|
Your stressful week
Find who had the most stressful and least stressful week, and the most stressful moments of your weeks. Possible topics:
|
Boss being away
Finishing in plenty of time/ early
A slack period
Overstaffing
Delegation
Getting something off your chest
Exercise
Fresh air
A change
A lie in
A bath
Massage
Long weekend
Someone helping you
Being allowed to do something your own way
Something you are good at or confident at
Good work-life balance
Leaving the rat race
Perks of the job
Praise or encouragement
Yoga
Meditation
A change of pace
Flexitime
A free afternoon
Seeing a counsellor
A sauna
|
Giving presentations/ conference speeches
Strict deadlines
Criticism or complaints
Physical discomfort or pain
Commuting and other travel
Delays Negotiations
Budgets and other money worries
Applying for jobs
Using another language
Cultural differences Responsibilities
Medical treatment or worries
Restrictions Irritations
Queues Competition
Redundancies
Working hours, e.g. overtime or irregular hours/ shift work
Heavy workload
Dealing with head office or top managers
Rude or aggressive people
Impatience Cuts
Overspending Breakdowns
Demotivation Crowds
Arguments Pressure
Poor light or ventilation
Low morale
Paperwork
Bureaucracy/ Administration
Being closely monitored
Being cooped up/ Lack of space
Noise
Being interrupted
Talking to a brick wall
Threats
|
Your stressful week
Grammar presentation
Fill the gaps below with the right tenses
“Do you often have to make phone calls in English?” “Actually, I _____________________ (never make) a phone call in English (in my life/ in my present job)?”
“Do you often make phone calls in English?” “Yes. Actually, I _____________________ a phone call in English just before this lesson/ last night”
Why are the different tenses used?
What’s the difference in meaning between?
“How was your week?” and “How has your week been?”
Stressful moments bluff
Choose one of the things below and ask your partner about having that experience (in their life). They must answer “Yes”. Then ask them three more questions and try to guess whether their “Yes” was true or not
|
A panel interview with a large panel
|
|
A test in a foreign language
|
|
Technical problems during an important presentation or meeting
|
|
Working nights
|
|
Team building exercises
|
|
A row with someone in authority
|
|
Physical danger
|
|
Having to learn something by heart
|
|
A competitive exam
|
|
Something disgusting at work
|
|
Ridiculous rules
|
|
Missing an important deadline
|
|
Losing something important
|
|
Getting in trouble for being late
|
|
A video conference
|
|
A conference call with many participants
|
|
Seeing a stress counsellor
|
|
Stand up for a very long time
|
|
Work in the dark or cold
|
What are the most stressful things above, do you think?
What jobs are the most and least stressful?
Source: Kent S. "Market Leader Pre-Intermediate New Edition"
| 
