An Ardor Learning Group Class

Working Hours
 In this class you’ll:
Introduction

• Read an article about working hours in Sweden.

• Review vocabulary related to time schedules.
• Collocations.
• Reporting present statements in the past (reported
speech).
 Read the sentences below and match the underlined words and phrases to their
definitions.

1. The newspaper reported that the company is going to move its head office to another
Vocabulary

country.
2. The staff were very happy, so the company had a low turnover.
3. Jane is not at work this month. She’s on leave.
4. A company laptop is an important perk of this job.
5. We need to increase productivity. Workers are getting very lazy.

a. a benefit, such as money or a car, that you are given because of your job
b. a period of time when you do not go to work
c. describe on television, radio, or in a newspaper
d. how fast a company makes things
e. the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by new people
 Find the information
Vocabulary Exercise

You are going to read an article about Sweden’s flexible working hours. Guess the answers to the
questions below and then read the text to check them.

1. When was the six-hour work day first implemented in Sweden?

a. 2 years ago b. 5 years ago c. over 10 years ago

2.How many holiday days do Swedes get every year?

a. 15 b. 25 c. 45

3.How many days of leave do Swedes get after having a baby or adopting a child?
a. 120 b. 240 c. 480

4. How many Swedes work more than 50 hours a week?

a.1 percent b. 6 percent c. 11 percent

5. How many Americans work more than 50 hours a week?

a. 1 percent b. 6 percent c. 11 percent
 The truth about Sweden’s six-hour workday.
Only 1 percent of Swedes work more than 50 hours a week.
1. Employers at a Toyota centre in Gothenburg moved to a six-hour workday ten years ago. Staff were happier, the
company had a lower turnover and profits were higher after it implemented the shorter working hours a decade 10 years
ago.
2. But Indeed.com, the biggest Swedish job site, revealed that Sweden’s six-hour day might not be as revolutionary as it
Reading

sounds. According to the website, there are zero searches for "six-hour workday" or "short work week" in Sweden, and
no jobs are actively promoting the short six-hour day in their job adverts.
3. Tara Sinclair, chief economist for Indeed, said the results don’t mean Sweden’s six-hour workday is myth. "It’s more likely
a sign that Swedes are already used to a healthy work-life balance. So, the topic isn’t that shocking to them," Sinclair said.
4. Swedes get 25 holiday days a year and parents can have 480 days of leave after they have a baby or adopt.
5. Only 1 percent of Swedes work more than 50 hours a week, compared to the US average of 11 percent. That means 144
hours less work a year for the average Swede than the average American.
6. Meanwhile, the number of job adverts with "flexible working arrangements" has stayed the same over the past two years,
while the number of searches for these terms is actually lower. In the US, the number of searches for flexible working
goes up every year. "Flexibility is no longer a new perk but an expected part of any job," Sinclair said.
7. Longer working hours have been linked with heart disease and stroke, according to a medical study.
8. The companies that implemented six-hour days last year have not released any results that show the effect on
productivity. But psychologists warned that shorter working days could put extra pressure on workers to do more work in
less time.
9. "The risk is that people may work more intensively and try to do more work in a shorter period of time. This would
increase pressure, not reduce it," said Gail Kinman, a professor of occupational psychology.
Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions below.

1. What were the benefits of a shorter workday at Toyota?

2. Why is the six-hour workday not a big deal in Sweden?

3. What is the difference between Sweden and the United States when
people are looking for flexible work opportunities on the internet?

4. What are the drawbacks of a longer workday?

5. What are the drawbacks of a shorter workday?

 What is collocation meaning and example?

The definition of collocation refers to a group of words that often go together or that are likely to occur together.
Two words that often go together, such as light sleeper or early riser are an example of collocation. noun.
Business Collocations

Collocations are often used in business and work settings. There are a number of forms including adjectives, nouns and
Collocations

other verbs that combine with keywords to form business expressions.

