The Reading / Listening - Mental Health - Level 3

Amazon wants to help its workers with stress and mental health problems. The company plans to put special booths in its warehouses to help workers relax. They are called "wellness chambers". The booths are part of a new scheme called "WorkingWell". Workers can sit inside a booth and watch videos about relaxation. Amazon has said the chambers are part of a system called "AmaZen". Zen is a practice whereby people meditate and focus on being calm. The company said: "During shifts, employees can visit AmaZen stations and watch short videos featuring easy-to-follow well-being activities, including guided meditations...and calming scenes with sounds."

Not all was calm and Zen-like on social media after Amazon shared a video of the AmaZen chamber on its Twitter account. Many social media users criticised the video and the idea of the wellness chamber. Most of the criticism was because of working conditions at Amazon's warehouses. Britain's Independent newspaper reported on an Amazon worker who said the chambers would not work. The worker described his experiences of working at Amazon. He said: "You don't get treated like a person. They work you like a robot… You don't have time to...get water. You don't have time to go to the bathroom." Amazon said: "The health and safety of employees is [our] number one priority and has been since day one."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Mental Health - Level 0,  Mental Health - Level 1   or  Mental Health - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57287151
  • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-rolls-zenbooth-warehouse-employees-135253883.html
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/amazon-amazen-union-alabama-warehouse-b1855408.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. MENTAL HEALTH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about mental health. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       workers / stress / mental health / wellness / relaxation / system / employee / sounds
       social media / criticism / working conditions / experiences / robot / bathroom / time
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. STRESS AT WORK: Students A strongly believe companies should pay for workers' medical bills if they are stressed at work; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. IN THE WORKPLACE: What do you think of these things for workplaces? How would they benefit workers? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Think of This

Benefits for the Workers

Wellness chambers

 

 

Canteen

 

 

Swimming pool

 

 

Convenience store

 

 

Library

 

 

Gym

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. AMAZON: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Amazon". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. STRESS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest stresses at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Money
  • The pandemic
  • Family
  • Neighbours
  • Work / School
  • Bosses / Teachers
  • Social media
  • Technology

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. stress a. The customary or expected way of doing something.
      2. booth b. The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
      3. scheme c. Mental tension from bad, worrying or negative situations.
      4. practice d. A plan for reaching a particular object or putting an idea into action.
      5. meditate e. A very small room where a someone sits separated from other people.
      6. focus f. Think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time in silence for religious or spiritual purposes or to relax.
      7. well-being g. Put all one's efforts onto a particular thing or action.

    Paragraph 2

      8. calm h. Talk about the faults or bad things about someone or something.
      9. criticised i. The state of something with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order.
      10. condition j. A person employed for wages or salary; a worker.
      11. warehouse k. Of a person not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other emotions.
      12. treated l. The fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important.
      13. employee m. Behaved toward or dealt with in a certain way.
      14. priority n. A large building where raw materials or manufactured goods may be stored before their export or distribution for sale.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Amazon plans to sell "wellness chambers" from its warehouses.     T / F
  2. The wellness chambers are part of a scheme called "FeelingWell".     T / F
  3. Workers can watch videos about relaxation in the wellness chambers.     T / F
  4. Workers can get advice on meditating while in the wellness chambers.     T / F
  5. Many social media users think the wellness chambers are a great idea.    T / F
  6. An Amazon worker feels he's treated more like a robot than a human.     T / F
  7. An Amazon worker said he has plenty of time to go to the bathroom.     T / F
  8. Amazon says the health of its workers has always been its top priority.    T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. stress
  2. chambers
  3. system
  4. focus
  5. calming
  6. criticised
  7. conditions
  8. treated
  9. employees
  10. priority
  1. method
  2. circumstances
  3. tranquil
  4. workers
  5. regarded
  6. rooms
  7. pressure
  8. concern
  9. concentrate
  10. found fault with

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. help its workers with stress and
  2. put special booths in
  3. people meditate and focus
  4. easy-to-follow well-
  5. calming scenes with
  6. Many social media users criticised
  7. working
  8. You don't get treated
  9. our number one
  10. since day
  1. priority
  2. on being calm
  3. sounds
  4. like a person
  5. one
  6. mental health problems
  7. the video
  8. its warehouses
  9. conditions
  10. being activities

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
scheme
videos
whereby
stress
sounds
relax
part
employees

