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The best companies to work for (27th May, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new report has identified the top 25 companies in the USA to work for. The report comes out every year and always has some surprises. It ranked the best places to work in 2014 by taking a survey of employee satisfaction. Top of the list was Google, which has become famous for its excellent working conditions. Google knocked Facebook off of the number one position. A Google software engineer earns an average salary of $119,000 a year. He or she also gets free access to a gym, laundromat, sports facilities and a place which looks after their pets when the employee goes on holiday. One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy that it is unusual for anyone to take time off.

Another survey released at the same time shows a slightly different picture. The careers website Glassdoor asked employees to rate how happy they are with their company, career opportunities, pay, culture, and values. It found that the consulting firm Bain and Company was the best place to work. Russ Hagey, Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co. said: "We are incredibly proud to be named the number one best place to work." He added that: "For more than 40 years, we have placed significant focus on creating an outstanding professional and personal work experience that in turn has fueled our growth anchored in a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations around the globe."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/others/news/google-costco-and-facebook-best-employers-in-the-us-glassdoor-poll-530769
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101266582
http://www.techspot.com/news/56866-survey-ranks-google-as-top-employer-for-pay-and-benefits.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. WORKING CONDITIONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about working conditions. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

top companies / surprises / employee / satisfaction / salary / working conditions / survey / a different picture / career opportunities / proud / number one / focus / globe

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. JOB: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What you have / will have	What you want
Salary
Clothes
Colleagues
Promotion
Benefits
Culture

4. $119,000: Students A strongly believe a $119,000 is too much when people are starving; Students B strongly believe a million-dollar salary is OK. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. WORKING CONDITIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• pay

• uniform

• nice boss

• training

• lots of overtime

• long holidays

• friendly co-workers

• responsibility

6. WORK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "work". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	A report listed the best companies in the world to work for.	T / F
b.	The report is made once every two years.	T / F
c.	Facebook was number one last year.	T / F
d.	Google has a kind of pet hotel for when staff go on holiday.	T / F
e.	A company called Glassdoor paints pictures.	T / F
f.	Another survey said a consulting company was the best place to work.	T / F
g.	The consulting company has been number one for 40 years.	T / F
h.	The company's mission is to help its clients around the world.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	every year	a.	job
2.	ranked	b.	issued
3.	survey	c.	strange
4.	salary	d.	ordered
5.	unusual	e.	bringing
6.	released	f.	annually
7.	slightly	g.	excellent
8.	career	h.	a little
9.	outstanding	i.	questionnaire
10.	delivering	j.	pay

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	the top 25 companies in the	a.	the number one
2.	famous for its excellent working	b.	to a gym
3.	earns an average salary	c.	off
4.	she also gets free access	d.	happy they are
5.	take time	e.	conditions
6.	Another survey released	f.	experience
7.	asked employees to rate how	g.	USA to work for
8.	proud to be named	h.	at the same time
9.	work	i.	for clients
10.	delivering results	j.	of $119,000 a year

GAP FILL

A new report has (1) ____________ the top 25 companies in the USA to work for. The report (2) ____________ out every year and always has some surprises. It ranked the best places to work in 2014 by taking a (3) ____________ of employee satisfaction. Top of the list was Google, which has become famous for its excellent working (4) ____________. Google knocked Facebook off of the number one position. A Google software engineer earns an (5) ____________ salary of $119,000 a year. He or she also gets free (6) ____________ to a gym, laundromat, sports facilities and a place which looks (7) ____________ their pets when the employee goes on holiday. One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy that it is unusual for anyone to take (8) ____________ off.

access
average
survey
identified
time
comes
after
conditions

Another survey (9) ____________ at the same time shows a slightly different (10) ____________. The careers website Glassdoor asked employees to rate how happy they are with their company, career opportunities, (11) ____________, culture, and values. It found that the consulting firm Bain and Company was the best (12) ____________ to work. Russ Hagey, Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co. said: "We are incredibly (13) ____________ to be named the number one best place to work." He added that: "For more than 40 years, we have placed significant (14) ____________ on creating an outstanding professional and personal work experience that in turn has fueled our (15) ____________ anchored in a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations around the (16) ____________."