Here are some business collocations for specific situations.

to open an account Would you like to open an account at our bank?
to forgive a debt Do you think the bank would forgive a debt?
to land a deal We landed a deal worth $3 million.
to key in a PIN Just key in your PIN at the ATM and you can make a
deposit.
to deposit a check I'd like to deposit this check for $100.
hard-earned money Once you get a job, you'll know what hard-earned
money really is.
to close a deal I closed a deal on a new account last week.
to write up a contract Let's write up your contract.
counterfeit money Be on the lookout for counterfeit money in circulation.
 Collocations
Collocation Practice
Match the verbs on the left to the words on the right to form phrases from the text.

1. cut a. free time

2. have b. the hours
3. put c. less hours
4. do d. pressure (on somebody)
5. work e. more work

For each phrase, make up your own sentence.

1. ................................................................................................................................................................................................
2. ................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. ................................................................................................................................................................................................
4. ................................................................................................................................................................................................
5. ................................................................................................................................................................................................
 Is there a flexible working culture in your country?
Discussion
 How would this
Speaking

system affect
people who
work part time
on weekends?
 Do you think this
Speaking

system could affect

people who make a
good income from
over time?
 Reporting present statements in the past
There are two ways of saying what another person said in the past – direct speech and
reported speech.
Grammar Pill

Study the table below:

Direct speech Reported speech

Repeats the exact words that somebody said Reports what somebody said without
or wrote: repeating the exact words:

Newspapers wrote, "Sweden is moving to a six- Newspapers reported that Sweden was moving
hour workday.” to a six-hour workday.

Tara Sinclair said, "The results don’t mean Tara Sinclair said the results don’t mean
Sweden’s six-hour workday is myth." Sweden’s six-hour workday is myth.

Psychologists warned, "Shorter working days can Psychologists warned that shorter working days
put extra pressure on workers to do more work in could put extra pressure on workers to do more
less time." work in less time
 Read the rules for forming reported speech and give examples from the table.
Rules for Forming
Reported Speech
The tense of the verb in direct speech often changes in reported speech. am/is/are –>
was/were present simple –> past simple can –> could
...............................................................................................
...............................................................................................

But it is not necessary to change the tense if the reported situation is still true.

• Peter said that he was at home. (Maybe he is still at home now. Maybe he isn’t.) Peter
• said he is at home. (He is still at home now.)
...............................................................................................
...............................................................................................

After the reporting verb (said, warned, reported, etc.), we can use that or nothing.
...............................................................................................
...............................................................................................
 Now look at the following statements from the article. Write
‘D’ (Direct speech) or ‘R’ (Reported speech) next to each
statement.
Exercise

1. It’s more likely a sign that Swedes are already used to a healthy work-life
balance. So the topic isn’t that shocking to them.

2. Employers at a Toyota centre in Gothenburg said that staff were happier,

the company had a lower turnover and profits were higher.

3. Flexibility is no longer a new perk but an expected part of any job.

 Answer the following questions:

What tense is used in the reported statement above?

Write what the employers said in direct speech:

Exercise

Employers at a Toyota centre in Gothenburg said, "Staff ......................................................... ”

Complete the sentences. Change the tense.

1. "We often work overtime." — They told me that they often worked overtime.
2. "I can’t speak Russian." — She told me that she ……..... Russian.
3. "It’s raining again." — He said it …………………………. again.
4. "Our new office is great." — They said that their new office ………… great.
5. "I don’t have a lot of work to do."—She said that she ……………………. a lot of work to do.
6. "I’m going to spend time with my family." — He said he …………..... Time with his family.
7. "I don’t know where he works." — She said that she ………………… where he ………………… .
8. "We can’t work flexible hours." — They told me that they ………………………. flexible hours.
 Situation:
Working Late

You have organised a birthday dinner celebration for your best friend after work
Role Play

today. However, your boss wants you to work late, insisting the work is urgent. In
your opinion, the work is not that urgent, and you can finish it tomorrow, but with
the new 6-hour schedule you are not sure how this will affect your income.

Student A: Try to convince your boss that it is okay for you to leave early.

Student B: You are the boss. You are extremely worried about a current project
with this new 6 hour a day schedule, for which the deadline is the end of the week.
Progress has been slow due to the new system, and you want everyone to work late
until things are back on track.
 Situation:
You are working on an extremely important project, which is due by the end of
the month. Despite previously promising your boss that you would finish it on
A Late Project

time even after the new 6-hour day was implemented, you now realise that there
Role Play

is no way you can finish it by the end of the month specially with the new hourly
system.

