General Listening Quiz
“Meeting Coworkers”
| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Office Work | Man – Woman | 00:37 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
- How do you usually feel on your first day at work or school?
- What’s the best way to meet new coworkers or classmates?
- Do you prefer someone to show you around or figure things out by yourself?
- How can you make a good first impression?
Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!
These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, exploring ideas, and sharing opinions.
-
In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way?
-
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms.
-
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate.
- First days at work are always stressful.
- Meeting coworkers is more important than learning the job tasks.
- It’s okay to ask questions when you’re new.
- Everyone remembers their first day at a job.
- Being friendly is more important than being skilled on the first day.
- A tour of the office is essential for new employees.
- Learning the names of coworkers is very important.
- You should avoid asking too many questions on your first day.
- Mentors or friendly coworkers make a big difference for new employees.
- First-day mistakes are normal and expected.
Idioms
“break the ice” = do something to start a friendly conversation
“James introduced Maya to Sarah to help break the ice.”
“learn the ropes” = learn how to do a new job or activity
“Maya will learn the ropes in customer support with help from her coworkers.”
Listening Exercise
Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
Here are some words that appear in the recording:
nervous (adjective): feeling worried or uneasy about something new or important
– She felt nervous before giving her first presentation at work.
department (noun): a section of a company or organization that does a specific type of work
– He works in the finance department of a large company.
appreciate (verb): to be thankful for something
– I really appreciate your help with my project.
tour (noun): a short visit to see different places, often for learning or introduction
– The guide gave us a tour of the museum before it opened to the public.
Post-Listening Exercise
- How do you usually feel when you meet new coworkers or classmates?
- What is a polite way to introduce yourself to someone new?
- How can coworkers help someone on their first day?
- Why is it important to get a tour or meet the team at a new workplace?
Online Investigation
Research first-day practices in different companies or countries:
- What are some common office or work routines that might be different in other countries. For example, group exercises called Radio Taiso are sometimes done in Japan.
- What are typical first-day tasks for new employees?
- How do companies help new employees feel welcomed?