Workaholics Anonymous is a group that helps people who struggle with being addicted to work. It’s like Alcoholics Anonymous, but for work addiction. The group is made up of 20 members who meet online every week. They come from different parts of the UK and have different time zones.

In the meetings, the members talk about their experiences and feelings about being workaholics. One woman feels bad and upset because she can’t stop herself from working, even after she puts her son to bed. Another woman admits that she talks about work too much because she’s insecure when she’s with her partner’s family. Both women want to have a life that’s not just about work.

Caroline Walker is writing a book about her recovery from work addiction. She says there’s a difference between working a lot and being addicted to work. Workaholics know that their behavior is bad and they can’t control it. This makes them feel ashamed and they try to hide their addiction. Workaholics use work to avoid feeling bad about themselves.

Playwright James Graham used to be a workaholic. He says he got all his self-esteem and happiness from work. This made it hard for him to have close relationships with people. In the UK, work addiction is not considered a medical condition. This means people don’t notice it until they get burnt out or have health problems.

According to life coach Nick Hatter, work addiction often comes from being afraid of not having enough or not being good enough. Not having enough money can also make people want to work too much. Therapist Lee Fernandes warns employers that letting employees work too much can lead to burnout. Work addiction can be different for men and women. Women might not spend as much time in the office, but they’re always working.

Workaholics Anonymous has almost 20 meetings every week in the UK. People of all ages go to these meetings. Recovery from work addiction takes a long time, but the group helps people see that they are more than just their job. They learn to separate their identity from their work.

Original news source: Workaholics Anonymous: ‘I couldn’t step away from the computer’ (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Have each group read the article and then summarize the main points in a news-style summary. They should focus on the key information and try to condense it into a short paragraph. Afterward, each group can share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to work addiction, such as “Work addiction is a real problem” or “Employers should do more to prevent work addiction.” Have the students move around the room and find a partner. They should take turns sharing their opinion on each statement and explaining their reasoning. After a set amount of time, they can find a new partner and repeat the process with different statements.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “work addiction” on the board. Have the students take turns saying a word or phrase that comes to mind when they think of work addiction. Encourage them to think creatively and make connections. Write their responses on the board and discuss as a class.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a large sheet of paper and markers. Instruct one student to describe a scene related to work addiction while the other student sketches based on the description. After a set amount of time, have them switch roles. Once both students have had a chance to describe and sketch, they can compare their drawings and discuss what they learned about work addiction from the activity.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to make a list of the pros and cons of being a workaholic. They can discuss the potential benefits, such as career success or financial stability, as well as the drawbacks, such as burnout or strained relationships. Afterward, each group can share their lists with the class and engage in a class-wide discussion about the pros and cons of work addiction.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous and how is it similar to Alcoholics Anonymous?
2. How often do the members of Workaholics Anonymous meet and how do they communicate with each other?
3. Can you give an example of a situation discussed in the meetings where a member feels bad about their workaholic behavior?
4. According to Caroline Walker, what is the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work?
5. How did being a workaholic affect James Graham’s relationships with other people?
6. Is work addiction considered a medical condition in the UK? Why or why not?
7. According to life coach Nick Hatter, what are some possible reasons why people become workaholics?
8. How does Workaholics Anonymous help people recover from work addiction?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Workaholics Anonymous is a group that (1)______ people who struggle with being (2)______ to work. It’s like Alcoholics Anonymous, but for work addiction. The group is made up of 20 (3)______ who meet online every week. They come from different parts of the UK and have different time zones.

In the meetings, the members talk about their experiences and feelings about being (4)______. One woman feels bad and upset because she can’t stop herself from working, even after she puts her son to bed. Another woman admits that she talks about work too much because she’s insecure when she’s with her partner’s family. Both women want to have a life that’s not just about work.

Caroline Walker is (5)______ a book about her recovery from work (6)______. She says there’s a difference between working a lot and being addicted to work. Workaholics know that their (7)______ is bad and they can’t control it. This makes them feel ashamed and they try to hide their addiction. Workaholics use work to avoid (8)______ bad about themselves.

Playwright James Graham used to be a workaholic. He says he got all his self-esteem and happiness from work. This made it hard for him to have close relationships with people. In the UK, work addiction is not (9)______ a medical condition. This means people don’t (10)______ it until they get burnt out or have health problems.

According to life coach Nick Hatter, work addiction often comes from being (11)______ of not having enough or not being good enough. Not having enough (12)______ can also make people want to work too much. Therapist Lee (13)______ warns employers that letting employees work too much can lead to (14)______. Work addiction can be different for men and women. Women might not spend as much time in the office, but they’re always working.

