Tag: work

Importance of Diversity in the Workplace

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Diversity in the workplace can create a better company. It shows what employees from different backgrounds can actually do and its impact on the company in both financial and cultural aspects. They have the opportunity to learn from one another to have a more effective workplace.

Watch the video explaining the importance of diversity in the workplace.

Discussion Questions :

  1. What is the importance of diversity at work?
  2. What is your opinion about different backgrounds and cultures at work?
  3. How is a greater diversity of workers has been impacting businesses?
  4. What conflicts or problems might arise in working with different cultures in the office?
  5. How can working with people from different cultures be applied to a situation in your past/present work?

Little Things That Affect Our Work Relationships

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The workplace is a professional environment so no matter who you work with, you want to maintain a certain level of professionalism.

Coworker relationships involve a series of “micromoves” which are “small actions or behaviors that seem inconsequential at the moment but affect how we relate to one another”.

In this article, we look at how we can preserve our working relationship.

The Little Things That Affect Our Work Relationships

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe your relationships at work.
  2. How do you fix a bad working relationship?
  3. What are the factors to having good relationships at work?

How Does an Interpreter Juggle Two Languages

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being an interpreter is a demanding job as they consecutively think and speak in different languages. A slight nuance may actually be catastrophic. Despite the complexities of language and cultural exchanges, how are miscommunications prevented?

Watch the video and learn more about

 

 

Discussion Questions:

1. How do interpreters master their skills?

2. How are interpreters appreciated in your country?

3. How do interpreters prevent miscommunications?

4. What is your impression about this job? Given a chance, would you like to be an interpreter?

5. What are your thoughts on this statement: “War is what happens when language fails”?

What is Employability?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

‘To be employed is to be at risk, to be employable is to be secure.’

Skills, understandings and personal attributes are all important for anyone to have in today’s job market.

Watch the video to know what employers exactly look for an applicant.

Discussion Questions:

1. Based on the employers’ answers in the video, give employability skills one should have.

2. What are the benefits of having employability skills?

3. What makes you employable?

4. How have Spanish people’s perspectives about employability changed in the past years?

Why Appraisals Are Pointless?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In so many ways, whether the company would thrive or fail relies on employee quality. Hence, many companies resort to appraisals in order to sort the good apples from the bad ones.

Read the full article and discover why the dreaded appraisals just don’t work and what might be the better way to boost employee productivity.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190501-why-appraisals-are-pointless-for-most-people

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of employee performance ratings?
  2. What are your thoughts on performance reviews?
  3. Talk about the performance review process of your company.

Japan University to Hire Non-smoking Staff Only

B1 – Intermediate

A university in Japan does not want to hire people who smoke. They have a reason for doing so.

Find out through the article below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190505-no-smoking-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on not hiring smoking staff?
2. Do you think companies should tell their workers to stop smoking?
3. What do you think about prohibiting smoking in public places?
4. What is your opinion about letting people smoke in schools or universities?
5. Do you think there are fewer people smoking in your country now than years ago?

Why you should know your coworkers salary?

C1 – Advanced

It’s cringe-worthy to ask your colleagues how much they earn, and the same goes for telling them your salary. Hence, knowing how much they make causes curiosity among employees. According to a new study, salary and pay are now more openly discussed among coworkers in the U.S. and there is a good reason to do so.

Watch the video to know why salaries should be shared and why it actually makes business sense.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. How does salary transparency benefit a company?

2. Do you agree or disagree with the speaker?

3. Are you confident to share how much your salary is?

4. What do you think are the risks of discussing your salary with your colleagues?

How to Get a Raise

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Our boss should notice our accomplishments and give us a raise. But in the real world, that is rarely the case. If you want a raise or promotion you have to ask for one. Question is, how do you ask for a raise and get it?

Watch the video for some tips.

Discussion Questions:

1. When and how to ask for a raise?

2. Why do you think women are reluctant to ask for a raise?

3. Do you think you need a raise?

4. Talk about your experience asking your boss for a higher salary.

5. If you were an employer, what would you consider before giving your employees a raise?

Japanese Women Rebel Against High Heels

B1 – Intermediate

Most companies impose dress codes on their workers and some companies even compel their female workers to wear high heels while working. We all know that it is important to follow our company’s rules and regulations but what if apart from the pain, women also complain about injuries after slipping, falling, and tripping due to wearing of high-heeled shoes.

Let’s find out how the movement started in Japan.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1904/190403-high-heels-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hashtag” mean? “The movement has the hashtag KuToo – a combination of the Japanese words that mean “shoe” and “pain”.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “petition” mean? “She started an online petition.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “impaired” mean? “A visually impaired woman who has to wear high heels at work said it is difficult for her to keep her balance in high heels.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did the campaigns against having to wear high heels start?
  2. Why do companies require women to wear high heels?
  3. What do you think about wearing high heels?
  4. Have you ever been compelled to do something you don’t want to at work?

Stop Procrastinating and Maximize Productivity

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing a task or set of tasks. It is a challenge we have all faced at one point. As humans, we have been struggling with delaying, avoiding, and procrastinating on issues that matter to us.

Click the link below to watch the video on how to beat procrastination and learn some useful strategies that will make it easier for us to start working on our tasks ahead.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What are some reasons why people procrastinate?
  2. What kinds of things do you usually put off doing?
  3. What are the negative effects of procrastination?
  4. When is it good to procrastinate?
  5. According to the video, how can one kick the habit of procrastination?