Student A: Explain to your boss that the project will be late and apologize.

Student B: You are the boss. This project absolutely must be finished by the end
of the month, no matter what. The employee must work late every night if that’s
what it takes to make it happen. Clarify how this will be handled now that the
office schedule has gone down to 6 hours.
 What could be the
Discussion

drawbacks of a
longer workday?

What could be the

drawbacks of a
shorter workday?
 Do you think there should be a 4-day week?
Explain your answer.
Discussion
The End

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION

An Ardor Learning Group Class

Social Media
 In this class you’ll:
Introduction

• Talk about social media

• Discuss current trends in this field
• Learn key vocabulary related to Social Media
• Use the causative to talk about something done for
us by other people.
 What do you understand by “Social Media”?
Starter Question
 Key vocabulary
Key Vocabulary

interactive trend meme tweet go viral

tag someone share regret follower hater

Up-to-date device download emoticon/emoji

hashtag profile unfriend update your status

KEY VOCABULCARY
Popular Social Media

In your view, what is the most popular social media? Why?

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 What is a social media influencer? How do I become one?
Influencers

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 Why do you think Facebook is the biggest social media site?
Facebook

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Social Networking Sites

Do you use social networking sites? If you do, which do you use
and how often?

What do you enjoy https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8

about these sites?

If you don’t use social networking sites, why not?

Grammar: Theory

The Causative: Explanation and examples.

When focusing on an action, we sometimes use the causative

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
structure. This structure is also used to talk about arranging for
things to be done for us by other people.

a.- He wants to have his picture removed.

b.- Google got their vehicles fitted with special cameras.

In the causative, we use….or….+ object + past participle

Grammar: Practice

Complete the sentences with these verbs: delete, wash, deliver,

repair. Use the correct causative form.
https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
1. I don’t like dirty cars, so I …… mine …… quite often.
2. Nigel …… a new computer …… tomorrow.
3. We …… our name …… from the list last week.
4. I …… my mobile phone …… yesterday.
Grammar: More Practice

Complete the sentences using the causative.

1. Our printer ishttps://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8

working again. We …… . (repair)
2. All our pictures are on the computer. We never …… . (develop)
3. “My tooth hurts.” “You should …… .” (check)
4. I am not buying my wedding dress in a shop. I …… . (make)
 Give your opinion about the following statement: Online socializing
has a bad effect on real communication.
Opinion

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Marketing on Social Media

There´s a whole world of marketing in social media sites. Could you

mention any striking example? Why has it caught your attention?
https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Social Media Icons

Are you able to recognize all or most of the social media icons?

Which ones are catchier in your view?

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Social media & Politics

How is social media used in politics?

Do you think social media increases voter turnout?

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Social Media in Education

Do you think social media should be used more often in education?

Why? Why not? https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8

Social Media Use and

Do you think there is a link between an overuse or misuse of social

media and mental health issues?
Overuse

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 Taking into account what you have learned so far and your personal
experience, have a discussion about the advantages and
disadvantages of social networking.
Discussion

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 According to current trends, what do you think is the future of social
media?
The Future

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 We hope you’ve enjoyed the class!
The End
An Ardor Learning Group Class

Cultural Differences
 In this class you’ll:
Objectives

• Use direct and indirect communication

• Practice polite language
• Look at business etiquette
• Use would, could for requests
 How often do you deal with people from other
countries or cultures?
Introduction
 How can you deal with digital natives if you are a digital
immigrant?
Introduction
 Direct Communication
Direct & Indirect
Communication
Tell it like it is. The facts speak for themselves. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't
Honesty is the best policy.
It's okay to say no.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Take communication at face value.
Time is money. Get to the point.
The truth is more important than sparing
someone’s feelings. Don’t beat around the
bush.
Indirect Communication
say anything. Tell someone what you think
they want to hear.
Being polite is more important than being
honest.
Avoid saying no; say “maybe” or “possibly,”
even if you mean “no.”
Read between the lines.
Handle communication to save face.
Small talk before business is important
If the truth might hurt, soften it.
 What styles do different countries use?
Direct & Indirect
Communication

