Apps that help people share jobs are becoming more popular. Some people say it’s like online dating. These apps, like WeJobShare and Job Share Connect, let you find someone to share a job with. This is different from just asking your friends or coworkers. Ford, for example, has a tool for its employees to find job-sharing partners. The apps use special computer programs to match people based on their skills, preferences, and career goals. The goal is to give more opportunities to women, who often work part-time because they have to take care of their kids. Job sharing is seen as a way to help women who have a hard time moving up in their careers because of childcare. But some people worry that the computer programs might be unfair, and that it’s hard to know if two people will work well together. Even with these worries, job sharing is seen as a good thing for both workers and companies. It challenges what people expect from jobs and makes the workplace more open to different possibilities.

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

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. They should focus on the key information and try to condense it into a concise summary. After a few minutes, have each group share their summaries with the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the words “job sharing” on the board. Have students take turns saying a word or phrase that is associated with the concept of job sharing. Encourage them to think creatively and make connections between different ideas. Write down their responses on the board and discuss the associations as a class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups – one group in favor of job sharing and one group against it. Have each group brainstorm reasons to support or oppose job sharing. Then, have each group create a poll with questions related to their stance on job sharing. Students should then circulate around the class, interviewing their classmates and recording their responses. Afterward, each group can share their findings and discuss the different perspectives.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide each student with a piece of paper and a pencil. Instruct them to choose a scene or situation from the article and sketch it on their paper. They should try to capture the essence of the scene and include important details. Afterward, have students share their sketches with a partner and explain the scene they chose.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of job sharing. They should consider how technology and society might change in relation to job sharing. Each group should present their predictions to the class, explaining their reasoning behind each prediction. Afterward, have a class discussion to compare and discuss the different predictions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some of the popular apps that help people share jobs?
2. How are these job-sharing apps similar to online dating?
3. How do these apps match people together?
4. Why is job sharing seen as a way to help women in their careers?
5. What are some concerns people have about using computer programs to match job-sharing partners?
6. Why is job sharing considered a good thing for both workers and companies?
7. How does job sharing challenge people’s expectations of jobs?
8. What is the goal of these job-sharing apps?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Apps that help (1)______ (2)______ jobs are becoming more popular. Some people say it’s like online dating. These apps, like (3)______ and Job Share (4)______, let you find someone to share a job with. This is different from just asking your friends or coworkers. Ford, for example, has a tool for its employees to find job-sharing partners. The apps use special (5)______ programs to match people based on their (6)______, preferences, and career goals. The goal is to give more (7)______ to (8)______, who often work part-time because they have to take care of their kids. Job sharing is seen as a way to help women who have a hard time moving up in their careers because of childcare. But some people worry that the computer programs might be unfair, and that it’s hard to know if two people will work well together. Even with these worries, job (9)______ is seen as a good (10)______ for both workers and companies. It (11)______ what people expect from jobs and makes the workplace more open to different possibilities.
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 the opportunity to share a job with someone?
3. Do you like the idea of job sharing? Why or why not?
4. Do you think job sharing is a good way to give more opportunities to women? Why or why not?
5. What are some advantages of using a job-sharing app instead of asking your friends or coworkers?
6. How do you think the computer programs in job-sharing apps match people together?
7. Why do you think job sharing is seen as a good thing for both workers and companies?
8. Do you think job sharing challenges what people expect from jobs? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever had a job where you wished you could share the workload with someone else? Why or why not?
10. How do you think job sharing can make the workplace more open to different possibilities?
11. What are some potential drawbacks or concerns about using job-sharing apps?
12. Do you think it’s fair for job-sharing apps to use computer programs to match people together? Why or why not?
13. How do you think job sharing can help women who have a hard time moving up in their careers because of childcare?
14. Have you ever heard of anyone using a job-sharing app? What was their experience like?
15. In your opinion, what are some other ways companies can give more opportunities to women in the workplace?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. apps
2. online
3. share
4. tool
5. match
6. opportunities
7. unfair
8. workplace

Meanings:
(a) Chances to do something good or get something good
(b) To give something to someone else so you both have it
(c) To find someone who is a good fit for you
(d) Programs on your phone that help you do things
(e) Not right or equal
(f) Something you use to help you do a job
(g) On the internet
(h) Where you go to work
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are job-sharing apps compared to?
(a) Online dating
(b) Social media
(c) Job boards
(d) Classified ads

2. How do job-sharing apps match people?
(a) Based on their location and availability
(b) Based on their age and gender
(c) Based on their skills, preferences, and career goals
(d) Based on their education and experience

3. Why are job-sharing apps seen as a way to help women?
(a) Because women are more skilled at job sharing than men
(b) Because women are more interested in job sharing than men
(c) Because women have a harder time finding full-time jobs
(d) Because women often work part-time due to childcare responsibilities

4. What is one concern people have about job-sharing apps?
(a) That the apps are too expensive to use
(b) That the apps don’t have enough job listings
(c) That the apps are difficult to navigate
(d) That the computer programs might be unfair

5. What is one benefit of job sharing for workers?
(a) It allows them to work from home
(b) It challenges what people expect from jobs
(c) It guarantees a higher salary
(d) It provides more vacation time

