The Reading / Listening - Dogs in Offices - Level 6

The coronavirus pandemic has changed working conditions worldwide. Millions of people have switched from working in their offices to working remotely at home. A Japanese company has initiated a novel measure to entice workers back into the office. The technology giant Fujitsu is allowing some of its workers to bring their pet dogs to work with them. Executives set up an experimental "dog office" at a building in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Members of staff are being encouraged to return to the office by bringing their dogs to work. It is part of a trial aimed at making workers more comfortable in the workplace. More people may be willing to give up working remotely from home.

Japan's workforce is renowned for spending long hours in the office. The pandemic greatly changed this. Many workers started working from home. They preferred this new culture of teleworking. They also decided that working remotely was better than enduring two-hour commutes from the suburbs. They got attached to the idea of spending more quality time with their pets. Fujitsu's experiment is an incentive for workers to return to the office and be with their pooches. One worker said he could "communicate with other people with the help of our dogs". Reuters says the Fujitsu "dog office" has space for up to six dogs "and features stain-proof carpets and a range of pet supplies".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Dogs in Offices - Level 4  or  Dogs in Offices - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/salarymans-best-friend-japan-office-lets-dogs-post-covid-work-shift-2022-09-22/
  • https://nypost.com/2022/09/23/japanese-company-fujitsu-lets-employees-to-bring-dogs-to-work/
  • https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-09-22/salarymans-best-friend-japan-office-lets-in-dogs-in-post-covid-work-shift


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. OFFICES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about offices. 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?
       coronavirus / pandemic / offices / remotely / workers / technology / dogs / trial /
       workforce / long hours / teleworking / commutes / suburbs / quality time / help / pet
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. OFFICE PETS: Students A strongly believe all offices should have pets; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. OFFICE WORKING: How can bosses change these things to make offices better? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Improvements

Why?

Desks

 

 

Internet

 

 

Lighting

 

 

Music

 

 

Refreshments

 

 

Breaks

 

 
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. PANDEMIC: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "pandemic". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. REMOTE WORKING: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about remote working at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • More sleep
  • Greater productivity
  • Boost to local economy
  • No commuting
  • Zoom meetings
  • Home cooking
  • Time with pets
  • Time with family

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. remotely a. A plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose.
      2. initiated b. From a distance.
      3. novel c. Interestingly new or unusual.
      4. measure d. Gave support, confidence, or hope to someone.
      5. entice e. Ready, eager, or prepared to do something.
      6. encouraged f. Caused a process or action to begin.
      7. willing g. Attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage.

    Paragraph 2

      8. renowned h. The residential areas at the edges of a city.
      9. enduring i. A coloured patch or dirty mark on something that is difficult to remove.
      10. commute j. A thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.
      11. suburbs k. A regular journey to and from one's place of work.
      12. attached l. Made to feel affection or fondness.
      13. incentive m. Known about or talked about by many people.
      14. stain n. Lasting over a period of time.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Coronavirus changed the working conditions of billions of workers.     T / F
  2. A company that publishes novels introduced new measures.     T / F
  3. Workers at the Kawasaki motorbike company can bring pets to work.     T / F
  4. If workers can bring their pets to work, more workers may come into the office.     T / F
  5. Japan's workers are well known for working long hours.     T / F
  6. Some workers have a two-hour journey to work.     T / F
  7. Up to 60 dogs can use the trial office.     T / F
  8. The company has put carpets that cannot be stained in its special office.  T / F

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

  1. switched
  2. initiated
  3. measure
  4. experimental
  5. willing
  6. renowned
  7. enduring
  8. commutes
  9. incentive
  10. stain
  1. action
  2. prepared
  3. inducement
  4. started
  5. coping with
  6. pilot
  7. blemish
  8. shifted
  9. journeys to work
  10. well known

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

  1. The coronavirus pandemic has changed
  2. a novel measure to
  3. members of
  4. It is part
  5. be willing to give
  6. renowned for spending
  7. two-hour
  8. an incentive for
  9. stain-proof
  10. a range
  1. of pet supplies
  2. of a trial
  3. up working remotely
  4. long hours in the office
  5. workers to return
  6. entice workers back
  7. carpets
  8. working conditions worldwide
  9. commutes
  10. staff

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
encouraged
giant
remotely
willing
conditions
trial
set
entice

