ESL WORKSHEET - Work and Human Resources

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

WORKING IN HUMAN RESOURCES

LinguaHouse

Jul. 10, 2024

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of English: Business English
Tags: Human Resources (HR); Behavior, Feelings and Emotions; Business People; Challenges; Describing a Job; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old; Situation Based
Publication date: 07/10/2024

This worksheet is designed to get HR specialists talking about their work. It covers various HR management topics, including the role and responsibilities of an HR manager, strategies for helping employees grow professionally, and key HR tasks such as recruiting, verifying references, appraising performance, and resolving conflicts. The lesson includes open-ended questions, gapped sentences, a podcast interview, and a matching exercise to provide students with a comprehensive practice in understanding and using relevant vocabulary and expressions. The lesson is suitable for intermediate to upper-intermediate ESL learners, who can benefit from the real-life context and engaging format. (by Luca Burns)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English: ex. 3.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English: ex. 5.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English: ex. 3.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English: ex. 5.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPTS

Exercise 3
Susan Williams: My name’s Susan Williams. I work for Xcel Systems as a human resources manager. My responsibilities include recruiting new employees and organizing training for company staff. It’s also my job to improve the company’s working conditions. I find my work very interesting mainly because I enjoy working with people. It’s also very satisfying to see employees improve and develop their skills because of initiatives that I have put into practice. What I don’t like so much is when I have to deal with a difficult employee - for example, somebody who is habitually late, takes too many days off or doesn’t meet deadlines. That can be rather stressful. But luckily, it doesn’t happen too often.

Exercise 5
Mark: Welcome to this week’s episode of “The Business” podcast. Today, we have with us Tina, a well-respected HR manager who has been in the industry for over a decade. Tina, can you tell us a little about your role as an HR manager?
Tina: Of course, Mark. I’m responsible for overseeing the HR function for our company, which includes managing our employees, developing and implementing HR policies, and providing support for employees and managers.
Mark: And what specific HR tasks are you in charge of?
Tina: Many things to be honest. For instance: recruiting new employees, verifying references of job candidates, appraising workers’ performance, or giving honest feedback to our employees. I also play a key role in resolving worker conflicts and organizing training for our company staff.
Mark: That’s a lot of responsibilities! What do you like most about your work as an HR manager?
Tina: What I like most about my work is that it gives me the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of our employees. I take great pride in helping our employees grow both professionally and personally, and in making sure that our company is a great place to work.
Mark: Before we wrap up, I’d like to ask about those strategies for helping employees grow professionally. Can you share some of the methods you use in your role as an HR manager?
Tina: Absolutely! One of the key strategies I use is providing opportunities for continuous learning and development. This can include offering in-house training programs, encouraging employees to attend conferences and workshops, or providing opportunities for employees to work on special projects that challenge them and help them grow their skills.
Another strategy is fostering a culture of feedback and coaching. I encourage managers to have regular one-on-one meetings with their teams to discuss their progress, provide constructive criticism, and offer guidance on how to grow their careers.
Lastly, I encourage career growth through job rotation. This allows employees to gain new experiences, build new skills, and broaden their perspectives, which can ultimately lead to professional growth and advancement.
Mark: Those are great strategies! It’s clear that you’re committed to helping employees grow and reach their full potential. Tina, thank you for your time and for sharing your insights on helping employees grow professionally.
Tina: It was my pleasure, Mark. Thank you for having me on the show.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/business-english/working-in-human-resources. Accessed on July 25, 2024. © 2008–2024 LinguaHouse.com. All rights reserved.