Amazon wants to help its workers with (1) _____________________ and mental health problems. The company plans to put special booths in its warehouses to help workers (2) _____________________. They are called "wellness chambers". The booths are part of a new (3) _____________________ called "WorkingWell". Workers can sit inside a booth and watch videos about relaxation. Amazon has said the chambers are (4) _____________________ of a system called "AmaZen". Zen is a practice (5) _____________________ people meditate and focus on being calm. The company said: "During shifts, (6) _____________________ can visit AmaZen stations and watch short (7) _____________________ featuring easy-to-follow well-being activities, including guided meditations...and calming scenes with (8) _____________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reported
time
calm
one
criticism
safety
account
person

Not all was (9) _____________________ and Zen-like on social media after Amazon shared a video of the AmaZen chamber on its Twitter (10) _____________________. Many social media users criticised the video and the idea of the wellness chamber. Most of the (11) _____________________ was because of working conditions at Amazon's warehouses. Britain's Independent newspaper (12) _____________________ on an Amazon worker who said the chambers would not work. The worker described his experiences of working at Amazon. He said: "You don't get treated like a (13) _____________________. They work you like a robot… You don't have (14) _____________________ to...get water. You don't have time to go to the bathroom." Amazon said: "The health and (15) _____________________ of employees is [our] number one priority and has been since day (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Amazon wants to help its workers with stress and ______
     a.  mental health problem
     b.  mental health problems
     c.  mental healthy problems
     d.  mental healthy problem
2)  put special booths in its warehouses to ______
     a.  help workers react
     b.  help workers recant
     c.  help workers relax
     d.  help workers relapse
3)  "wellness chambers". The booths are part of ______
     a.  a news scheme
     b.  anew scheme
     c.  an anew scheme
     d.  a new scheme
4)  a system called "AmaZen". Zen is a practice whereby ______
     a.  people mediate
     b.  people immediate
     c.  people meditate
     d.  people meditate
5)  easy-to-follow well-being activities, including guided meditations...______
     a.  and calm in scenes
     b.  and calm Ming scenes
     c.  and calm incense
     d.  and calming scenes

6)  Amazon shared a video of the AmaZen chamber on ______
     a.  its Twitter recount
     b.  its Twitter account
     c.  its Twitter all count
     d.  its Twitter a count
7)  Twitter account. Many social media users ______
     a.  criticism the video
     b.  criticised the video
     c.  critic sized the video
     d.  critic sized a video
8)  Amazon's warehouses. Britain's Independent newspaper reported on ______
     a.  an Amazon work are
     b.  an Amazon worker her
     c.  an Amazon worker
     d.  an Amazon work car
9)  You don't get treated like a person. They work ______
     a.  you like a reboot
     b.  you like a row boot
     c.  you like a robe bot
     d.  you like a robot
10)  Amazon said: "The health and safety of employees is [our] ______
     a.  number one priority
     b.  number one prioritise
     c.  number one priorities
     d.  number one prior a tea

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Amazon wants to help its workers with (1) ____________________ health problems. The company plans to put (2) ____________________ its warehouses to help workers relax. They are called "wellness chambers". The booths are part of (3) ____________________ called "WorkingWell". Workers can sit inside a booth and watch videos about relaxation. Amazon has said the chambers are part of a system called "AmaZen". Zen is a practice (4) ____________________ and focus on being calm. The company said: "During shifts, employees can visit AmaZen stations and watch short videos featuring (5) ____________________ well-being activities, including guided meditations...and (6) ____________________ sounds."

Not (7) ____________________ and Zen-like on social media after Amazon shared a video of the AmaZen chamber on its Twitter account. Many social media users criticised the video and (8) ____________________ the wellness chamber. Most of the criticism was because of (9) ____________________ Amazon's warehouses. Britain's Independent newspaper reported on an Amazon worker who said the chambers would not work. The worker described his experiences of working at Amazon. He said: "You don't get (10) ____________________ person. They work you like a robot… You don't have time to...get water. You don't have time to go to the bathroom." Amazon said: "The (11) ____________________ of employees is [our] number one priority and has been (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where will Amazon put is special anti-stress booths?
  2. What is the name of the scheme the booths are part of?
  3. What can workers watch videos about?
  4. When can Amazon employees visit the AmaZen stations?
  5. What can workers receive guidance on?
  6. Where did Amazon share a video of its AmaZen chamber?
  7. What was most of the criticism Amazon received about?
  8. What did a worker say Amazon worked people like?
  9. What did the worker say he didn't have time to get?
  10. Since when has workers' health and safety been Amazon's priority?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where will Amazon put is special anti-stress booths?
a) in stores
b) in its warehouses
c) online
d) in city parks
2) What is the name of the scheme the booths are part of?
a) WellFeeling
b) WellWoking
c) FeelingWell
d) WorkingWell
3) What can workers watch videos about?
a) Amazon products
b) baby rabbits
c) relaxation
d) blue skies
4) When can Amazon employees visit the AmaZen stations?
a) during their shifts
b) 24 hours a day
c) at weekends
d) during their holidays
5) What can workers receive guidance on?
a) finance
b) meditation
c) health
d) working better