The coronavirus pandemic has changed working (1) _____________________worldwide. Millions of people have switched from working in their offices to working (2) _____________________at home. A Japanese company has initiated a novel measure to (3) _____________________workers back into the office. The technology (4) _____________________Fujitsu is allowing some of its workers to bring their pet dogs to work with them. Executives (5) _____________________up an experimental "dog office" at a building in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Members of staff are being (6) _____________________to return to the office by bringing their dogs to work. It is part of a (7) _____________________aimed at making workers more comfortable in the workplace. More people may be (8) _____________________to give up working remotely from home.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
suburbs
incentive
preferred
range
enduring
quality
renowned
help

Japan's workforce is (9) _____________________for spending long hours in the office. The pandemic greatly changed this. Many workers started working from home. They (10) _____________________this new culture of teleworking. They also decided that working remotely was better than (11) _____________________two-hour commutes from the (12) _____________________. They got attached to the idea of spending more (13) _____________________time with their pets. Fujitsu's experiment is an (14) _____________________for workers to return to the office and be with their pooches. One worker said he could "communicate with other people with the (15) _____________________of our dogs". Reuters says the Fujitsu "dog office" has space for up to six dogs "and features stain-proof carpets and a (16) _____________________of pet supplies".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The coronavirus pandemic has changed ______
     a.  working conditions world wise
     b.  working conditions worldwide
     c.  work in condition world wide
     d.  working condition worldwide
2)  people have switched from working in their offices ______
     a.  too working remotely
     b.  to work in remotely
     c.  to working remotely
     d.  twerking remotely
3)  A Japanese company has initiated a novel measure to ______
     a.  end dice workers back
     b.  ant ice worker back
     c.  and ice workers back
     d.  entice workers back
4)  Members of staff are being encouraged to return to the office by bringing their ______
     a.  dogs to work
     b.  dogs too work
     c.  dogs thru work
     d.  dogs twerk
5)  It is part of a trial aimed at making workers more comfortable ______
     a.  in the work place
     b.  in the place work
     c.  in the work plaice
     d.  in the workplace

6)  Japan's workforce is renowned for spending long hours ______
     a.  in the office
     b.  in their office
     c.  in there office
     d.  in them office
7)  working remotely was better than enduring two-hour commutes ______
     a.  from the sub barbs
     b.  from these burbs
     c.  from the sub burbs
     d.  from the suburbs
8)  They got attached to the idea of spending ______
     a.  more qualify time
     b.  more quantity time
     c.  more quality time
     d.  more calamity time
9)  an incentive for workers to return to the office and be ______
     a.  with their broaches
     b.  with their peaches
     c.  with their pooches
     d.  with their pooch is
10)  space for up to six dogs "and features ______
     a.  strain-prove carpets
     b.  stain-proof carpets
     c.  strain-proof carpets
     d.  stain-prove carpets

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The coronavirus pandemic has changed (1) ____________________. Millions of people have switched from working in their offices to working (2) ____________________. A Japanese company has initiated a novel measure to entice workers back into the office. The technology giant Fujitsu (3) ____________________ of its workers to bring their pet dogs to work with them. Executives set up an experimental "dog office" at a building in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Members of staff (4) ____________________ to return to the office by bringing their dogs to work. It is part of (5) ____________________ at making workers more comfortable in the workplace. More people may (6) ____________________ give up working remotely from home.

Japan's workforce (7) ____________________ spending long hours in the office. The pandemic greatly changed this. Many workers started working from home. They (8) ____________________ culture of teleworking. They also decided that working remotely was better than enduring two-hour commutes (9) ____________________. They got attached to the idea of spending more (10) ____________________ their pets. Fujitsu's experiment is an incentive for workers to return to the office and be with their pooches. One worker said he (11) ____________________ other people with the help of our dogs". Reuters says the Fujitsu "dog office" has space for up to six dogs "and features stain-proof carpets and (12) ____________________ pet supplies".

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say has changed working conditions worldwide?
  2. What adjective does the writer use to describe the company's measure?
  3. What is the name of the company that is conducting the trial?
  4. What does the company want to make its workers feel?
  5. What does the company hope people are prepared to give up?
  6. What is well known for spending long hours in the office?
  7. How long does the article say some people spend commuting?
  8. What does the article say people spend quality time doing?
  9. How many dogs can the dog office accommodate?
  10. What kind of carpets are in the new dog office?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the article say has changed working conditions worldwide?
a) the cost of living crisis
b) the coronavirus pandemic
c) climate change
d) wars
2)  What adjective does the writer use to describe the company's measure?
a) fragrant
b) luminous
c) stark
d) novel
3) What is the name of the company that is conducting the trial?
a) Fujitsu
b) Fuji
c) Fujitec
d) Fujiyama
4) What does the company want to make its workers feel?
a) nature
b) guilty
c) comfortable
d) their pets

