Time expressions

Hi there! 

In today’s blog we are going to look at expressions we use to talk about time and periods of time.

Topic – Time expressions and phrasal verbs

Level A2

in a while / after a while… after a short period of time

Sam said that he was almost done with his homework and could go outside to play in a little while.

Mrs Lee was complaining about a headache, but after a while it disappeared.

sooner or later / one of these days…eventually, at some future time

It seems like it’s been raining for days, but it’ll stop sooner or later.

One of these days I want to take a trip to Canada, but I don’t know when I’ll have the time.

for a while… for a short period of time

I’m in a hurry, but I can visit for a while.

This morning it rained for a short while before the sun appeared.

for the time being / for now… temporarily, (not forever it can change)

We’ll have to keep our old car for the time being until we can afford to buy a new one.

Even though Joyce is very unhappy with conditions at her job, she has to continue working there for now.

for good / for keeps…permanently, forever

Mrs Jones has left her unfaithful husband for good and will soon file for divorce.

Daisy wants to stop drinking coffee for keeps  because she thinks it’s bad for her health.

over and over (again) / time and time again / time after time…repeatedly

Jill likes the new jazz CD so much that she listens to it over and over again.

The baby tries to climb up into the chair time and time again.

I’ve told you time after time not to run into the street without looking both ways.

…from time to time / every so often / once in a while…occasionally, sometimes 

From time to time wild animals come into our backyard searching for food.

Every so often I forget to call my parents on Sunday evening.

Once in a while Joe likes to sleep late in the morning.

in time (to)…before the appointed time …on time…exactly at the appointed time / punctually.

The Smiths left for the lecture early so they’d arrive in time for good seats.                                                                                                                                     Fred thought he’d be late for class, but he managed to get there on time.

Exercise

Fill in the blank with the missing part of the idiom

1.For the time _____, Kim has no intention of selling her apartment.

2.Sooner or _____ we all have to decide what we want to do in life.

3.I like to get away from everyone and be alone from _____ to time.

4.Our neighbor’s dog barks _____ and time again. Doesn’t it ever get tired?

5.One of these _____, I’ll be able to spend more time with you and the children.

6.Carlos heard a strange ringing sound in his ear for a _____.

7._____ a short while, the ringing in his ear stopped.

8.George tried to reach Sue over and _____, but there was no answer.

9.Soon I’m going to lose all this extra weight _____ good.

10.Mr. Jones rushed to the station but didn’t get there in _____ to catch his train.

Conversation

1.Are there any stores in your neighborhood that are open around the clock?

2.Is there any favorite place you visit time after time?

3.Name something unusual or interesting you’d like to do one of these days.

4.Is there a bad habit that you’ve already quit for good? Is there any other bad habit you’d like to quit once and for all?

5.For the time being, what is your main goal in life?

The end

Note: I have adapted this  lesson from lesson plans I use with students in our live online sessions. Classes are 50 minutes long and can be done 1-1 or in small groups. For more information please visit my website www.monumentenglish.com

Register for a free demo

Online lessons ” English for nursing”, 1-1 or in groups

Monument English is pleased to announce a new partnership with Simply Health Recruitment – a leading healthcare recruitment agency specializing in international Hiring.

As well as  recruitment of  nurses and doctors for  UK and Northern Ireland, Monument English holds specialized online English courses for nurses and doctors  needing  to improve their English. Our services include language screening, teaching, language test preparation and test facilitation. Monument English  has firmly established itself as a specialist provider of medical English to healthcare professionals across Europe.

Our Nursing course is designed to improve the communication skills and specialist English language knowledge of healthcare professionals, enabling them to work more confidently and effectively. With an emphasis on listening and speaking, the course covers core areas of nursing such as patient admission, taking medical specimens, patient handover, post-operation assessment and discharge planning. Authentic tasks and activities based on everyday nursing scenarios – from dealing with patients in pain to discussing lifestyle changes – make the course relevant and motivating. 

For more information or to have a free demo lesson and English assessment, contact us!

Scottnelson@monumentenglish.com or scott@simplyhealthrecruitment.com

Phrasal verbs-work work work

Many common English idioms, phrases, and proverbs include the word work. Read through some of my favorites and see if you can follow.

Monument English

Many common English idioms, phrases, and proverbs include the word work. Read through some of my favorites and see if you can follow.

Work (one’s way) into something

Meaning # 1: To slowly get into a space that is small and tight.

