In this theme we are looking at The Gig Economy. Uber and airbnb are examples of this. It’s also called the Sharing economy. We look at characteristics of this new way of working with its advantages and disadvantages. We look at how teens will be better placed for work opportunities as a result of growing up in the Gig economy, and finally we look at how the CEO’s of these companies have navigated their way through to make their ideas successful.
Content
The theme Gig Economy contains an introduction, three sections and a final project.
In the schedule below, you can see the titles of the sections and an estimate of the time required for each part.
Activity
Time
A Introduction
0,5 hour
B1 What is Gig Economy?
3-4 hours
B2 Growing up in the Gig Economy
3-4 hours
B3 The Upstarts
3-4 hours
C Final Project: A speech
3 hours
Total
less than 20 hours
*hour = lesuur. Eén lesuur komt ongeveer overeen met 2 SLU.
Can do
In this theme you will focus on the following 'can do' statements.
Reading C1
Can understand in detail lengthy, complex texts, whether or not they relate to his/her own area of speciality, provided he/she can reread difficult sections.
Speaking B2
Can give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on complex subjects, integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion.
Writing B2
Can write clear, well-structured texts of complex subjects, underlining the relevant salient issues, expanding and supporting points of view at some length with subsidiary points, reasons and relevant examples, and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion.
Listening C1
Can follow extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly.
Final project
Gig Economy - Final project
In the final project you will prepare a 3-minute speech about your opinion on future ways of working.
A structure for your speech will be given.
What is Gig Economy?
Introduction
Introduction
In this first section we look at what the sharing economy, or gig economy as it’s also called, really means. We’ll take a look at why the emphasis is on sharing, and what it is that people are sharing.
This economy works slightly differently and so issues like job rights and protection come up. We ask whether or not this is a viable long-term employment solution. But first, let’s have a look at part time jobs for students.
This first section contains 6 steps. Work them through step by step.
Step
Activity
1. Speaking
Answer questions about jobs. Discuss these with a classmate. Tick names of gig economy list. Explain what these organisations do.
2. Video watching
Watch a video about the Sharing Economy. Answer questions.
3. Reading
Make a note of five disadvantages of this way of working. Read a text and answer questions in your own words.
4. Words
Choose correct definition of some words from the text. Complete sentences with these words.
5. Grammar
Theory about inversions. Two exercises about inversions.
6. Writing Task
Create with a classmate a sharing economy app for shopping delivery. Brainstorm about ideas.
Speaking
With your partner, answer these questions.
Do you have a part-time job? Yes – go to question 2, No – go to question 9.
If yes, what do you do?
Do you get paid hourly? monthly?
Do you get paid if you are sick?
Do you get holiday pay?
How easy was it to get your job?
Do you need technology to be able to do your job?
Would you recommend it to friend?
If no, which best describes why you don’t have a job?
you don’t have time
you couldn’t find one/haven’t searched for
your parents won’t let you.
other (say what your reasons are).
What are the main reasons that your colleagues get jobs?
What are the main jobs that your colleagues do?
If you could do a job, what job would you like to do? Why?
Read the list of Gig economy websites.
Which have you heard of? What do they do?
airbnb
amazon flex
croqqer
deliveroo
etsy
task rabbit
uber
udemy
Uurtjeover
Step 2 - Video watching
Video watching
You are going to watch a video, which explains what The Sharing Economy means.
As you watch, answer the questions.
What is the purpose of the video?
What examples of sharing are given?
How does the narrator justify this new way of working?
Which examples of the sharing economy are given?
Why do some transactions not involve money?
Why is the new economy described as vibrant?
What do you think so far about the Sharing Economy?
Is it generally a positive development of the 21st century? Why?
Note down at least three reasons.
Step 3 - Reading
Reading
In Step 2 you watched a video that presented the Sharing Economy as a vibrant 21st century development.
But now you’re going to read about why people may not be so contented with this way of working.
Make a note of five disadvantages of this way of working: You only get paid when you work.
Now read the article – were your ideas mentioned?
What is the 'gig' economy? By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
10 February 2017
From the section Business
What is the so-called "gig" economy, a phrase increasingly in use, and seemingly so in connection with employment disputes?
According to one definition, it is "a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs". And - taking opposing partisan viewpoints - it is either a working environment that offers flexibility with regard to employment hours, or... it is a form of exploitation with very little workplace protection.
The latest attempt to bring a degree of legal clarity to the employment status of people in the gig economy has been playing out in the Court of Appeal. A London firm, Pimlico Plumbers, on Friday lost its appeal against a previous ruling that said one of its long-serving plumbers was a worker - entitled to basic rights, including holiday pay - rather than an independent contractor. Like other cases of a similar nature, such as those involving Uber and Deliveroo, the outcome will now be closely scrutinised for what it means regarding the workplace rights of the millions of people employed in the gig economy in the UK.
In the gig economy, instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the "gigs" they do, such as a food delivery or a car journey. In the UK it's estimated that five million people are employed in this type of capacity. Not only do jobs include couriers but also ride-hailing drivers and video producers.
Proponents of the gig economy claim that people can benefit from flexible hours, with control over how much time they can work as they juggle other priorities in their lives. In addition, the flexible nature often offers benefits to employers, as they only pay when the work is available, and don't incur staff costs when the demand is not there.
