Perspectives B2-C1 English Speaking Practice

Perspectives

B2 - C1 English

Set 1: Work Preferences

To earn (guadagnare) - verbFulfilling (appagante) - adjectiveValuable (prezioso) - adjectiveTo achieve (raggiungere) - verbWorthwhile (che vale la pena) - adjectiveTo develop (sviluppare) - verbRewarding (gratificante) - adjectiveGrowth (crescita) - nounSteadily (costantemente) - adverbTo progress (progredire) - verb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"I would rather have a lower-paying job that I enjoy than a high-paying job that makes me miserable."

Guiding Questions:

• What's your position on this statement?
• Have you ever had to choose between job satisfaction and salary?
• What aspects of a job matter more than salary to you?
• How do you define job satisfaction?
• What would make you leave a high-paying position?

Set 2: Workplace Collaboration

To collaborate (collaborare) - verb Efficient (efficiente) - adjective Teamwork (lavoro di squadra) - noun To contribute (contribuire) - verb Supportive (di supporto) - adjective To coordinate (coordinare) - verb Productive (produttivo) - adjective Initiative (iniziativa) - noun Actively (attivamente) - adverb To participate (partecipare) - verb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Team projects produce better results than individual work."

Guiding Questions:

• What determines the success of team projects?
• How do different work styles affect team dynamics?
• When might individual work be more effective?
• What makes a team work well together?
• How can teams balance different working preferences?

Set 3: Work Environment

To advance (avanzare) - verb Experienced (esperto) - adjective Leadership (leadership) - noun To move up (fare carriera) - phrasal verb Qualified (qualificato) - adjective To develop (sviluppare) - verb Gradually (gradualmente) - adverb Skills (competenze) - noun To improve (migliorare) - verb Successfully (con successo) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

Hybrid work arrangements increase overall productivity.

Guiding Questions:

• What factors influence productivity in different work settings?
• How does the work environment affect collaboration?
• What are the advantages of different work arrangements?
• How can teams maintain connection while working flexibly?
• What makes an ideal work environment?

Set 4: Professional Growth

To guide (guidare) - verb Effective (efficace) - adjective Approach (approccio) - noun To carry out (eseguire) - phrasal verb Organized (organizzato) - adjective To achieve (raggiungere) - verb Consistently (costantemente) - adverb Goals (obiettivi) - noun To measure (misurare) - verb Successfully (con successo) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Internal promotion creates more effective leaders than external hiring."

Guiding Questions:

• What advantages do internal candidates bring to leadership roles?
• How does company culture influence leadership development?
• What makes an effective transition to leadership?
• How can organizations better develop internal talent?
• What perspectives do external leaders bring?

Set 5: Management Approaches

To guide (guidare) - verb Effective (efficace) - adjective Approach (approccio) - noun To carry out (eseguire) - phrasal verb Organized (organizzato) - adjective To achieve (raggiungere) - verb Consistently (costantemente) - adverb Goals (obiettivi) - noun To measure (misurare) - verb Successfully (con successo) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"The most effective managers focus more on results than on process."

Guiding Questions:

• How do different management styles affect team performance?
• What balance between process and results works best?
• How should success be measured in teams?
• What makes management effective?
• How important are established processes?

Set 6: Work-Life Integration

To balance (bilanciare) - verb Sustainable (sostenibile) - adjective Schedule (programma) - noun To switch off (staccare) - phrasal verb Manageable (gestibile) - adjective To organize (organizzare) - verb Efficiently (efficacemente) - adverb Structure (struttura) - noun To maintain (mantenere) - verb Regularly (regolarmente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Clear boundaries between work and personal time lead to better performance."

Guiding Questions:

• How can professionals maintain healthy work boundaries?
• What makes work-life integration successful?
• How do different arrangements affect productivity?
• What role should companies play in supporting balance?
• How have work patterns evolved?

Set 7: Knowledge Sharing

To guide (guidare) - verb Experienced (esperto) - adjective Support (supporto) - noun To learn from (imparare da) - phrasal verb Knowledgeable (competente) - adjective To share (condividere) - verb Mutually (reciprocamente) - adverb Insight (comprensione) - noun To develop (sviluppare) - verb Effectively (efficacemente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Mentoring programs benefit both senior and junior team members equally."

Guiding Questions:

• What makes mentoring relationships successful?
• How does knowledge sharing benefit organizations?
• What challenges arise in mentoring programs?
• How can mentoring evolve with hybrid work?
• What makes someone a good mentor?

