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Lesson 7: Work-Life Balance
I think you need to leave work at work.

I can talk about work-life balance.

INTRODUCE

Work-life balance is important because it helps people gain satisfaction in both their personal and professional lives.

PRESENT

STEP A VOCABULARY

I. Listen and repeat.

work too much  

say no

be glued to your work phone

leave work at work

make time for fun

have a social life

II. Which of the things above are good for work-life balance? Which are not good for work-life balance?

  • good

  • not good

III. Practice reading the words.

/gl/

/gr/

glued

gruel

glad

grab

glow

grow

STEP B GRAMMAR TIP

Use that clauses after stative verbs like think, hear, believe, hope, know, forgot, and remember.

  • I think that you need to have fun at work.
  • I hope that you get the job.

To make a negative sentence with think or believe, use the negative form of think or believe, not the that clause verb.


He isn’t sick.  → I don’t think that he is sick.


 

  • I don’t believe that he said yes.
  • I don’t think that I can finish the task today.

You can cut that from the beginning of these that clauses with no change in meaning.

  • I think you need to have fun at work.
  • I don’t believe he said yes.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Sho and Tim are going to the convenience store to get some coffee.

Tim:

So, I heard that Ai is going on maternity leave soon.

Sho:

Yeah… I’m happy for her, but I’m also really sad. She’s one of the few friends I have here, and she only has three weeks left before she goes on leave.

Tim:

You know what? You need to find friends outside work. Come on, let’s go out tonight and meet some people!

Sho:

I can’t. I have to work on that presentation after dinner.

Tim:

Seriously? You work too much, buddy! I think you need to leave work at work and make time for fun. Don’t you want to have a social life?

Sho:

I do want to have a social life, but Mr. Goto gave me some extra tasks earlier today. He told me to finish them by tomorrow morning.

Tim:

I know that Mr. Goto is your boss, but you should learn how to say no when he gives you too many tasks. I don’t think you’ll get in trouble for that. He knows that you’re really busy.

TRIVIA

To add emphasis, you can add the verb do before the plain form of verbs. Native speakers usually do this to emphasize a correction or emotion. The do is usually italicized when written and stressed when spoken.

 

O That’s not true! I do want to help!

O Well, he does get angry a lot…

O What? I did call you last night.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Make sentences using the pictures and words. More than one answer may be possible.

ex. hear + go on vacation next week

I heard (that) you’re going on vacation next week.

1. believe + need to make time for fun

2. hope + can go home early today

3. think + shouldn’t work too hard

STEP B EXERCISE

Complete the conversation using the words in parentheses.

Tutor:

I’m so stressed out from this project! What do you think I should do?

Student:

(think / you should take a vacation) __________ when you finish it. (know / you need some time to relax) __________.

Tutor:

My wife keeps telling me that too. I’m not sure where to go, though. Do you have any suggestions?

Student:

(hear / Hawaii is cheap this time of year) __________. (believe / your wife / would love it there) __________.

Tutor:

Great! Can you help me find a good vacation package to Hawaii?

Student:

Sure.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You and your friend are at a café. She’s complaining about her job.


Give your friend advice on how to have a better work-life balance.

Today's grammar tip

  • that clauses with stative verbs

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

2

FAMILY VS WORK

3

SOCIAL LIFE

1

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

  1. Do you know someone who doesn’t have a good work-life balance?
  2. What happens to people who don’t have a good work-life balance?
  3. Is work-life balance important in Japan?
  4. What can companies do to improve their employees’ work-life balance?

2FAMILY VS WORK

  1. How much time should people spend at work?
  2. How much time should people spend with their families?
  3. Is it easy for you to leave work early for family events?
  4. Are you willing to quit your job for your family?

3SOCIAL LIFE

  1. Is your social life important?
  2. Do you prefer to have a lot of casual friends or a few close friends?
  3. When do you usually go out with friends?
  4. What can you do to improve your social life?

FEEDBACK

I can talk about work-life balance.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK