Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 6 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 2: Work and Money

Why did one company double its workers’ pay?

In 1914 the Ford Motor Company announced a five-dollar day, roughly twice the usual pay. Learn to talk about work experience with the Present Perfect and the Past Simple, and discuss what makes a good employer.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Work and pay

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. How long have you worked or studied in your present place?
  2. Have you ever changed jobs? Why?
  3. What would make you stay in one job for a long time?
  4. Do you prefer a high salary or a pleasant atmosphere?
  5. Have you ever been paid a bonus?
  6. What makes a good employer?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

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

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Workers on the night start at ten p.m.
  2. The factory used an to build cars faster.
  3. He about forty thousand a year.
  4. They can't a new car on this salary.
  5. The company wants to fifty new workers.
  6. A good looks after its employees.
  7. High staff is expensive for any company.
  8. The company made a big last year.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a wage is money paid for
  2. to hire = to
  3. staff turnover is how often
  4. loyal =
  5. a bonus is
  6. to quit = to
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about work experience.

  • It has been a long time since...Минуло багато часу відтоді, як...It has been a long time since I changed jobs.
  • I've worked here for...Я працюю тут вже...I've worked here for five years.
  • I've been here since...Я тут з...I've been here since 2020.
  • He announced that...Він оголосив, що...He announced that workers would earn five dollars a day.
  • As a result of...Внаслідок...As a result of the higher pay, fewer workers left.
  • Historians disagree about...Історики не сходяться в тому...Historians disagree about why he did it.
  • I haven't decided yet.Я ще не вирішив.I haven't decided yet whether to apply.
  • It was a turning point.Це був поворотний момент.The five-dollar day was a turning point.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The five-dollar day

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

Why did one company double its workers’ pay?

In January 1914, the American car maker Henry Ford announced a surprising decision. His factory in Detroit would pay many workers five dollars a day, which was roughly double the usual wage in the industry at that time. The working day was also shortened to eight hours.

There was a practical reason. The work on the new assembly line was hard and boring, and many workers had quit. Reports from the time suggest that the company had to hire many thousands of people each year just to keep its factory running. High staff turnover was very expensive.

After the change, fewer people left, and more skilled workers applied for jobs. Production increased, and the company's profit grew. Some historians say the plan was a success for both the workers and the company.

Not everything was simple. To receive the full amount, workers had to meet certain company rules about their behaviour at home. Many people disliked this.

Some people say that Ford wanted his workers to be able to buy his cars. Historians disagree about his main motive, but the decision has been discussed for more than a hundred years.

Would you work harder for higher pay?

3.2

True or false?

  1. The five-dollar day was announced in 1914.
  2. Ford's factory was in Detroit.
  3. The working day was made longer.
  4. After the change, more workers left the company.
  5. Historians agree on Ford's main motive.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Would higher pay make you work harder or stay longer?
  2. Is it right for a company to control workers' behaviour outside work?
  3. What do workers want most, besides money?
  4. Which jobs in your country have high staff turnover?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Present Perfect and Past Simple

Use the Present Perfect for experiences or situations that connect to now. Use the Past Simple for finished events at a definite time.

I've worked here for five years (still true). I joined in 2020 (finished time). Have you ever quit a job? He announced the plan in 1914.

For, since, already, yet, just

For + a period, since + a point in time. Already and just go before the past participle; yet goes at the end.

I've worked here for five years / since 2020. She has already left. Have you decided yet? I've just finished.

Block 2 preview

Grammar you will use in this block.

Present Perfect or Past Simple (L6) · Present Perfect Continuous (L7) · the passive (L8) · passive reporting, modals (L9) · cause and effect, purpose (L10)

Common mistakes: have worked since / for, and the Past Simple with a finished time. ✗ I work here since 2020 → I have worked here since 2020. ✗ He has announced it in 1914 → He announced it in 1914.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I
    here since 2020.
  2. Ford
    the plan in 1914.
  3. Have you
    quit a job?
  4. She has worked here
    ten years.
  5. I haven't decided
    .
  6. They
    hired a new manager.
  7. We
    friends since school.
  8. When
    the company?
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I work here since 2020. →
  2. He has announced the plan in 1914. →
  3. Did you ever quit a job? →
  4. I have lived here since five years. →
  5. She didn't finish already. →
  6. They have just hired a manager yesterday. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use the Present Perfect and the Past Simple.

