Interviews

High-intermediate

Four Corners Debate

• Objective: Encourage students to express their opinions on related statements to help them prepare for the listening portion of the lesson.
• Activity:
  1. Post four signs in the room: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree.
  2. Read a statement like these:
     • “Remote work is better than office work.”
     • “Productivity is higher at home.”
     • “Social interaction at work is essential for mental health.”
     • “Working in an office is essential for teamwork and collaboration.”
     • “Remote work improves mental health by reducing workplace stress.”
     • “Office work creates stronger relationships between coworkers.”
     • “Technology makes remote work just as effective as office work.”
     • “Everyone should have the option to choose between remote and office work.”
     • “Remote work leads to greater distractions at home.”
     • “Employers should trust employees to be productive, regardless of where they work.”
     • “Remote work makes people feel isolated and lonely.”
     • “Hybrid work models (a mix of remote and office) are the best solution.”
     • “People working remotely should have fewer perks than office workers.”
     • “In the future, most jobs will be remote.”
     • “Companies save money when employees work remotely.”
  3. Students move to the corner that matches their opinion and discuss their reasons with others in their corner.

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the video:

productive (adjective): getting a lot of work done; efficient, effective
– She felt very productive after finishing all her tasks before noon.
– Working from home can help some people be more productive.

flexibility (noun): the ability to adapt or change easily; openness, adaptability
– Having flexibility in her schedule allows her to work whenever she feels most focused.
– Remote jobs often provide more flexibility than office jobs.

collaborate (verb): to work together with others; cooperate, team up
– They decided to collaborate on the project to finish it faster.
– Remote tools make it easier for people to collaborate from different locations.

drawback (noun): a disadvantage or problem; downside, weakness
– The main drawback of working remotely is the lack of in-person interaction.
– Every option has its drawbacks, but it’s important to weigh the benefits too.

dedicated (adjective): used for one purpose only; committed, reserved
– She has a dedicated workspace at home to stay focused on her job.
– The company created a dedicated team to handle customer support.

Now, watch the interview and answer the comprehension questions. You can also turn on the automatically-generated captions for the video once you start it.

Intermediate Level

1. How does Aubrey’s experience of working from home compare to working in an office? Which environment do you think you would prefer, and why?
2. Aubrey mentions having a flexible work schedule. How does this flexibility impact her daily life, both personally and professionally?
3. What do you think is the most challenging part of working remotely, based on the interview? Do you agree with Aubrey’s perspective?
4. Aubrey talks about the importance of separating work from personal life. Why do you think this is important, and how can it help with productivity?

Advanced Level

1. Aubrey says remote work gives her more control over her environment and schedule. How does this level of control affect work-life balance, and do you think it could lead to better productivity or potential burnout?
2. Considering the different working styles discussed in the interview, what do you think are the long-term social and psychological effects of remote work compared to office-based work?
3. Aubrey’s ability to set her own schedule and work from home addresses both her personal and professional needs. How do you think remote work could reshape societal expectations of productivity and job structures in the future?
4. The interview highlights the potential for remote work to increase productivity. Do you think remote work can be effective for all industries and roles, or do some jobs require more in-person collaboration and structure?