Are people really more productive at home?

Answer and give a real example for each one.

1. Where do you usually work or study: at home, in an office, or somewhere else?
2. How long is your commute? How do you spend that time?
3. Where are you most productive?
4. What is the biggest distraction when you work at home?
5. Do you miss anything about office life (or would you)?
6. What is your perfect working day like?

For each word or phrase, say one true sentence about your work or study.

Choose the word or phrase that fits.

1. Since the pandemic, many people work .
2. Our company has a model: Monday and Friday at home.
3. I spend two hours a day on my .
4. I'm more when I work in a quiet café.
5. My cat, the fridge and the TV are my biggest .
6. After six months alone at home, I started to feel .
7. She works from a different country every month. She's a .
8. Working from home needs a lot of .

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. to travel to work every day = to
   commuteswitch offburn out
2. to become exhausted from work = to
   burn outswitch offkeep track
3. to stop thinking about work = to
   switch offwork remotelycommute
4. in person =
   face-to-faceremotelyhybrid
5. a shared office for freelancers =
   a coworking spacea commutea video call
6. lonely and cut off =
   isolatedproductivehybrid

Use each phrase to give your opinion about where people should work.

• The main advantage of... is that...Головна перевага ... в тому, що...The main advantage of remote work is that you save time on commuting.
• The biggest drawback is...Найбільший недолік — це...The biggest drawback is feeling isolated.
• On the one hand..., on the other hand...З одного боку..., з іншого боку...On the one hand, it's flexible; on the other hand, it's lonely.
• It works well for... but not for...Це добре підходить для..., але не для...It works well for programmers but not for nurses.
• Personally, I find it easier to...Особисто мені легше...Personally, I find it easier to focus at home.
• What I miss most about... is...Чого мені найбільше бракує в ..., так це...What I miss most about the office is the coffee breaks.
• In the long run, ...У довгостроковій перспективі...In the long run, remote work might be bad for teamwork.
• The best of both worlds is...Найкращий варіант з обох світів — це...The best of both worlds is hybrid work.

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

1. The experiment took place during the pandemic.
   TrueFalse
2. The home workers were about 13% more productive.
   TrueFalse
3. All the home workers wanted to stay at home after the experiment.
   TrueFalse
4. Some workers worried that working from home would hurt their careers.
   TrueFalse
5. Many experts now recommend hybrid work.
   TrueFalse

1. Are you more productive at home or in the office? Why?
2. Would you choose home or office if you were one of the workers in the experiment?
3. Which jobs could never be done remotely?
4. How can remote workers avoid feeling isolated?

Adding ideas: also, moreover, what's more, as well as. Results: so, that's why, as a result. I save two hours a day. What's more, I save money. As a result, I'm less stressed. Careful: ✗ Despite I work at home... → Although I work at home...

1. AlthoughDespite
   I like working from home, I sometimes feel lonely.
2. DespiteAlthough
   the traffic, I arrived on time.
3. I love my job.
   However,Although
   the salary is quite low.
4. My sister works from home,
   whereasdespite
   my brother goes to the office every day.
5. In spite ofEven though
   working long hours, she's always cheerful.
6. I don't have to commute.
   As a result,Despite this,
   I have more free time.
7. Remote work saves time.
   What's more,However,
   it saves money.
8. Even thoughIn spite of
   he lives far away, he never misses a meeting.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. Despite I was tired, I finished the report. →
2. Although the noise, I could concentrate. →
3. I like the office. Although, it's far from my home. →
4. In spite of to work at home, she's very busy. →
5. Despite of the rain, we went out. →
6. He earns a lot, however he isn't happy. →

Answer in detail. Use linking words for contrast, adding and results.

1. Compare working from home and working in an office. Use however, although and whereas.
2. What is the biggest advantage of your current way of working? What's more, what else do you like?
3. Describe a time when you managed to work well despite many distractions.
4. Although remote work is popular, some companies want everyone back in the office. Why?
5. Compare your working day with a family member's working day.
6. What would make you more productive, and as a result, happier at work?

Compare the three workers. What are the advantages and drawbacks of each set-up? Who is the happiest? Who might burn out? What advice would you give each of them?

Describe your ideal working week in detail. Explain your reasons.

1. Where would you work and how many days a week?
2. What hours would you work?
3. How would you stay in touch with colleagues?
4. What rules would you have for yourself so you can switch off?

1. How do you feel at the end of a day of video calls?
2. What is your best tip for staying focused?
3. Have you ever felt close to burning out? What helped?
4. Do you have a special place or routine for working?
5. Would you like to be a digital nomad? Where would you go?
6. What do you do on your commute?
7. How do you switch off after work?
8. Do you prefer communicating by message, call or face-to-face?

1. Should managers be able to check what remote workers are doing on their computers?
2. Is it fair that some people can work from home and others can't?
3. Do young employees learn less when they work remotely?
4. How has remote work changed small towns and big cities?
5. What makes a good online meeting?
6. Should companies pay for employees' home internet and furniture?

1. Will offices exist in 30 years?
2. Is working from home good or bad for families?
3. Should there be a "right to disconnect" law, so bosses can't message you after work?
4. Does remote work make people lonelier?
5. Is the four-day week a better idea than remote work?
6. Can creativity happen on video calls?

"Remote work is the future; offices will disappear."

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: Although... · However, ... · Despite ... · What's more, ... · As a result, ...