Workaholics Anonymous is a group where people who work too much can get help. It’s like a club for people who can’t stop working, and it doesn’t cost anything to join. People in the group share their stories and support each other to get better. They learn that working all the time is not healthy and try to understand why they do it.

In the UK, being addicted to work is not seen as a sickness by doctors, even though it can make people feel bad physically and mentally. It can also hurt their friendships and family life. Some people work too much because they are scared of not having enough money or not being good enough. Companies should be careful not to make their workers do too much, as it can make them very tired and unhappy.

Getting better from working too much is a long journey. People have to learn that they are more than just their jobs. They need to find out who they are without their work. This is hard, but with help from the group, they can start to feel better and enjoy life more.

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

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, have them work together to create a summary of the article. They should focus on the main points and key information. Afterward, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “workaholic” on the board. Ask the students to brainstorm as many words as they can that they associate with this word. Encourage them to think of related words, feelings, or experiences. After a few minutes, have the students share their words with the class and discuss the different associations.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Ask one student to describe a scene or situation related to the article while the other student sketches it. After a few minutes, have the pairs switch roles. Finally, have the students share their sketches with the class and explain their drawings.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a selection of vocabulary words from the article on individual slips of paper. Place the slips of paper in a hat or bowl. Divide the class into teams. One student from each team will take turns choosing a word from the hat and drawing it on the board without using any letters or numbers. The rest of their team must guess the word within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a few minutes to read the article. Then, have one student from each pair summarize the article to their partner within a set time limit (e.g., 1 minute). Afterward, have the pairs switch roles. Finally, have the students share their summaries with the class and discuss any differences or similarities.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
2. Why do some people work too much?
3. How can working too much affect a person’s health and relationships?
4. Why should companies be careful not to make their workers do too much?
5. What do people in Workaholics Anonymous do to help each other?
6. What is the first step in getting better from working too much?
7. How can the group help people start to feel better and enjoy life more?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Workaholics Anonymous is a group where (1)______ who work too much can get help. It’s like a club for people who can’t stop (2)______, and it doesn’t cost anything to join. People in the group share their stories and support each other to get (3)______. They learn that working all the time is not (4)______ and try to understand why they do it.

In the UK, being addicted to work is not seen as a (5)______ by doctors, even though it can (6)______ people feel bad physically and mentally. It can also hurt their friendships and (7)______ life. Some people work too much because they are scared of not having enough money or not being (8)______ enough. Companies should be careful not to make their workers do too much, as it can make them very tired and (9)______.

Getting better from (10)______ing too much is a long journey. People have to learn that they are more than just their jobs. They need to find out who they are without their work. This is hard, but with (11)______ from the group, they can start to feel better and (12)______ life more.
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 people do in this group?
2. How do you think working too much can make a person feel physically and mentally?
3. Do you know anyone who works too much? How do you think it affects their friendships and family life?
4. Why do you think some people work too much?
5. How would you feel if you had to work all the time and didn’t have any free time for yourself?
6. Do you think companies should be careful not to make their workers do too much? Why or why not?
7. What do you think is the first step in getting better from working too much?
8. Why do you think it’s important for people to find out who they are without their work?
9. How do you think being part of a group like Workaholics Anonymous can help someone feel better?
10. Do you think it’s possible to enjoy life more without working all the time? Why or why not?
11. What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time? How do they make you feel?
12. How do you think finding a balance between work and free time can improve a person’s life?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Workaholics
2. Support
3. Healthy
4. Addiction
5. Physical
6. Mental
7. Relationships
8. Fear
9. Companies
10. Tired
11. Journey
12. Enjoy

Meanings:
(A) When you can’t stop doing something, even if it’s bad for you
(B) Help and encouragement from others
(C) About your body
(D) Feeling like you need to sleep or rest
(E) People who can’t stop working all the time
(F) Businesses where people work
(G) About your thoughts and feelings
(H) Feeling scared
(I) A long trip or process of changing and growing
(J) To have fun or take pleasure in something
(K) Good for your body
(L) The way two or more people are connected
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
(a) A club for people who love to work
(b) A group where people who work too much can get help
(c) A place where people go to find more work
(d) A group where people can learn how to work more efficiently

2. How much does it cost to join Workaholics Anonymous?
(a) Nothing
(b) $10 per month
(c) $100 per year
(d) $50 per session

3. Why is being addicted to work not seen as a sickness in the UK?
(a) People in the UK don’t work too much
(b) It doesn’t affect people physically or mentally
(c) It is seen as a positive thing in the UK
(d) Doctors don’t consider it a sickness