6) Where did Amazon share a video of its AmaZen chamber?
a) on social media
b) in its warehouses
c) in its boardroom
d) in a newspaper office
7) What was most of the criticism Amazon received about?
a) salaries
b) robots
c) working conditions
d) bonuses
8) What did a worker say Amazon worked people like?
a) robots
b) princes and princesses
c) numbers
d) valued employees
9) What did the worker say he didn't have time to get?
a) a parcel
b) his robot
c) his shoes
d) water
10) Since when has workers' health and safety been Amazon's priority?
a) a few weeks ago
b) since last year
c) since day one
d) May 22nd

Role play

Role  A – Money
You think money is the biggest cause of stress. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stresses. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): the pandemic, family or social media.

Role  B – The Pandemic
You think the pandemic is the biggest cause of stress. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stresses. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): money, family or social media.

Role  C – Family
You think family is the biggest cause of stress. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stresses. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): the pandemic, money or social media.

Role  D – Social Media
You think social media is the biggest cause of stress. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stresses. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): the pandemic, family or money.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'stressed'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'worker'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • special
    • scheme
    • system
    • focus
    • short
    • scenes
    • calm
    • idea
    • criticism
    • reported
    • robot
    • number

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Mental Health

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'stressed'?
    3. How stressed are you?
    4. What do you think of the company Amazon?
    5. Would you like to work for Amazon?
    6. What do you know about mental health?
    7. What do you think of the wellness chambers?
    8. What do you do to relax?
    9. What do you think of meditation?
    10. What can make the workplace stressful?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'worker'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What things make you stressed?
    5. What do you do to relieve your stress?
    6. Are you always calm?
    7. Would you use an AmaZen?
    8. Will robots replace all humans in workplaces?
    9. What is your number one priority?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Amazon's boss?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Amazon wants to help its workers with (1) ____ and mental health problems. The company plans to put special booths in its warehouses to help workers (2) ____. They are called "wellness chambers". The booths are part of a new (3) ____ called "WorkingWell". Workers can sit inside a booth and watch videos about relaxation. Amazon has said the chambers are part (4) ____ a system called "AmaZen". Zen is a practice whereby people meditate and focus on being calm. The company said: "(5) ____ shifts, employees can visit AmaZen stations and watch short videos featuring easy-to-follow well-being activities, including guided meditations...and calming (6) ____ with sounds."

    Not all was (7) ____ and Zen-like on social media after Amazon shared a video of the AmaZen chamber on its Twitter account. Many social media users criticised the video and the idea of the wellness chamber. (8) ____ of the criticism was because of working conditions at Amazon's warehouses. Britain's Independent newspaper reported (9) ____ an Amazon worker who said the chambers would not work. The worker described his experiences of working at Amazon. He said: "You don't get treated (10) ____ a person. They work you (11) ____ a robot… You don't have time to...get water. You don't have time to go to the bathroom." Amazon said: "The health and safety of employees is [our] number one priority and has been since day (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     stressed     (b)     stressful     (c)     stress     (d)     distress    
    2. (a)     relax     (b)     relapse     (c)     reacts     (d)     relents    
    3. (a)     scheme     (b)     charge     (c)     flag     (d)     health    
    4. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    5. (a)     While     (b)     During     (c)     When     (d)     Which    
    6. (a)     sees     (b)     scones     (c)     screams     (d)     scenes    
    7. (a)     palm     (b)     balm     (c)     calm     (d)     psalm    
    8. (a)     Entire     (b)     Whole     (c)     Many     (d)     Most    
    9. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     of    
    10. (a)     like     (b)     of     (c)     love     (d)     to    
    11. (a)     similar     (b)     like     (c)     love     (d)     same    
    12. (a)     start     (b)     Monday     (c)     one     (d)     week

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. put special booths in its useaohwesr
    2. part of a new echsme
    3. part of a setsym called "AmaZen"
    4. people etdemati and focus
    5. videos fngtareiu easy-to-follow well-being activities
    6. inmgcla scenes with sounds

    Paragraph 2

    1. on its Twitter ncaouct
    2. Most of the istirmicc
    3. because of working onidsontci
    4. The worker described his ixenesecrep
    5. The health and safety of psoeyleme
    6. our number one rioirtyp