growth
picture
focus
place
released
globe
pay
proud

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The report comes out every year and always ______.
	a. has some surprising b. has some surprises c. has some surprised d. has some surprise
2)	taking a survey of ______
	a. employee satisfaction b. employee satisfying c. employee satisfied d. employee that is faction
3)	famous for its excellent ______
	a. working condition b. working conditioned c. working conditionals d. working conditions
4)	A Google software engineer earns an average ______
	a. salary from $119,000 b. salary for $119,000 c. salary of $119,000 d. salary ver $119,000
5)	One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy ______
	a. that it is unusually b. that it is usual c. that it is unusual d. that it is usually
6)	Another survey released at the same time shows a ______
	a. slightly difference picture b. slightly differential picture c. slightly different pictures d. slightly different picture
7)	how happy they are with their company, career opportunities, pay, ______
	a. cultural, and values b. culture, and values c. culture, and value d. cultural, and value
8)	We are ______
	a. incredibly proudly b. incredibly proud c. incredibly prouder d. incredibly proudest
9)	creating an outstanding professional and ______
	a. personal work experiences b. personally work experience c. personally work experiences d. personal work experience
10)	a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations ______
	a. around a globe b. around the globe c. around this globe d. around that globe

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new report has (1) ___________________ 25 companies in the USA to work for. The report comes out every year and always has some surprises. It ranked the best places to work in 2014 by (2) ___________________ employee satisfaction. Top of the list was Google, which has become famous for its excellent (3) ___________________. Google knocked Facebook off of the number one position. A Google software engineer (4) ___________________ salary of $119,000 a year. He or she also gets free access to a gym, laundromat, (5) ___________________ and a place which looks after their pets when the employee goes on holiday. One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy that it is unusual for (6) ___________________ off.

Another survey released at the same time (7) ___________________ picture. The careers website Glassdoor asked employees to rate how happy they are with their company, (8) ___________________, pay, culture, and values. It found (9) ___________________ firm Bain and Company was the best place to work. Russ Hagey, Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co. said: "We are (10) ___________________ be named the number one best place to work." He added that: "For more than 40 years, we have placed significant (11) ___________________ an outstanding professional and personal work experience that in turn has (12) ___________________ anchored in a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations around the globe."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many companies were in the report?
2.	What was the survey on?
3.	Which company was number one last year?
4.	What is the number 119,000 in the article?
5.	Why don't Google workers take a lot of time off work?
6.	What did a different survey show?
7.	What is the name of the careers website that did the other survey?
8.	Who is Russ Hagey?
9.	How many years has Bain & Co. been focusing on work experience?
10.	Where are the clients of Bain and Co.?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many companies were in the report?	6.	What did a different survey show?
	a) 15 b) 25 c) 35 d) 45		a) a different picture b) many colours c) the worst companies to work for d) the Google logo
2.	What was the survey on?	7.	What is the name of the careers website that did the other survey?
	a) Google b) paper c) salaries d) employee satisfaction		a) Glassroof b) Glasswall c) Glassdoor d) Glasswindow
3.	Which company was number one last year?	8.	What is Russ Hagey's job?
	a) Google b) Twitter c) Facebook d) Microsoft		a) Global Chief Talent Officer b) Official Talented Global Officer c) Talented Global Office Chief d) Chief Global Talent Officer
4.	What is the number 119,000 in the article?	9.	How many years has Bain & Co. been focusing on work experience?
	a) the salary of a Google engineer b) the number of companies in the USA c) the number of people at Google d) the number of people in the survey		a) 10 b) 20 c) 30 d) 40
5.	Why don't Google workers take a lot of time off work?	10.	Where are the clients of Bain and Co.?
	a) they have no holidays b) they are happy c) they are busy d) their boss would be angry		a) Asia b) Europe c) all over the world d) in New York

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Nice uniform

You think a nice uniform is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): lots of training, friendly co-workers or lots of overtime.

Role B – Lots of training

You think lots of training is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a nice uniform, friendly co-workers or lots of overtime.

