Unit 14: Difficult Office Situations

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In this unit you will learn relevant vocabulary for navigating uncomfortable situations that might arise in an office setting, ranging from terminating a contract to Whistleblowing.

Did you know? The following activities can be customized as desired by the teacher or school pedagogue.

Basic activities (computer-graded)

Vocabulary Builder Activity

Students will learn the following key terms and phrases:

Reading Activity: Email exchange between an office worker and HR manager

Students will be able to correctly answer true/false questions after reading and listening to topical short articles and dialogs featuring topical vocabulary.

Subject Line: Formal Complaint regarding Chuck Baker To HR, I am writing to formally report someone on my team in procurement, Chuck Baker. Chuck has drawn a lot of attention with his negative behavior and attitude ever since he started working with us, which is what prompts me to now issue a formal complaint about him. Chuck has taken credit for-->take credit for my work on… Continue

Multiple Choice Activity

Students will be able to select the best match between unit terms and their definitions.

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Listening Comprehension Activity

Students will be able to listen to short audio clips in English and then spell them correctly.

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Spelling and Recognition

Students will be able to identify and spell a vocabulary term correctly given only the definition.

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Advanced activities (optionally teacher-graded)

Speaking Practice Activity

Students will be able to speak and record 5 example sentences from the unit vocabulary and then submit them for grading by the classroom teacher. If no teacher is available or desired, then the students will be shown good examples of other students' work.

Nobody wanted to take responsibility for the blunder, which led to an awkward silence before Ellen finally spoke up.

Edward Snowden became one of the most infamous whistleblowers of this millennium when he leaked classified information about the NSA in 2013.

Sexual harassment comes in many forms and can range from inappropriate verbal comments to physically touching somebody intimately without their consent.

When Peter wouldn't stop making inappropriate and offensive comments about Lana, she threatened to report him to their supervisor.

The marketing manager was notorious for bullying his subordinates, always belittling them and shouting at them in front of other employees.

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Writing Practice Activity

Students will write a short essay to be graded by the teacher. If no teacher is available or desired, then the student is shown previous examples of other writings by students.

Imagine you are an HR manager working with Dave and you hear about Harriett’s case. How would you react to Harriett’s complaint? Discuss your reasoning.

Can you remember an incident at work or at school where you felt mistreated? Write a formal complaint about the situation and address it to the person in charge. Be sure to include concrete examples.

Discuss: How often do uncomfortable situations arise at the office and how often are they addressed? If there is a discrepancy, why do you think that is? Do you believe that professional misconduct should always be reported? Why or why not?

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