Unit 18: I'm overworked.

4
Intermediate
📙 Teens & Adults

– Talking about causes of stress
– Giving advice by talking about personal experiences

Course​s

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Speak Now 4

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I'm overworked

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Agenda

Topic: I’m overworked

Part 1: Vocabulary

Part 2: Conversation

Part 3:  Language Booster

Part 4: Listening

Part 5: Speak with confidence

Part 1

Vocabulary

1. 💡 Directions

Match the causes of stress on the left with the ways to manage stress on the right (can choose multiple)

____1. too many deadlines
____2. a misunderstanding with a friend
____3. overworked
____4. under too much pressure
____5. really stressed

a. try some relaxation techniques
b. try meditating
c. drop a class
d. talk through your problems
e. talk to your boss about your workload

Answers
  1. drop a class, talk to your boss about your workload
  2. talk through your problems
  3. drop a class, talk to your boss about your workload
  4. try some relaxation techniques, try meditating, drop a class, talk to your boss about your workload
  5. try some relaxation techniques, try meditating, drop a class, talk to your boss about your workload
2. 💡 Directions

Discuss your answers and other possible ways to manage these causes of stress.

Sample answer

A: If you have too many deadlines, one thing you can do is talk to your boss about your workload.
B: That's true. You can also drop a class if you are studying and working at the same time.

Part 2

Conversation

1. 💡 Directions

Listen and answer 2 questions.

1. Why are Walker and Julia stressed?

2. What advice does Julia give Walker?

Julia & Walker

Transcript

Julia: Hi, Walker. Are you OK?
Walker: Oh, hi, Julia. I am stressed. I have too many deadlines.
Julia: How many classes are you taking?
Walker: I’m taking six classes.
Julia: In my experience, six is too many classes. I’ve found that it’s helpful to drop a class and take it the following semester.
Walker: You’re right. How are you doing?
Julia: I’m overworked. I had to work three 12-hour shifts in a row.
Walker: Wow, that’s a lot!

Example answer
  1. Walker is stressed because he has too many deadlines with his classes, and Julia is stressed because she is overworked at her job.
  2. Julia tells Walker he should drop a class and take it the next semester. Walker advises Julia to talk to her boss about being overworked.
2. 💡 Directions

Practice the conversation with teacher

3. 💡 Directions

Find the best places to add the sentences below to the conversation and practice it again.

1

You should talk to your boss!

2

Are you taking more than five?

3

You look a little stressed, too.

4

You look really stressed.

Julia: Hi, Walker. Are you OK? _______________
Walker: Oh, hi, Julia. I am stressed. I have too many deadlines.
Julia: How many classes are you taking? _______________
Walker: I’m taking six classes.
Julia: In my experience, six is too many classes. I’ve found that it’s helpful to drop a class and take it the following semester.
Walker: You’re right. How are you doing? _______________
Julia: I’m overworked. I had to work three 12-hour shifts in a row.
Walker: Wow, that’s a lot! _______________

Answers

Julia: Hi, Walker. Are you OK? You look really stressed.
Walker: Oh, hi, Julia. I am stressed. I have too many deadlines.
Julia: How many classes are you taking? Are you taking more than five?
Walker: I’m taking six classes.
Julia: In my experience, six is too many classes. I’ve found that it’s helpful to drop a class and take it the following semester.
Walker: You’re right. How are you doing? You look a little stressed, too.
Julia: I’m overworked. I had to work three 12-hour shifts in a row.
Walker: Wow, that’s a lot! You should talk to your boss!

Part 3

Language Booster

1. 💡 Directions

Notice the ways we talk about causes of stress and give advice by talking about personal experiences.

Talking about causes of stress

  • I have too many deadlines.
  • l’m overworked.
  • I’m under a lot of pressure.
  • I’m having problems with a friend.

Giving advice by talking about personal experiences

  • I’ve found that it’s really helpful to (drop a class).
  • ln my experience (six is too many classes).
  • … has always worked well for me.
  • I always feel better after I…
2. 💡 Directions

Share one cause of stress with your teacher. Your teacher will give you advice by talking about his or her own experience, and vice versa.

