WeWork, a big co-working space company, recently had money problems in the US. But smaller co-working spaces like Patch, which focus on the local community, are doing well. These spaces have lots of things to use and attract people who want to work and be social close to home.
Freddie Fforde, who started Patch, talks about how smaller co-working spaces can save money by being in smaller towns or on the edges of cities. These spaces also help parents who work by being close to where their kids are taken care of. They also create a sense of community and let people be social.
Vibushan Thirukumar made Oru Space, a co-working space in south London that also helps people be healthy. Thirukumar wants to make a community and help the local area by giving people a place to work and do wellness activities and social things.
Some experts think that regular office spaces are getting more popular, but others think that co-working spaces, especially community-focused ones, are growing. These spaces are important to their neighborhoods, using buildings in new ways and helping people in the area get to know each other.
In the end, the idea of working near home in community co-working spaces is getting more popular as a good choice instead of regular offices or working from home. These spaces don't just give a good place to work, but also help the local economy and make a sense of community.
Original news source: Work near home: The co-working hubs for locals (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Students are divided into pairs. One student takes on the role of a journalist while the other is an entrepreneur who has started a local co-working space. The journalist interviews the entrepreneur about the advantages of co-working spaces, their impact on the local community, and the trend of 'working near home'. Afterward, they switch roles.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article (e.g., "Co-working spaces are better for productivity than home offices," "Local co-working spaces contribute significantly to the local economy," etc.). Students move around the room and poll their classmates' opinions on these statements, tallying agree/disagree responses. Discuss the results as a class afterward.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key terms from the article (such as co-working space, community, wellness, local economy, etc.) on slips of paper. Students take turns drawing the words for their team to guess without speaking or writing any words. This helps reinforce new vocabulary from the article.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Students work in small groups to discuss and predict the future of workspaces, based on the article. They should consider the role of co-working spaces, community engagement, and the balance between working from home and in traditional offices. Each group then presents their predictions to the class.
– Mind Map
Instructions: On a large piece of paper or whiteboard, the teacher writes the central idea of "Co-working spaces" from the article. Students then work in groups to add branches of ideas related to the central concept (such as 'benefits', 'challenges', 'community impact', etc.). Each group presents their mind map to the class, explaining the connections between the different ideas.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The popularity of co-working spaces has increased, especially after the pandemic, as people are looking for options other than working from home or commuting to the office.
Jill Parrish works at a co-working space called Patch near her home in Twickenham, and she goes there twice a week.
WeWork, a big co-working space company, recently had money problems in the US.
Smaller co-working spaces like Patch focus on the local community, offering amenities and social opportunities close to home.
Co-working spaces benefit parents by being close to where their kids are taken care of, which saves time and allows parents to work flexibly.
Oru Space offers wellness activities and social events in addition to being a co-working space.
Some experts believe that co-working spaces, especially those focused on community, are growing because they are important to their neighborhoods, repurposing buildings, and fostering local connections.
Two benefits of community co-working spaces are that they help the local economy and create a sense of community among the people in the area.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Co- s are getting more popular, especially after the pandemic. Jill Parrish, who in London, her experience of working at a co-working space near her home in Twickenham. Her company helps pay for her membership at Patch, where she works twice a week. This trend, called "working near home," is becoming more popular as an option instead of working from home or going to the office. WeWork, a big co-working space company, recently had problems in the US. But smaller co-working spaces like Patch, which on the local , are doing well. These spaces have lots of things to use and attract who want to work and be social close to home. Freddie Fforde, who started Patch, talks about how smaller co-working spaces can save money by being in smaller towns or on the edges of cities. These spaces also help parents who work by being close to where their kids are taken care of. They also create a sense of community and let people be social. Vibushan Thirukumar made Oru Space, a co-working space in south London that also people be healthy. Thirukumar to make a community and help the local area by giving people a to work and do wellness and social things. Some experts think that regular office spaces are getting more popular, but others think that co-working spaces, especially community-focused ones, are growing. These spaces are important to their neighborhoods, using in new ways and helping people in the area get to know each other. In the end, the idea of working near home in community co-working spaces is more as a good choice instead of regular offices or working from home. These spaces don't just give a good place to work, but also help the economy and make a sense of community.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a co-working space and have you ever been to one?
2. How would you feel about working in a place that is not your home or a traditional office?
3. Do you like the idea of "working near home"? Why or why not?
4. Do you think co-working spaces are a good solution for parents? Why do you think that?
5. What are some benefits of being part of a local community at work?
6. Have you ever felt lonely while working or studying from home? How do you think a co-working space could change that?
7. What activities would you like to have in a co-working space to help with wellness and socializing?
8. Do you think it's important for a workspace to also offer social activities? Why or why not?
9. How do you think small towns or suburbs could benefit from having local co-working spaces?
10. Would you prefer to work in a big company's co-working space or a smaller, community-focused one? What's your reason?
11. How do you think co-working spaces can help the local economy?
12. Do you think the trend of co-working spaces will continue to grow? Why do you think so?
13. What do you imagine could be some challenges of working in a co-working space?
14. Do you think a sense of community is important in a workspace? Can you explain why?
15. If you had the choice, would you prefer working from home, in a co-working space, or in a traditional office? What factors influence your choice?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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