Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- giant /JAHY-unt/
- counterintuitive /koun-ter-in-TOO-i-tiv/
- step up /step-uhp/
- shift /shift/
- lavish /LAV-ish/
[noun] – a very successful and powerful person or organization
Walmart is an American retail giant.
[adjective] – contrary to what one would intuitively expect
Thinking small is a counterintuitive strategy for some businesses.
[phrasal verb] – to take action when there is a need or opportunity for it
We should step up our social media marketing this month.
[verb] – to move or to cause (something or someone) to move to a different place, position, etc.
The school will shift to online classes starting next week.
[adjective] – large in quantity and expensive or impressive
The Phantom of the Opera is known for its lavish production.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Google announced on April 13, 2022, that it plans to invest $9.5 billion in its US offices and data centers. The search giant owned by Alphabet Inc. has required many of its employees to work in an office three days a week after two years of being fully remote. “It might seem counterintuitive to step up our investment in physical offices even as we embrace more flexibility in how we work,” Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet and Google, stated in a blog post. “Yet we believe it’s more important than ever to invest in our campuses and that doing so will make for better products, a greater quality of life for our employees, and stronger communities.”
Google will open a new office in Atlanta this year and continue to develop and expand office space in other US cities like Austin and New York. The company will also invest in its existing data centers in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas. Google was among the first businesses to shift to remote work when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. As part of its expansion, the company hopes to create at least 12,000 new jobs by the end of 2022. Along with other companies in Silicon Valley, Google had previously invested billions in expansive and lavish workstations.
Google will open a new office in Atlanta this year and continue to develop and expand office space in other US cities like Austin and New York. The company will also invest in its existing data centers in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas. Google was among the first businesses to shift to remote work when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. As part of its expansion, the company hopes to create at least 12,000 new jobs by the end of 2022. Along with other companies in Silicon Valley, Google had previously invested billions in expansive and lavish workstations.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Describe the typical office space in your country.
- Are Information Technology (IT) jobs in demand in your city? Why or why not?
- If you were a CEO, what idea would you propose to make the office space more comfortable for employees?
- Do you think more companies worldwide should adopt Google’s hybrid work model? (3 days in the office, 2 days of remote work)
- In your opinion, what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of working in an office?
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.
- invest
- require
- flexibility
- quality
- expand