The Reading / Listening - Level 1

It is difficult for workers to switch off from work. Many workers answer or write e-mails going to and from work, at lunchtime and at home. They check their work e-mail on vacation. This will change for workers of the carmaker Daimler. They can choose to delete e-mail when they are on holiday. Workers will be able to relax on holiday and not answer mail. Daimler says it wants workers to enjoy family time or "me time" when on holiday.

Daimler said staff worked better when they returned from holiday feeling refreshed. A human resources officer said staff should relax on holiday and not read emails. Daimler's 'Mail on Holiday' system sends replies that say: "Your e-mails will be deleted….If you want me to read this e-mail …send me the information [next week]." This might not be a good idea. People may not like writing again. Companies could lose business.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/daimler-and-disappearing-emails
  • http://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-digital-fightback-the-struggle-to-stop-work-taking-over-our-lives/
  • http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/08/daimlers-german-employees-can-set-emails-to-auto-delete-during-vacation/376068/


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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

It is difficult for workers

a.

e-mail

2.

answer or

b.

from work

3.

going to and

c.

time

4.

check their work e-mail

d.

on holiday

5.

They can choose to delete

e.

to switch off

6.

Workers will be able to relax

f.

family time

7.

it wants workers to enjoy

g.

write e-mails

8.

me

h.

on vacation

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Daimler said staff

a.

be deleted

2.

they returned from holiday

b.

lose business

3.

human

c.

on holiday

4.

staff should relax

d.

worked better

5.

Your e-mails will

e.

to read this e-mail

6.

If you want me

f.

feeling refreshed

7.

send me

g.

resources

8.

Companies could

h.

the information

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

It is difficult for workers (1) ___________________ work. Many workers answer or write e-mails (2) ___________________ work, at lunchtime and at home. They (3) ___________________ e-mail on vacation. This will change for (4) ___________________ Daimler. They can choose to delete e-mail when they are on holiday. Workers (5) ___________________ relax on holiday and not answer mail. Daimler says it wants workers to enjoy family (6) ___________________ when on holiday.

Daimler said staff (7) ___________________ they returned from holiday (8) ___________________. A human resources officer said staff should relax on holiday (9) ___________________. Daimler's 'Mail on Holiday' system (10) ___________________ say: "Your e-mails (11) ___________________ ….If you want me to read this e-mail …send me the information [next week]." This might not be a good idea. People (12) ___________________ again. Companies could lose business.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Itisdifficultforworkerstoswitchofffromwork.Manyworkersanswero
rwritee-mailsgoingtoandfromwork,atlunchtimeandathome.The
ychecktheirworke-mailonvacation.Thiswillchangeforworkersoft
hecarmakerDaimler.Theycanchoosetodeletee-mailwhenth
eyareonholiday.Workerswillbeabletorelaxonholidayandnotanswe
rmail.Daimlersaysitwantsworkerstoenjoyfamilytimeor"metime"w
henonholiday.Daimlersaidstaffworkedbetterwhentheyreturnedfr
omholidayfeelingrefreshed.Ahumanresourcesofficersaidstaffsho
uldrelaxonholidayandnotreademails.Daimler's'MailonHoliday'sys
temsendsrepliesthatsay:"Youre-mailswillbedeleted….Ifyouwan
tmetoreadthise-mail…sendmetheinformation[nextweek]."Thism
ightnotbeagoodidea.Peoplemaynotlikewritingagain.Companiesco
uldlosebusiness.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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