Tag: 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?

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?

Teenagers and Saturday Jobs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The conventional Saturday job is vanishing as teenagers are now more focused on their school and college work rather than “earning while learning”, a report suggests.

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

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/saturday-jobs-teenagers-school-work-students-resolution-foundation-report-a9270206.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is it common for teenagers to work while studying in your country?
  2. How is/was your teenage life like?
  3. If you would be given a chance, would you work and study?
  4. What are the possible advantages and disadvantages of juggling work and studies?
  5. Did you have a job when you were a teenager? What lessons did that experience teach you?
  6. Do you agree or disagree that Saturday jobs for teens should disappear?

Pros and Cons of Having a Part-time Job

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Is it possible for students to focus on their studies when they have a part-time job? Some people say it is a major distracting factor. However, a job can also have a positive influence on the studying process. If one prioritizes his studies, he will get the results that he wants. On the other hand, working too hard can lead to wearing oneself out and therefore getting bad grades.

There are many things to consider before making the decision to get a job while studying in college. Click the link to read the pros and cons of having a part-time job and be able to answer the discussion questions.

https://www.thedailystar.net/shout/life/pros-and-cons-having-part-time-job-1453216

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever experienced doing a part-time job when you were in college? If yes, how was it? What do you think are the up/downsides of doing it?
  2. Which of the pros and cons stated in the article do you agree and disagree with?
  3. Would you allow your child/children to get a part-time job while they are in college? Why or why not?

How to Embrace Emotions at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Workplace is a challenging place and managing your emotions at work is very important. Do you feel weak or are you able to manage your emotions pretty well to have a healthy work environment?

Let us watch the video to learn some tips on how we can overcome overwhelming or sometimes unnecessary emotions at work.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to let sth/sb run wild” mean, “If you suddenly let your feelings run wild at work and give people far more information than they bargained for, you make everyone around you uncomfortable and you also undermine yourself.”? Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. What does “lurid” mean, “[ It’s ] great to say you weren’t feeling well last night — you don’t need to go into every lurid detail about how you got reacquainted with your half-digested dinner.”? Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “read the room” mean, “And finally, read the room and provide a path forward.”? Use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is selective vulnerability? Talk about the four ways on how to practice this.
  2. Do you agree or disagree that “emotions don’t belong at work”?
  3. Are you an under-emoter or an over-emoter? Cite reasons why.
  4. Talk about some relatable stories about when your emotions (both good and bad) got the best of you at work.

How the Progress Bars Keep You Sane?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Progress bars started out as something that provided an update on a given task, to know where you stand, and what exactly you are doing. Does its presence on the screen make people feel better or worse during long-running tasks?

Let’s watch the video to learn more about it.

Discussion Questions:

1. Are progress bars a good way to measure the amount of work that is being done? Do we need it? Why or Why not?

2. Can software influence your emotions?

3. Do progress bars cause anxiety on people?

4. In a daily workday, do you constantly need the validation of your tasks to know your progress?

5. What devices or applications do you use which makes you feel that they are driving you towards a goal?

6. The speaker says, “The progress bar gives you the vision of a beginning and an end and that you’re working towards a goal and in some ways, mitigates the fear of death”. What are your thoughts on this statement?

Working From Home

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Just a month ago, working from home was was a far-fetched work setup for most of the global workforce. With the current health crisis the world is facing, however, it has become the norm. As we continue to navigate through the uncertainties and acclimatize to new living conditions, many will have to translate their skill set for use in home-based work through online technologies.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to weigh in on this matter.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/new-reality-of-working-from-home/5347353.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the differences between office-based and home-based work?
  2. Which professions can easily be done from home? Which will require more effort to relocate?
  3. What are some of the challenging aspects of working from home?
  4. Talk about your thoughts on and/or experience working remotely.

Creating a Dream Team

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you ever wonder why a team consisting of very talented employees usually do not perform to their maximum capacity? Is there really a way to create a ‘dream team’ in the workplace? If so, how is it done?

Read the article and find out more about the up and coming science of collective intelligence and learn some tips on how to boost team performance — dream team or not.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190807-the-science-of-creating-a-dream-team

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are factors affecting a team’s success?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that team members’ IQ have something to do with their success/excellent performance?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that too much talent can be counterproductive?
  4. Describe your team at work, your team dynamics, and talk about how each member contributes in making the team perform to its best potential.
  5. What was the biggest challenge that your team ever had to face and how did you overcome it?