Toby Griffin works in a big office. He brings his two dogs, Jesse and Oscar, to work. His boss allows it because dogs make people happy. Happy people work harder. Some other people got dogs during the pandemic. They want to bring their dogs to work, too.
Many people still work from home. But companies want workers to come back to the office. They are offering fun things to do. For example, some workers get free gym classes. Others get beauty treatments like manicures. These things make workers want to come to the office more.
Some people think that just these fun things are not enough. They say workers should also want to see their friends at work. And they should want to work together in person. This helps people work better and be happier.
Original news source: Pet perks tempt staff back into the office (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Bring Your Dog to Work Day (good for young learners)
Instructions: Students should bring a picture or drawing of their favorite dog (either their own or an imaginary one). Each student will take turns showing their dog and describing it using simple English sentences. For example, “This is my dog, Max. He is big and brown.”
– Fun Office Activities
Instructions: Divide students into small groups. Each group will brainstorm and discuss fun activities or perks that they would like to have in their ideal workplace. Encourage them to use simple English phrases to describe their ideas. Afterward, each group will present their favorite idea to the class.
– Workplace Friends
Instructions: Each student will write down the name of a classmate on a piece of paper. Then, they will write one or two sentences about why they would like to work with this person. Students will take turns reading their sentences aloud to the class, using phrases like “I want to work with [name] because they are helpful and kind.”
– Office Role Play
Instructions: Create a simple office scenario, such as a team meeting or brainstorming session. Assign each student a role, such as boss, employee, or assistant. Have students practice the scenario, using simple English phrases and vocabulary. Encourage them to work together and communicate effectively.
– In-Person vs Remote Work Debate
Instructions: Divide students into two groups: one that supports in-person work and one that supports remote work. Each group will discuss and come up with three reasons why their preferred work style is better. Encourage them to use simple English phrases and sentences to explain their reasoning. Each group will present their arguments to the class, and the teacher will facilitate a friendly debate.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Where does Toby Griffin work?
2. How many dogs does Toby bring to work?
3. Why does his boss allow dogs at work?
4. What happened during the pandemic that made more people have dogs?
5. What are companies doing to make workers come back to the office?
6. What are some examples of fun things companies offer to workers?
7. Besides fun things, what else should workers want to do at the office?
8. Why is working together in person important for people?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Toby Griffin works in a big (1)______. He brings his two dogs, Jesse and Oscar, to work. His boss allows it because dogs make people happy. Happy people work harder. Some other people got dogs during the (2)_______. They want to bring their dogs to work, too.
Many people still work from (3)______. But companies want workers to come back to the office. They are offering fun things to do. For example, some workers get free (4)______ classes. Others get beauty treatments like (5)_______. These things make workers want to come to the office more.
Some people think that just these fun things are not enough. They say workers should also want to see their (6)______ at work. And they should want to work together in (7)______. This helps people work better and be happier.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Do you have a dog?
2. Would you like to bring your dog to work?
3. Do you think dogs make people happy?
4. What makes you happy at work?
5. Do you like to work at home or in an office?
6. What fun things would make you want to go to the office?
7. Would you like free gym classes?
8. Do you like having your nails done?
9. Do you have friends at work?
10. Do you like to work with friends in person?
11. Do you think working together makes people happier?
12. What would make you work harder?
13. Do you think your boss would let you bring a dog to work?
14. What other fun things can companies offer to make people want to come to the office?
15. Do you think people work better in person or at home?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. office
2. pandemic
3. gym
4. manicures
5. treatments
6. friends
7. person
8. happier
Shuffled Meanings:
A) A big sickness that spreads all over the world
B) A place where people go to exercise and get strong
C) A room or building where people work
D) Feeling more happy than before
E) Special care for your body or face to look nice
F) People you like to spend time with and talk to
G) Painting and fixing your nails to look pretty
H) A real, live human being, not a picture or a voice on the phone
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What does Toby bring to work?
(a) cats
(b) dogs
(c) birds
(d) fish
2. Why does Toby’s boss allow dogs at work?
(a) because they make people happy
(b) because they are quiet
(c) because they are good for security
(d) because they are clean
3. What happened during the pandemic?
(a) some people got cats
(b) some people got fish
(c) some people got birds
(d) some people got dogs
4. What do companies want workers to do?
(a) stay at home
(b) work from a cafe
(c) come back to the office
(d) work outside
5. What do some workers get for free?
(a) gym classes
(b) movie tickets
(c) lunch
(d) books
6. What do other workers get as a treat?
(a) haircuts
(b) massages
(c) manicures
(d) new clothes
7. What do some people think is not enough?
(a) just having a good boss
(b) just having free food
(c) just having a nice office
(d) just having fun things at work
8. What should workers want to do at work?
(a) see their friends
(b) play games
(c) watch movies
(d) sleep
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Toby Griffin has three dogs.
2. Toby’s boss lets him bring his dogs to work.
3. People are not allowed to bring dogs to work.
4. Companies are offering fun things to make workers come back to the office.
5. All workers get free gym classes.
6. Some people think fun things are enough to make workers come back.
7. Seeing friends at work can help people be happier.
8. Everyone works from home now.
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. Who brings their dogs to work in a big office?
2. Why does Toby Griffin’s boss allow him to bring his dogs to work?
3. What did some people get during the pandemic?
4. What are some fun things that companies offer to workers who come back to the office?
5. Why do some people think that workers should see their friends and work together in person?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Where does Toby Griffin work?
Toby Griffin works in a big office.
2. How many dogs does Toby bring to work?
Toby brings two dogs to work.
3. Why does his boss allow dogs at work?
His boss allows dogs because they make people happy, and happy people work harder.
4. What happened during the pandemic that made more people have dogs?
During the pandemic, some people got dogs.
5. What are companies doing to make workers come back to the office?
Companies are offering fun things to do to make workers come back to the office.
6. What are some examples of fun things companies offer to workers?
Some examples are free gym classes and beauty treatments like manicures.
7. Besides fun things, what else should workers want to do at the office?
Workers should also want to see their friends at work and work together in person.
8. Why is working together in person important for people?
Working together in person helps people work better and be happier.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. office
2. pandemic
3. home
4. gym
5. manicures
6. friends
7. person
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. office
Answer: C) A room or building where people work
2. pandemic
Answer: A) A big sickness that spreads all over the world
3. gym
Answer: B) A place where people go to exercise and get strong
4. manicures
Answer: G) Painting and fixing your nails to look pretty
5. treatments
Answer: E) Special care for your body or face to look nice
6. friends
Answer: F) People you like to spend time with and talk to
7. person
Answer: H) A real, live human being, not a picture or a voice on the phone
8. happier
Answer: D) Feeling more happy than before
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What does Toby bring to work?
Answer: (b) dogs
2. Why does Toby’s boss allow dogs at work?
Answer: (a) because they make people happy
3. What happened during the pandemic?
Answer: (d) some people got dogs
4. What do companies want workers to do?
Answer: (c) come back to the office
5. What do some workers get for free?
Answer: (a) gym classes
6. What do other workers get as a treat?
Answer: (c) manicures
7. What do some people think is not enough?
Answer: (d) just having fun things at work
8. What should workers want to do at work?
Answer: (a) see their friends
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Toby Griffin has three dogs.
Answer: False
2. Toby’s boss lets him bring his dogs to work.
Answer: True
3. People are not allowed to bring dogs to work.
Answer: False
4. Companies are offering fun things to make workers come back to the office.
Answer: True
5. All workers get free gym classes.
Answer: False
6. Some people think fun things are enough to make workers come back.
Answer: False
7. Seeing friends at work can help people be happier.
Answer: True
8. Everyone works from home now.
Answer: False
Go back to questions ⇧
