Summary
This ESL lesson for C1 English students explores Four-day work week. Using a real audio as the basis for discussion, students develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar skills across a 90-minute class.
The grammar focus is Using the passive voice for objective reporting. Key vocabulary includes paradigm shift (noun phrase), burnout (noun), staff turnover (noun phrase) and more, all drawn directly from the source material. The practical English section gives students useful phrases for real-life situations: You are in a business meeting, presenting the results of a pilot program and recommending a course of action to senior management..
Activities
- A warm-up discussion to activate prior knowledge and get students thinking about the topic before listening.
- Comprehension exercises based on the audio to check understanding of the main ideas and key details.
- A grammar focus on Using the passive voice for objective reporting. In business and academic English, we often use the passive voice (be + past participle) to report findings or describe processes. This creates a more formal and objective tone by focusing on the action or result itself, rather than on who performed the action.
- Vocabulary expansion with advanced expressions related to Four-day work week not found in the source material.
- Practical English phrases for You are in a business meeting, presenting the results of a pilot program and recommending a course of action to senior management., with exercises to practise using them naturally.
- A speaking task where students role-play a real-world scenario, applying vocabulary and phrases from the lesson.
Vocabulary focus
The vocabulary section introduces C1-level words and phrases related to Four-day work week. Key terms include paradigm shift (noun phrase), burnout (noun), staff turnover (noun phrase), logistical hurdles (noun phrase), work-life balance (noun phrase). Students practise using these terms in context through exercises drawn from the source material.
Grammar focus
This lesson focuses on Using the passive voice for objective reporting. In business and academic English, we often use the passive voice (be + past participle) to report findings or describe processes. This creates a more formal and objective tone by focusing on the action or result itself, rather than on who performed the action.
