🎬 Interactive video — script & questions
SPEAKER 1: Hi Marcus, congratulations! I heard you've just started your new job in marketing. How has it been so far?
SPEAKER 2: Thanks! Well, I've been working here for three weeks now, and I really enjoy it. The team is very welcoming, and I've already met some interesting people.
SPEAKER 1: That's great! What kind of projects have you worked on?
SPEAKER 2: So far, I've helped develop a social media campaign for a new product. It's been challenging, but I've learned a lot. Before this job, I used to work in sales, so the marketing side is quite different for me.
SPEAKER 1: I imagine so! Have you had any training yet?
SPEAKER 2: Yes, they've given me excellent training on their software and strategies. My manager has been very patient. I've made some mistakes, of course, but she's supported me well. I think if I continue like this, I'll be promoted within a year.
SPEAKER 1: That's ambitious! Have you stayed in touch with your old colleagues from sales?
SPEAKER 2: I've kept in contact with a few of them. One of my friends, who I used to manage, has decided to apply for the marketing course I'm doing. She says if she gets the qualifications, she'll consider changing careers too.
SPEAKER 1: Sounds like you're really making an impact. What do you like most about the role so far?
SPEAKER 2: Definitely the creative side. I've never done anything like this before, and I've discovered that I'm quite good at it. Plus, the salary has improved, and the company has offered me professional development opportunities. I've accepted them all!
SPEAKER 1: Excellent. Anything you haven't enjoyed?
SPEAKER 2: The commute is a bit long, but overall, I'm very satisfied. I haven't regretted the decision at all.
- How long has Marcus been working at his new job?
- a) Two weeks
- b) Three weeks
- c) One month
- d) Six weeks
- What has Marcus helped develop in his new role?
- a) A sales strategy
- b) A social media campaign
- c) A training program
- d) A product design
- What did Marcus use to do before working in marketing?
- a) He worked in sales
- b) He worked in product development
- c) He worked in management
- d) He worked in human resources
- What has Marcus's friend decided to do?
- a) Apply for the marketing course Marcus is doing
- b) Find a job in marketing immediately
- c) Stay in the sales department
- d) Change her job next month
- What has the company offered Marcus?
- a) A promotion
- b) A higher salary only
- c) Professional development opportunities
- d) A longer holiday
📖 Reading
Maria Santos has always loved solving problems, so ten years ago she decided to become a career coach. Since then, she has helped hundreds of people find jobs they actually enjoy. 'Most people have never thought carefully about what they really want from their work,' she says. 'They just take the first job that is offered to them.'
Last month, Maria started a new project: free online workshops for young people who have just finished school. In the first workshop, she asked everyone a simple question: 'Have you ever done a job you hated?' Almost every student raised their hand. One student, Tomas, said he had worked in a restaurant kitchen for two summers and had learned that he never wanted to work in food service again. 'But I'm glad I tried it,' he added. 'If I hadn't taken that job, I wouldn't have known what I disliked.'
Maria's advice is simple but useful. She tells students to talk to people who already work in the field they are interested in, because these conversations often reveal details that are never mentioned in job advertisements. She also encourages people to try short internships before committing to a long course of study. 'If you spend a week watching a real nurse or engineer at work, you will understand the job much better than if you only read about it,' she explains.
So far, more than three hundred people have joined Maria's workshops, and many have already changed direction in their careers. One woman, who had worked as an accountant for fifteen years, recently became a landscape gardener. 'I have never felt happier,' she told Maria. 'I just wish I had made this change years ago.' Maria smiles when she hears stories like this. For her, helping someone find the right path is more satisfying than any salary could ever be.
🗣️ Speaking — discussion
Context
- Since 2021, millions of workers worldwide have quit their jobs, seeking better pay, flexibility, and work-life balance.
- The trend started after the COVID-19 pandemic, when people had time to reconsider their career choices and priorities.
- Companies are struggling to fill positions and keep employees, offering higher salaries, remote work options, and better benefits.
- Younger generations (millennials and Gen Z) are leading this movement, prioritizing job satisfaction and mental health over traditional career paths.
- This shift is changing how businesses think about workplace culture, employee well-being, and flexibility.
Themes
- Work-Life Balance — Many workers are prioritizing time with family, hobbies, and personal health over long working hours and high salaries. Companies are learning to offer flexible schedules and remote work to keep employees happy.
- Job Satisfaction and Meaning — People want careers that feel meaningful and aligned with their values, not just jobs that pay the bills. The search for purpose at work is driving major career changes across industries.
- Generation Gaps in the Workplace — Younger workers have different expectations from older generations—they value flexibility, mental health support, and social responsibility more than job security and traditional advancement.
- Employer Power and Compensation — In a competitive job market, employees have more power to negotiate salaries, benefits, and working conditions. Companies must adapt or lose talented workers.
Personal Response
- Have you ever thought about leaving a job? What would make you consider quitting?
- What is most important to you in a job: salary, flexibility, or something else? Why?
Themes & Ideas
- Do you think work-life balance is more important than earning a high salary? Explain your answer.
- How has the pandemic changed the way people think about their careers?
Critical Thinking
- What problems might companies face if too many employees leave? How can they solve these problems?
- Is it fair for workers to demand higher salaries and better conditions? What about small businesses that cannot afford these changes?
Cultural & Social Topics
- In your country or culture, is it common for people to change jobs frequently, or do they stay with one company for life?
- How do you think older generations view younger workers who prioritize flexibility over job security?
🎭 Classroom activity
Role-play: Pair students as an employer and job candidate. The candidate should explain why they have left their previous job and what they are looking for now. Encourage use of present perfect ('I have worked in...', 'I have learned...') to discuss their experience.
✏️ Questions
- I ___ (apply) for three new jobs this month, but I haven't heard back from any of them yet.
- Our manager ___ (not finish) the budget report yet, so the meeting might be delayed.
- ___ you ever ___ (work) in a team with people from different countries?
- She ___ (just / get) a promotion, so everyone in the office is congratulating her.
- We ___ (already / sign) the contract, so we can't change the salary now.
- How many companies ___ (you / work) for since you started your career?
- What is Maria Santos's job?
- a) She is a restaurant manager.
- b) She is a career coach.
- c) She is a school teacher.
- d) She is a landscape gardener.
- According to the passage, why does Tomas say he is glad he worked in a restaurant kitchen, even though he hated it?
- a) It helped him get a better job in food service.
- b) It taught him cooking skills he still uses.
- c) It helped him realise what kind of work he does not want.
- d) It paid much more than his other summer jobs.
- Why does Maria recommend talking to people who already work in a field?
- a) Because they can offer young people a job immediately.
- b) Because job advertisements often contain false information.
- c) Because these conversations can reveal things job ads don't mention.
- d) Because it is required before starting any internship.
- What does the woman who changed from accountant to landscape gardener say about her decision?
- a) She regrets leaving her job as an accountant.
- b) She wishes she had changed careers sooner.
- c) She plans to return to accounting soon.
- d) She found the change more difficult than expected.
- What is the meaning of 'committing to' in the third paragraph ('before committing to a long course of study')?
- a) Avoiding something completely
- b) Promising to continue with something
- c) Paying for something in advance
- d) Forgetting about something quickly
- What is the main idea of the passage?
- a) Career coaching is only useful for students who have failed at school.
- b) Trying real experiences and talking to workers can help people choose better careers.
- c) Accountants earn less money than landscape gardeners.
- d) Everyone should avoid working in restaurants before choosing a career.