The Reading / Listening - Level 2

It is now more 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. A lot of people check their work e-mail on vacation to other countries. This is changing for workers of the German carmaker Daimler. They can choose to not receive e-mail when they are on holiday. Employees will be able to relax on the beach and not answer problems in their inbox. They can auto-delete all work e-mail while on vacation. Daimler says it wants workers to enjoy family time or "me time" while on vacation.

A Daimler spokesman told reporters that staff worked better when they returned from holiday feeling refreshed. He said staff should return feeling refreshed and motivated. A human resources officer said: "Our employees should relax on holiday and not read work-related emails." The Daimler 'Mail on Holiday' system sends a reply that says: "Your e-mails will be deleted….If you want me to read this e-mail personally…send me the information [next week]." Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. Customers may not like writing again later. Companies could lose business.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   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.

difficult for workers to switch

a.

receive e-mail

2.

going to and

b.

all work e-mail

3.

check their work e-mail

c.

on the beach

4.

They can choose to not

d.

off from work

5.

relax

e.

family time

6.

They can auto-delete

f.

on vacation

7.

it wants workers to enjoy

g.

time

8.

me

h.

from work



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.

staff worked better when they

a.

and motivated

2.

return feeling refreshed

b.

this e-mail personally

3.

human

c.

again later

4.

work-

d.

returned from holiday

5.

If you want me to read

e.

business

6.

Not everyone thinks

f.

resources

7.

Customers may not like writing

g.

related emails

8.

Companies could lose

h.

this is a good idea

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

It is now more difficult for workers (1) ___________________ work. Many workers answer or write e-mails going to and from work, at lunchtime and at home. A lot of people (2) ___________________ on vacation to other countries. (3) ___________________ workers of the German carmaker Daimler. They can (4) ___________________ e-mail when they are on holiday. Employees will be able to relax on the beach and not answer (5) ___________________. They can auto-delete all work e-mail while on vacation. Daimler says it wants (6) ___________________ family time or "me time" while on vacation.

A Daimler spokesman told reporters that (7) ___________________ when they returned from (8) ___________________. He said staff should return feeling (9) ___________________. A human resources officer said: "Our employees should relax on holiday and not read (10) ___________________." The Daimler 'Mail on Holiday' system sends a reply that says: "Your e-mails (11) ___________________ ….If you want me to read this e-mail personally…send me the information [next week]." Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. Customers (12) ___________________ again later. Companies could lose business.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Itisnowmoredifficultforworkerstoswitchofffromwork.Manyworker
sanswerorwritee-mailsgoingtoandfromwork,atlunchtimeandath
ome.Alotofpeoplechecktheirworke-mailonvacationtoothercountri
es.ThisischangingforworkersoftheGermancarmakerDaimler.They
canchoosetonotreceivee-mailwhentheyareonholiday.Employees
willbeabletorelaxonthebeachandnotanswerproblemsintheirinbox.
Theycanauto-deleteallworke-mailwhileonvacation.Daimlersays
itwantsworkerstoenjoyfamilytimeor"metime"whileonvacation.AD
aimlerspokesmantoldreportersthatstaffworkedbetterwhentheyre
turnedfromholidayfeelingrefreshed.Hesaidstaffshouldreturnfeeli
ngrefreshedandmotivated.Ahumanresourcesofficersaid:"Ouremp
loyeesshouldrelaxonholidayandnotreadwork-relatedemails."Th
eDaimler'MailonHoliday'systemsendsareplythatsays:"Youre-mail
swillbedeleted….Ifyouwantmetoreadthise-mailpersonall
y…sendmetheinformation[nextweek]."Noteveryonethinksthisisa
goodidea.Customersmaynotlikewritingagainlater.Companiescoul
dlosebusiness.

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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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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