Pre-reading questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- What was your first job?
- Do you work from home or at the office?
Vocabulary
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- stressful /STRES-fuhl/
- employee /em-PLOI-ee/
- likely /LAHYK-lee/
- period /PEER-ee-uhd/
- gain /geyn/
[adjective] – making you feel worried and nervous
Finding a job was one of the most stressful moments for Lucas.
[noun] – someone who is paid to work for someone else
The small business currently has 40 employees.
[adverb] – if something is likely, it will probably happen or is expected
Plane tickets are likely to be expensive this December.
[noun] – a length of time
She frequently spends long periods away from home because of her job.
[verb] – to get something that is useful, that gives you an advantage, or that is in some way positive, especially over a period of time
By studying hard for your exams, you can gain knowledge and do well in school.
Article reading
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
Losing a job is stressful and unpleasant. Still, some workers have found a positive side to layoffs.
In a December 2022 LinkedIn poll of over 2,000 US employees, 27% of those who were later let go stated that it was the best thing that had ever happened to them. Many people use this time to start their own businesses, find their dream jobs, or reassess how they combine work and life. Few people consider the benefits of being laid off. Because of our negativity bias, people are likely to think of incidents like being laid off as an intensely negative situation at first. However, layoffs can help us take a closer look at who we are. During this period of existential reorientation, the time and space they bring can help us understand who we are on a deeper, more meaningful level.
In the end, some workers have discovered that being laid off motivates them to go beyond their comfort zones. They have gained from and learned from losing their jobs.
In a December 2022 LinkedIn poll of over 2,000 US employees, 27% of those who were later let go stated that it was the best thing that had ever happened to them. Many people use this time to start their own businesses, find their dream jobs, or reassess how they combine work and life. Few people consider the benefits of being laid off. Because of our negativity bias, people are likely to think of incidents like being laid off as an intensely negative situation at first. However, layoffs can help us take a closer look at who we are. During this period of existential reorientation, the time and space they bring can help us understand who we are on a deeper, more meaningful level.
In the end, some workers have discovered that being laid off motivates them to go beyond their comfort zones. They have gained from and learned from losing their jobs.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- There are no positive sides to being laid off.
- 27% of those laid off said that it was the best thing that happened to them.
- Over 20,000 Japanese employees answered the survey in December 2022.
- Many of the laid-off employees used their time as an opportunity to start their own businesses.
- Few people think about the advantages of getting laid off.
Fill in the blanks
Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
| stressful | employee | likely | period | gain |
- I had a _______ day at work. I just want to relax tonight.
- It’s very _______ that it will rain today.
- She has _______ a lot of support from the students.
- My father used to be an _______ at a government office.
- The discount is available for a limited _______ only.