Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a guardian
    • ex. The school asked the child’s guardian to sign the permission form for the school trip.
  2. tight
    • ex. I have a tight schedule today, so I cannot take a long break.
  3. pass away
    • ex. Her grandmother, who was sick for a long time, had passed away.
  4. empathy
    • ex. He showed empathy by offering help to his friend who was having a difficult day.
  5. tactful
    • ex. A tactful comment can help someone see their mistakes without feeling embarrassed.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Being kind to others is one of the first lessons many parents and guardians teach children. However, this skill is sometimes forgotten at work. Competition, tight deadlines, and money worries can make people care less. Fear of losing a job can also reduce kind behavior.

Still, acts of kindness at work are meaningful. Molly MacDermot, a director at a nonprofit organization, remembers how her boss supported her when her parents passed away. She said it is important to be understood and allowed to take care of personal problems. For example, showing compassion at work can mean allowing space for personal struggles, welcoming new coworkers, or bending rules when needed.

Experts say workplaces can build empathy by creating safe spaces. Team activities, book clubs, or group events help coworkers understand each other better. These shared experiences encourage respect, even when people disagree. Kindness also includes giving honest feedback. Being tactful when pointing out problems helps others improve. Managers should give clear examples and also recognize success. A productive workplace is not free of conflict, but it allows people to learn, repair mistakes, and grow together.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Ways to Show Kindness at Work

  • Experts say workplaces can build empathy through team activities, such as book clubs and group events. What kind of activities do you think can encourage empathy? Discuss.
  • According to the article, kindness also includes giving honest and tactful feedback. Talk about a time when you received feedback at work. Discuss.
  • The article also says that managers should give clear examples and also recognize success. Why do you think this is an important step in showing kindness? Discuss.

Kindness

  • Being kind to others is one of the first lessons many parents and guardians teach children. In your opinion, what is a good way to teach kindness to a child? Discuss.
  • According to the article, kindness is sometimes forgotten at work. Why do you think this happens? Discuss.
  • Talk about a situation/experience at work when a colleague showed you some kindness. Discuss.