There are new apps that help people find someone to share a job with, just like finding a friend online. People make a profile and look for someone who has similar work skills and wants the same kind of job. These apps help people who want to work less hours or need a flexible schedule. Even big companies, like Ford, are making their own ways for workers to find a job-sharing friend.

These apps are really helpful for women, especially moms, who need to work less because they take care of their kids. Women can use these apps to find other women who want to share a job. This can help women have better jobs while still taking care of their families. But some people worry that the apps might not always pick the best match or understand how well two people will work together.

Sharing a job can be a little hard for companies because they have to do more paperwork. But many people think it’s worth it because it brings new ideas and ways of working. When two people share a job, they can do a better job than just one person. As more companies see that this is a good way to keep good workers, these apps will probably become more popular.

Original news source: The job sharing apps that feel like online dating (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of words related to the article (e.g. job, app, schedule, worker, company). Each group takes turns choosing a word and acting it out without speaking. The other groups must guess the word based on the actions.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students read the article individually or in pairs. Afterwards, ask them to write a summary of the article using their own words. Encourage them to include the main ideas and key details. Then, have them share their summaries with a partner or in small groups.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to form pairs or small groups. Give each group a list of statements related to the article (e.g. “Job-sharing apps are beneficial for working moms”). In their groups, students should discuss and share their opinions on each statement. They can use phrases like “I agree because…” or “I disagree because…” After the discussion, ask each group to share their opinions with the whole class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. job-sharing, flexible schedule, profile). Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team comes to the front of the class and you whisper one of the words to each of them. They have to draw a picture to represent the word and their team members have to guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly gets a point.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes. One student starts reading the article aloud while the other student listens. When the timer goes off, the roles switch. The students must take turns summarizing what they heard from their partner in just one minute. After both students have had a chance to summarize, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What are the new apps for?
2. How do people find someone to share a job with?
3. Who are these apps helpful for?
4. Why do some people worry about the apps?
5. Why is sharing a job hard for companies?
6. Why do many people think sharing a job is worth it?
7. What will probably happen to these apps in the future?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There are new apps that help (1)______ find someone to share a job with, just like finding a friend online. People make a profile and look for someone who has similar (2)______ (3)______ and wants the same kind of job. These apps help people who want to work less hours or need a flexible schedule. Even big companies, like Ford, are making their own ways for workers to (4)______ a job-sharing friend.

These apps are really helpful for women, especially moms, who need to work less because they (5)______ care of their (6)______. Women can use these apps to find other women who want to share a job. This can help women (7)______ better jobs while still taking care of their families. But some people worry that the apps might not always pick the best (8)______ or (9)______ how well two people will work together.

Sharing a job can be a little hard for companies because they have to do more paperwork. But many people (10)______ it’s worth it because it brings new ideas and ways of working. When two people (11)______ a job, they can do a better job than just one person. As (12)______ companies see that this is a good way to keep good workers, these apps will probably become more popular.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a job-sharing app?
2. How would you feel if you had to work less hours? Why?
3. Do you think job-sharing apps are helpful for women? Why or why not?
4. What is a flexible schedule?
5. How would you feel if you had a job-sharing friend? Why?
6. Do you think companies should use job-sharing apps? Why or why not?
7. What are some benefits of sharing a job with someone?
8. How would you feel if you had to do more paperwork at work? Why?
9. Do you think job-sharing brings new ideas to companies? Why or why not?
10. What are some challenges of job-sharing?
11. How would you feel if you had a job that allowed you to take care of your family? Why?
12. Do you think job-sharing apps will become more popular in the future? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. apps
2. profile
3. schedule
4. moms
5. paperwork
6. companies
7. popular
8. workers

Meanings:
(a) Liked by many people
(b) A plan that shows when you will do things
(c) Small programs on a phone or computer
(d) Information about yourself that you share online
(e) Big groups of people who work together
(f) Boring work that you have to do with papers
(g) Women who take care of their children
(h) People who have a job
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the new apps mentioned in the article used for?
(a) Finding a friend online
(b) Finding someone to share a job with
(c) Finding a flexible schedule
(d) Finding a job at big companies

2. Who are these apps especially helpful for?
(a) Men, especially dads
(b) Women, especially moms
(c) Teenagers
(d) Elderly people

3. Why do some people worry about these apps?
(a) They might not always pick the best match or understand how well two people will work together
(b) They are too expensive
(c) They are only available in certain countries
(d) They are not user-friendly

4. What is one advantage of sharing a job?
(a) It allows people to work more hours
(b) It makes paperwork easier for companies
(c) It helps companies save money
(d) It brings new ideas and ways of working

