1) The document provides instructions for two exercises for an English language class at an A2 level. 2) The first exercise is a gap fill activity where students read texts about working hours and ethics in different countries and fill in missing words. 3) The second activity asks students to orally compare the working conditions depicted in two pictures using linking words that express opposition, and then to compare those conditions to their own workplace.

1.
Master in Learning and Communication
in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts
‐Université du Luxembourg‐
APPRENTISSAGE DES LANGUES AU TRAVAIL
Évaluation finale : préparer un exercice lexical et une activité
de production orale pour étudiant(e)s de niveau A2
Professor: Florence Mourlhon‐Dallies
Due: 10th
May 2014
Jurdana Martin Retegi
Student number: 013070231D

2. 1. EXERCISE À OBJECTIF LEXICAL:
The aim of this exercise is to learn new vocabulary related to the working hours
and ethics in different parts of the world. For that, students will be asked to read four
different texts and fill in the gaps on them with the words (nouns, adjectives and
adverbs) provided in the box.
The pictures on the prepared exercise are taken randomly from the Internet
and the texts are based on the following web sites:
http://thisjapaneselife.org/2011/03/09/japan‐work‐ethic/
http://redbus2us.com/work‐culture‐ethics‐time‐at‐work‐importance‐india‐vs‐america/
http://intsupport.southwales.ac.uk/culture/
As a brief introduction to the new unit, the teacher will introduce the topic and
chat with the students about the potential problem of being late for work: if they are
allowed to be late and what happens if they are, typical excuses for being late and
punctuality in general. Students will read the texts individually or in pairs first, trying to
fill in the gaps. Then they will read the text as a group, agreeing on the correct
answers. Questions are welcome along the exercise.
The correct answers for the text are the following:
1. late
2. workday
3. exceed
4. on time
5. late hours
6. duration
7. time‐keeping
8. early
After making sure the text is clear, the group will make a list of the nouns and
verbs related to work environment and working hours that they found in the text, in
order to understand their use. They can add the words they already know. Words such
as these should be of interest for the students to enrich their vocabulary:
Verbs Nouns
To arrive to work To be on time Vacation pay Deadline
To go to work To negotiate Work ethic Boss
To come home To be late Employee X hours a day
To stay at work Vacation day Desk
To work late Working hours Meeting
To work on weekends Lunch‐break Appointment

3. Unit 8
LATE FOR WORKWorking times in the world
seventy three ‐ 73English in Business – A2
• Exercise 1: which word is missing? Fill in the gaps.
“I know people who have
arrived to work 3 minutes
(1)_______ to their jobs in
Japan. They lost an hour of
vacation pay and they sat at a desk with nothing to
do for the next 7 hours. This can tell you a lot about
Japan’s work ethic. In theory, the Japanese employee
has more vacation days (25) than the typical
American (16). Yes, the (2)_______ on paper in Japan
is from 9 am to 5 pm. But, the practical realities of
things like vacation pay and working hours are a
different matter.”
Lee, Japan, 31 years old.
“The working days of most of the
people in the United States do
not (3)_______ the 8 hours.
Typically, they work from 8 am to
4:30 pm. It is common to take a
30 minutes lunch‐break. Some eat at the desk and
some just grab a quick lunch. Most people have a
good work ethic: they work when they are supposed
to work and they get their job done (4)_______.
Deadlines are a critical part, you should never miss a
deadline… being on time is important.”
Claire, Washington, 29 years old.
“In India, they go to work at 9 am
and come home at 9 pm. Most of
them stay at work for 12 hours, but
not necessarily working for 12
hours. People take long lunch‐
breaks, tea‐breaks, other breaks…
Employees work (5)_______, they
sometimes work on weekends… The Indian work ethic
is more relaxed: deadlines are important, but people
negotiate them with their boss; being on time is
important, but not strictly followed… The (6)_______
of a normal workday varies from person to person.”
Shiam, New Delhi, 37 years old.
“In Britain being late for
work or a meeting of any
kind with another person is
seen as bad manners.
(7)_______ is valued a lot higher here than in some
other countries. If you are going to be late for an
appointment with someone, let them know.
Employees are expected to arrive 5 minutes
(8)_______to their workplace”.
Dana, 23, United Kingdom.
Early Late On time Workday
Late hours Exceed Time‐keeping Duration

4.
2. ACTIVITÉ DE PRODUCTION ORALE :
The objective of this activity is to practice students’ oral skills, using a similar
topic, but focusing on making comparisons between the working conditions of
different companies.
Students will work individually or in small groups and consider the differences
between the two companies presented in two pictures. Some words are given as
samples of ideas to take into account when comparing the firms. New vocabulary will
be sought, the use of dictionaries will be encouraged together with the help of the
teacher.
Instead of using the comparison as a grammatical resource, students will be
encouraged to used linking words that express opposition. For that, they can use the
lexical box provided at the bottom of the page and they can also add or learn more
with the teacher.
Sentences like the following are expected:
‐ Unlike in the second picture, the people in the first photograph are
having fun.
‐ In A, employees look friends, but in B employees look competitors.
‐ The company in A is equitable. In contrast, the company in B only has
male employees.
‐ I think the employees in the second picture earn a lot of money.
However, they don’t have a lot of vacations to spend the money.
‐ There are more workers in B, but it is difficult to decide something with a
lot of people.
LINKING WORDS: OPPOSITION
…but… However…
Unlike… In contrast…
While… On the contrary…
…whereas… On the other hand…

5. ‐ The workplace in A is colourful and modern. On the contrary, the
meeting room in B is classical and serious.
‐ I am sure that the working hours of the people in the first picture are
flexible, whereas in B they are very strict.
‐ While people in the photograph B wear uniforms, people in A wear more
casual clothes.
‐ The boys and girls in picture A are sitting close next to each other.
However, the men in picture B are sitting in a big table, far from each
other.
When they finish in the small groups, they will share their ideas in the big group
and will try to see if their perceptions are similar or not. After that, spontaneously,
they will try to compare these companies’ working conditions to their own companies.
Everything will be done orally. For example:
‐ In the company of the picture A they don’t use uniforms, but I have to
use one for my company.
‐ In the photograph B there are only adults, whereas in my workplace we
work with children.
It is important to make clear that, in this activity, fluidity to describe and
compare working environments is sought more than perfect grammatical sentences.
Students must use opposition linking words to become familiar with them and other
types of sentences.

6. Unit 8
STRESS AT WORKDifferent working conditions
seventy four ‐ 74English in Business – A2
• ACTIVITY 2:
Compare the working conditions in these companies. You can use the words
on the sides as ideas.
What about your company?
LINKING WORDS: OPPOSITION
…but… However…
Unlike… In contrast…
While… On the contrary…
…whereas… On the other hand…