UNIT 8: BALANCE

8.1 How to make the work-life balance work.

Learning outcomes
The students will be able to:

 Discuss what aspects of life we should balance with

work.
 Give opinions and support views using appropriate
lexical expressions.
 WARM UP
Do you know the name of
this sport?

SLACKLINING
What idea comes to your
mind?

BALANCE!!
BRAINSTORMING
Answer these questions
1. Have you or anyone you know ever tried
slacklining?
2. What skills or qualities do you think you need
to have in order to be good at slacklining?

3. What do we have to balance in our lives?

4. Do you find any of these things difficult to
balance, and if so, why?
 GROUP WORK
DISCUSS THESE QUESTIONS
1. What do you know about the term work-life
balance? Give an example that shows what it
means.
2. Which relationship do you think could be affected
by a person’s work?
3. In what ways do you think relationships can have
an impact on someone’s quality of life?
 His idea: Achieving a
work-life balance doesn’t
require a dramatic change in your
lifestyle.
NIGEL MARSH

Australian author and marketer.

He writes and gives
presentations
about business and personal
life
and how these two can
interact.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXM7MpoVAD0
 KEY WORDS Read the sentences (1-6). The words in bold are used in the TED talk.
Match the words with their definitions (a-f).

1. The great thing about flexitime is you don’t need a. A nursery or similar place which looks
to worry about being late for work. E after young children during the day.

2. Some companies don’t do dress-down Fridays b. A period of time off work for men after
because people there dress casually anyway. C their child is born.

3. Paternity leave makes sense in today’s world were c. A policy which lets employees wear
dads are so much more involved with their kids. B informal clothes one day a week.

4. Being unemployed for a long period can lead to d. An idea or an opinion that someone
a sense of desperation. F expresses in discussion .

5. The author’s main contention is that too many people e. A system which lets employees choose
work for many hours.
D which hours they work each day.

6. In parts of the country there are no childcare facilities f. The feeling of being in a very bad
so it’s hard when you have very young children.
A situation which you’ll try anything to change.
UNIT 8.1 How to make the work-life
balance work.
Do you agree with what Nigel
Marsh says about how to
achieve a good work-life
balance?
UNIT 8.1 How to make the work-life
balance work.

life
easy

rubbish

jeans and t-shirt

UNIT 8.1 How to make the work-life
balance work.

T
T

T
 UNIT 8.1 How to make the work-life balance work.

GROUP WORK These are some ideas taken from the video. Discuss them with your friends and say if
you agree or disagree and support your view.

1. Nigel thinks childcare facilities OPINION

in the workplace are both a
good and a bad thing.
1. He says the time frame we
give ourselves to achieve
balance should be neither
too short nor too long.
1. The intelectual, emotional
and spiritual sides of life
are part of the balance.
• From my point of view, ...
• I think / consider / feel / believe / that ...
• I would say that ...
• As far as I am concerned, ...
AGREE
• I agree with you / him ... DISAGREE
• He is quite right / absolutely • I disagree.
right • I don't think so.
• I don't think that's
quite right.
 UNIT 8.1 How to make the work-life
balance work.

Remember to take notes!

WEEK 03, SESSION 01
EXTRA ACTIVITY 01
 FORUM : SMALL THINGS MATTER

Read the extract from Nigel Marsh’s concluding comments.

1. Do you agree with him? Support your view.
2. Think of two examples of the “small things” you can do?

Please, write your answers below. Then comment on one friend’s ideas.

ON CANVAS
 UNIT 8.1 How to make the work-life balance work.

VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT Read the sentences and choose the correct meaning of the words.
1. We need to face the truth that governments and
4. So I’ve decided to get a grip and sort it out.
corporations aren’t going to solve this issue for us.
a. hold
a. accept
b. start again
b. demand
c. take control
c. explain
5. We walked down to the local park, messed
2. We need to elongate it without falling into the trap of
around on the swings
the “I’ll have a life when I retire”.
a. played some games
a. tripping over
b. made a mess for no reason
b. hurting ourselves
c. spent time with no purpose
c. making the mistake

3. A day is too short; “after I retire” is too long. There’s got

to be a middle way.
a. alternative
b. compromise
c. ending
FORUM 01 : VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT

Dear students,

Complete the sentences using your own words.

Regards

ON CANVAS
 PRESENTATION SKILLS: PACE AND EMPHASIS

Nigel varies his speed and pauses for emphasis.

METACOGNITION

Now I can …

01 Discuss what aspects of life we should balance with work.

02 Give my opinion and support my view using appropriate lexical

expressions.
REFERENCES

Stephenson, H. (2019). Keynote. Upper intermediate. Student’s book. Third Edition. National
Geographic Learning. Mexico.

Stephenson, H. (2019). Keynote. Upper intermediate. Teacher’s book. Third Edition. National
Geographic Learning. Mexico.
THANK YOU.
GRACIAS
Contenido elaborado en: