People are changing how they work because of the virus that made many people stay home. Now, some people don’t want to work far away or at home. They are choosing special work places close to where they live, like Patch in Twickenham. These places are good because people don’t have to travel a lot and they can work better.
These new work places are becoming very popular. They have things that make work easier and nicer for people. Companies like ARC Club and Desana are making more of these places because more people want them. People like these places because they are close to their kids, friends, and shops.
A big company called WeWork that made work places like this had some money problems. But the smaller work places in neighborhoods are doing well. They don’t cost too much money to run. These places are good for the towns because they help businesses and make people feel like they are part of a group.
Original news source: Work near home: The co-working hubs for locals (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write some statements based on the article about the new work places, such as “Working close to home increases productivity” or “Neighborhood workspaces are better than traditional offices.” Students will then walk around the classroom and ask their classmates whether they agree or disagree with each statement, tallying the responses to conduct a simple opinion poll. Afterward, discuss the results as a class and ask students to explain their opinions.
– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Divide students into pairs. One student will act as a news reporter, and the other as the owner of a local workspace like Patch in Twickenham. The reporter will interview the owner about the benefits of such workspaces using questions based on the article. Encourage students to use the information from the article as well as to come up with additional details that could make the interview more realistic and engaging.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide students with key vocabulary from the article, such as “work places,” “community,” “travel,” and “businesses.” Ask students to draw a quick sketch that represents each word. They can then show their drawings to a partner and discuss how each concept relates to the article. This activity helps with vocabulary retention and encourages students to associate words with images.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Students work in small groups to create a catchy newspaper headline that could accompany the article. Encourage them to think about what makes the subject of new work places interesting and how to grab a reader’s attention. Afterward, each group presents their headline to the class, and the class votes on the most effective one.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups to list the pros and cons of the new work places described in the article. One side of the paper should be for pros, such as “saves travel time,” and the other side for cons, like “might miss the office environment.” After they finish listing, each group can present their pros and cons, and the class can discuss whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the reason people are changing how they work?
2. Where is the special work place called Patch located?
3. What is one benefit of the new work places mentioned in the article?
4. Can you name two companies that are creating more special work places?
5. Why do people like the new work places according to the article?
6. What kind of problems did the big company WeWork have?
7. How do the smaller work places help the towns they are in?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
People are (1)______ how they work because of the virus that made many (2)______ (3)______ home. Now, some people don’t want to work far away or at home. They are choosing special work places close to where they live, like Patch in Twickenham. These places are good because people don’t (4)______ to (5)______ a lot and they can (6)______ better.
These new work places are becoming very popular. They have things that make work easier and nicer for people. Companies like ARC Club and Desana are making more of these (7)______ because more people (8)______ them. People like these places because they are close to their kids, friends, and shops.
A big company (9)______ WeWork that made work places like this had some money problems. But the smaller work places in neighborhoods are doing well. They don’t cost too much money to run. These places are good for the (10)______ because they help businesses and (11)______ people (12)______ like they are part of a group.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is a place where you like to do your homework or study?
2. How would you feel if you had to work or study far away from home?
3. Do you like working or studying with other people around you? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it is important to be close to your family and friends while you work or study? Why?
5. What makes a good place to work or study for you?
6. Would you like to work or study in a place like Patch in Twickenham? Why or why not?
7. How do you think having work places in the neighborhood helps the town?
8. Do you think it’s better to work or study at home or in a special place? Why?
9. What things do you think make work easier and nicer for people?
10. If you could choose, where would you like to have a special work or study place? Near your home, shops, or somewhere else?
11. Do you think being part of a group is important when you work or study? Why or why not?
12. Would you like to have a special place to work or study close to where you live? What would it look like?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. places
2. work
3. home
4. people
5. companies
6. neighborhoods
7. money
8. businesses
Meanings:
(a) Humans
(b) Locations
(c) Local communities
(d) Job or tasks done for pay
(e) Something you use to buy things
(f) Companies or stores that sell goods or services
(g) Organizations that sell things or offer services
(h) Where you live
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why are people choosing special work places close to where they live?