Role C – Friendly co-workers

You think friendly co-workers is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): lots of training, a nice uniform or lots of overtime.

Role D – Lots of overtime

You think lots of overtime is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): lots of training, friendly co-workers or a nice uniform.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'working' and 'condition'.

working

condition

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

25
2014
famous
119,000
pets
time

same
happy
culture
proud
personal
globe

WORKING CONDITIONS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about working conditions in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WORKING CONDITIONS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'pay'?
c)	What company would you really like to work for (and why)?
d)	What's the best company you've ever worked for?
e)	What do you think it would be like to work for Google?
f)	What's the best company to work for in your country (why?)
g)	What benefits do you think are important at work?
h)	What kind of work environment do you like?
i)	Would you prefer to work from home?
j)	Would you prefer to work for Google or Starbucks?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What are the things that would make you happy at work?
c)	Are you a good employee? Why do you think so?
d)	What score would you give the companies you worked for ?
e)	What's more important, long holidays or pay?
f)	What's the minimum salary you would work for?
g)	What should a company do to be a professional employer?
h)	Would you be a good boss (why do you think so)?
i)	What is your ideal (perfect) job?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Google's boss?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A new report has (1) ____ the top 25 companies in the USA to work for. The report comes (2) ____ every year and always has some surprises. It ranked the best places to work in 2014 by taking a survey of employee satisfaction. Top of the list was Google, which has become famous (3) ____ its excellent working conditions. Google knocked Facebook (4) ____ of the number one position. A Google software engineer earns an average salary of $119,000 a year. He or she also gets free access to a gym, laundromat, sports (5) ____ and a place which looks after their pets when the employee goes on holiday. One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy that it is unusual for anyone to take (6) ____ off.

Another survey released at the same time shows a (7) ____ different picture. The careers website Glassdoor asked employees to rate (8) ____ happy they are with their company, career opportunities, pay, culture, and values. It found that the consulting firm Bain and Company was the best place to work. Russ Hagey, Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co. said: "We are incredibly (9) ____ to be named the number one best place to work." He added that: "For more than 40 years, we have placed significant (10) ____ on creating an outstanding professional and personal work experience that in (11) ____ has fueled our growth anchored in a mission of (12) ____ results for clients and organizations around the globe."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	identified	(b)	identity	(c)	identification	(d)	ID
2.	(a)	over	(b)	past	(c)	out	(d)	to
3.	(a)	of	(b)	at	(c)	for	(d)	by
4.	(a)	to	(b)	as	(c)	by	(d)	off
5.	(a)	palaces	(b)	equips	(c)	facilities	(d)	faculties
6.	(a)	break	(b)	holidays	(c)	work	(d)	time
7.	(a)	small	(b)	slightly	(c)	margin	(d)	bit
8.	(a)	what	(b)	how	(c)	whether	(d)	which
9.	(a)	proudly	(b)	pride	(c)	proud	(d)	proudest
10.	(a)	staring	(b)	look	(c)	view	(d)	focus
11.	(a)	ahead	(b)	right	(c)	direction	(d)	turn
12.	(a)	deliver	(b)	delivered	(c)	delivers	(d)	delivering

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	idtfeednii the top 25 companies
2.	always has some eprursiss
3.	a survey of oeeeypml satisfaction
4.	software nnerieeg
5.	sports ecsifiitla
6.	it is lunusua
Paragraph 2
7.	ladeeers at the same time
8.	a htiyglls different picture
9.	ecarre opportunities
10.	We are incredibly rdupo
11.	work riexcepnee
12.	a isisnmo of delivering results

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	website Glassdoor asked employees to rate how happy they are with their company, career
( )	on holiday. One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy that it is unusual for anyone to take time off.
( )	taking a survey of employee satisfaction. Top of the list was Google, which has become famous for its excellent working
( )	on creating an outstanding professional and personal work experience that in turn has fueled
( )	our growth anchored in a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations around the globe."
( )	Another survey released at the same time shows a slightly different picture. The careers
( )	place to work. Russ Hagey, Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co. said: "We are incredibly proud
( )	to be named the number one best place to work." He added that: "For more than 40 years, we have placed significant focus
( )	engineer earns an average salary of $119,000 a year. He or she also gets free access to a
( )	opportunities, pay, culture, and values. It found that the consulting firm Bain and Company was the best
( )	gym, laundromat, sports facilities and a place which looks after their pets when the employee goes
( )	out every year and always has some surprises. It ranked the best places to work in 2014 by
( 1 )	A new report has identified the top 25 companies in the USA to work for. The report comes
( )	conditions. Google knocked Facebook off of the number one position. A Google software

