Part 1 – Warm-up Discussion
10–12 minutes
Do you work remotely, in an office, or hybrid? What do you prefer?
What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of remote work?
How do you stay connected with your team when working remotely?
Have you ever freelanced or considered it? What appeals to you (or doesn't)?
What tools are essential for remote collaboration?
Part 2 – Target Language & Vocabulary
15–20 minutes
📖 Key Vocabulary
Learn these important words before using them in phrases:
| Word/Phrase | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| trade-off | a balance between two opposing things | The trade-off is less money but more flexibility. |
| stay connected | to maintain communication and relationships | We use Slack to stay connected with the team. |
| work-life balance | equilibrium between work and personal life | Remote work improved my work-life balance. |
| set boundaries | to establish limits or rules | You need to set boundaries when working from home. |
| eliminate | to remove or get rid of completely | Remote work eliminates commute time. |
| distraction | something that takes your attention away | Social media is a big distraction when working from home. |
🎯 Practice Exercise: Drag & Drop Vocabulary
Complete the text below by dragging the vocabulary words to fill in the blanks. The text uses the context from this lesson's topic.
trade-off
stay connected
work-life balance
set boundaries
eliminate
distraction
Working remotely involves some —more flexibility but less face-to-face interaction. I use Slack and Zoom to with my distributed team. Remote work helps me achieve better since I avoid commuting. It's crucial to between work hours and personal time. I try to notifications outside working hours. The biggest when working from home is having my workspace too close to my living space.
🔤 Key Phrases & Expressions
| Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| I work remotely from... | I work remotely from home, which gives me flexibility and eliminates commute time. |
| The biggest challenge of remote work is... | The biggest challenge of remote work is staying focused and avoiding distractions. |
| To stay connected, we use... | To stay connected, we use Slack for daily communication and Zoom for meetings. |
| One advantage is... | One advantage is being able to design my own schedule and work during my most productive hours. |
| Freelancing gives you... | Freelancing gives you more freedom but also requires you to manage everything yourself. |
| The trade-off is... | The trade-off is that you don't have the stability of a full-time salary. |
| I prefer... because... | I prefer remote work because it allows me better work-life balance and saves commute time. |
| A key to successful remote work is... | A key to successful remote work is setting boundaries and having a dedicated workspace. |
Homework Assignment
Complete after class
📝 Writing Task
Compare remote work vs. office work vs. freelancing (250-300 words). Discuss the pros and cons of each based on your experience or what you've observed. Which setup do you think suits you best and why?