ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Social Post
Level
3 / B1
Published
Title
Ready to Quit
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/smposts/ready-to-quit/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Read the Comments, Why Did They Post?, True or False, Put Events in Order, Multiple Choice

Language: Words That Go Together, Everyday Expressions

Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

You have approved time off, but your manager asks you to work instead. What would you do?

Two Hispanic men stand in a small office during a tense conversation; the older manager looks stern and unemotional while the younger employee looks down, frustrated and disappointed, beside a desk and filing cabinet.
Disappointed with my manager.

Vocab List

family reunion (n.) — A meeting of family members after a long time apart.
hand over (v. phrase) — To give work or responsibility to another person.
time off (n.) — Time when you are not working.
team player (n. phrase) — A person who works well with others in a group.
approval (n.) — Official permission to do something.
staffing (n.) — The number of workers available in a place.
coworker (n.) — A person who works with you.
quit (v.) — To stop your job or leave a place.
Reading

Three months ago, I asked for time off because my family reunion was finally happening. We only get together every few years, and this time my grandmother was able to come from far away. I reminded my manager twice, got the approval email, and booked my bus ticket as soon as I could.

The night before the trip, I packed food to bring and put my bag by the door. I came to work on the morning of my time off only to hand over my tasks and say goodbye. I was already thinking about the reunion when my manager called me into his office.

He said two coworkers were sick, so my time off was now being moved. He talked as if it were a small change, but it did not feel small to me. My family was already on the way, I had already spent the money, and my grandmother was waiting.

I told him my time off was already approved. He kept saying I should be a "team player," and I reached my limit. This was not the first time my plans suffered because of staffing problems. I said that if he cancelled my time off, I would quit that day. In the end, he let me take the time off, but I still feel upset about what happened. Now I keep wondering if I was wrong, but I also feel disappointed with my manager.

Ready to Quit

Level 3 Social
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Two Hispanic men stand in a small office during a tense conversation; the older manager looks stern and unemotional while the younger employee looks down, frustrated and disappointed, beside a desk and filing cabinet.
Disappointed with my manager.
Poster
Diego

Three months ago, I asked for time off because my family reunion was finally happening. We only get together every few years, and this time my grandmother was able to come from far away. I reminded my manager twice, got the approval email, and booked my bus ticket as soon as I could.

The night before the trip, I packed food to bring and put my bag by the door. I came to work on the morning of my time off only to hand over my tasks and say goodbye. I was already thinking about the reunion when my manager called me into his office.

He said two coworkers were sick, so my time off was now being moved. He talked as if it were a small change, but it did not feel small to me. My family was already on the way, I had already spent the money, and my grandmother was waiting.

I told him my time off was already approved. He kept saying I should be a "team player," and I reached my limit. This was not the first time my plans suffered because of staffing problems. I said that if he cancelled my time off, I would quit that day. In the end, he let me take the time off, but I still feel upset about what happened. Now I keep wondering if I was wrong, but I also feel disappointed with my manager.

Read the Comments

Read the Comments

  • CityCommuter

    You gave notice and got approval, so it makes sense that you felt pushed too far.

    This comment

    b. Supports why he felt strongly
  • LateShiftGuy

    You may have reacted too strongly by saying you would quit that day.

    This comment

    c. Challenges his threat to quit immediately
  • PlainReply

    You got your time off in the end, but this sounds like a work problem, not just a one-time issue.

    This comment

    a. Points to a larger workplace problem
  1. a. Points to a larger workplace problem
  2. b. Supports why he felt strongly
  3. c. Challenges his threat to quit immediately

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:22  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Three months ago, I asked for time (1) because my family reunion was finally happening. We only get together every few years, and this time my grandmother was able to come from far away. I reminded my manager twice, got the (2) email, and booked my bus ticket as soon as I could.

The night before the trip, I packed food to bring and put my (3) by the door. I came to work on the morning of my time off only to hand over my (4) and say goodbye. I was already thinking about the reunion when my manager called me into his office.

He said two (5) were sick, so my time off was now being moved. He talked as if it were a small change, but it did not feel small to me. My family was already on the way, I had already spent the money, and my grandmother was waiting.

I told him my time off was already approved. He kept saying I should be a "team player," and I reached my limit. This was not the first time my plans suffered because of staffing problems. I said that if he cancelled my time off, I would (6) that day. In the end, he let me take the time off, but I still feel upset about what happened. Now I keep wondering if I was wrong, but I also feel disappointed with my manager.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: Should approved time off always be respected? Why or why not?

    A:

  3. Q: What advice would you give the poster for next time?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: Should approved time off always be respected? Why or why not?

    A: I think approved time off should be respected people make plans and spend money.

    because / so / but / and

    I think approved time off should be respected because people make plans and spend money.

  2. The manager let him go in the end, I would still feel upset after that.

    but / and / because / so

    The manager let him go in the end, but I would still feel upset after that.

  3. Q: What advice would you give the poster for next time?

    A: if my manager tried to change my approved time off, I would stay calm and explain my plans.

    Personally, / But, / Also, / For example,

    Personally, if my manager tried to change my approved time off, I would stay calm and explain my plans.

Discussion Questions
  1. How important is family time for you? Why?
  2. Do you come from a large family?
  3. Should approved time off always be respected? Why or why not?
  4. What would you say to a manager in this situation?
  5. How can a company deal with staffing problems better?
  6. Would you still trust this manager after this event? Why or why not?
  7. What is a polite way to disagree with your boss?
  8. Have you ever felt pressured to be a "team player"? What happened?
  9. What is more important in this story: rules, money, or respect?
  10. What advice would you give the poster for next time?

Discussion Questions

  1. How important is family time for you? Why?
  2. Do you come from a large family?
  3. Should approved time off always be respected? Why or why not?
  4. What would you say to a manager in this situation?
  5. How can a company deal with staffing problems better?
  6. Would you still trust this manager after this event? Why or why not?
  7. What is a polite way to disagree with your boss?
  8. Have you ever felt pressured to be a "team player"? What happened?
  9. What is more important in this story: rules, money, or respect?
  10. What advice would you give the poster for next time?

Answers Ready to Quit / Level 3

Read the Comments:

  1. CityCommuter: b. Supports why he felt strongly
  2. LateShiftGuy: c. Challenges his threat to quit immediately
  3. PlainReply: a. Points to a larger workplace problem

Listening: (1) off, (2) approval, (3) bag, (4) tasks, (5) coworkers, (6) quit

Why Did They Post?: He wants to know if he was wrong to threaten to quit.

True or False:

  1. True. The poster says they got the approval email and reminded the manager twice.
  2. True. He said two coworkers were sick, so the time off was being moved.
  3. False. In the end, the manager let the poster take the time off.

Multiple Choice: b, c, a

Put Events in Order:

  1. The poster asked for time off, reminded the manager, and got approval.
  2. The night before the trip, the poster packed food and put the bag by the door.
  3. At work, the manager said time off was being moved because two coworkers were sick.
  4. The poster said they would quit if the manager cancelled the approved time off.
  5. The manager let the poster take time off, but the poster still felt upset and disappointed.

Vocabulary:

  1. Ask for: time off
  2. Get: approval
  3. Book: bus ticket
  1. Pack: food
  2. Hand over: tasks
  3. Spend: money

Everyday Expressions: 1. b; 2. b

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast. 3) Opinion.

  1. because
  2. but
  3. Personally,

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