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	companies in the USA to work for The top 25.
2.	to 2014 ranked places in It best work the.
3.	year a $119,000 of salary average an Earns.
4.	also access gym she free a or gets to He.
5.	for take unusual to off is anyone time It.
6.	same the at released survey Another time.
7.	how their happy company they are Rate with.
8.	be number are to the We proud named one incredibly.
9.	professional personal experience Outstanding and work.
10.	for results delivering of mission A clients.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new report has identified / identification the top 25 companies in the USA to work for. The report comes in / out every year and always has some surprises / surprising. It ranked the best places to work in 2014 by taking a survey of employee satisfied / satisfaction. Top of the list was Google, which has become famous for its excellent working / worked conditions. Google knocked Facebook off / up of the number one position. A Google software engineer earns / earnings an average salary of $119,000 a year. He or she also gets free access / excess to a gym, laundromat, sports facilities and a place which looks before / after their pets when the employee goes on holiday. One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy that it is unusual for anyone to take time on / off.

Another survey released at the same time shows a / the slightly different picture. The careers website Glassdoor asked employees to ratio / rate how happy they are with their company, courier / career opportunities, pay, culture, and values / value. It found that the consulting firm Bain and Company was the best place to work. Russ Hagey, Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co. said: "We are incredibly proudly / proud to be named the number one best place to work." He added / addition that: "For more than 40 years, we have placing / placed significant focus on creating an outstanding / standing professional and personal work experience that in turn has fueled our growth / grow anchored in a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations above / around the globe."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_ n_w r_p_rt h_s _d_nt_f__d th_ t_p 25 c_mp_n__s _n th_ _S_ t_ w_rk f_r. Th_ r_p_rt c_m_s __t _v_ry y__r _nd _lw_ys h_s s_m_ s_rpr_s_s. _t r_nk_d th_ b_st pl_c_s t_ w_rk _n 2014 by t_k_ng _ s_rv_y _f _mpl_y__ s_t_sf_ct__n. T_p _f th_ l_st w_s G__gl_, wh_ch h_s b_c_m_ f_m__s f_r _ts _xc_ll_nt w_rk_ng c_nd_t__ns. G__gl_ kn_ck_d F_c_b__k _ff _f th_ n_mb_r _n_ p_s_t__n. _ G__gl_ s_ftw_r_ _ng_n__r __rns _n _v_r_g_ s_l_ry _f $119,000 _ y__r. H_ _r sh_ _ls_ g_ts fr__ _cc_ss t_ _ gym, l__ndr_m_t, sp_rts f_c_l_t__s _nd _ pl_c_ wh_ch l__ks _ft_r th__r p_ts wh_n th_ _mpl_y__ g__s _n h_l_d_y. _n_ _x-_mpl_y__ s__d G__gl_ st_ff _r_ s_ h_ppy th_t _t _s _n_s__l f_r _ny_n_ t_ t_k_ t_m_ _ff.

