Tag: Work and Workplace

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.“?

Workers Adopt Corporate Jargon

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

In the modern world of the workplace, corporate jargons such as “ICE”, “ping”, “circle back”, and “double click” abound. 

Employees, despite being overwhelmed with such business lexicon, just resort to adopting it and using them in their day-to-day correspondences at work.

Read the article about workers capitulating to this word salad of corporate jargon.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240202-the-animal-instinct-that-drives-workers-to-adopt-corporate-jargon

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “boots on the ground” mean? “The sales team has boots on the ground. They visit customers directly, attend trade shows, or be present at industry events to build relationships.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to double click on something” mean here: “We need to double-click on the data to understand the root cause”? Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to run something up the flagpole” mean here: “The company first ran the idea up the flagpole last year.”? Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the importance of corporate jargon?
  2. What are all the things wrong with it?
  3. What are your thoughts on all this work parlance these days? Do you think they are necessary? Explain.
  4. Share your insights on this: But as employees have come to understand office jargon, and even rely on it, Cooper cautions companies use these words to make processes opaque.
  5. Express your opinion on this: Cooper and Brown agree the popularity of corporate jargon has a fairly simple explanation: the desire for status in the workplace, or “human peacocking”.
  6. Cite at least three (3) industry-specific shorthands you use in your line of work and explain what they stand for and/or what they mean.

Should You Work for a Big or Small Company?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When choosing a job, people often wonder whether it’s better to work for a small company or a large one.

In this video, a career coach explains that small companies usually give you more hands-on experience because you handle many tasks. However, your career growth may depend on how fast the company grows.

On the other hand, large companies offer more structure, stability, and clear paths for promotion, but progress may be slow.

The speaker suggests that switching between small and large companies can actually help you grow faster and gain more diverse experience.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “clear path forward” mean in the sentence, “You have the safety of a large organization that is going to have opportunities for you to grow and a clear path forward.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “bounce between the ladders” mean in the sentence, “You can move up the ladder by bouncing between the ladders.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “risk taker” mean in the sentence, “Or whether you’re a little bit more of a risk taker and like those smaller companies”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which do you prefer: a big job in a small company or a small job in a big company? Why?
  2. Have you ever worked for a small or large company? What were the advantages and disadvantages?
  3. Do you agree that switching between small and large companies helps your career grow faster? Why or why not?

Signs You’re Working for a Failing Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people believe that having a regular 9-to-5 job ensures stability, but the truth is that no job is ever completely stable. As the article below explains, whether it’s due to company mismanagement, a lack of demand, or even illegal activities, a failing business usually shows several warning signs. Read the full article, and if you’ve noticed any of the following at your place of employment, it might be time to restart your job search.

https://vocal.media/journal/10-signs-you-re-working-for-a-failing-business

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “no fault of one’s own” mean in the sentence, “We may arrive on time every day, do our very best, and even take on extra tasks without being asked, yet we could still be unemployed tomorrow through no fault of our own.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “read between the lines” mean in the sentence, “Those who can read between the lines, however, would be more than wise to plan their own escape”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “down the drain” mean in the sentence, “Company morale has gone down the drain”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think are the first signs that a company is failing?
  2. Have you ever worked for a company that showed some of these warning signs?
  3. How can employees protect themselves when a business starts to struggle?
  4. Do you think loyalty to a company is important even when things are going downhill?
  5. Which of the ten signs in the article do you think is the most alarming, and why?

Meaningless Jobs and Modern Slavery

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this talk, psychologist Jordan Peterson warns about how bureaucratic systems can slowly destroy your motivation and integrity.

He explains that when people are told to follow foolish or pointless rules, they often pretend to agree just to fit in.

Over time, this weakens both their character and their happiness. Peterson advises people to speak up early when asked to do something clearly unreasonable.

Watch the video to learn more about this topic.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “object” mean in the sentence, “You should object at the earliest possible point”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “resentful” mean in the sentence, “It’ll make you resentful and irritated, and that will also undermine your motivation”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “escape route” mean in the sentence, “You should always have an escape route planned, and it should be active”?
    Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think people sometimes follow rules they know are wrong or foolish?
  2. How can speaking up early prevent bigger problems later in the workplace?
  3. What are some healthy ways to deal with a toxic or overly controlling work environment?