Tag: Work and Workplace

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Simon Sinek shares a valuable lesson he learned from working with the Navy SEALs. He explains that while performance is important, trust is what truly defines a strong team. The SEALs value those who are not only capable but also reliable and supportive, the ones others know they can depend on.

Want to know who the most toxic person in the workplace is? Watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

1. What does “lopsided” mean in the sentence, “The problem in business is we have lopsided metrics.”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
2. What does “got one’s back” mean? “Who’s always got your back and will be there with you when the chips are down.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
3. What does “when the chips are down” mean in the sentence, “Who’s always got your back and when the chips are down, they will always be there with you?”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think companies should prioritize trust as much as performance when promoting employees? Why or why not?
2. Have you ever worked with someone who was high-performing but difficult to trust? How did it affect the team?
3. What do you think makes a person trustworthy at work?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Even in professional environments, not every boss leads with confidence. Some managers struggle with insecurity, which can show up as micromanaging, defensiveness, or taking credit for others’ work.

This video by Amy Gallo from Harvard Business Review explains how to recognize an insecure boss and offers practical ways to handle the situation without escalating conflict.

Vocabulary Questions

1. What does “to rile someone up” mean? “If your boss is riling you up, excuse yourself for a moment to take time to compose yourself and calm down.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
2. What does “to downplay” mean? “Don’t, in anyway downplay your efforts, but highlight the partnership.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
3. What does “to set the tone” mean? “It’s never too late to reset the tone of your relationship.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever worked or studied under someone who seemed insecure or controlling? How did it affect your performance?
2. Why do you think some people become insecure after being promoted to leadership positions?
3. Which of Amy Gallo’s tips (patience, teamwork, flattery, reassurance) do you think is most effective? Why?
4. What are the possible effects of working for an insecure boss in the long term?
5. If you were the manager, how would you prevent your own insecurities from affecting your team?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many managers struggle to lead effectively because they focus too much on controlling every detail of their employees’ work. This behavior, known as micromanagement, can hurt creativity, stop growth, and push good employees to leave. Leadership experts say that to build strong teams, managers need to trust their people and let them learn from experience.

To understand why micromanagement leads to failure and what great leaders do instead, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

1. What does “stifle” mean? “When you micromanage somebody, you stifle their creativity.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
2. What does “hover over” mean? “Every time you hover over them and manage every single thing they do, they stop expressing themselves.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
3. What does “push beyond one’s limitations” mean? “All growth happens when we push beyond our limitations.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think some managers micromanage their employees?
2. How can micromanagement affect a team’s creativity and motivation?
3. What’s the best way for a manager to help employees grow without micromanaging?
4. Have you ever worked with someone who micromanaged others? How did it feel?
5. What can employees do if they feel their boss is micromanaging them?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many companies have asked employees to return to the office after years of remote work. But with open office spaces becoming more common, employees need to be mindful of how their behavior affects others. Small things like keeping your voice down, eating neutral-smelling food, and keeping your desk clean can make the workplace more pleasant for everyone.

To learn more tips from corporate etiquette expert Thomas Farley, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

1. What does “to keep one’s volume down” mean in the sentence, “If you’re on the telephone, you really should keep your volume down.”? Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “to reflect on someone/something” mean in the sentence, “If you’ve got the desk that looks like Pig Pen works there, it really reflects on the company very poorly.”? Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “to be taken the wrong way” mean in the sentence, “You don’t want to have any calendars that might be taken the wrong way or might offend some other people in the workplace.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

1. How do you feel about open office setups? Do they make work easier or more stressful?
2. What office habits do you find most distracting?
3. Why is it important to keep your workspace clean and organized?
4. How can workers politely remind others to be mindful of noise or smells?
5. What are some examples of office behavior that could be “taken the wrong way”?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, many are rethinking the value of a university education. AI tools can now perform tasks once done only by highly educated professionals, raising questions about the role of traditional learning. Some believe university is still important for developing critical thinking and specialized knowledge, while others argue that practical experience and digital skills may now matter more than a degree.

Watch the video to know more and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does the phrase “worth doing something”? “With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, many are rethinking if it’s worth going to university.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
2. What does “to go far”? “One thing is for sure: a student with a variety of skills, a lifelong desire to learn, and a good attitude will go far.“ Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
3. What does the phrase “plug the gap” mean? “Online courses can help plug the gaps in what students don’t learn at university.” Make you own sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you believe a university degree is still necessary to succeed in the age of AI? Why or why not?
2. Should students focus more on developing practical digital skills instead of pursuing a traditional degree?
3. In what ways do you think artificial intelligence is changing the skills that students need to learn in university?
4. How can universities adapt their programs to stay relevant in an AI-driven world?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Earning a college degree has long been viewed as a reliable pathway to a stable career and financial security. However, in recent years, many U.S. college graduates are finding that the job market is anything but guaranteed.

A significant number struggle to land full-time positions, face a high degree of underemployment, or end up in jobs unrelated to their fields of study. This challenging reality raises urgent questions about the value of higher education, the readiness of graduates, and the alignment between academic programs and the evolving demands of employers.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “stand out” mean? “Jaimee del Piano thought her credentials would stand out.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
2. What does “turbulent” mean in this sentence, “Graduates are entering a turbulent economy with more competition for entry-level positions.” Use the word in your own sentence. Give a synonym.
3. What is “grit“? “Many successful people achieve their goals not just through talent, but through grit and persistence.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think a college degree still guarantees a good job in today’s economy? Explain.
2. Should universities focus more on teaching practical job skills rather than theory? Elaborate.
3. How can the education system and employers work together to better prepare students for the job market?
4. What are the main reasons many U.S. college graduates struggle to find stable employment after graduation?
5. Do fresh graduates in your country share the same struggles? Talk about the situation.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As AI continues to rapidly evolve, the global fear of it replacing human workers rapidly increases as well. Though many countries have experienced similar technological booms in the past and have been able to recover, AI still proves a major threat to non-specialized workers globally.

Low-income countries like the Philippines and Bangladesh may take the brunt of the economic damage, while countries with vast resources and AI investment like the US and China may gain large sums of profit.

To find out more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “the first domino to fall” mean? “Tools like LLMs can now handle those tasks in seconds at a fraction of the cost and these jobs which make up a big share of GDP in many developing countries are looking like they might be the first dominoes to fall.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
2. What does “brain drain” mean in this context, “The result is an accelerating brain drain that leaves poorer nations with fewer start-ups, fewer teachers and researchers and dramatically fewer chances to catch up in the global AI race and it’s clear which countries are leading that race.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
3. What is a “clanker”? “These factory jobs may have been replacing US workers with Chinese workers, but there is no critical reason why human workers couldn’t be replaced with clankers.” Use this term in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

1. While AI supercharges growth in rich nations what happens to the rest of the countries?
2. If one person armed with AI can replace four people, what can those four deal with the situation?
3. In your opinion, can workers and economies adapt fast enough to survive the shift to AI?
4. Discuss the impact of AI growth on your country’s workforce and economy.
5. If you were in a position of power, how would you mitigate the potential damages AI could cause?