3.3.2 THE FUTURE OF WORK
THE FUTURE OF WORK
1.Warm up
Do you think your job will exist in 20 years?
What job would you definitely not like to do in the future? Why?
What new jobs might exist in 10–20 years?
Do you think robots or AI will replace human workers? In which jobs?
Do you think having one job for life will still exist?
Do you think success at work will be more or less important in the future?
2A. Vocabulary
Look at the following sentences and see if you can guess the meaning of the underlined word from the context.
- They are going to fully automate the company soon so there will be fewer jobs.
- The robot can mimic a lot of movements made by humans.
- The new restaurant across the road will threaten our business as they have a famous chef.
- The machine can outperform workers at very simple tasks.
- The website uses an algorithm to work out which TV shows you may be interested in.
- The airline couldn’t match the prices of its competitors ,so it went out of business.
- Writing copy for advertising campaigns can be a difficult task.
- The insurance company had to assess the damage caused by the fire.
2B. Practice
2C. Discussion
3A. Before watching
You are going to watch business CEO expert Anthony Goldbloom talk about how machine learning might affect our jobs in the future. What do you think he will say about how this will change our jobs?
3C-E. After watching
3F. Role-Play
Scenario options:
1.Job Interview
- Student A = candidate
- Student B = employer
Topic: “Why are you suitable for a job that cannot be replaced by AI?”
2.Company Crisis
- A company is losing employees because automation has replaced them
- Team must decide how to:
- save the company
- help workers manage change
3G. Innovation Challenge
Task: Invent a job that:
- cannot be automated
- solves a future problem
Then present:
- why it will be irreplaceable
- why machines can’t do it
- what could cause it to fail
4. Role play
Look at the following role play situations. With a partner discuss the ideas on the cards and then choose one and role play it.
Cue card 1
Topic: The effect of technology on communication.
Role: You are a technology expert, and your partner is a journalist who is interviewing you for an article on the topic.
Cue card 2
Topic: The effect of technology on the job market.
Role: You are an HR manager, and your partner is a new employee who has concerns about how technology is affecting job opportunities.
Cue card 3
Topic: The effects of technology in education.
Role: You are a teacher and your partner is a student who is researching the impact of technology on education for a school project.
Cue card 4
Topic: The effects of technology on society.
Role: You are a sociologist and your partner is a member of a community group who is concerned about the impact of technology on their neighbourhood.
5A. Vocabulary – Expressions
5B. Practice: WORK IN 2035
What major changes in the workplace do you think are on the horizon in the next 10–20 years?
What could really shake things up in your field—technology, policy, or something else?
What recent innovation has been a game changer in the way people work?
Do modern workers need to wear many hats more than in the past?
Is remote work a double-edged sword for employees and companies? Why?
Which aspects of your future career are still up in the air?
What do people need to do to stay ahead of the curve in today’s job market?
Which countries or companies are leading the way in shaping the future of work?
6. Future Workplace Pitch Battle
Step 1: Setup
Divide into small groups. Look at this prompt:
Design the workplace of the future (2035). What jobs exist? How do people work? What challenges arise?
Step 2: Language Challenge
Each group must use at least 5 expressions from the list in their pitch.
Step 3: Quick Pitch
Each group presents:
- Their future workplace
- Key changes
- One major challenge
Example: “In our model, AI shakes things up, but workers who stay ahead of the curve will lead the way…”
To download the pdf for this topic, click on this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T4HCexWRWNGDDWrhM0LtaIBZmai0CGtB/view?usp=sharing