    Put the text back together

    (...)  said: "During shifts, employees can visit AmaZen stations and watch short videos featuring easy-to-
    (...)  was because of working conditions at Amazon's warehouses. Britain's Independent newspaper reported on an Amazon worker
    (  1  ) Amazon wants to help its workers with stress and mental health problems.The company plans
    (...)  are part of a new scheme called "WorkingWell". Workers can sit inside a booth and watch
    (...)  Not all was calm and Zen-like on social media after Amazon shared a video of the AmaZen chamber on its Twitter
    (...)  videos about relaxation. Amazon has said the chambers are part of a system
    (...)  who said the chambers would not work. The worker described his experiences of working at Amazon. He said: "You don't
    (...)  called "AmaZen". Zen is a practice whereby people meditate and focus on being calm. The company
    (...)  to put special booths in its warehouses to help workers relax. They are called "wellness chambers". The booths
    (...)  follow well-being activities, including guided meditations...and calming scenes with sounds."
    (...)  account. Many social media users criticised the video and the idea of the wellness chamber. Most of the criticism
    (...)  water. You don't have time to go to the bathroom." Amazon said: "The health and
    (...)  safety of employees is [our] number one priority and has been since day one."
    (...)  get treated like a person. They work you like a robot… You don't have time to...get

    Put the words in the right order

    1. stress   .   with   workers   wants   its   Amazon   help   to
    2. its   help   Special   workers   .   to   in   booths   warehouses
    3. of   booths   part   scheme   .   are   The   new   a
    4. whereby   a   is   meditate   .   Zen   people   practice
    5. can   stations   .   employees   During   visit   AmaZen   shifts,
    6. social   media   the   video   .   criticised   Many   users
    7. at   his   He   experiences   working   of   Amazon   .   described
    8. like   get   person   .   treated   don't   a   You
    9. the   bathroom   .   time   isn't   go   There   to   to
    10. priority   .   number-one   of   safety   The   our   is   employees

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Amazon wants to help its / them workers with stress and mental health problems. The company plants / plans to put special booths in its warehouses to help workers relaxed / relax. They are called "wellness chambers". The booths are part of / off a new scheme called "WorkingWell". Workers can sit inside a booth and watch / watching videos about relaxation. Amazon has said the chambers are part of a cistern / system called "AmaZen". Zen is a practice passerby / whereby people meditate and focus on / in being calm. The company said: "During shifts, employees can visit AmaZen stations and look / watch short videos featuring easy-to-follow well-being activities, including guided meditations...and calming senses / scenes with sounds."

    Not all was clam / calm and Zen-like on social media after Amazon shared a video of the AmaZen chamber on its Twitter account / accountant. Many social media users criticised a / the video and the idea of the wellness chamber. Most of the criticism was / be because of working conditions at Amazon's warehouses. Britain's Independent newspaper reported in / on an Amazon worker who said the chambers would not work / working. The worker described his experiences of working at Amazon. He said: "You don't get treat / treated like a person. They work you like a robot… You don't have time to...get water. You don't have time / hour to go to the bathroom." Amazon said: "The health and safety / safe of employees is [our] number one priority and has been since day once / one."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _m_z_n  w_nts  t_  h_lp  _ts  w_rk_rs  w_th  str_ss  _nd  m_nt_l  h__lth  pr_bl_ms.  Th_  c_mp_ny  pl_ns  t_  p_t  sp_c__l  b__ths  _n  _ts  w_r_h__s_s  t_  h_lp  w_rk_rs  r_l_x.  Th_y  _r_  c_ll_d  "w_lln_ss  ch_mb_rs".  Th_  b__ths  _r_  p_rt  _f  _  n_w  sch_m_  c_ll_d  "W_rk_ngW_ll".  W_rk_rs  c_n  s_t  _ns_d_  _  b__th  _nd  w_tch  v_d__s  _b__t  r_l_x_t__n.  _m_z_n  h_s  s__d  th_  ch_mb_rs  _r_  p_rt  _f  _  syst_m  c_ll_d  "_m_Z_n".  Z_n  _s  _  pr_ct_c_  wh_r_by  p__pl_  m_d_t_t_  _nd  f_c_s  _n  b__ng  c_lm.  Th_  c_mp_ny  s__d:  "D_r_ng  sh_fts,  _mpl_y__s  c_n  v_s_t  _m_Z_n  st_t__ns  _nd  w_tch  sh_rt  v_d__s  f__t_r_ng  __sy-t_-f_ll_w  w_ll-b__ng  _ct_v_t__s,  _ncl_d_ng  g__d_d  m_d_t_t__ns..._nd  c_lm_ng  sc_n_s  w_th  s__nds."

