“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 5: Work and Career
Story 04: Leadership in the Workplace
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Competent
- Compassionate
- Admire
- Communicator
- Feedback
- Concerns
- Motivate
- Recognition
- Concise
- Rally together
Read or Listen to the following passage:
I’m lucky enough to work for a leader who inspires me every day. His name is John, and he’s one of the most competent and compassionate leaders I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.
John possesses many admirable traits that make him an excellent leader. For one, he’s an excellent communicator, always making sure to keep his team informed about the latest developments and goals. He’s also an excellent listener, taking the time to hear his team’s feedback and concerns.
One of John’s greatest strengths as a leader is his ability to inspire and motivate his team. He’s always quick to offer words of encouragement and recognition for a job well done. His leadership style creates a positive work environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated.
An example of John’s leadership ability that comes to mind was during a time when our team was facing a difficult deadline. Despite the stress and pressure of the situation, John remained calm and focused, guiding us through the project with clear and concise direction. He was able to rally the team together, and we were able to complete the project on time and with high quality.
Overall, John is an exceptional leader who embodies all the traits that make a great leader. I feel incredibly lucky to work under his guidance.
Comprehension Questions:
- Who is the leader the main character works with?
- What are some of the traits that the leader possesses?
- How does the leader communicate with his team?
- What is the leader’s strength in motivating his team?
- Can you give an example of the leader’s ability to lead under pressure?
Conversations Starters:
- What qualities do you think make a good leader in the workplace?
- Have you ever worked for a boss that you felt was a poor leader? What were some of the issues you encountered?
- How do you think leadership and management differ? Are they the same thing?
- What do you think is the most important role of a leader in the workplace?
- Do you think leaders should prioritize the needs of their team over the needs of the company? Why or why not?
- What are some examples of leadership skills that you possess? How do you think these skills can benefit you in the workplace?
- Have you ever been in a leadership role? What did you learn from the experience?
- How do you think leaders can effectively communicate with their team members?
- Do you think it’s important for leaders to admit when they’re wrong or make a mistake? Why or why not?
- What advice would you give to someone who is aspiring to become a leader in their workplace?