4. How can working too much affect people’s friendships and family life?
(a) It can make them popular
(b) It can make them happier
(c) It can hurt their relationships
(d) It doesn’t have any effect on their personal life

5. Why do some people work too much?
(a) They are scared of not having enough money or not being good enough
(b) They enjoy working all the time
(c) They have no other hobbies or interests
(d) They want to impress their friends and family

6. What can happen if workers are made to do too much?
(a) They can become more productive
(b) They can earn more money
(c) They can become very tired and unhappy
(d) They can get promoted faster

7. What do people in Workaholics Anonymous have to learn?
(a) They need to find more work
(b) They are more than just their jobs
(c) They need to work even harder
(d) They don’t need any help

8. How can the group help people who work too much?
(a) They can give them more work to do
(b) They can make them work longer hours
(c) They can teach them how to work more efficiently
(d) They can support each other and help them feel better

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Working all the time is not healthy, and the group helps people understand why they do it.
2. Working too much can make people feel good physically and mentally.
3. In the UK, being addicted to work is seen as a sickness by doctors.
4. It costs something to join Workaholics Anonymous.
5. Workaholics Anonymous is a group that helps people who work too much.
6. People in the group share their stories and support each other.
7. It can also hurt their friendships and family life.
8. Companies should be careful to make their workers do enough tasks.
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?
2. Why is being addicted to work not considered a sickness in the UK?
3. How can working too much affect a person’s friendships and family life?
4. Why do some people work too much?
5. How can being a member of Workaholics Anonymous help someone who works too much?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
Workaholics Anonymous is a group where people who work too much can get help and support.

2. Why do some people work too much?
Some people work too much because they are scared of not having enough money or not being good enough.

3. How can working too much affect a person’s health and relationships?
Working too much can make a person feel bad physically and mentally. It can also hurt their friendships and family life.

4. Why should companies be careful not to make their workers do too much?
Companies should be careful not to make their workers do too much because it can make them very tired and unhappy.

5. What do people in Workaholics Anonymous do to help each other?
People in Workaholics Anonymous share their stories and support each other to get better. They learn that working all the time is not healthy and try to understand why they do it.

6. What is the first step in getting better from working too much?
The first step in getting better from working too much is to learn that you are more than just your job. You need to find out who you are without your work.

7. How can the group help people start to feel better and enjoy life more?
The group can help people start to feel better and enjoy life more by providing support and understanding. They can help each other learn new ways to balance work and other parts of life.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) working
(3) better
(4) healthy
(5) sickness
(6) make
(7) family
(8) good
(9) unhappy
(10) work
(11) help
(12) enjoy
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Workaholics
Answer: (E) People who can’t stop working all the time

2. Support
Answer: (B) Help and encouragement from others

3. Healthy
Answer: (K) Good for your body

4. Addiction
Answer: (A) When you can’t stop doing something, even if it’s bad for you

5. Physical
Answer: (C) About your body

6. Mental
Answer: (G) About your thoughts and feelings

7. Relationships
Answer: (L) The way two or more people are connected

8. Fear
Answer: (H) Feeling scared

9. Companies
Answer: (F) Businesses where people work

10. Tired
Answer: (D) Feeling like you need to sleep or rest

11. Journey
Answer: (I) A long trip or process of changing and growing

12. Enjoy
Answer: (J) To have fun or take pleasure in something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
Answer: (b) A group where people who work too much can get help

2. How much does it cost to join Workaholics Anonymous?
Answer: (a) Nothing

3. Why is being addicted to work not seen as a sickness in the UK?
Answer: (d) Doctors don’t consider it a sickness

4. How can working too much affect people’s friendships and family life?
Answer: (c) It can hurt their relationships

5. Why do some people work too much?
Answer: (a) They are scared of not having enough money or not being good enough

6. What can happen if workers are made to do too much?
Answer: (c) They can become very tired and unhappy

7. What do people in Workaholics Anonymous have to learn?
Answer: (b) They are more than just their jobs

8. How can the group help people who work too much?
Answer: (d) They can support each other and help them feel better
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Working all the time is not healthy, and the group helps people understand why they do it. (Answer: True)
2. Working too much can make people feel good physically and mentally. (Answer: False)
3. In the UK, being addicted to work is seen as a sickness by doctors. (Answer: False)
4. It costs something to join Workaholics Anonymous. (Answer: False)
5. Workaholics Anonymous is a group that helps people who work too much. (Answer: True)
6. People in the group share their stories and support each other. (Answer: True)
7. It can also hurt their friendships and family life. (Answer: True)
8. Companies should be careful to make their workers do enough tasks. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