(a) They can take long breaks
(b) They don’t have to travel a lot and can work better
(c) They can avoid their friends
(d) They can spend more money
2. What are some benefits of these new work places?
(a) They make work easier and nicer for people
(b) They have the best coffee in town
(c) They have a swimming pool
(d) They have a movie theater
3. Which companies are making more of these special work places?
(a) WeWork and Google
(b) Apple and Microsoft
(c) Amazon and Facebook
(d) ARC Club and Desana
4. Why are people liking these work places?
(a) They are far away from everything
(b) They are close to their kids, friends, and shops
(c) They are very expensive
(d) They are always full of people
5. What happened to the big company WeWork?
(a) They had money problems
(b) They became very successful
(c) They closed all their work places
(d) They started making smaller work places
6. Why are the smaller work places in neighborhoods doing well?
(a) They are very expensive
(b) They are far away from everything
(c) They don’t cost too much money to run
(d) They are not popular
7. How are these work places good for the towns?
(a) They make the towns very crowded
(b) They make the towns feel empty
(c) They don’t help anyone
(d) They help businesses and make people feel like they are part of a group
8. What is the main reason people are changing how they work?
(a) The weather
(b) The new TV shows
(c) The virus that made many people stay home
(d) The traffic in the city
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. The smaller work places in neighborhoods are struggling.
2. Many people are changing how they work because of the virus.
3. WeWork, a big company, had money problems.
4. Patch in Twickenham is one of these special work places.
5. These special work places hinder businesses and make people feel isolated.
6. Companies like ARC Club and Desana are reducing the number of these special work places.
7. Some people are avoiding working in special places close to their homes.
8. These new work places have things that make work easier and nicer for people.
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. Why are some people choosing to work at places like Patch in Twickenham?
2. What are two good things about these new work places?
3. What do companies like ARC Club and Desana do?
4. Why did the big company WeWork have problems?
5. How do these neighborhood work places help the towns they are in?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is the reason people are changing how they work?
People are changing how they work because a virus made them stay at home.
2. Where is the special work place called Patch located?
Patch is located in Twickenham.
3. What is one benefit of the new work places mentioned in the article?
One benefit is that people don’t have to travel far to work.
4. Can you name two companies that are creating more special work places?
Two companies making more work places are ARC Club and Desana.
5. Why do people like the new work places according to the article?
People like them because they are close to their kids, friends, and shops.
6. What kind of problems did the big company WeWork have?
WeWork had money problems.
7. How do the smaller work places help the towns they are in?
They help by supporting local businesses and making people feel like they belong to a community.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) changing
(2) people
(3) stay
(4) have
(5) travel
(6) work
(7) places
(8) want
(9) called
(10) towns
(11) make
(12) feel
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. places
Answer: (b) Locations
2. work
Answer: (d) Job or tasks done for pay
3. home
Answer: (h) Where you live
4. people
Answer: (a) Humans
5. companies
Answer: (g) Organizations that sell things or offer services
6. neighborhoods
Answer: (c) Local communities
7. money
Answer: (e) Something you use to buy things
8. businesses
Answer: (f) Companies or stores that sell goods or services
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why are people choosing special work places close to where they live?
Answer: (b) They don’t have to travel a lot and can work better
2. What are some benefits of these new work places?
Answer: (a) They make work easier and nicer for people
3. Which companies are making more of these special work places?
Answer: (d) ARC Club and Desana
4. Why are people liking these work places?
Answer: (b) They are close to their kids, friends, and shops
5. What happened to the big company WeWork?
Answer: (a) They had money problems
6. Why are the smaller work places in neighborhoods doing well?
Answer: (c) They don’t cost too much money to run
7. How are these work places good for the towns?
Answer: (d) They help businesses and make people feel like they are part of a group
8. What is the main reason people are changing how they work?
Answer: (c) The virus that made many people stay home
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The smaller work places in neighborhoods are struggling. (Answer: False)
2. Many people are changing how they work because of the virus. (Answer: True)
3. WeWork, a big company, had money problems. (Answer: True)
4. Patch in Twickenham is one of these special work places. (Answer: True)
5. These special work places hinder businesses and make people feel isolated. (Answer: False)
6. Companies like ARC Club and Desana are reducing the number of these special work places. (Answer: False)
7. Some people are avoiding working in special places close to their homes. (Answer: False)
8. These new work places have things that make work easier and nicer for people. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