5. Why do some companies think it’s worth it to have job-sharing arrangements?
(a) It allows them to hire more employees
(b) It makes their employees work harder
(c) It helps them keep good workers
(d) It helps them make more money

6. What is one concern for companies when it comes to job-sharing?
(a) They have to do more paperwork
(b) They have to pay their employees more money
(c) They have to hire more managers
(d) They have to provide more benefits

7. What is one benefit of using these job-sharing apps for women?
(a) They can find friends to hang out with
(b) They can work more hours
(c) They can have better jobs while still taking care of their families
(d) They can find jobs at big companies

8. What is the future of these job-sharing apps?
(a) They will probably become less popular
(b) They will only be used by big companies
(c) They will only be used by women
(d) They will probably become more popular

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Women can use these apps to find other women who want to share a job, allowing them to have better jobs while still taking care of their families.
2. Sharing a job can be a little hard for companies because they have to do more paperwork, but many people think it’s worth it because it brings new ideas and ways of working.
3. People do not make a profile on these apps and look for someone with similar work skills and job preferences.
4. As more companies do not see the benefits of job-sharing, these apps will likely not become more popular.
5. These apps work like online friend finders, but for finding job-sharing partners.
6. Some people worry that these apps might not always pick the best match or understand how well two people will work together.
7. There are no new apps that help people find someone to share a job with.
8. These apps are not especially helpful for women, especially moms, who need to work less because they take care of their kids.
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 are the new apps for?
2. How do people use these apps to find a job-sharing friend?
3. Who can benefit from these apps?
4. Why do some people worry about the apps?
5. Why do companies think sharing a job is worth it?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are the new apps for?
The new apps are for helping people find someone to share a job with.

2. How do people find someone to share a job with?
People make a profile and look for someone who has similar work skills and wants the same kind of job.

3. Who are these apps helpful for?
These apps are helpful for women, especially moms, who need to work less because they take care of their kids.

4. Why do some people worry about the apps?
Some people worry that the apps might not always pick the best match or understand how well two people will work together.

5. Why is sharing a job hard for companies?
Sharing a job can be hard for companies because they have to do more paperwork.

6. Why do many people think sharing a job is worth it?
Many people think sharing a job is worth it because it brings new ideas and ways of working. When two people share a job, they can do a better job than just one person.

7. What will probably happen to these apps in the future?
These apps will probably become more popular as more companies see that sharing a job is a good way to keep good workers.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) work
(3) skills
(4) find
(5) take
(6) kids
(7) have
(8) match
(9) understand
(10) think
(11) share
(12) more
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. apps
Answer: (c) Small programs on a phone or computer

2. profile
Answer: (d) Information about yourself that you share online

3. schedule
Answer: (b) A plan that shows when you will do things

4. moms
Answer: (g) Women who take care of their children

5. paperwork
Answer: (f) Boring work that you have to do with papers

6. companies
Answer: (e) Big groups of people who work together

7. popular
Answer: (a) Liked by many people

8. workers
Answer: (h) People who have a job
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the new apps mentioned in the article used for?
Answer: (b) Finding someone to share a job with

2. Who are these apps especially helpful for?
Answer: (b) Women, especially moms

3. Why do some people worry about these apps?
Answer: (a) They might not always pick the best match or understand how well two people will work together

4. What is one advantage of sharing a job?
Answer: (d) It brings new ideas and ways of working

5. Why do some companies think it’s worth it to have job-sharing arrangements?
Answer: (c) It helps them keep good workers

6. What is one concern for companies when it comes to job-sharing?
Answer: (a) They have to do more paperwork

7. What is one benefit of using these job-sharing apps for women?
Answer: (c) They can have better jobs while still taking care of their families

8. What is the future of these job-sharing apps?
Answer: (d) They will probably become more popular
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Women can use these apps to find other women who want to share a job, allowing them to have better jobs while still taking care of their families. (Answer: True)
2. Sharing a job can be a little hard for companies because they have to do more paperwork, but many people think it’s worth it because it brings new ideas and ways of working. (Answer: True)
3. People do not make a profile on these apps and look for someone with similar work skills and job preferences. (Answer: False)
4. As more companies do not see the benefits of job-sharing, these apps will likely not become more popular. (Answer: False)
5. These apps work like online friend finders, but for finding job-sharing partners. (Answer: True)
6. Some people worry that these apps might not always pick the best match or understand how well two people will work together. (Answer: True)
7. There are no new apps that help people find someone to share a job with. (Answer: False)
8. These apps are not especially helpful for women, especially moms, who need to work less because they take care of their kids. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