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Lesson 9: Office Culture
It’s frustrating to work overtime and not get paid.

I can talk about office culture.

INTRODUCE

Office culture is the personality of a company. It’s important because it affects employee productivity and motivation.

PRESENT

STEP A VOCABULARY

I. Listen and repeat.

common

unusual

crazy

frustrating

unhealthy

unnecessary

II. Which of the adjectives above describe the activities below? Choose one or two for each activity.

  • skydiving

  • working overtime

  • drinking and smoking

III. Practice reading the words.

/z/

/t/

crazy

party

hazel

hotel

breezy

pretty

STEP B GRAMMAR TIP

Use it’s + (adjective) + (to-infinitive) to describe an activity.

  • It’s common to ask for help from coworkers.
  • It’s unnecessary to talk about the same thing over and over.
  • It’s frustrating to be late because of train issues.
  • It’s difficult to do many things at the same time.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Tim is chatting with Sho on his way out of the office.

Tim:

Sho, you look depressed again. Is it because Ai is going on maternity leave soon?

Sho:

Yeah, that’s one reason, but I’m also upset because of the new overtime guidelines.

Tim:

I know. It’s frustrating to work overtime and not get paid. So instead of sitting in front of your computer, why don’t we go out and drink? Come on! It’s Friday night. It’s unnecessary to finish everything tonight.

Sho:

You know I can’t leave until I finish my tasks. You know Mr. Goto.

Tim:

But you do overtime every day. It’s unhealthy to work that much.

Sho:

(sighs) Yeah, it’s very stressful.

Tim:

I think it’s the office culture here that’s depressing you. Good thing we’re going to Brazil in a few weeks. I’m sure you’ll feel better when we get there.

Sho:

I hope so.

Tim:

Well, I’ll see you on Monday. Have a good weekend!

Sho:

What weekend?!

TRIVIA

The Japanese phrase otsukaresama deshita (お疲れ様でした) doesn’t have a direct English translation. In English-speaking countries, coworkers often say see you tomorrow or have a good night/weekend when they leave the office.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Make sentences using the words in parentheses.

ex. (unusual / leave the office early at my company)

It’s unusual to leave the office early at my company.

 

  1. (unnecessary / worry about that)
  2. (crazy / believe such a strange story)
  3. (interesting / work with different people)

STEP B EXERCISE

Complete the sentences with it’s (adjective) to using your own information.

ex. It’s frustrating to work for other people.

 

  1. _____ stay up very late at night.
  2. _____ get promoted.
  3. _____ wait for a long time.

 

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You’re having lunch with your new foreign coworker.


Chat with him/her about office culture at Japanese companies.

Today's grammar tip

  • it’s + (adjective) + to

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

GOOD OFFICE CULTURE

2

OFFICE RULES

3

BAD OFFICE CULTURE

1

GOOD OFFICE CULTURE

  1. Does a friendly office culture motivate you?
  2. What kind of office culture can help you be productive?
  3. Do you know any companies that are famous for their good office culture?
  4. Should companies organize activities that improve office culture?

2OFFICE RULES

  1. Do you like to work in a company with strict office rules?
  2. How should a company deal with employees who don’t follow office rules?
  3. What office rule do you think is the hardest to follow?
  4. Should employees help create office rules?

3BAD OFFICE CULTURE

  1. In your opinion, what kind of office culture is bad?
  2. What should a company do to improve bad office culture?
  3. If a company promotes competition, is it bad office culture?
  4. Imagine you’re at a job interview and you noticed that the company may have a bad office culture. Will you still take the job?

FEEDBACK

I can talk about office culture.

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