The glue gradually worked its way into the crack in the table

Meaning # 2: To slowly get more deeply involved in something.

Soon, I’ll work my way into my confusing new position at my job. It’s a difficult job, but I’ll get it.

Work (one’s way) through something.

Meaning # 1: To earn money to put yourself through some kind of advanced education.

Sue worked her way through law school as a bartender.

Meaning # 2: To figure out something complicated. 

I worked through the detailed application process slowly.

Meaning # 3: To struggle with some emotional or physical pain.

Andy had to work through his crippling…

View original post 391 more words

Using idioms in business

A great lesson to learn some new Business Idioms and phrases.

Monument English

Topic -Business idioms

Level – Intermediate

Whether we like it or not, the English speaking workplace is overflowing with idioms. Are you trying to “climb the corporate ladder”? Is the “rat race” making you crazy? If your project is in trouble, who will “bail you out”? Will you “pass the buck” if your project fails?Confused? You’re not alone. Read on about the meanings and origins of some of the most common business idioms.

Meanings

Climb the corporate ladder – to move up in the hierarchy of a corporation.

Rat race – the fierce struggle for success in the world of business.

Bail someone out – to rescue someone from trouble or difficulty.

Pass the Buck – to blame someone or make them responsible for something you should deal with yourself.

Now let’s look at some more idioms that you can use in…

View original post 920 more words

Time expressions

Hi there! 

In today’s blog we are going to look at expressions we use to talk about time and periods of time.

Topic – Time expressions and phrasal verbs

Level A2

in a while / after a while… after a short period of time

Sam said that he was almost done with his homework and could go outside to play in a little while.

Mrs Lee was complaining about a headache, but after a while it disappeared.

sooner or later / one of these days…eventually, at some future time

It seems like it’s been raining for days, but it’ll stop sooner or later.

One of these days I want to take a trip to Canada, but I don’t know when I’ll have the time.

for a while… for a short period of time

I’m in a hurry, but I can visit for a while.

This morning it rained for a short while before the sun appeared.

for the time being / for now… temporarily, (not forever it can change)

We’ll have to keep our old car for the time being until we can afford to buy a new one.

Even though Joyce is very unhappy with conditions at her job, she has to continue working there for now.

for good / for keeps…permanently, forever

Mrs Jones has left her unfaithful husband for good and will soon file for divorce.

Daisy wants to stop drinking coffee for keeps  because she thinks it’s bad for her health.

over and over (again) / time and time again / time after time…repeatedly

Jill likes the new jazz CD so much that she listens to it over and over again.

The baby tries to climb up into the chair time and time again.

I’ve told you time after time not to run into the street without looking both ways.

…from time to time / every so often / once in a while…occasionally, sometimes 

From time to time wild animals come into our backyard searching for food.

Every so often I forget to call my parents on Sunday evening.

Once in a while Joe likes to sleep late in the morning.

in time (to)…before the appointed time …on time…exactly at the appointed time / punctually.

The Smiths left for the lecture early so they’d arrive in time for good seats.                                                                                                                                     Fred thought he’d be late for class, but he managed to get there on time.

Exercise

Fill in the blank with the missing part of the idiom

1.For the time _____, Kim has no intention of selling her apartment.

2.Sooner or _____ we all have to decide what we want to do in life.

3.I like to get away from everyone and be alone from _____ to time.

4.Our neighbor’s dog barks _____ and time again. Doesn’t it ever get tired?

5.One of these _____, I’ll be able to spend more time with you and the children.

6.Carlos heard a strange ringing sound in his ear for a _____.

7._____ a short while, the ringing in his ear stopped.

8.George tried to reach Sue over and _____, but there was no answer.

9.Soon I’m going to lose all this extra weight _____ good.

10.Mr. Jones rushed to the station but didn’t get there in _____ to catch his train.

Conversation

1.Are there any stores in your neighborhood that are open around the clock?

2.Is there any favorite place you visit time after time?

3.Name something unusual or interesting you’d like to do one of these days.

4.Is there a bad habit that you’ve already quit for good? Is there any other bad habit you’d like to quit once and for all?

5.For the time being, what is your main goal in life?

The end

Note: I have adapted this  lesson from lesson plans I use with students in our live online sessions. Classes are 50 minutes long and can be done 1-1 or in small groups. For more information please visit my website www.monumentenglish.com

Register for a free demo

How to give a speech

Topic – Business

Level – B1

Warm up

What is your biggest fear?

How do you help yourself deal with your fear?

If hypnotism could help you forget your fear, would you be willing to try it?

Public Speaking

The number one fear that most people share is public speaking. Some people would rather die than speak in front of a crowd. About one in every 5 people has a fear of speaking in front of a group. The biggest issue with this fear is that public speaking is a very common thing in our society and it’s hard to get away from doing it.

When people have to speak on a stage, they get nervous and get butterflies in their stomach. Their palms start to sweat and their knees tremble. They can hear their own wavering voice, further making them feel self-conscious.

Questions

Have you ever spoken in front of a lot of people? Share your experience.

How do you usually prepare for giving a speech?

What do you think is the most difficult thing to do when giving a speech?

Vocabulary

self-conscious – worried and embarrassed about what you look like or what other people think of you

jargon  -words and expressions used in a particular profession or by a particular group of people, which are difficult for other people to understand

acronym – a word made up from the first letters of the name of something, such as an organization; for example, NATO is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

conservative – not very modern; traditional

funeral – a religious ceremony for someone who has died

periodically – happening a number of times, usually at regular times

elaborate – to give more details or new information about something

gesture – a movement of part of your body, especially your hands or head, to show what you mean or how you feel

Knowing

Whenever you have to give a speech, make sure you know the subject that you are going to talk about very well. This way you will not be surprised by any questions that your audience throws at you. If you feel like there are areas of the topic which are unfamiliar to you, then have someone who is more knowledgeable help you prepare.

Unless you are sure that your audience is familiar with the subject you are talking about, don’t allow your speech to be full of jargon or acronyms. Only go into technical details when you are explaining a question, or you will bore your audience to death.

Questions

Have you ever had a very awkward moment during one of your speeches? What happened?

Have you ever given a speech without preparing for it first?  What was the result?

What are some things you can do to help you remember your speech when you are on stage?

Preparation

It’s very important to know about the crowd that you will be speaking to. You will understand better what to say and what not to say by researching the type of audience you will have. For example, if you were speaking at a conservative funeral, you wouldn’t crack any jokes or otherwise try to be funny, would you?

Place a friend or colleague in the audience to help your confidence. You can periodically look at them instead of staring blankly into a sea of unfamiliar faces.

Small details

Your speech should be divided into 3 parts: an introduction, body, and conclusion. Don’t simply read through your speech; instead, have bullet points and elaborate on them. Remember to insert reminders in your notes like “look up” or “make eye contact.” It’s okay to use your hands when giving a speech; body gestures will make your speech livelier.

Get to know the equipment that you will be dealing with so you will understand how everything works. That way, if there is a problem, you won’t panic and you’ll know what to do to fix it.

Questions

What types of equipment are commonly used by people who are giving a speech? What are the pros and cons of these pieces of equipment?

How do you feel when the speaker you are listening to just reads his/her notes and never looks at the audience?

Do you have any good tips about public speaking that you can share with us?

Multiple choice

I can never understand Jeff when he starts using _______ to talk about computer programming.

1.  acronym    2.  funeral    3.  jargon    4.  self-conscious

I always feel _________ about my height when I stand around tall people.

1.  conservative                               2.  periodically

3.  self-conscious                            4.  funeral

Her body _______ were telling me to leave the room as soon as I could.

1.  gestures    2.  elaborate    3.  periodically    4.  acronym

Can you please _________ a little more on the subject of public speaking skills?

1.  elaborate    2.  self-conscious    3.  periodically    4.  acronym

I don’t like to go to _________, they always make me feel depressed.

1.  conservative    2.  gestures    3.  funerals    4.  jargon

The end

If you enjoyed this lesson then you’ll love our online lessons. Held in real time, with mother tongue English teachers, 1-1 or in small groups using WizIQ interactive classrooms. Visit our website and sign up for a free demo lesson.

 www.monumentenglish.com

Register for a free demo

Using idioms in business

Topic -Business idioms

Level – Intermediate

Whether we like it or not, the English speaking workplace is overflowing with idioms. Are you trying to “climb the corporate ladder”? Is the “rat race” making you crazy? If your project is in trouble, who will “bail you out”? Will you “pass the buck” if your project fails?Confused? You’re not alone. Read on about the meanings and origins of some of the most common business idioms.