5) What does the company hope people are prepared to give up?
a) smoking
b) working remotely
c) their office chairs
d) overtime

6) What is well known for spending long hours in the office?
a) Japan's workforce
b) bosses
c) dogs
d) spiders and mice
7) How long does the article say some people spend commuting?
a) ages
b) half-an-hour
c) 2 hours
d) 20 minutes
8) What does the article say people spend quality time doing?
a) being with their pets
b) making presentations
c) overtime
d) commuting
9) How many dogs can the dog office accommodate?
a) up to six
b) at least six
c) exactly six
d) about six
10) What kind of carpets are in the new dog office?
a) fireproof carpets
b) Persian carpets
c) shag-pile carpets
d) stain-proof carpets

Role play

Role  A – More Sleep
You think more sleep is the best thing about remote working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): greater productivity, no commuting or Zoom meetings.

Role  B – No Commuting
You think no commuting is the best thing about remote working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): more sleep, greater productivity or Zoom meetings.

Role  C – Greater Productivity
You think greater productivity is the best thing about remote working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): no commuting, more sleep or Zoom meetings.

Role  D – Zoom Meetings
You think Zoom meetings are the best thing about remote working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): greater productivity, no commuting or more sleep.

After reading / listening

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

'dog'

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

    • and 'office'.

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

    • • 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:

    • pandemic
    • novel
    • allowing
    • near
    • part
    • give up
    • spending
    • preferred
    • two
    • quality
    • help
    • features

    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 - Dogs in Offices

    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 'dog'?
    3. Did the pandemic change how you work or study?
    4. What are the advantages of working remotely?
    5. Should pets be allowed in offices?
    6. What are the benefits of people taking their pets to work?
    7. Would you rather work at home or remotely?
    8. What do you think of the idea of a dog office?
    9. How else could companies make workers feel more comfortable?
    10. What advice do you have for people who work remotely?

    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 'office'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How long should people spend in an office?
    5. What are the disadvantages of working remotely?
    6. What are the downsides of people taking their pets to work?
    7. How do dogs help people communicate?
    8. How would you feel about dogs being in your workplace?
    9. What can companies do to keep pets happy?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the company execs?

    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)

    The coronavirus pandemic has changed working conditions worldwide. Millions of people have switched (1) ____ working in their offices to working remotely at home. A Japanese company has initiated a (2) ____ measure to entice workers back into the office. The technology giant Fujitsu is (3) ____ some of its workers to bring their pet dogs to work with them. Executives (4) ____ up an experimental "dog office" at a building in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Members of staff are being encouraged to return to the office (5) ____ bringing their dogs to work. It is part of a trial aimed at making workers more comfortable in the workplace. More people may be (6) ____ to give up working remotely from home.

    Japan's workforce is (7) ____ for spending long hours in the office. The pandemic greatly changed this. Many workers started working from home. They preferred this new culture of teleworking. They also decided that working remotely was better than (8) ____ two-hour commutes from the (9) ____. They got attached to the idea of spending more quality time with their pets. Fujitsu's experiment is an (10) ____ for workers to return to the office and be with their pooches. One worker said he could "communicate with other people with the help of our dogs". Reuters says the Fujitsu "dog office" has space for up to six dogs "and features (11) ____-proof carpets and a range of pet (12) ____".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     at     (b)     for     (c)     from     (d)     on    
    2. (a)     novel     (b)     bookish     (c)     volume     (d)     chapter    
    3. (a)     allowing     (b)     allowance     (c)     allowed     (d)     allows    
    4. (a)     set     (b)     let     (c)     bet     (d)     met    
    5. (a)     of     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    6. (a)     wailing     (b)     welling     (c)     walling     (d)     willing    
    7. (a)     renewed     (b)     disowned     (c)     renowned     (d)     knowingly    
    8. (a)     engineering     (b)     endangering     (c)     endearing     (d)     enduring    
    9. (a)     suburbs     (b)     reverbs     (c)     blurbs     (d)     curbs    
    10. (a)     regime     (b)     incentive     (c)     effervescence     (d)     affluence    
    11. (a)     strain     (b)     stain     (c)     sprain     (d)     slain    
    12. (a)     demands     (b)     profits     (c)     supplies     (d)     losses

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The coronavirus inpdmeca
    2. ietindtia a novel measure
    3. eienct workers back into the office
    4. deurgaoenc to return
    5. part of a irtla
    6. working yoltmere from home

    Paragraph 2

    1. Japan's workforce is wneoernd
    2. enduring two-hour cmmueost
    3. from the bbusurs
    4. an ceveinitn for workers
    5. be with their spoohec
    6. ntsia-proof carpets