6. What is one benefit of job sharing for companies?
(a) It makes the workplace more open to different possibilities
(b) It reduces the number of employees needed
(c) It increases productivity
(d) It eliminates the need for training new employees

7. What is one reason why job sharing is different from just asking friends or coworkers?
(a) Job sharing apps have more job listings
(b) Job sharing apps use special computer programs to match people
(c) Job sharing apps are more expensive to use
(d) Job sharing apps only match people with strangers

8. What is the main goal of job-sharing apps?
(a) To eliminate the need for full-time jobs
(b) To match people with their dream jobs
(c) To give more opportunities to women
(d) To make the workplace more competitive

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The main goal of these apps is to provide more opportunities for women who work part-time due to childcare responsibilities.
2. Companies like Ford have not created tools for their employees to find job-sharing partners.
3. Some people are concerned that the computer programs used by these apps may be unfair in matching job-sharing partners.
4. It is easy to predict if two people will work well together in a job-sharing arrangement.
5. Despite these concerns, job sharing is generally viewed as a negative development that reinforces traditional job expectations and promotes a less inclusive workplace.
6. Job sharing is seen as a way to support women in advancing their careers while balancing childcare.
7. These apps use computer programs to match people based on their skills, preferences, and career goals.
8. There are no apps available that help people find job-sharing partners, similar to online dating.
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 some popular apps that help people share jobs?
2. How are these job-sharing apps similar to online dating?
3. How do these apps match people together?
4. Why is job sharing seen as a way to help women in their careers?
5. What are some concerns people have about using computer programs to match job-sharing partners?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some of the popular apps that help people share jobs?
Some popular apps that help people share jobs are WeJobShare and Job Share Connect.

2. How are these job-sharing apps similar to online dating?
These job-sharing apps are similar to online dating because they help people find someone to share a job with, just like online dating apps help people find someone to date.

3. How do these apps match people together?
These apps match people together based on their skills, preferences, and career goals. They use special computer programs to find the best match.

4. Why is job sharing seen as a way to help women in their careers?
Job sharing is seen as a way to help women in their careers because it allows them to work part-time while taking care of their kids. This gives them more opportunities to advance in their careers.

5. What are some concerns people have about using computer programs to match job-sharing partners?
Some concerns people have about using computer programs to match job-sharing partners are that the programs might be unfair and that it’s hard to know if two people will work well together.

6. Why is job sharing considered a good thing for both workers and companies?
Job sharing is considered a good thing for both workers and companies because it provides more flexibility for workers and allows them to have a better work-life balance. It also helps companies retain talented employees and increase productivity.

7. How does job sharing challenge people’s expectations of jobs?
Job sharing challenges people’s expectations of jobs by showing that there are alternative ways to work and that it’s not always necessary to work full-time in order to have a successful career.

8. What is the goal of these job-sharing apps?
The goal of these job-sharing apps is to give more opportunities to women and help them advance in their careers. They aim to match people with compatible skills and goals to create successful job-sharing partnerships.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) share
(3) WeJobShare
(4) Connect
(5) computer
(6) skills
(7) opportunities
(8) women
(9) sharing
(10) thing
(11) challenges
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. apps
Answer: (d) Programs on your phone that help you do things

2. online
Answer: (g) On the internet

3. share
Answer: (b) To give something to someone else so you both have it

4. tool
Answer: (f) Something you use to help you do a job

5. match
Answer: (c) To find someone who is a good fit for you

6. opportunities
Answer: (a) Chances to do something good or get something good

7. unfair
Answer: (e) Not right or equal

8. workplace
Answer: (h) Where you go to work
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are job-sharing apps compared to?
Answer: (a) Online dating

2. How do job-sharing apps match people?
Answer: (c) Based on their skills, preferences, and career goals

3. Why are job-sharing apps seen as a way to help women?
Answer: (d) Because women often work part-time due to childcare responsibilities

4. What is one concern people have about job-sharing apps?
Answer: (d) That the computer programs might be unfair

5. What is one benefit of job sharing for workers?
Answer: (b) It challenges what people expect from jobs

6. What is one benefit of job sharing for companies?
Answer: (a) It makes the workplace more open to different possibilities

7. What is one reason why job sharing is different from just asking friends or coworkers?
Answer: (b) Job sharing apps use special computer programs to match people

8. What is the main goal of job-sharing apps?
Answer: (c) To give more opportunities to women
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The main goal of these apps is to provide more opportunities for women who work part-time due to childcare responsibilities. (Answer: True)
2. Companies like Ford have not created tools for their employees to find job-sharing partners. (Answer: False)
3. Some people are concerned that the computer programs used by these apps may be unfair in matching job-sharing partners. (Answer: True)
4. It is easy to predict if two people will work well together in a job-sharing arrangement. (Answer: False)
5. Despite these concerns, job sharing is generally viewed as a negative development that reinforces traditional job expectations and promotes a less inclusive workplace. (Answer: False)
6. Job sharing is seen as a way to support women in advancing their careers while balancing childcare. (Answer: True)
7. These apps use computer programs to match people based on their skills, preferences, and career goals. (Answer: True)
8. There are no apps available that help people find job-sharing partners, similar to online dating. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