How will this affect the current healthcare system?
  3. Who does this removal affect most?
  4. If you were the president of the US, would you remove nurses from the the list of professional degrees? And why?
  5. In what way would this decision be revoked from the “Big, Beautiful Bill”?

Hierarchy or Flat Structure?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Workplaces can be organized with a traditional hierarchy, where everyone reports to a specific manager and communication flows up and down the chain, or with a flat structure, where teams work more collaboratively, make decisions together, and rely less on rigid reporting lines.

Many modern teams are leaning toward flat structures because they encourage teamwork, transparency, and flexibility while still keeping some leadership guidance at the top. After all, who really wants a boss constantly looking over their shoulder?

Watch the video to hear different perspectives on hierarchy and flat structures in modern workplaces.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “hierarchy” mean in the sentence, “If you have a hierarchy, then everybody in the organization knows exactly who they’re reporting to”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “flat structure” mean in the sentence, “My preference would be for a flat structure, where people work in partnership and enjoy a flexible working environment in today’s modern world.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “an even playing field” mean in the sentence, “It’s much more about team working and an even playing field where people are working remotely”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. Which do you think works better, a hierarchy or a flat structure? Why?
  2. How can a company balance leadership and teamwork in its structure?
  3. Do you think remote work encourages flatter structures? Why or why not?
  4. What challenges can come from having too many levels in a company?
  5. What type of structure would you prefer to work in personally? Explain your answer.

The Problem with Job Titles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people take pride in their job titles, but this video challenges that idea. The speaker explains that job titles don’t always reflect a person’s real skills or value. In smaller or growing companies, titles are often made up or mean something only within that team. What truly matters, he says, are your actual abilities, what you contribute, and how well you fit in with your company’s culture.

Watch the video about the problem with job titles and why they shouldn’t matter.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “boutique team” mean in the sentence, “Small kinds of boutique teams make up job titles that don’t make sense.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “make up” mean in the sentence, “They would make up job titles; things that didn’t even make sense.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the term “bucketing” mean in the sentence, “I think job titles have become a naming scheme for bucketing.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think job titles are important when applying for a new job? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think matters more, a person’s title or their actual skills?
  3. Have you ever had a job where your title didn’t match what you really did?
  4. How do job titles affect the way people see themselves or others at work?
  5. If you could create your own job title, what would it be and why?

Even Harvard’s Smartest Graduates Can’t Get a Job

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In today’s world, everyone should have ample opportunities to find good jobs, with strong technology, better infrastructure, and easy-to-access knowledge globally. But that ideal isn’t our current reality. Many youths among Gen Z struggle to find jobs; even those that have attended universities as prestigious as Harvard cannot find good jobs, let alone any jobs at all. But why?

To find out more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “vicious circle” mean? “This requirement contradicts the purpose of such positions and places young people in a vicious circle.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to string together” mean?  ”“More than 60% believe they will have to string together multiple temporary or gig economy jobs before accessing a stable position.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “hybrid job” mean?  “For many, that meant a remote or hybrid job. And for some, it meant throwing out the 9 to 5 altogether.” Use this expression to make your own sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Should companies continue requiring prior job experience for entry-level positions? Elaborate on your answer.
  2. Do you believe that in the current economy Gen Z is facing, they will be able to earn good jobs after finishing college with good grades?
  3. If you recently graduated in the US, how would you handle the lack of job opportunities?
  4. In your opinion, what are the main factors contributing to the lack of job opportunities among Generation Z?
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “Generation Z youth believe they will not achieve financial independence until age 28 or 30.”
  6. Share your insights, “Companies, for their part, show a clear tendency to retain current employees instead of expanding their workforces.”

AI Taking Over the Hiring Process

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the way companies recruit and hire talent. From screening resumes to scheduling interviews, AI tools are streamlining processes that once took days or weeks.

While these technologies offer efficiency and objectivity, they also raise questions about fairness, transparency, and the human touch in hiring.

In this article, we explore how AI is taking over parts of the recruitment process and what it means for both employers and job seekers.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ai-screener-interviews-jobs_l_6908f3ace4b0ad5446e1157e

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to slog through” mean? “Candidates are slogging through the process trying to just get as much as a conversation, and recruiters and hiring managers are being drowned in resumes and applications by the hundreds.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “to get unstuck out of the mud” mean? “All this AI stuff has felt like a way to try to get unstuck out of the mud, because without it, there’s no way that recruiters could meaningfully sift through the number of applications they’re getting.” Make a sentence with this. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What is the meaning of “to break through the noise“? “The most effective way to break through the noise is through networking and personal connections.” Create a sentence with this idiom and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does AI help recruiters manage the large number of applications more efficiently?
  2. What benefits do job seekers get from AI screenings or automated processes, if any?
  3. In your opinion, what is the most promising benefit of integrating AI into the hiring process?
  4. How could candidates leverage AI-driven hiring systems to their advantage?
  5. How would you feel if an AI system reviewed your job application instead of a human recruiter?

Alberta Curbs Immigration to Boost Youth Employment

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Alberta government is exploring measures to curb immigration, with the hope that reducing the influx of new residents will create more job opportunities for young people in the province.

Officials say this strategy aims to address rising youth unemployment and provide Alberta’s next generation with a stronger foothold in the labor market.

Read this article and watch the video to learn more about the topic.

https://globalnews.ca/news/11433837/alberta-government-immigration-youth-employment

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to reach out to someone” mean? “Alberta’s government is helping to pay $10 of the hourly wage for young people up to 400 hours,” explained Smith. So if you’re looking for staff, do please reach out to them.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  2. Define “resume targeting“. “They’re free to access for anyone aged 15 – 24, and provide services that range from resume targeting, interview prep and connecting youth with potential employers.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “transferable skill” mean? “Communication, working within a team, those are things they’re actively doing at school, along with transferable skills they’ve learned at home.” Create a sentence with this term.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How might immigrants and newcomers feel about such a policy?
  2. Do you think youth unemployment is caused more by a lack of opportunities or by other factors, such as skills or education? Explain your stance.
  3. In your opinion, should governments prioritize local employment over the benefits brought by immigration? Why or why not?
  4. How do you think immigrants contribute to the job market, and how might limiting them affect different sectors?
  5. What’s your opinion on this line from the article “A lack of job experience doesn’t mean a lack of skills.“?