Since 2020, working from home has gone from a rare perk to a normal part of life for millions of people. But is it really better than going to the office? This lesson looks at the advantages and disadvantages of remote and hybrid working, and gets students talking about their own working and study habits. This A2 version follows one worker through his week and practises simple vocabulary for work, home and routines.
Level: A2 · Time: 45 to 90 minutes. Pick the activities that suit your class. They work in almost any order.
Lesson Activities
- Warmer: Picture Reveal – Reveal the picture tile by tile. Where is this? What is the person doing? Students guess before the whole picture is revealed.
- Vocabulary: Pre-teach the Key Words – Match 10 words from the text to their meanings before reading (journey, desk, comfortable, concentrate, lonely, colleague…).
- Reading: Tom Works from Home – A short graded text with 10 gaps and a word bank.
- Vocabulary: Advantages and Disadvantages – Students sort 10 ideas (no commute, feeling lonely, flexible hours…) into advantages and disadvantages of working from home. Good after the reading.
- Discussion: Work, Home and the Office – 10 conversation questions about where and how students work or study.
- Speaking: Ranking – What do you need for a great home office? Students rank nine things, from fast internet to a pet for company, then compare with a partner.
Teacher Tips
- For a shorter lesson, use the warmer, the reading and the discussion cards.
- Grammar focus: the reading uses the present simple for routines (he starts work at 8:30, he goes to the office on Tuesdays). Ask students to describe their own working week.
- Follow-up: students write a short email to their manager asking to work from home one more day a week, giving reasons.
Teaching a stronger group? Try the B2 version of this lesson.