Set 8: Innovation

To improve (migliorare) - verb Steady (costante) - adjective Progress (progresso) - noun To build up (costruire) - phrasal verb Innovative (innovativo) - adjective To develop (sviluppare) - verb Consistently (costantemente) - adverb Change (cambiamento) - noun To adapt (adattarsi) - verb Gradually (gradualmente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Gradual improvements are more valuable than major changes."

Guiding Questions:

• How do different types of change affect organizations?
• What makes implementation of changes successful?
• How can teams balance stability and innovation?
• What role does feedback play in improvement?
• How should organizations approach change?

Set 9: Skill Development

To master (padroneggiare) - verb Essential (essenziale) - adjective Expertise (competenza) - noun To pick up (apprendere) - phrasal verb Skilled (qualificato) - adjective To practice (praticare) - verb Thoroughly (accuratamente) - adverb Ability (abilità) - noun To learn (imparare) - verb Effectively (efficacemente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Technical skills are more valuable than soft skills in today's workplace."

Guiding Questions:

• How do different types of skills complement each other?

• What skills are most important in your role?

• How does skill importance vary by position?

• What's the best way to develop different skills?

• How has skill importance changed over time?

Set 10: Communication

To convey (trasmettere) - verb Clear (chiaro) - adjective Message (messaggio) - noun To get across (comunicare) - phrasal verb Precise (preciso) - adjective To express (esprimere) - verb Clearly (chiaramente) - adverb Understanding (comprensione) - noun To communicate (comunicare) - verb Effectively (efficacemente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Written communication is more effective than verbal communication in professional settings."

Guiding Questions:

• What determines the effectiveness of different communication methods?
• How do communication preferences affect team dynamics?
• When is each type of communication most appropriate?
• How has technology changed workplace communication?
• What makes communication effective?

Set 11: Early Birds vs Night Owls

To peak (raggiungere il massimo) - verb Productive (produttivo) - adjective Schedule (programma) - noun To wind down (rilassarsi) - phrasal verb Alert (vigile) - adjective To adapt (adattarsi) - verb Naturally (naturalmente) - adverb Energy (energia) - noun To focus (concentrarsi) - verb Efficiently (efficacemente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Early birds are naturally more successful in business than night owls."

Guiding Questions:

• What advantages do morning people have in traditional business settings?
• When are you most productive and creative?
• When is each type of communication most appropriate?
• How can companies accommodate different working rhythms?

Set 12: Business Casual Revolution

To dress up (vestirsi elegante) - phrasal verb Appropriate (appropriato) - adjective Appearance (aspetto) - noun To stand out (distinguersi) - phrasal verb Professional (professionale) - adjective To represent (rappresentare) - verb Appropriately (appropriatamente) - adverb Image (immagine) - noun To impress (impressionare) - verb Confidently (con sicurezza) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"The rise of business casual is making workplaces less professional."

Guiding Questions:

• How does clothing affect workplace behavior?
• What constitutes "professional" appearance today?
• How do dress codes vary across industries and cultures?
• How important are first impressions in modern business?

Set 13: Meeting Culture

To gather (riunirsi) - verb Efficient (efficiente) - adjective Discussion (discussione) - noun To follow up (dare seguito) - phrasal verb Productive (produttivo) - adjective To collaborate (collaborare) - verb Effectively (efficacemente) - adverb Agenda (ordine del giorno) - noun To engage (coinvolgere) - verb Actively (attivamente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Most business meetings could be replaced by emails."

Guiding Questions:

• What makes a meeting truly necessary?

• When is a meeting more effective than written communication?
• What parameters should be put in place for meetings to make them more efficient?

Set 13: Meeting Culture

To gather (riunirsi) - verb Efficient (efficiente) - adjective Discussion (discussione) - noun To follow up (dare seguito) - phrasal verb Productive (produttivo) - adjective To collaborate (collaborare) - verb Effectively (efficacemente) - adverb Agenda (ordine del giorno) - noun To engage (coinvolgere) - verb Actively (attivamente) - adverb

Read the quote, share your opinion, and discuss each question with your classmates, using the suggested vocabulary where possible.

"Most business meetings could be replaced by emails."

Guiding Questions:

• What makes a meeting truly necessary?

• When is a meeting more effective than written communication?
• What parameters should be put in place for meetings to make them more efficient?