_n_th_r s_rv_y r_l__s_d _t th_ s_m_ t_m_ sh_ws _ sl_ghtly d_ff_r_nt p_ct_r_. Th_ c_r__rs w_bs_t_ Gl_ssd__r _sk_d _mpl_y__s t_ r_t_ h_w h_ppy th_y _r_ w_th th__r c_mp_ny, c_r__r _pp_rt_n_t__s, p_y, c_lt_r_, _nd v_l__s. _t f__nd th_t th_ c_ns_lt_ng f_rm B__n _nd C_mp_ny w_s th_ b_st pl_c_ t_ w_rk. R_ss H_g_y, Gl_b_l Ch__f T_l_nt _ff_c_r _t B__n _nd C_. s__d: "W_ _r_ _ncr_d_bly pr__d t_ b_ n_m_d th_ n_mb_r _n_ b_st pl_c_ t_ w_rk." H_ _dd_d th_t: "F_r m_r_ th_n 40 y__rs, w_ h_v_ pl_c_d s_gn_f_c_nt f_c_s _n cr__t_ng _n __tst_nd_ng pr_f_ss__n_l _nd p_rs_n_l w_rk _xp_r__nc_ th_t _n t_rn h_s f__l_d __r gr_wth _nch_r_d _n _ m_ss__n _f d_l_v_r_ng r_s_lts f_r cl__nts _nd _rg_n_z_t__ns _r__nd th_ gl_b_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new report has identified the top 25 companies in the usa to work for the report comes out every year and always has some surprises it ranked the best places to work in 2014 by taking a survey of employee satisfaction top of the list was google which has become famous for its excellent working conditions google knocked facebook off of the number one position a google software engineer earns an average salary of $119000 a year he or she also gets free access to a gym laundromat sports facilities and a place which looks after their pets when the employee goes on holiday one ex-employee said google staff are so happy that it is unusual for anyone to take time off

another survey released at the same time shows a slightly different picture the careers website glassdoor asked employees to rate how happy they are with their company career opportunities pay culture and values it found that the consulting firm bain and company was the best place to work russ hagey global chief talent officer at bain and co said "we are incredibly proud to be named the number one best place to work" he added that "for more than 40 years we have placed significant focus on creating an outstanding professional and personal work experience that in turn has fueled our growth anchored in a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations around the globe"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Anewreporthasidentifiedthetop25companiesintheUSAtoworkfor.
Thereportcomesouteveryyearandalwayshassomesurprises.Itran
kedthebestplacestoworkin2014bytakingasurveyofemployeesatisf
action.TopofthelistwasGoogle,whichhasbecomefamousforitsexce
llentworkingconditions.GoogleknockedFacebookoffofthenumbero
neposition.AGooglesoftwareengineerearnsanaveragesalaryof$11
9,000ayear.Heorshealsogetsfreeaccesstoagym,laundromat,spor
tsfacilitiesandaplacewhichlooksaftertheirpetswhentheemployeeg
oesonholiday.Oneex-employeesaidGooglestaffaresohappyth
atitisunusualforanyonetotaketimeoff.Anothersurveyreleasedatth
esametimeshowsaslightlydifferentpicture.ThecareerswebsiteGla
ssdooraskedemployeestoratehowhappytheyarewiththeircompan
y,careeropportunities,pay,culture,andvalues.Itfoundthatthecons
ultingfirmBainandCompanywasthebestplacetowork.RussHagey,
GlobalChiefTalentOfficeratBainandCo.said:"Weareincrediblyprou
dtobenamedthenumberonebestplacetowork."Headdedthat:"For
morethan40years,wehaveplacedsignificantfocusoncreatinganout
standingprofessionalandpersonalworkexperiencethatinturnhasfu
eledourgrowthanchoredinamissionofdeliveringresultsforclientsan
dorganizationsaroundtheglobe."

FREE WRITING

Write about working conditions for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

What are the differences between working for Google and McDonald's?

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about the best companies in the world to work for. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. WORKING CONDITIONS: Make a poster about working conditions. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. GOOGLE: Write a magazine article about working at Google. Include imaginary interviews with a Google engineer and Google's boss.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on working conditions. Ask him/her three questions about working conditions. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make them better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	every year	a.	annually
2.	ranked	b.	ordered
3.	survey	c.	questionnaire
4.	salary	d.	pay
5.	unusual	e.	strange
6.	released	f.	issued
7.	slightly	g.	a little
8.	career	h.	job
9.	outstanding	i.	excellent
10.	delivering	j.	bringing

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	25
2.	Employee satisfaction
3.	Facebook
4.	The average salary of a Google engineer (in dollars)
5.	They are happy working for Google
6.	A different picture
7.	Glassdoor
8.	Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co.
9.	40
10.	All over the world

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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