Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a disagreement
    • ex. My brother and sister sometimes have disagreements, but they fix the problem in the end.
  2. morale
    • ex. The teacher praised the students to help their morale before the big test.
  3. humility
    • ex. When Hannah made a mistake, she admitted it with humility and apologized.
  4. common ground
    • ex. The children found common ground by playing a game they all enjoyed.
  5. thoughtfully
    • ex. Maria thoughtfully chose a gift that she knew her mom would love.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Disagreements in the workplace can affect morale and productivity. When coworkers who have different political views argue, it can create conflict. As a result, it can be difficult to maintain a peaceful and respectful environment at work. But experts have a solution for that: practice humility, look for common ground, and have fun conversations at work.

Experts say practicing humility can help. Humility means looking at everyone as our equal and being open to their ideas. One should accept that he or she isn’t always correct. People show their respect by listening thoughtfully to others. Simple acts, like saying “thank you for sharing,” can create a safe space for discussion and help avoid conflict.

In addition, looking for common ground is important. When there is a disagreement, it’s helpful to find something you both agree on. Listen and try to understand other people’s feelings. Meanwhile, managers can also help by encouraging employees to have fun conversations at work. Employees can share topics they care about, like hobbies, family experiences, or skills. This can build trust and improve work relationships.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Work Relationships

  • In your opinion, is it important to have a good work relationship with your coworkers? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how can coworkers with different opinions avoid arguments? Discuss.
  • How can sharing personal stories help coworkers build stronger connections? Discuss.

Conflicts and Disagreements

  • In your opinion, are disagreements at work a good thing or a bad thing? Why? Discuss.
  • How do you handle disagreements with other people? Discuss.
  • Do you think it’s still possible to work together even with different views or opinions? Why or why not? Discuss.