    Put the text back together

    (...)  incentive for workers to return to the office and be with their pooches. One worker said he
    (...)  changed this. Many workers started working from home. They preferred this new culture of teleworking. They also
    (...)  from working in their offices to working remotely at home. A Japanese company has initiated a novel
    (...)  for up to six dogs "and features stain-proof carpets and a range of pet supplies".
    (...)  could "communicate with other people with the help of our dogs". Reuters says the Fujitsu "dog office" has space
    (...)  Japan's workforce is renowned for spending long hours in the office. The pandemic greatly
    (  1  ) The coronavirus pandemic has changed working conditions worldwide. Millions of people have switched
    (...)  bringing their dogs to work. It is part of a trial aimed at making workers more
    (...)  comfortable in the workplace. More people may be willing to give up working remotely from home.
    (...)  workers to bring their pet dogs to work with them. Executives set up an experimental "dog office" at a building
    (...)  measure to entice workers back into the office. The technology giant Fujitsu is allowing some of its
    (...)  in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Members of staff are being encouraged to return to the office by
    (...)  decided that working remotely was better than enduring two-hour commutes from the
    (...)  suburbs. They got attached to the idea of spending more quality time with their pets. Fujitsu's experiment is an

    Put the words in the right order

    1. worldwide . The pandemic conditions has changed coronavirus  working
    2. offices   .   in   switched   from   People   have   working   their
    3. measure   to   initiated   novel   entice   workers   .   It   a
    4. workers   comfortable   the   Making   in   more   workplace   .
    5. from   up   Willing   give   home   .   working   to   remotely
    6. for   in   the   office   .   long   spending   Renowned   hours
    7. preferred   They   of   culture   new   teleworking   .   this
    8. suburbs   .   than   enduring   two-hour   from   Better   the   commutes
    9. with   their   quality   time   Spending   pets   .   more
    10. help   with   with   the   of   people   dogs   .   Communicate

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The coronavirus pandemic has changed working condition / conditions worldwide. Millions of people have switched from working on / in their offices to working remotely at home. A Japanese company has initiated a novel / novelist measure to entice / entire workers back into the office. The technology giant Fujitsu is allowance / allowing some of its workers to bring their pet dogs to work with them. Executives set down / up an experimental "dog office" at a building in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Members of / at staff are being encouraged to return to / on the office by bringing their dogs to work. It is part of a trail / trial aimed at making workers more comfortable in the workplace. More people may be willing to give up working remotely / remote from home.

    Japan's workforce is renewed / renowned for spending long hours in the office. The pandemic greatly changed it / this. Many workers started working from home. They preferred this new culture of teleworking. They also decided that working remotely was better than enduring / endearing two-hour commutes from the suburban / suburbs. They got attached on / to the idea of spending more qualify / quality time with their pets. Fujitsu's experiment is an incentive to / for workers to return to the office and be with their poaches / pooches. One worker said he could "communicate with other people with the help / helping of our dogs". Reuters says the Fujitsu "dog office" has space for up to six dogs "and features strain-proof / stain-proof carpets and a range of pet supplies".

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

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

    Th_  c_r_n_v_r_s  p_nd_m_c  h_s  ch_ng_d  w_rk_ng  c_nd_t__ns  w_rldw_d_.  M_ll__ns  _f  p__pl_  h_v_  sw_tch_d  fr_m  w_rk_ng  _n  th__r  _ff_c_s  t_  w_rk_ng  r_m_t_ly  _t  h_m_.  _  J_p_n_s_  c_mp_ny  h_s  _n_t__t_d  _  n_v_l  m__s_r_  t_  _nt_c_  w_rk_rs  b_ck  _nt_  th_  _ff_c_.  Th_  t_chn_l_gy  g__nt  F_j_ts_  _s  _ll_w_ng  s_m_  _f  _ts  w_rk_rs  t_  br_ng  th__r  p_t  d_gs  t_  w_rk  w_th  th_m.  _x_c_t_v_s  s_t  _p  _n  _xp_r_m_nt_l  "d_g  _ff_c_"  _t  _  b__ld_ng  _n  K_w_s_k_,  n__r  T_ky_.  M_mb_rs  _f  st_ff  _r_  b__ng  _nc__r_g_d  t_  r_t_rn  t_  th_  _ff_c_  by  br_ng_ng  th__r  d_gs  t_  w_rk.  _t  _s  p_rt  _f  _  tr__l  __m_d  _t  m_k_ng  w_rk_rs  m_r_  c_mf_rt_bl_  _n  th_  w_rkpl_c_.  M_r_  p__pl_  m_y  b_  w_ll_ng  t_  g_v_  _p  w_rk_ng  r_m_t_ly  fr_m  h_m_.

