Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 37 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 8: Work and Study

What is fika, and why do Swedes love it?

In Sweden, people stop work for fika: a coffee break with colleagues. Learn to describe your working day with at, on and in, compare three working days, and practise two workplace roleplays.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

My working day

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What time do you start work or study?
  2. Do you have a lunch break?
  3. How do you get to work?
  4. Do you ever work late?
  5. What is the best part of your day?
  6. What do you do after work?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about your day.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. We have a at ten.
  2. The for the report is Friday.
  3. I answer every today.
  4. Please check your for next week.
  5. I for an hour every morning.
  6. My first is to answer calls.
  7. I worked last night.
  8. Our is friendly.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. early ↔
  2. to start ↔ to
  3. A short rest from work is a
  4. The last time to finish work is a
  5. Extra work after normal hours is
  6. to arrive at the right time = to be
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about your working day.

  • I start work at...Я починаю працювати о...I start work at nine.
  • I finish at...Я закінчую о...I finish at half past five.
  • I have a break at...У мене перерва о...I have a break at one.
  • from... to...з... до...I work from nine to five.
  • on Mondays / at the weekendпо понеділках / у вихідніI have a meeting on Mondays.
  • in the morning / afternoonвранці / вденьI answer emails in the morning.
  • I'm busy.Я зайнятий(а).Sorry, I'm busy at the moment.
  • Let's take a break.Давай зробимо перерву.Let's take a break and have coffee.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Time for fika

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What is fika, and why do Swedes love it?

In Sweden, many people stop work once or twice a day for fika. Fika is a coffee break, usually with a sweet snack, for example a cinnamon bun.

During fika, colleagues sit together, drink coffee or tea and talk. They don't talk only about work. Many Swedish companies think that this break is an important part of the working day.

Many people say that fika helps them relax and build a friendly team. A short break can also help you think better afterwards.

So, if you work all day without a break, try fika! Invite a colleague for a coffee and a chat.

When do you have a break at work or study?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Fika is a coffee break.
  2. Swedish people have fika only at home.
  3. People usually eat a sweet snack with fika.
  4. During fika, they talk only about work.
  5. The text says many people think fika helps them relax.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you have a break like fika at work or study?
  2. Do you talk about work during breaks, or about other things?
  3. Is a short break good for work? Why?
  4. Would you like to have fika every day?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Time prepositions

at + time, on + day, in + part of the day or month, from... to...

I start at nine. I have a meeting on Monday. I work in the afternoon. I work from nine to five.

Present Simple routine

Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb: always, usually, sometimes, never.

I usually start at eight. She never works at the weekend. We sometimes have meetings in the afternoon.

Block 8 review

Use the grammar from this block.

Present Simple, have to (L36)

Common mistakes: at / on / in. ✗ I start in nine o'clock → I start at nine. ✗ I have a meeting at Monday → I have a meeting on Monday.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I start work
    nine o'clock.
  2. We have a meeting
    Monday.
  3. I work
    the morning.
  4. I work
    nine to five.
  5. I
    at eight.
  6. She
    at the weekend.
  7. I have a break
    one o'clock.
  8. We have a party
    December.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I start in nine o'clock. →
  2. I have a meeting at Monday. →
  3. I work on the morning. →
  4. I start usually at eight. →
  5. She works never on Sundays. →
  6. We have a party at December. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use at, on, in and adverbs of frequency.

  1. Describe your working day from morning to evening.
  2. When do you have a break?
  3. What do you do in the morning?
  4. What do you do at the weekend?
  5. Do you ever work late?
  6. What is the best part of your day?
5

Three working days and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three working days

Three people describe their working day. Compare their days. Who has the busiest day? Who has the most free time? Whose day would you like?

Person 1

Marta

  • Starts at 7 a.m.
  • Has a long commute
  • Finishes at 3 p.m.
  • Works in a school
Person 2

Denys

  • Works from home
  • Starts at 10 a.m.
  • Has meetings every afternoon
  • Often works overtime
Person 3

Elsa

  • Works in Stockholm
  • Has fika at 10 and 3
  • Finishes at 5 p.m.
  • Never works at the weekend
5.2

Mini-talk: my working day

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: when you start and finish work or study.
  3. Part 2: what you do in the morning and in the afternoon.
  4. Part 3: what you do after work and at the weekend.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What time do you start work or study?
  2. What time do you finish?
  3. How do you get to work?
  4. Do you have a lunch break?
  5. Do you work at the weekend?
  6. Do you often work overtime?
  7. What do you do after work?
  8. What is your busiest day?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. What time do your parents get up?
  2. Who in your family works at night?
  3. Who in your family has a long commute?
  4. What time does your boss arrive?
  5. Who do you have coffee breaks with?
  6. Who works at the weekend in your family?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is a short working day better?
  2. Should companies have a coffee break for everyone?
  3. Is it OK to answer emails after work?
  4. Is it better to work early or late?
  5. How can we use our time better?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Arranging a meeting

You

Colleague

You want to arrange a meeting with a colleague (your teacher). Find a time:
  • say what the meeting is about
  • suggest a day and a time
  • ask if your colleague is free
  • agree on the place
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use at, on, in and Present Simple.
Your teacher

Colleague

Says things like:
  1. When do you want to meet?
  2. I'm busy on Monday.
  3. Tuesday at ten is fine.
  4. See you in the meeting room.
7.2

Describing my day

You

Employee

A new colleague (your teacher) asks about your day. Answer:
  • say what time you start and finish
  • say what you do in the morning
  • say when you have a break
  • say what you do after work
You do most of the talking. Use: I usually... · from... to... · on Mondays · in the afternoon
Your teacher

New colleague

Says things like:
  1. What time do you start?
  2. What do you do in the morning?
  3. When do you have lunch?
  4. What do you do after work?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

meetingdeadlineemailschedulecommutetaskovertimeteam
  1. We have a at ten.
  2. The for the report is Friday.
  3. I answer every today.
  4. Please check your for next week.
  5. I for an hour every morning.
  6. My first is to answer calls.
  7. I worked last night.
  8. Our is friendly.
H2

Block 8 review: choose the correct form

  1. I start work nine.
  2. We have a meeting Monday.
  3. I work the evening.
  4. I at eight.
  5. She on Sundays.
  6. He go.
  7. I work nine to five.
  8. We work late.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 8 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I start at nine o'clock.
  2. I have a meeting at Monday.
  3. She never works at the weekend.
  4. I usually start at eight.
  5. We have a party in December.
  6. I work on the morning.
  7. He works from nine to five.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I start work
  2. I finish
  3. I have a break
  4. I work
  5. I have a meeting
  6. I answer emails
  7. Let's take a break

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.