Unit 14 — Difficult Office Situations

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.
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Core Training Activities

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Vocabulary Builder Activity

Students will learn the following key terms and phrases:

Apologize Awkward Breach of contract Bullying Derogatory Harassment Inappropriate Keep one’s cool Mediate Misconduct Offensive Procrastinate Professional Put on the spot Report someone Reputation Stand up for Take credit for Take the high road Whistleblower
Vocabulary list
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Reading Activity: Email exchange between an office worker and HR manager

Improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary in context with our interactive reader.

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…
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Reading Comprehension Activity
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Reading Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the reading material with a quick comprehension quiz.

Reading Comprehension
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Multiple Choice Activity

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

Multiple Choice activity
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Listening Comprehension Activity

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

Listening Activity
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Spelling and Recognition

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

Spelling Activity

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Speaking Practice Activity

Master your pronunciation by recording yourself and receiving feedback from native-speaking teachers.

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Nobody wanted to take responsibility for the blunder, which led to an awkward silence before Ellen finally spoke up.
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Edward Snowden became one of the most infamous whistleblowers of this millennium when he leaked classified information about the NSA in 2013.
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Sexual harassment comes in many forms and can range from inappropriate verbal comments to physically touching somebody intimately without their consent.
... and more sentences to practice.
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Speaking Activity
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Writing Practice Activity

Improve your formal and informal writing skills with guided essay questions and professional correction.

  • 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.
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Writing Activity