Workaholics Anonymous has almost 20 meetings every week in the UK. People of all ages go to these meetings. Recovery from work addiction takes a long time, but the group helps (15)______ see that they are more than just their job. They learn to separate their (16)______ from their work.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous and what do they do?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t stop yourself from working even after you put your child to bed?
3. Do you think it’s a problem if someone talks about work too much? Why or why not?
4. How do workaholics use work to avoid feeling bad about themselves?
5. Can you relate to getting all your self-esteem and happiness from work? Why or why not?
6. Why do you think work addiction is not considered a medical condition in the UK?
7. What do you think are some reasons why people become workaholics?
8. Why does not having enough money make people want to work too much?
9. How do you think working too much can lead to burnout?
10. In what ways can work addiction be different for men and women?
11. Have you ever heard of or attended a support group like Workaholics Anonymous? Why or why not?
12. How do you think attending Workaholics Anonymous meetings can help people recover from work addiction?
13. Do you think it’s important to separate your identity from your work? Why or why not?
14. How do you think work addiction affects personal relationships?
15. Can you think of any strategies or tips to help someone overcome work addiction?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. addiction
2. anonymous
3. recovery
4. ashamed
5. self-esteem
6. relationships
7. medical
8. burnt out
9. employers
10. therapist
11. identity
12. workaholics
13. meetings
14. insecure
15. addiction

Meanings:
(A) People who are in charge at work
(B) How much you like and respect yourself
(C) Connections or friendships with other people
(D) When people don’t know who you are
(E) A professional who helps people with their mental and emotional problems
(F) Getting better after being sick or having a bad habit
(G) Extremely tired and unable to do any more work because of too much stress
(H) Related to doctors, diseases, and treatment
(I) People who can’t stop working all the time
(J) Feeling really bad because you think you did something wrong
(K) Feeling not sure about yourself and worrying about what others think
(L) When you can’t stop doing something, even if it’s bad for you
(M) Gatherings where people come together to talk or do something
(N) Who you are and what makes you, you
(O) When you need something so much that you can’t live without it
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
(a) A group that helps people addicted to alcohol
(b) A group that helps people addicted to drugs
(c) A group that helps people addicted to video games
(d) A group that helps people addicted to work

2. How often do the members of Workaholics Anonymous meet?
(a) Every week
(b) Every month
(c) Every day
(d) Every year

3. What do the members of Workaholics Anonymous talk about in their meetings?
(a) Their experiences and feelings about being addicted to alcohol
(b) Their experiences and feelings about being addicted to drugs
(c) Their experiences and feelings about being workaholics
(d) Their experiences and feelings about being addicted to video games

4. According to Caroline Walker, what is the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work?
(a) Workaholics enjoy working a lot and don’t feel ashamed
(b) Workaholics don’t know that their behavior is bad and can control it
(c) Workaholics know that their behavior is bad and can’t control it
(d) Workaholics don’t enjoy working a lot and feel ashamed

5. Why did playwright James Graham have a hard time having close relationships with people?
(a) Because he got all his self-esteem and happiness from work
(b) Because he didn’t have enough money
(c) Because he was addicted to alcohol
(d) Because he was addicted to drugs

6. How is work addiction different for men and women?
(a) Men spend more time in the office than women
(b) Women might not spend as much time in the office, but they’re always working
(c) Women don’t work as much as men
(d) Men and women experience work addiction in the same way

7. How many meetings does Workaholics Anonymous have every week in the UK?
(a) Almost 10
(b) Almost 5
(c) Almost 50
(d) Almost 20

8. What do people learn from Workaholics Anonymous?
(a) To become even more addicted to work
(b) To separate their identity from their work
(c) To only focus on their job
(d) To ignore their addiction to work

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. One woman in the group feels guilty because she can’t stop working, even after putting her son to bed.
2. Work addiction is not recognized as a medical condition in the UK, leading to people only realizing the problem when they experience burnout or health issues.
3. In the meetings, members share their experiences and emotions about being lazy.
4. Playwright James Graham, who used to be a workaholic, found it easy to form close relationships due to deriving all his self-esteem and happiness from work.
5. Another man admits that he talks about work excessively because he feels insecure when with his partner’s family.
6. The group consists of 20 members who meet online every week, coming from different parts of the UK and different time zones.
7. Caroline Walker is writing a book about her recovery from work addiction and highlights the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work.
8. Workaholics Anonymous is a group that supports people who are addicted to sleep, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous and how does it help people?
2. Can you give an example of a problem that one of the members of Workaholics Anonymous is facing?
3. What is the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work, according to Caroline Walker?
4. Why did playwright James Graham find it hard to have close relationships with people when he was a workaholic?
5. Why is it important for employers to be aware of work addiction and prevent burnout?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous and how is it similar to Alcoholics Anonymous?
Workaholics Anonymous is a group that helps people who are addicted to work. It is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous because it provides support and a safe space for people to talk about their addiction and recovery.

2. How often do the members of Workaholics Anonymous meet and how do they communicate with each other?
The members of Workaholics Anonymous meet online every week. They come from different parts of the UK and have different time zones.

3. Can you give an example of a situation discussed in the meetings where a member feels bad about their workaholic behavior?
One woman feels bad and upset because she can’t stop herself from working, even after she puts her son to bed. Another woman admits that she talks about work too much because she’s insecure when she’s with her partner’s family.

4. According to Caroline Walker, what is the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work?
According to Caroline Walker, the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work is that workaholics know that their behavior is bad and they can’t control it. This makes them feel ashamed and they try to hide their addiction. Workaholics use work to avoid feeling bad about themselves.

5. How did being a workaholic affect James Graham’s relationships with other people?
Being a workaholic made it hard for James Graham to have close relationships with people. He got all his self-esteem and happiness from work, so he didn’t have much time or energy for other people.

6. Is work addiction considered a medical condition in the UK? Why or why not?
No, work addiction is not considered a medical condition in the UK. This means people don’t notice it until they get burnt out or have health problems.

7. According to life coach Nick Hatter, what are some possible reasons why people become workaholics?
According to life coach Nick Hatter, some possible reasons why people become workaholics are being afraid of not having enough or not being good enough. Not having enough money can also make people want to work too much.

8. How does Workaholics Anonymous help people recover from work addiction?
Workaholics Anonymous helps people recover from work addiction by providing support and a safe space for them to talk about their addiction and recovery. The group helps people see that they are more than just their job and learn to separate their identity from their work. Recovery from work addiction takes a long time, but the group provides ongoing support and encouragement.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) helps
(2) addicted
(3) members
(4) workaholics
(5) writing
(6) addiction
(7) behavior
(8) feeling
(9) considered
(10) notice
(11) afraid
(12) money
(13) Fernandes
(14) burnout
(15) people
(16) identity
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. addiction
Answer: (L) When you can’t stop doing something, even if it’s bad for you

2. anonymous
Answer: (D) When people don’t know who you are

3. recovery
Answer: (F) Getting better after being sick or having a bad habit

4. ashamed
Answer: (J) Feeling really bad because you think you did something wrong

5. self-esteem
Answer: (B) How much you like and respect yourself

6. relationships
Answer: (C) Connections or friendships with other people

7. medical
Answer: (H) Related to doctors, diseases, and treatment

8. burnt out
Answer: (G) Extremely tired and unable to do any more work because of too much stress

9. employers
Answer: (A) People who are in charge at work

10. therapist
Answer: (E) A professional who helps people with their mental and emotional problems

11. identity
Answer: (N) Who you are and what makes you, you

12. workaholics
Answer: (I) People who can’t stop working all the time

13. meetings
Answer: (M) Gatherings where people come together to talk or do something

14. insecure
Answer: (K) Feeling not sure about yourself and worrying about what others think

15. addiction
Answer: (O) When you need something so much that you can’t live without it
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
Answer: (d) A group that helps people addicted to work

2. How often do the members of Workaholics Anonymous meet?
Answer: (a) Every week

3. What do the members of Workaholics Anonymous talk about in their meetings?
Answer: (c) Their experiences and feelings about being workaholics

4. According to Caroline Walker, what is the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work?
Answer: (c) Workaholics know that their behavior is bad and can’t control it

5. Why did playwright James Graham have a hard time having close relationships with people?
Answer: (a) Because he got all his self-esteem and happiness from work

6. How is work addiction different for men and women?
Answer: (b) Women might not spend as much time in the office, but they’re always working

7. How many meetings does Workaholics Anonymous have every week in the UK?
Answer: (d) Almost 20

8. What do people learn from Workaholics Anonymous?
Answer: (b) To separate their identity from their work
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. One woman in the group feels guilty because she can’t stop working, even after putting her son to bed. (Answer: True)
2. Work addiction is not recognized as a medical condition in the UK, leading to people only realizing the problem when they experience burnout or health issues. (Answer: True)
3. In the meetings, members share their experiences and emotions about being lazy. (Answer: False)
4. Playwright James Graham, who used to be a workaholic, found it easy to form close relationships due to deriving all his self-esteem and happiness from work. (Answer: False)
5. Another man admits that he talks about work excessively because he feels insecure when with his partner’s family. (Answer: False)
6. The group consists of 20 members who meet online every week, coming from different parts of the UK and different time zones. (Answer: True)
7. Caroline Walker is writing a book about her recovery from work addiction and highlights the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work. (Answer: True)
8. Workaholics Anonymous is a group that supports people who are addicted to sleep, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