Meanings

Climb the corporate ladder – to move up in the hierarchy of a corporation.

Rat race – the fierce struggle for success in the world of business.

Bail someone out – to rescue someone from trouble or difficulty.

Pass the Buck – to blame someone or make them responsible for something you should deal with yourself.

Now let’s look at some more idioms that you can use in business settings!

Bite the bullet

-to make yourself do or accept something that is difficult or unpleasant.

Example: When the economy began to worsen, many executives bit the bullet and took a pay cut

History: This idiom dates back to earlier periods in the military when patients on the battlefield would have to bite down on a bullet to distract them from a painful surgery with no anesthetic.

Brownie points

-recognition or praise for doing something good or for giving a compliment to someone in authority (such as your boss)

Example: Martha scored brownie points with her team leader when she offered to stay late and finish the project.

History: The Brownies are the youngest members of the Girl Scouts organization, in which girls do good deeds to earn badges (for example, helping the elderly). This phrase is sometimes used negatively to describe a suck-up.

Discussion

How do you deal with coworkers who focus more on scoring brownie points than on the actual quality or amount of their work?

Can you give an example of a time when you had to bite the bullet at work?  What was the outcome?

Have you ever had to bail a coworker or superior out?  What had he/she done, and what did you do to save him/her?

Jump the gun

-to begin to do something before you should (for example, before you have all of the information required to make a good decision or take the correct action)

Example: Mark really jumped the gun when he accused Larry of stealing his marketing ideas! It turns out that Larry proposed that advertising campaign over a month ago.

History: In a track and field race, a small gun – called a “starter’s pistol” – is fired to tell the runners when to begin. If a runner leaves the starting line before the gun is fired, he has “jumped the gun.”

Pull the plug

-to stop an activity or project, especially if it is prohibited or if it is not succeeding

Example:  When the boss found out that the project was $40 million over budget, he pulled the plug and fired the project manager.

History: This expression is believed to refer to one of two different actions. First, if the plug for an electrical appliance is removed from the wall, the appliance will no longer work (it stops). Secondly, in the 19th century, some of the first toilets in use had a plug. This plug was removed to flush the toilet.

Down to the wire

-until the very last moment that it is possible to do something (note: the phrase “the 11th hour” is very similar – it means “the last minute”)

Example: Our end of the year report is due at 4:00 pm today. I was out sick all week with the flu, so now I’m really going to have to work down to the wire.

History: This term comes from the sport of equestrian racing. In the 19th century, a wire above the finish line was used to decide who the winner of a close race was. If two horses were very close together at the end of the race, it was said to be “down to the wire” (the one who touched it first was the winner).

Discussion

If you see a business situation deteriorating quickly, do you think it’s a better idea to pull the plug on the project yourself or pass the buck to someone else? Why?

Give an example of a time when a well known company jumped the gun.

Do you prefer to finish things early or do you normally work down to the wire?

Compare apples to oranges

-to compare two things that are not similar, making the comparison worthless

Example: You can’t compare Japan’s economy to the economy of the U.S. It’s like comparing apples to oranges!

Note: If you wanted to compare two things that are very similar, you would say “compare apples to apples.”

For example: For today’s meeting, I think it’s important to compare apples to apples. We should compare this month’s sales figures to the sales figures from the same month last year.

Yes man

-someone who always agrees with everything that an authority figure (such as a boss, teacher, parent, etc.) proposes

Example: Bob is such a yes man; there’s no way he’ll ever disagree with his manager.

Note: As you can imagine, the term “yes man” comes from the fact that some people will always say “yes” to their bosses, teachers, etc. in order to be well liked by those people.

Larry will never tell his boss how he really feels about this project.  He’s just a __________________.

I told Mary to cancel Saturday’s party because I had a business meeting scheduled, but I ____________________ because the day after I talked to her, the meeting was cancelled.

The proposal is due in three hours! You’re really working ________________________, aren’t you?

I guess Jenny’s not going to make it into work today.  Looks like I’ll have to _______________ and do the presentation for her, even though I don’t know much about it.

There’s not enough money for the project, so the boss is _________________________________.

Do you know anymore useful business idioms? Why not leave an example in the comments box.

