Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- crave /kreyv/
- interaction /in-ter-AK-shuhn/
- inclusive /in-KLOO-siv /
- distinct /dih-STINGKT/
- norm /nawrm/
[verb] – to have a very strong feeling of wanting something
Many young children crave attention.
[noun] – an occasion when two or more people or things communicate with or react to each other
What is her interaction with her boss like?
[adjective] – containing or including a particular thing
The bill is inclusive of food and lodging.
[adjective] – clearly separate and different (from something else):
His pronunciation is quite distinct.
[noun] – an accepted standard or a way of behaving or doing things that most people agree with
Non-smoking is now the norm in most workplaces.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The study of hybrid work is extensive and continuous. But now we’re starting to come to at least some conclusions.
Many businesses are experimenting with 3-2 or 2-3 set-ups, but it’s not working out well. The choice of how many days a week businesses need employees to work in the office is one of the most important ones they have had to make. Within businesses, hybrid work is highly diverse. There isn’t exactly a model that fits all businesses, even as they make arrangements for returning employees. A hybrid job has various emotional effects. Some people find that hybrid employment gives them a much-needed emotional lift. When returning to work with coworkers whose faces they haven’t seen in months, employees who have been desperately craving human interaction find themselves revived. Creating a hybrid work plan that is completely inclusive is really difficult. People have extremely distinct demands, and this is something that both employers and employees have learned about employment throughout the pandemic. The office’s mission has altered. Experts predicted that hybrid work would alter not just how we used the office, but also its physical appearance earlier in the pandemic. The nature of employment in the future, including hybrid arrangements, is still up in the air.
But for the time being, the emphasis will be on refining the rules and procedures that make hybrid setups work the norm, making this phase feel more intentional and less like an experiment. Global movements will help us solve immediate problems, come up with long-term fixes, and, hopefully, make hybrid work, even if progress is slow.
Many businesses are experimenting with 3-2 or 2-3 set-ups, but it’s not working out well. The choice of how many days a week businesses need employees to work in the office is one of the most important ones they have had to make. Within businesses, hybrid work is highly diverse. There isn’t exactly a model that fits all businesses, even as they make arrangements for returning employees. A hybrid job has various emotional effects. Some people find that hybrid employment gives them a much-needed emotional lift. When returning to work with coworkers whose faces they haven’t seen in months, employees who have been desperately craving human interaction find themselves revived. Creating a hybrid work plan that is completely inclusive is really difficult. People have extremely distinct demands, and this is something that both employers and employees have learned about employment throughout the pandemic. The office’s mission has altered. Experts predicted that hybrid work would alter not just how we used the office, but also its physical appearance earlier in the pandemic. The nature of employment in the future, including hybrid arrangements, is still up in the air.
But for the time being, the emphasis will be on refining the rules and procedures that make hybrid setups work the norm, making this phase feel more intentional and less like an experiment. Global movements will help us solve immediate problems, come up with long-term fixes, and, hopefully, make hybrid work, even if progress is slow.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Do you like the idea of hybrid work? Why or why not?
- How many days do you work a week? Could you tell me about your work setup?
- If you were to choose, what work setup would you choose? Why?
- Do you agree that hybrid work would change not only how we used the office but also how it looked earlier in the pandemic?
- What do you think of 3-2 or 2-3 set-ups? Please elaborate on your answer.
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- experiment
- diverse
- arrangement
- pandemic
- intentional