Shadow a 14-line C1 debate on remote work: conceding points, pushing back, proposing compromises. Fast, idiomatic American English.
The scene. Two colleagues debate whether the office still matters. One values mentoring and accidental conversations; the other argues remote work rewards clear writing and that onboarding, not commuting, is the real fix. They end on a compromise.
Read these before you listen. Tap a word to mark it as known.
I still think the office matters more than people admit.
Matters for what, exactly? The work gets done either way.
For the things that don't show up on a task list. Mentoring, mostly.
You can mentor over a call. I do it every week.
You can, but it's scheduled. The best advice I ever got was accidental.
That's a nice story, but it's hardly a policy.
Fair. Then let's talk about the juniors who've never met their team in person.
Some of them are thriving. Remote work rewards people who write clearly.
And it quietly punishes those who don't, before anyone notices.
So the answer is better onboarding, not a mandatory commute.
Maybe it's both. Two days a week isn't a mandatory commute.
Two days that someone decides for me is precisely that.
Alright, I'll concede the wording. What would you accept?
Team-level agreements. Let each team choose what works, then measure it.
Colleague A: I still think the office matters more than people admit.
Colleague B: Matters for what, exactly? The work gets done either way.
Colleague A: For the things that don't show up on a task list. Mentoring, mostly.
Colleague B: You can mentor over a call. I do it every week.
Colleague A: You can, but it's scheduled. The best advice I ever got was accidental.
Colleague B: That's a nice story, but it's hardly a policy.
Colleague A: Fair. Then let's talk about the juniors who've never met their team in person.
Colleague B: Some of them are thriving. Remote work rewards people who write clearly.
Colleague A: And it quietly punishes those who don't, before anyone notices.
Colleague B: So the answer is better onboarding, not a mandatory commute.
Colleague A: Maybe it's both. Two days a week isn't a mandatory commute.
Colleague B: Two days that someone decides for me is precisely that.
Colleague A: Alright, I'll concede the wording. What would you accept?
Colleague B: Team-level agreements. Let each team choose what works, then measure it.
Answer from what you heard. Check your score, then show the answers.
What does the first speaker think matters more than people admit?
What example does the first speaker give of what the office is good for?
How does the second speaker mentor people?
Who does the first speaker worry about?
According to the second speaker, what does remote work reward?
What is the second speaker's solution?
What does the first speaker concede?
What compromise ends the debate?
Choose the word that completes the sentence the way the speaker said it.
Matters for what, ___?
The best advice I ever got ___ accidental.
That's a nice story, but it's ___ a policy.
Some of them ___ thriving.
Two days that someone decides for me is ___ that.
Let each team choose what works, then ___ it.
Answer out loud, or bring these to your next class.
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