If you enjoyed this lesson then you’ll love our online lessons. Held in real time, with mother tongue English teachers, 1-1 or in small groups using WizIQ interactive classrooms. Visit our website and sign up for a free demo lesson.

 www.monumentenglish.com

Register for a free demo

How to ace an interview

Topic-Business Interview

Level-Intermediate

This is the scenario

It’s been a while since you lost your job.  After a long time of self-pitying and distress due to financial difficulties and pressure from your surroundings, you’ve finally decided to get into gear and set out to find a new job opportunity.

However, no matter what position you try to obtain, the pressure to perform well at the interview causes extreme anxiety that cripples your performance.

Before the interview begins

Does the thought of going on a job interview cause you to panic?

What do you do to help lessen your anxiety?

What are the basic DOs and DON’Ts in a job interview?  Name three of each.

What was the worst blunder you’ve ever committed in an interview? Briefly describe what happened.

What kind of interviewer intimidates you the most?

Now 

After a couple of failures, you’ve now learned to get yourself more prepared for upcoming interviews.

You’ve had your best friend and your family members pretend to be recruiters, and you’ve rehearsed all of the most frequently asked questions and answers. You’ve taken a practice run to the location where you are having the interview and know approximately how long it will take you to get there. You look presentable in impeccable attire. So, what next?

Prepare

The following are some of the toughest questions you will face in a job interview.  Some may seem rather simple on the surface and could have a variety of answers.

With your classmates, practice answering the questions and decide which ones you consider to be the toughest. After you’re done, point out the strongest/weakest parts of the answers your classmates have given.

Tell me about yourself. 

What do you know about our organization and why do you want to work for us?

What can you do for us that someone else can’t ?

What is your greatest weakness?

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or co-worker?  How was it resolved?

How has your education prepared you for your career?

How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

Why did you leave your last job? What did you think of your last boss?

What are your salary expectations?

Why should we hire you?

Useful advice

There are numerous reasons why people fail to land a job after they’ve had their interviews.

Oftentimes, when interviewees are asked to tell the interviewers about themselves, they feel that they should talk about their personal lives and hobbies, instead of seeing this as an opportunity to sell themselves by pointing out their qualifications with conviction.

Be positive during the job interview when asked why you left your previous job.  Indeed, your last boss may have been a jerk whose main concern was making your life miserable, but never bash an ex-employer in front of your prospective employer.

You may state that you decided to look for a company with room for growth and where you can better utilize your skills. Remember, although honesty is admirable, trash-talking is absolutely despicable.  After all, who would want to hire someone who only seems good at badmouthing their former bosses?

Turn the table 

If you were a recruiter, which of the following answers would be the worst things to hear from prospective candidates? Choose your top three and explain why.

I’ll work for free just to get my foot in the door.

I’m sorry I’m late, but I have great reasons for it.

To be honest, I know nothing about this company.

Do I have to work overtime? Because I seriously don’t do that.

I left my old job because my boss was an idiot.

I left my old job because there was too much office drama and I just couldn’t handle all that work anymore.

Nine to five? Boy, that sure takes the best part out of the day!

Speaking of my weaknesses, I’ve been told that I’m really slow when handling new things.  But I’m definitely willing to try.

How many vacation days do we get?  How about extra employee benefits?

The reason why I want to work here is because I don’t know much about the industry and I feel that this will be a great opportunity for me to learn.

Remember

When you’re asked to describe a weakness, try to aim for a weakness that works to your prospective boss’s advantage, such as “I am a workaholic, and I can’t stand leaving work undone.”

It’s also important to remember that employers don’t want employees that don’t contribute or give input. This can be reflected through the way you interact during the interview.  Words such as “Um..”, “ I’m not sure”, “ I don’t know”, or even “ No, I don’t have any questions for you” are telling the interviewer that you don’t have a clue about that company, and at the same time you’re showing a lack of interest.  Having a few questions in your pocket could make you more confident and prepared, especially in moments when the conversation is not flowing smoothly.

One last thing

No matter how the interview turns out, it’s really the effort that counts.  You won’t fret when you’re well prepared. Bring up your achievements that will make you the very best candidate for the position. The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.

When dealing with questions that are related to your behavioral reactions to conflicts or problems, try to provide examples that reflect your calmness and your ability to resolve problems.