In cultures with direct communication style (which tend to correlate with task-
oriented cultures), such as U.S. Americans, Australians, Germans, and Anglo
Canadians, both literal truthfulness as well as efficiency in communication are
highly valued and to some extent are a higher priority than personal or political
sensitivities.
In indirect cultures, on the other hand (Japanese, Chinese, Indians, Saudi
Arabians, for example), directly communicating negative information is seen as
impolite and rude, even in a business setting. Problems are felt to be solved
more productively if they are handled with tact and discretion.
 Tips for direct people
Direct & Indirect
Communication

Soften your statements and ease into topics gradually. Any kind of adverse news
or opinion should be mitigated. Indirect people generally can hear "between the
lines" very well, so they will understand you loud and clear.

Likewise, learn to "listen between the lines." Indirect people often couch
important information in softer terms that direct people may miss if they are not
paying close attention

Avoid outright demands for answers, such as "Why?" "Why not?" "When can you
have this?" You will be at least as effective and far more diplomatic if you say
"Could you give us a little background on that? Can you tell us a bit about your
thinking/position on that? How do you see this playing out?"
 Make these statements less direct:
Direct & Indirect
Communication

And make these ones more direct:

 Soften impolite statements
Polite Language

Impolite Polite
That’s a bad idea. I’m not so sure if that’s a good idea.
This report is awful. This report is not really up to standard.
I don’t like it. I’m afraid, I don’t really like it.
This presentation isn’t good. I’m not satisfied with this presentation.
It doesn’t sound good because Sound’s great, but…
I see your point, but… I agree with you to some extent, but
There might be some truth to what you’re Yes, that’s one way to think about it.
saying, but… However,…
 Here are some other strategies for polite language:
Change your grammar
Polite Language

In English, the Present Simple Tense can sound direct, maybe too direct so…

Change the present tense to the past tense or a progressive (-ing) tense. Your
meaning is still in the present, but you change the verb to add softness, to be less
direct.

TIP: We do this with verbs such as hope, feel, think, want, wonder.
For example:
➢ Do you have time to meet tomorrow to discuss this?
➢ I wondered if you had time to meet tomorrow.
➢ I was wondering if you had time to meet tomorrow.
➢ I’m wondering if you have time to meet tomorrow.
 Here are some other strategies for polite language:
Polite Language

Use vague language

Vague language means not too specific or too direct. We often use expressions
such as: a bit, around, kind of, -ish, a few, quite, slightly, a little

We use these expressions – or qualifiers – to provide less direct information, for

example with times or quantities.

➢ I’d like you to spend around 4 hours to get this project completed.
➢ Why don’t you come to my office at 2:00-ish ( = around 2:00) for a quick
meeting.
➢ That’s not quite what I had in mind. What if we made a few changes?
 Here are some other strategies for polite language:
Use negative questions
Polite Language

Using negative questions softens the language and changes strong language
into indirect language.

Here are a few examples:

➢ We need to review these documents one more time. → Don’t you think that
we should review these figures one last time?
➢ Yes, we’ve met before. I met you at the conference last year. → Haven’t we
met before? I think it was at the conference last year.
➢ You must consider how the client might respond. → Shouldn’t we consider
how the client might respond?
Culture & Business Etiquette
How can culture influence how we deal with people?
Culture & Business Etiquette
High-context cultures are those that communicate in ways that are
implicit and rely heavily on context. In contrast, low-context cultures
rely on explicit verbal communication
Culture & Business Etiquette

Spain is on the list of high-context cultures. Read the explanation below. Do you
agree?

Spain has a high context culture because

any verbal interaction occurs through the
lens of who said it, where they come from,
how they're saying it, and the emotions and
motives behind the words.

The people of Spain can extrapolate

meaning through non-verbal
communication because they value well-
developed relationships. Therefore, they
are always aware of the context and
environment when conversing with others.
Would and Could

Both “would” and “could” are modal auxiliary verbs, which are better known as a
form of helping verbs. Helping verbs have a great name, because they help the
main verb in the sentence.