  1. How long have you worked or studied in your present place?
  2. Have you ever changed jobs? Why?
  3. What would make you stay in a job for a long time?
  4. What was the best job you have ever had?
  5. Have you ever been paid a bonus or a reward?
  6. Would you accept a very high salary with strict rules?
5

Three people at work and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people at work

Three people talk about their jobs. Compare them. Who has worked the longest? Who seems the most satisfied? Which job would you prefer?

Person 1

Dan, 34

  • Has worked at a factory for two years
  • Earns a good wage
  • Works the night shift
  • Hasn't had a holiday yet
Person 2

Rita, 28

  • Has just started a new job
  • Works in a small team
  • Gets a bonus every year
  • Has already been promoted
Person 3

Mr Clark, 60

  • Has owned a company for thirty years
  • Has hired two hundred people
  • Pays above the average
  • Hasn't thought of retiring yet
5.2

Mini-talk: work and pay

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: your present work or study (how long, what you do).
  3. Part 2: a job or an experience you had in the past (Past Simple).
  4. Part 3: what makes a good employer.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Where do you work or study?
  2. How long have you been there?
  3. Have you ever worked at night?
  4. What was your first job?
  5. Have you ever quit a job?
  6. What do you earn or spend most money on?
  7. Have you ever been a boss?
  8. What would be your ideal job?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family has worked the longest in one place?
  2. Who earns the most?
  3. Who has just started a new job?
  4. Who quit a job recently?
  5. Who has been a good boss to you?
  6. Who do you know that has changed career?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Should the working day be shorter?
  2. Should employers control behaviour outside work?
  3. Is a high salary more important than a nice team?
  4. Are bonuses a good idea?
  5. Should companies share profits with workers?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Asking for a pay rise

You

Employee

You ask your manager (your teacher) for a pay rise:
  • say how long you have worked there
  • mention what you have achieved
  • ask for a specific change
  • respond to the manager's worries
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use the Present Perfect and the Past Simple.
Your teacher

Manager

Says things like:
  1. How long have you worked here?
  2. What have you done this year?
  3. The budget is tight.
  4. Let me think about it.
7.2

Talking about work history

You

Candidate

An interviewer (your teacher) asks about your work history:
  • say where you have worked
  • explain why you left your last job
  • describe your best achievement
  • ask about the pay and the shifts
You do most of the talking. Use: I've worked... · I left because... · I've never...
Your teacher

Interviewer

Says things like:
  1. Tell me about your experience.
  2. Why did you leave?
  3. What are you proud of?
  4. Do you have any questions?
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

shiftassembly lineearnsaffordhireemployerturnoverprofit
  1. Workers on the night start at ten p.m.
  2. The factory used an to build cars faster.
  3. He about forty thousand a year.
  4. They can't a new car on this salary.
  5. The company wants to fifty new workers.
  6. A good looks after its employees.
  7. High staff is expensive for any company.
  8. The company made a big last year.
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. I here since 2015.
  2. They the factory in 1910.
  3. Have you worked at night?
  4. She has been a manager three years.
  5. I haven't finished the report .
  6. He left.
  7. Where last year?
  8. We each other for ten years.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I have worked here since 2020.
  2. He has announced the plan in 1914.
  3. Have you ever quit a job?
  4. I have lived here since five years.
  5. She has already left.
  6. Did you ever quit a job?
  7. They hired a manager yesterday.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. It has been a long time
  2. I've worked here
  3. I've been here
  4. He announced that
  5. As a result of the higher pay,
  6. Historians disagree
  7. The five-dollar day

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