Example

A: I'm under a lot of pressure at work. My boss expects a lot from me, so I come in early and stay late.
B: That's too bad. In my experience, when people always come in early and stay late, their bosses expect them to do that all the time. What has worked well for me is talking to my boss and telling her...

Part 4

Listening

1.💡 Directions

Listen to people talking about stress. Number the causes of stress in the order that you hear them.
There is one extra example that won’t be used.

                  ___a. a co-worker                                  ___b. problems at home

                      ___c. a friend                                        ___d. family problems           

Answer

3. a

1. b

2. c

2.💡 Directions

Listen again.

Summarize the advice that each person gives. 

1. ___________________

2. ___________________

3. ___________________

Transcript
  1. problems at home
    A: Hey, Lisa. What’s wrong?
    B: Hi, Ann. Oh, I’m just really stressed out right now. I’m under a lot of pressure at home. One of my roommates moved out last month. Now instead of getting a new roommate, my other roommate wants me to pay extra rent.
    A: Oh, no! Why doesn’t she want to get a new roommate?
    B: I don’t know. She didn’t say.
    A: Can you move to a different apartment?
    B: I’d like to, but I don’t have time to look for a new place because I’m so busy with work and school.
    A: Why don’t you talk to your roommate and find out why she doesn’t want to get a new roommate? In my experience, it’s always a good idea to find out the facts before you make any big decisions.
  2. problems with a friend
    A: Hey, Leo. Can I talk to you for a minute?
    B: Sure, what’s up?
    A: Well, I’m having problems with Andrew. I think he’s mad at me for some reason. We were supposed to play basketball last night, but he didn’t show up. I texted him to find out where he was, but he didn’t text me back. And I said hello to him in the hallway today, and he didn’t even look at me. I’m not sure what to do.
    B: Have you tried asking him if he’s angry?
    A: No, I haven’t.
    B: Well, when I have a problem with a friend, I always feel better after I talk to him. That way, if he is angry about something, you can clear it up. And if he’s upset about something else and isn’t angry with you, you don’t have to keep feeling stressed.
  3. problems with a co-worker
    A: Hey, Luna, you look really stressed out. What’s wrong?
    B: I am really stressed out. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I don’t know what to do.
    A: Tell me what’s happening. Are you having trouble at school? Problems at home?
    B: It’s work. Well, actually, it’s someone that I work with. He keeps stealing my ideas. I told him about a great idea that I had last week, and he went straight to our boss and told him about it like it was his own idea.
    A: That’s really unfair. Is he like that with other people?
    B: I don’t know. He might be.
    A: I’ve found that it’s really helpful to try to understand why someone is doing something. For example, think about why he might be stealing your ideas. Is he insecure at work? Is he afraid he’s going to lose his job? See if you can help him become more secure with his own work, and maybe he’ll stop stealing your ideas.
Answer
  1. move to a different apartment; talk to the roomate and find out why she doesn't want a new roommate; get the facts before making any decisions
  2. ask him if he's angry; talk to him
  3. try to understand why the co-worker acts the way he does; help the co-worker become more secure with his own work

Part 5

Speak with confidence

💡 Directions

Write down two causes of stress in your life. Share your answers with your teacher.

  1. ___________________

2. ___________________

Sample answer

Topic: Stress

Presentation:
"I’m going to talk about stress. Stress is a response our body has to difficult situations, and everyone experiences it. I want to discuss it because understanding stress and learning how to manage it can really help us feel better in our daily lives. There are a few ways to manage stress. First, taking deep breaths or practicing mindfulness can calm us down. Exercising regularly also helps because it releases positive hormones. Managing our time better can also reduce stress, and talking to someone we trust can make us feel supported. Managing stress in these ways can help us lead healthier and happier lives."

Questions & Answers:
Teacher: "What do you find most stressful in your daily life?"
Student: "I find school projects stressful sometimes, but I try to stay organized to keep from feeling overwhelmed."
Teacher: "Which technique helps you the most?"
Student: "Exercise works best for me because it helps me clear my mind and feel better physically and mentally."