INTRODUCE
"Black company" is a Japanese term used to describe a company that exploits its workers. In recent years, several major Japanese companies have made headlines for mistreating their workers, but critics say little has been done by the government to combat the problem.
PRESENT
STEP A EXPRESSIONS
Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.
1. cap something at something is used to talk about setting limits.
The government needs to cap overtime at 50 hours a month.
Q: Do you try to cap your monthly spending?
2. The turnover rate is the percentage of employees at a company that leave during a certain period of time.
I decided not to interview at that company when I saw its turnover rate.
Q: Do you know any companies that have a high turnover rate? Why do you think they do?
3. .
Jennifer’s boss is always breathing down her neck. He never leaves her alone.
Q: What do you think breathe down someone’s neck means?
STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND
Sometimes you want to tell the truth.
Are you enjoying your big new apartment?
To be honest, not really. It’s almost too big for one person, and it takes forever to clean!
UNDERSTAND
SPEAKING
Takeshi and Nathan are old university friends who are meeting up in Japan for the first time in over five years.
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- Nathan:
Wow, you’re working for Roman & Rogers Inc?! That’s amazing! How do you like it?
- Takeshi:
To be honest, I wish I hadn’t left my old job.
- Nathan:
Really? Why?
- Takeshi:
My boss is always breathing down my neck. He expects everything early. If the deadline is Friday, he wants it by Wednesday. I’m putting in about five hours of overtime every day.
- Nathan:
But I read an article that said your company was going to cap overtime at 45 hours a month.
- Takeshi:
That’s the official policy, but that just means anything past 45 hours is unpaid overtime.
- Nathan:
Wow… That’s horrible. How can you stand it? Don’t people quit?
- Takeshi:
Yeah, you wouldn’t believe our turnover rate.
- Nathan:
I guess it’s good for the company that they aren’t paying for all your overtime… They can use the money to make all those new business cards they need!
- Takeshi:
(laughs) Yeah, that’s true.
TRIVIA
The Most Evil Corporation of the Year Award, aka the “Black Company Award,” was established in Japan in 2012 in order to raise awareness that such corporations exist.
PRACTICE
Answer the questions using the pictures and expressions in the box. Some expressions may be used more than once, and the form of some expressions may need to be changed.
1.
Tutor: Do many people quit your company?
Student: __________.
2.
Tutor: How’s your new boss?
Student: __________.
3.
Tutor: Are you still doing 60 hours of overtime every month?
Student: __________.
4.
Tutor: How are things going at work?
Student: __________.
5.
Tutor: Do you like your boss?
Student: __________.
CHALLENGE
Challenge 1
Your friend is having issues at work. Discuss his/her current situation and give some advice.
Today's Expressions
- cap something at something
- turnover rate
- breathe down someone’s neck
Speak Your Mind
- To be honest, …
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Challenge 2
What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.
If TimeAllows
1 BLACK COMPANIES |
2 GOOD COMPANIES |
|---|---|
|
1 BLACK COMPANIES
|
2GOOD COMPANIES
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FEEDBACK
I can discuss the issue of black companies in Japan.
LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT
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4
Very GoodCould complete the task with ease
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3
GoodCould complete the task with some clarifications
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2
FairCould complete the task with additional instructions
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1
PoorCould somehow complete the task with difficulty
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
- RANGE
the ability to use a wide variety of vocabulary - ACCURACY
the ability to speak correctly - FLUENCY
the ability to speak smoothly without pauses or fillers - INTERACTION
the ability to manage a conversation