Vocabulary

pity  to feel sorry for someone because they are in a very bad situation

distress  suffering and problems caused by a lack of money, food, etc.

cripple  to damage something badly so that it no longer works or is no longer effective

impeccable  without any faults and impossible to criticize

conviction  the feeling of being sure about something and having no doubts

despicable  extremely bad, immoral, or cruel

badmouth  to criticize someone or something

fret  to worry about something, especially when there is no need to

The end

If you enjoyed this lesson then you’ll love our online lessons. Held in real time, with mother tongue English teachers, 1-1 or in small groups using WizIQ interactive classrooms. Visit our website and sign up for a free demo lesson.

 www.monumentenglish.com

Register for a free demo

What you need to know before you travel.

Topic – Travel tips

Level – intermediate

Warm up

Do you have any plans to travel overseas soon?

What are some unique characteristics of the country you want to visit?

What is something that you would like to see once in your life from another country?

Reading

If you want to travel to other countries, there are some important things that you must keep in mind. First, you may not be able to have a lot of things that you are used to having at home. Unfortunately, this may include toilet paper in the public restrooms. In some countries, toilet paper is not provided in the restroom, so keep a few packs of tissue in your pocket or purse.

You might not be able to get used to the water in a foreign place; you could experience some intestinal problems. If you brush your teeth with tap water or eat anything rinsed in tap water, you could have a problem. So, have a bottle of antacid with you just in case to treat an upset stomach. It’s also a good idea to chew an antacid tablet before you eat anything that is  prepared in a way you are not used to.

Consult with a doctor or health-care provider at a clinic before your trip. Provide them with your health information and immunization history. You should also let them know what area of the foreign country you will be visiting. This will help them know what types of vaccinations you will need for your trip. Take enough antibiotics and other prescription medications with you for the days that you will spend abroad.

Vocabulary

clinic  a place, often in a hospital, where medical treatment is given to people who do not need to stay in the hospital

immunization   the act of making something protected from a sickness, usually by vaccination

vaccination  the taking of a vaccine to protect against a certain disease

antibiotics  a drug that is used to kill bacteria and cure infections

prescriptions  a piece of paper on which a doctor writes what medicine a sick person should have, so that they can get it from a pharmacy

intestines the long tube in your body through which food passes after it leaves your stomach

Scammer  a person who takes someone’s money by tricking them

Accuse  to say that you believe someone is guilty of a crime or of doing something bad

Counterfeit  made to look exactly like something else, in order to deceive people

Questions

Do you think you are usually prepared for the possibility of getting sick in a foreign country?

Do you normally bring extras of everything on your vacation just in case you run into trouble? (ex: flight cancelled for 3 days)  Would you be able to ration what you take with you on a trip if you had to stay in that country for an extra week?

What are some things that you always bring on a vacation no matter what?

•Research the locations that you would like to visit. Know the weather conditions so you can be prepared.

•Have the business card of your hotel on hand so you will be able to get back no matter what happens.

•Keep your passport in the safe at your hotel but bring a copy of it with you in case you need to be identified.

•Know where the major hotels and banks are so you can exchange currency or get cash from your credit card.

•Be careful about what you eat and drink, don’t be surprised if you have an upset stomach. Always buy bottled water instead of drinking tap water.

Counterfeit currency is a major problem in some countries. Smaller bills are much safer than large ones because they are not worth counterfeiting. Scammers will swiftly swap your real bill with a fake one when you’re not paying attention and then accuse you of giving out counterfeit currency so that you’ll have to give them another bill. To be on the safe side, always exchange money at your hotel or a bank and only carry small bills!

Have a short chain connected to your belongings to stop pick-pockets. They thrive in crowded areas so always hold your things in a way that they cannot be easily taken from you. Put your wallet in your chest pocket and wear your backpack and bag in the front.

Last word 

Do you know any type of self-defense that you can use to protect yourself with?

Do you rely on credit cards heavily when you go on vacation?

Do you think that you have a strong stomach that can digest anything?

Test yourself.  Multiple choice

The doctor gave me a week of _________ to fight off the bacteria.

1.  scammers    2.  clinics    3.  antibiotics    4.  ration

Those __________ bags cost half as much as the real ones.

1.  counterfeit    2.  diarrhea    3.  intestinal    4.  immunization

My __________ has run out.  I need to have the doctor write another one.

1.  antibiotic                                 2.  scammer

3.  immunization                           4.  prescription

There are three well-known _________ who hang around the train station looking for targets.

1.  accuse    2.  scammers    3.  vaccination    4.  clinic

I have some _____________ problems, so I am always careful with what I eat.