    J_p_n's  w_rkf_rc_  _s  r_n_wn_d  f_r  sp_nd_ng  l_ng  h__rs  _n  th_  _ff_c_.  Th_  p_nd_m_c  gr__tly  ch_ng_d  th_s.  M_ny  w_rk_rs  st_rt_d  w_rk_ng  fr_m  h_m_.  Th_y  pr_f_rr_d  th_s  n_w  c_lt_r_  _f  t_l_w_rk_ng.  Th_y  _ls_  d_c_d_d  th_t  w_rk_ng  r_m_t_ly  w_s  b_tt_r  th_n  _nd_r_ng  tw_-h__r  c_mm_t_s  fr_m  th_  s_b_rbs.  Th_y  g_t  _tt_ch_d  t_  th_  _d__  _f  sp_nd_ng  m_r_  q__l_ty  t_m_  w_th  th__r  p_ts.  F_j_ts_'s  _xp_r_m_nt  _s  _n  _nc_nt_v_  f_r  w_rk_rs  t_  r_t_rn  t_  th_  _ff_c_  _nd  b_  w_th  th__r  p__ch_s.  _n_  w_rk_r  s__d  h_  c__ld  "c_mm_n_c_t_  w_th  _th_r  p__pl_  w_th  th_  h_lp  _f  __r  d_gs".  R__t_rs  s_ys  th_  F_j_ts_  "d_g  _ff_c_"  h_s  sp_c_  f_r  _p  t_  s_x  d_gs  "_nd  f__t_r_s  st__n-pr__f  c_rp_ts  _nd  _  r_ng_  _f  p_t  s_ppl__s".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the coronavirus pandemic has changed working conditions worldwide millions of people have switched from working in their offices to working remotely at home a japanese company has initiated a novel measure to entice workers back into the office the technology giant fujitsu is allowing some of its workers to bring their pet dogs to work with them executives set up an experimental dog office at a building in kawasaki near tokyo members of staff are being encouraged to return to the office by bringing their dogs to work it is part of a trial aimed at making workers more comfortable in the workplace more people may be willing to give up working remotely from home

    japans workforce is renowned for spending long hours in the office the pandemic greatly changed this many workers started working from home they preferred this new culture of teleworking they also decided that working remotely was better than enduring twohour commutes from the suburbs they got attached to the idea of spending more quality time with their pets fujitsus experiment is an incentive for workers to return to the office and be with their pooches one worker said he could communicate with other people with the help of our dogs reuters says the fujitsu dog office has space for up to six dogs and features stainproof carpets and a range of pet supplies

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thecoronaviruspandemichaschangedworkingconditionsworldwide.
    Millionsofpeoplehaveswitchedfromworkingintheirofficestoworkingr
    emotelyathome.AJapanesecompanyhasinitiatedanovelmeasuretoe
    nticeworkersbackintotheoffice.ThetechnologygiantFujitsuisallowin
    gsomeofitsworkerstobringtheirpetdogstoworkwiththem.Executives
    setupanexperimental"dogoffice"atabuildinginKawasaki,nearTokyo.
    Membersofstaffarebeingencouragedtoreturntotheofficebybringingt
    heirdogstowork.Itispartofatrialaimedatmakingworkersmorecomfor
    tableintheworkplace.Morepeoplemaybewillingtogiveupworkingrem
    otelyfromhome.Japan'sworkforceisrenownedforspendinglonghours
    intheoffice.Thepandemicgreatlychangedthis.Manyworkersstartedw
    orkingfromhome.Theypreferredthisnewcultureofteleworking.Theya
    lsodecidedthatworkingremotelywasbetterthanenduringtwo-hourc
    ommutesfromthesuburbs.Theygotattachedtotheideaofspendingmo
    requalitytimewiththeirpets.Fujitsu'sexperimentisanincentiveforwor
    kerstoreturntotheofficeandbewiththeirpooches.Oneworkersaidheco
    uld"communicatewithotherpeoplewiththehelpofourdogs".Reuterss
    aystheFujitsu"dogoffice"hasspaceforuptosixdogs"andfeaturesstain
    -proofcarpetsandarangeofpetsupplies".

    Free writing

    Write about dog office for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All offices and workplaces should allow pets. 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. OFFICES: Make a poster about offices. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. PETS: Write a magazine article about pets being allowed in offices. 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 pets. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on pets in offices. 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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