    N_t  _ll  w_s  c_lm  _nd  Z_n-l_k_  _n  s_c__l  m_d__  _ft_r  _m_z_n  sh_r_d  _  v_d__  _f  th_  _m_Z_n  ch_mb_r  _n  _ts  Tw_tt_r  _cc__nt.  M_ny  s_c__l  m_d__  _s_rs  cr_t_c_s_d  th_  v_d__  _nd  th_  _d__  _f  th_  w_lln_ss  ch_mb_r.  M_st  _f  th_  cr_t_c_sm  w_s  b_c__s_  _f  w_rk_ng  c_nd_t__ns  _t  _m_z_n's  w_r_h__s_s.  Br_t__n's  _nd_p_nd_nt  n_wsp_p_r  r_p_rt_d  _n  _n  _m_z_n  w_rk_r  wh_  s__d  th_  ch_mb_rs  w__ld  n_t  w_rk.  Th_  w_rk_r  d_scr_b_d  h_s  _xp_r__nc_s  _f  w_rk_ng  _t  _m_z_n.  H_  s__d:  "Y__  d_n't  g_t  tr__t_d  l_k_  _  p_rs_n.  Th_y  w_rk  y__  l_k_  _  r_b_t…  Y__  d_n't  h_v_  t_m_  t_...g_t  w_t_r.  Y__  d_n't  h_v_  t_m_  t_  g_  t_  th_  b_thr__m."  _m_z_n  s__d:  "Th_  h__lth  _nd  s_f_ty  _f  _mpl_y__s  _s  [__r]  n_mb_r  _n_  pr__r_ty  _nd  h_s  b__n  s_nc_  d_y  _n_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    amazon wants to help its workers with stress and mental health problems the company plans to put special booths in its warehouses to help workers relax they are called wellness chambers the booths are part of a new scheme called workingwell workers can sit inside a booth and watch videos about relaxation amazon has said the chambers are part of a system called amazen zen is a practice whereby people meditate and focus on being calm the company said during shifts employees can visit amazen stations and watch short videos featuring easytofollow wellbeing activities including guided meditations and calming scenes with sounds

    not all was calm and zenlike on social media after amazon shared a video of the amazen chamber on its twitter account many social media users criticised the video and the idea of the wellness chamber most of the criticism was because of working conditions at amazons warehouses britains independent newspaper reported on an amazon worker who said the chambers would not work the worker described his experiences of working at amazon he said you dont get treated like a person they work you like a robot you dont have time to get water you dont have time to go to the bathroom amazon said the health and safety of employees is our number one priority and has been since day one

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Amazonwantstohelpitsworkerswithstressandmentalhealthproblem
    s.Thecompanyplanstoputspecialboothsinitswarehousestohelpwork
    ersrelax.Theyarecalled"wellnesschambers".Theboothsarepartofan
    ewschemecalled"WorkingWell".Workerscansitinsideaboothandwatc
    hvideosaboutrelaxation.Amazonhassaidthechambersarepartofasys
    temcalled"AmaZen".Zenisapracticewherebypeoplemeditateandfoc
    usonbeingcalm.Thecompanysaid:"Duringshifts,employeescanvisit
    AmaZenstationsandwatchshortvideosfeaturingeasy-to-followwell-
    beingactivities,includingguidedmeditations...andcalmingsceneswit
    hsounds."NotallwascalmandZen-likeonsocialmediaafterAmazonsh
    aredavideooftheAmaZenchamberonitsTwitteraccount.Manysocialm
    ediauserscriticisedthevideoandtheideaofthewellnesschamber.Most
    ofthecriticismwasbecauseofworkingconditionsatAmazon'swarehou
    ses.Britain'sIndependentnewspaperreportedonanAmazonworkerw
    hosaidthechamberswouldnotwork.Theworkerdescribedhisexperien
    cesofworkingatAmazon.Hesaid:"Youdon'tgettreatedlikeaperson.Th
    eyworkyoulikearobot…Youdon'thavetimeto...getwater.Youdon'thav
    etimetogotothebathroom."Amazonsaid:"Thehealthandsafetyofemp
    loyeesis[our]numberonepriorityandhasbeensincedayone."

    Free writing

    Write about wellness chambers for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All companies should have areas for workers to relax and de-stress. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. MENTAL HEALTH: Make a poster about mental health. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. RELAXATION AREAS: Write a magazine article about all companies and schools creating relaxation areas for workers and students. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on mental health. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how companies can help workers' mental health. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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