1.  intestinal    2.  counterfeit    3.  accuse    4.  ration

The end

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A siesta on the job?

My new series of postings are for both teachers and students to use in conversational classes.  You’ll find that all the themes are relevant, interesting, informative and most of all enjoyable.

Topic – Business

Level – intermediate

Lets Talk!

1)   Do you often feel tired and sleepy at work?  What do you think causes this? What do you do to perk yourself up?

2)   Does your company have strict rules about sleeping on the job?  What is your opinion on this?

3)   If you were a business owner, would you ever consider giving your employees time to take a nap? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

 Infraction – (n) an act of breaking a rule or law

 Domino effect – (n) a chain reaction; a series of events quickly following each other, each of which causes the next one

Unsanctioned –  (adj) without permission

Siesta – (n) a midday or afternoon rest or nap, esp. as taken in Spain and Latin America

Reap – (v) to get something as a result of what you have done before

Sleeping on the job 

When employees take a coffee break, most companies don’t really mind. However, if employees take a short sleep break, they’ll probably get terminated. Yes, sleeping on the job is usually a major infraction.

However, it has been discovered that napping actually boosts creativity and alertness, which has a remarkable domino effect on the things the person does after his/her nap. So, if employees were permitted to take a 20 – 30 minute nap in the afternoon, in theory, they could be more productive. Of course, nowadays there are very few companies that allow napping on the job.

How long is your lunch break? Do you take a nap during your lunch time? Why or why not?

Sleeping on the job

Still, according to reports, napping that is unsanctioned – or sleeping on the job – in fact costs businesses in the U.S. about $17 billion annually in lost production.

But then, studies also reveal that tired employees cost businesses up to $140 billion each year in lost production.

These findings now raise the question: When is an acceptable hour or place for an employee to get some sleep, and when is it unacceptable?

In many European countries, like Spain, and so too in several Latin American nations, an afternoon nap or siesta is actually considered normal. Local shops even close for an hour or two during the afternoon.

A nap recharges the mind and body as well as provides that extra push needed to make a day productive, which is both a benefit to the employee and the employer.

Still, only 1 percent of American companies allow napping at work. That’s indeed a shame knowing all the benefits an employee reaps after napping. Companies like Nova, Nike, and Gould Evans Goodman Associates permit in-the-office siestas and they are very smart to do so.

Questions 

1)How do you feel after taking a nap? What do you think about businesses in Latin America actually closing at midday to allow employees to take a siesta?

2) Think about the amount of the work that gets done in your office around midday.  Do you think that businesses in your country would benefit from closing at midday?

3) When is an acceptable hour or place for an employee to get some sleep and when is it unacceptable?

More Vocabulary

Pre-frontal cortex – (n) the front part of the brain’s frontal lobe

Wind down – (ph.v) to reduce gradually

Tabilize –  (v) to keep something at the same level

Grogginess – (n) the state of feeling weak or dizzy, especially because of illness or overindulgence (excess)

Turnover – (n) the rate at which people leave a company and are replaced

Absenteeism – (n) regular lack of attendance at work or some other place without good reasons

Stigma – (n) the shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable

What’s a power nap? 

A “power nap” is simply a brief nap of 20 to 30 minutes during the middle of the day .  Usually at this time,  the brain’s prefrontal cortex experiences a winding down of activity. This short nap helps stabilize the brain’s activity because it provides relaxation and rest.

However, one must be careful not to exceed the 30 minute sleep or else one will enter a “deep sleep”. If you wake up in the middle of a deep sleep, you can experience inertia, the feeling of grogginess.

Recent studies suggest that power naps offer a lot of benefits like improved concentration, increased work productivity, better moods, and lowered stress.

According to The National Sleep Foundation, tired employees can be prone to:
• increased accidents and errors
• increased absenteeism
• increased  employee turnover

The obvious benefits of siestas can not be taken for granted.  It appears that many businesses could benefit from allowing nap breaks.

However, there is no need to form a rule that sets terms for napping in the office.  It’s just a matter of removing the stigma linked with power napping.

Agree or disagree 

By allowing employees to take power naps, what companies lose in time, they can make up for in increased productivity.

The end.

If you enjoyed this lesson then you’ll love our online lessons. In real time, mother tongue English teachers, 1-1 or in small groups using WizIQ interactive classrooms. Visit our website and sign up for a free demo lesson.

 www.monumentenglish.com

Register for a free demo