Would: Past tense of will; expresses something happening in the past or in an

imaginary or hypothetical situation
Could: Past tense of can; shows the potential or ability of something happening

While they're clearly different, their usage in a sentence isn't always as clear.
 ‘Could’ is used to express past possibility, i.e. something that is
possible in the past situation.
Would and Could

It can also be used in giving suggestions to someone or making

polite requests.

To indicate something which you are able or permitted to do:

➢ In my childhood, I could play basketball.
➢ You said we could go for lunch when I complete the assignment.

To make requests, i.e. asking someone to do something:

➢ Could you stay there for an hour, I am just on the way?
➢ Could you tell me the exact address, please?
➢ Could you please close the door?
 To ask for permission:
➢ Could I have the bowl, please?
Would and Could

➢ Could I take your notebook?

To show the possibility:

➢ You could have joined us.

To give a suggestion:
➢ We could go by train instead of the bus.
 The word ‘would’ is used to talk about a future time, from the past
viewpoint. It refers to something, which is just an imagination, i.e. a
Would and Could

situation which is not real or unlikely to happen. It also indicates the

willingness or inclination towards something.

To state things that may happen in the future, from the past
standpoint:
➢ John said he would go for a meeting on Monday.

For making requests, i.e. asking someone to do something:

➢ Would you please give me some time to think over it?

To express intention, from the past standpoint:

➢ You said you would always help me.
 To ask for permission:
➢ Would you mind if I go and meet my friends tonight?
Would and Could

To make an offer or invitation:

➢ Would you like me to help you?

To represent the possibility:

➢ I think James would come this week.

In conditional sentences:
➢ What would you do if you were me?
 Make some suggestions, offers, and invitations with
Would and Could

could and would.

 We hope you’ve enjoyed the class!
The End
An Ardor Learning Group Class

Time Management
 In this class you’ll:
Introduction

• Talk about how to mange your time

• Discuss ways to save time
• Speculating and hypothesising about causes and
consequences
 What is time management?
Starter Question
 What are some of the tools that we can use to manage
our time?
Tools

VOCABULC
 How do you organize your daily workload?
Daily Tasks

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 How much time do you spend reading/answering emails?
Death by Email

What tips do you have for the group?

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 Is it better to multi-task or concentrate on one thing?
Multitasking

What are the pros and cons of each way of working?

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Bad Time Management

What are the consequences of bad time management?

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
All Work and No Play…

How do you maintain a work-life balance?

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Working From Home

How is working from home different from going to the office?

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 How will technology change our relationship with work?
The Future

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Setting Time Limits

Do you think it is necessary to set a time limit in formal meetings?

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Spending or Wasting Time

What does this statement mean?

“Meetings will expand to fill the time they are provided.”

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8

Why is good time management in meetings important?

 We can use these words for speculating and hypothesising about
causes and consequences
Grammar Pill

might … be possible …
https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
be certain … perhaps …
imagine … daresay …
suppose / expect … be likely / unlikely …
bound to … there’s no way …
 Some examples:
Grammar Pill

He might be more efficient if he concentrates on the task in hand.

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
It’s possible that we might need to work from home next week.

He’s bound to be upset with the decision.

I daresay that we’ll be reducing our working week next month.

There’s no way I could do that job.

Grammar: Practice

Talk about some time management ideas these people could

adopt. Use techniques from the Grammar Pill to speculate and
hypothesise about the possible outcomes.
Person Ahttps://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Person B
Amateur sportsperson. Project Manager
Enjoys their work. Married with 2 children.
Job is located 50km from their Works long hours to meet all
house. the project deadlines.

Can’t find enough time to Wants to spend more time

train after work. with family and friends.
Grammar: Practice

You are the Manager in your company.

Make suggestions to your team about how to improve their time

management. https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
Grammar: Practice

Use the phrases from the Grammar Pill to speculate about how to
correct these 6 common time management mistakes:

1. Not Prioritizinghttps://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
2. Procrastination
3. Failing to Manage Distractions
4. Undervaluing time tasks will take
5. Taking on Too Much (saying yes to everything)
6. Not taking breaks
 What do you think these quotes mean?
Quotes

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cAw1HYeXyXBrJjf8
 We hope you’ve enjoyed the class!
The End