Tag: Work and Workplace

French Health Workers’ Pay Rise

B1 – Intermediate

They are clearly the heroes during this extremely difficult times. They are the health workers including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. With all the work that they do for us, how do we repay them?

There will be an increase in its health workers’ salary in France. The pay rise is a reward for the hard work of health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read this lesson on health workers’ salary.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200716-health-workers-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “applaud” mean here, “During the outbreak, millions of French people applauded nurses and doctors.“? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “protest” mean, “Unions asked them to stay away as a protest.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “staff” mean, “The unions said the government had to do more to protect staff and keep them safe.“? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think health workers deserved this pay rise? Why or why not?
  2. Talk about salaries and benefits of health workers in your country. Do you think they are properly compensated?
  3. How were health workers’ hard work recognized or how were they rewarded during the pandemic in your country? 

Twitter Employees Can Work at Home Forever

B1 – Intermediate

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey emailed all his employees that most of them can continue working from home for as long as they want.

A Twitter spokesperson said, “Opening offices will be our decision. When and if our employees come back, will be theirs.” Even after the coronavirus pandemic, the employees can still have the freedom to choose where they want to work.

Twitter is an online company so almost all of the employees can just converse on chats and video calls. The past few months have proven that working online is possible.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about Twitter’s decision to let their employees work at their homes forever.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200515-working-at-home-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Give 1-2 synonym/s of the phrase “work from home“. “Twitter has told many of it employees they can work from home forever.” Use them in your own sentences.
  2. What does the expression “to be in a good position” mean? “Twitter is in a good position for workers to work at home.” Make your own sentence using the phrase.
  3. What does the expression “to make something happen” mean? “If they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen.” Make your own sentence using the phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your reaction towards Twitter letting their employees work from home forever?
  2. Do you think that this set up of working from home can still be productive for workers and the company?
  3. What are the advantages of working form home for the employees and the company?
  4. What are the disadvantages of working form home for the employees and the company?
  5. Given a chance, would you want to work from home for the rest of your life? Why?

Switching Careers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A career transition can be challenging. Why do people change careers? Is it boredom, uncertainty, benefits, or goals that make people question their career choices? When can be the best time to change careers?

Let’s read the article about when an employee considers a career change in their life.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/08/success/switching-careers-pandemic/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be the challenges of making a sudden and big change in one’s career?
  2. What is your opinion on this statement, “The job market is a mess, but you can still switch careers.“?
  3. When is the best time to change careers? Why do you think so?
  4. What job skills are the most in demand for a career change?
  5. What could make you change your current job for another one?

Planning an Event

B1 – Intermediate

Working with a group of people can be both challenging and advantageous. Some prefer to work by themselves while others think sharing responsibilities could be the fastest way to get the job done.

In this lesson, you will find how the team managed to delegate each task effectively in order to plan an event.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/intermediate-b1/planning-an-event

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Give 1-2 synonyms of “organise“. Use them in your own sentences.
  2. What is an “emcee“? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “book” mean in this sentence, “I can do that if someone books the speakers.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. If you were part of this team, which task/s do you think you would prefer to do and why?
  2. Talk about a time when you had to organize/plan an event.
  3. What are some rewards and challenges of planning an event?
  4. How are tasks usually divided in your project teams?
  5. Why is delegating tasks important?
  6. Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others? Why?
  7. What are your thoughts on this, “Democratic leadership is one of the most popular leadership styles because it involves input from the entire team and fosters employees’ sense of ownership in their work.”?

Working From Home Tips

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some may think that working from home is the “dream” as you can kiss goodbye to traffic jams, uncomfortable uniforms, short lunch breaks, and say hello to comfort and a flexible lifestyle. While these can be true, others may still find it hard because they can feel less productive and unmotivated when working at home.

This video might be helpful now that most of us are working remotely. Please watch the video and learn some new tips on how you can master working from home.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the things that you do to manage your schedule?
  2. Are the tips mentioned in the video helpful? Do you do them?
  3. Do you prefer working from home or working in the office?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working remotely?

Budget Cuts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When business isn’t doing good, some companies opt to cut costs so they can still operate. In the process of doing so, they are dealt with tough decisions such as cutting back on projects and staff. Employees panic when there are issues like this going around the office.

Watch the video and find out more about when rumors travel through the office.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-level-2-lesson1/3960391.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What jobs were mentioned in the video?
  2. What did the workers think the meeting would be about? Why did they think so?
  3. Some office issues start with a rumor, how do we prevent them?
  4. Has your company undergone budget cuts before? What measures did they have to take?
  5. Talk about some rumors that spread within your company that caused some issues among the employees.

Line Management

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Managers are the ones responsible for controlling damages, creating new tactics, trainings, and administering new procedures to make sure the company runs smoothly.

Most of the time, the manager is the go-to person of old and new employees when they need assistance at work.

Listen to the audio and let’s see how managers handle different staff.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/business-english/podcasts-for-professionals/line-management#

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever managed staff? Talk about your experience.
  2. Explain why line management matters.
  3. What makes a good line manager?
  4. What are some management strategies you know of?
  5. What are the aspects of managing that could be difficult?
  6. What are the positive things about managing staff?

Job Hunter Puts CV on Billboard

B1 – Intermediate

Not having a job is a very difficult situation for anyone. A French man was having problems finding a job. He tried everything but nothing worked until he had a unique idea.

Read the lesson for more details on this story and be read to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1401/140109-job-hunting-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Laurent Le Bret’s idea?
  2. What do you think about what the billboard company did for Laurent Le Bret?
  3. How easy/hard is it to find a job in your country? 
  4. How do you find a job in your country?
  5. Talk about how you found your current job.

Four Signs You’re Not Cut Out For Freelance Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are enormous advantages to freelancing that is why a lot of people are considering shifting from a traditional job to a freelance work. Freelance work offers flexibility and the notion of being your own boss. Although there are a lot of benefits to this alternative way of working, at some point, going freelance may not suit everyone.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/9253-four-signs-you-re-not-cut-out-for-freelance-work-and-what-to-do-about-it

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is freelancing becoming more popular in your country?
  2. What are the most in-demand industries for freelancers?
  3. What are the benefits of having a freelance work?
  4. Do you agree with the disadvantages mentioned in the article?
  5. Have you done freelance work before? Do you think you are cut out for it?

Actors

B1 – Intermediate

It must be great to be famous, paid a lot of money, and do what you love doing. Welcome to the life of an actor!

Listen to the audio and read the transcript of this lesson about actors.

https://listenaminute.com/a/actors.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about being an actor?
  2. What are the good and bad things about being an actor?
  3. Who are some of your favorite movie stars and theatre actors?
  4. Do you like watching movies and theatre plays? Why or why not?
  5. Have you ever performed in front of many people? Talk about that moment.