ESL Conversation Questions: Business Psychology

1. What is business psychology? 

2. How can understanding psychology help in business? 

3. In what type of industry would having a business psychologist on staff be valuable? 

4. How would you describe a growth mindset vs a fixed mindset in the workplace? 

5. "You know too much psychology when you can't get mad at people because you understand everyone's reason for doing everything." - Tom Hardy. Do you agree with this quote? Why or Why not? 

6. Can a company help change an employee with a fixed mindset?  

ESL Vocabulary: Individualism

ESL Vocabulary (Individualism) 

1. Fundamental - adjective - forming a necessary base or core; of central importance 

2. Interdependent - adjective - dependent on each other 

3. Collectivism - noun - the practice of giving priority to the group over each individual in it 

4. Disparate - adjective - essentially different in kind; not able to be compared 

5. Cohesiveness - noun - the quality of forming a united whole 

6. Precedence - noun - priority in importance, order, or rank 

ESL Conversation Questions: Individualism

1. What is individualism? 

2. What are the benefits of having an individualistic mindset? 

3. What is the difference between horizontal and vertical individualism? 

4. What are the negatives of individualism? 

5. "Yet there are still people who confuse individualism and selfishness." - Albert Camus. Is it easy to confuse these two characteristics? 

6. Would you describe the culture in your country as being individualistic? 

ESL Vocabulary: Employee of the Year

ESL Vocabulary (Awards)

1. Praise Junkie - noun - someone who constantly seeks and craves attention 

2. Ridicule - noun/verb - someone being mocked, made fun of or insulted by other people 

3. Reinforce - verb - strengthen an existing idea, habit or feeling 

4. Peer vote - noun phrase - a vote selected by only employees and not management 

5. Pitfalls - noun - a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty 

6. Criteria - noun - a principle or standard by which something maybe judged or decided 

ESL Activity: End of the Year Awards

 Read the description of each person's accomplishments, decide who you believe should win the award and explain your reasoning. 

A. Mary has had outstanding sales numbers this year for Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. She sold more paper than anyone in the office this year and also beat the long standing record for most paper sold in the company within a year.  

B. Latoya joined the social media marketing team this year for Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. She single handedly set up the company's Tiktok account and has created viral content that has connected with potential clients within the U.S. and internationally. 

A. Cyril has been an outstanding accountant for Europe's English Academy over the past ten years. This year in particular he helped manage many financial situations during these unusual times of Covid-19. 

B. Jose joined Europe's English Academy's  teaching staff this year and has helped create over half of the curriculum this year alone. Additionally, he has had a five star rating in all of his classes through the whole year, zero student complaints and a perfect attendance 

A. Archer has had an incredible year as an IT specialist for Ground Zero Cybersecurity. His quick attention to details and incredible critical thinking skills has helped save the company from numerous bugs and potential shutdowns. 

B. Lana joined Ground Zero Cybersecurity this year as a software developer and has worked very well for the company. She is the company's first female employee and the first Arabian employee. 

ESL Conversation Questions: Employee of The Year

1. What is the employee of the year award? 

2. What are at least 3 requirements that should determine if someone can be eligible for the employee of the year award in your job or industry? 

3. What would winning an employee of the year award mean to you? 

4. Are there any negatives to having an employee of the year award? 

5. "You've got to get your team to not only understand your company brand, but also to understand their personal brand." Amber Hurdle - Do you agree with this quote? 

6. If you were the boss of a company would you give an employee of the month award or of the year? Why?  

ESL Phrasal Verbs: Business

1. To call off - to cancel 

2. To chip/pitch in - to help or contribute 

3. To get over - to recover 

4. To let down - to disappoint; to not help or support 

5. To pass up - to decline (usually something good) 

6. To count on - to rely on 

Phrasal Verb Conversation Questions 

1. What would you consider to be a large letdown for your company?

2. Who directly counts on you the most at your job? 

3. What investment could people make today that you think they will regret passing up on in the next ten or fifteen years? 

4. What's an embarrassing situation that you think would be difficult for your company to get over? 

5. If you invited 10 friend to a birthday party and two of them got infected with the coronavirus would you call off the party or just uninvite those two friends. 

6. Is there someone in your office our business team who doesn't pitch in enough?