Meanwhile, workers in the gig economy are classed as independent contractors.
That means they have no protection against unfair dismissal, no right to redundancy payments, and no right to receive the national minimum wage, paid holiday or sickness pay. It is these aspects that are proving contentious.
In the past few months, two tribunal hearings have gone against employers looking to classify staff as independent contractors.
Last October Uber drivers in the UK won the right to be classed as workers rather than independent contractors. The ruling by a London employment tribunal meant drivers for the ride-hailing app would be entitled to holiday pay, paid rest breaks and the national minimum wage.
The GMB union described the decision as a "monumental victory" for some 40,000 drivers in England and Wales. In December, Uber launched an appeal against the ruling that it had acted unlawfully.
And hardly had the courts finished with one case, than a tribunal found that Maggie Dewhurst, a courier with logistics firm City Sprint, should be classed as a worker rather than independent contractor, entitling her to basic rights. And, also towards the end of last year, a group of food takeaway couriers working for Deliveroo said they were taking legal steps in the UK to gain union recognition and workers' rights. One difference worth noting is that workers in the gig economy differ slightly from those on zero hours contracts. Those are the - also controversial - arrangements used by companies such as Sports Direct, JD Wetherspoons and Cineworld. Like workers in the gig economy, zero-hours contractors - or casual contractors - don't get guaranteed hours or much job security from their employer. But people on zero-hours contracts are seen as employees in some sense, as they are entitled to holiday pay.
But, like those in the gig economy, they are not entitled to sick pay. Meanwhile, the Department for Business is holding an inquiry into a range of working practices - including the gig economy.
The department says it wants to ensure its employment rules are up to date to reflect "new ways of working". The status of gig economy workers is of importance to the government, as last November's Autumn Statement showed for the first time how it is cutting into the government's tax take. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated that in 2020-21 it will cost the Treasury £3.5bn. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond said then he would look to find more effective ways to tax workers in the UK's current shifting labour environment.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38930048
Read the article again. Answer the questions in your own words.
Why is the gig economy linked to employment disputes?
What does the ruling against the Pimlico Plumbers illustrate?
What advantages are there to working in the gig economy, according to the author?
What difference(s) is mentioned between zero hours contracts and those in the gig economy?
Why is the gig economy of interest to governments?
Why do you think the labour environment described as shifting?
Step 4 - Words
Words
In the exercise choose the correct definition of the words from the text What is the 'gig' Economy?.
What is the 'gig' economy? By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
10 February 2017
From the section Business
What is the so-called "gig" economy, a phrase increasingly in use, and seemingly so in connection with employment disputes?
According to one definition, it is "a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs". And - taking opposing partisan viewpoints - it is either a working environment that offers flexibility with regard to employment hours, or... it is a form of exploitation with very little workplace protection.
The latest attempt to bring a degree of legal clarity to the employment status of people in the gig economy has been playing out in the Court of Appeal. A London firm, Pimlico Plumbers, on Friday lost its appeal against a previous ruling that said one of its long-serving plumbers was a worker - entitled to basic rights, including holiday pay - rather than an independent contractor. Like other cases of a similar nature, such as those involving Uber and Deliveroo, the outcome will now be closely scrutinised for what it means regarding the workplace rights of the millions of people employed in the gig economy in the UK.
In the gig economy, instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the "gigs" they do, such as a food delivery or a car journey. In the UK it's estimated that five million people are employed in this type of capacity. Not only do jobs include couriers but also ride-hailing drivers and video producers.
Proponents of the gig economy claim that people can benefit from flexible hours, with control over how much time they can work as they juggle other priorities in their lives. In addition, the flexible nature often offers benefits to employers, as they only pay when the work is available, and don't incur staff costs when the demand is not there.
Meanwhile, workers in the gig economy are classed as independent contractors.
That means they have no protection against unfair dismissal, no right to redundancy payments, and no right to receive the national minimum wage, paid holiday or sickness pay. It is these aspects that are proving contentious.
In the past few months, two tribunal hearings have gone against employers looking to classify staff as independent contractors.
Last October Uber drivers in the UK won the right to be classed as workers rather than independent contractors. The ruling by a London employment tribunal meant drivers for the ride-hailing app would be entitled to holiday pay, paid rest breaks and the national minimum wage.
The GMB union described the decision as a "monumental victory" for some 40,000 drivers in England and Wales. In December, Uber launched an appeal against the ruling that it had acted unlawfully.
And hardly had the courts finished with one case, than a tribunal found that Maggie Dewhurst, a courier with logistics firm City Sprint, should be classed as a worker rather than independent contractor, entitling her to basic rights. And, also towards the end of last year, a group of food takeaway couriers working for Deliveroo said they were taking legal steps in the UK to gain union recognition and workers' rights. One difference worth noting is that workers in the gig economy differ slightly from those on zero hours contracts. Those are the - also controversial - arrangements used by companies such as Sports Direct, JD Wetherspoons and Cineworld. Like workers in the gig economy, zero-hours contractors - or casual contractors - don't get guaranteed hours or much job security from their employer. But people on zero-hours contracts are seen as employees in some sense, as they are entitled to holiday pay.
But, like those in the gig economy, they are not entitled to sick pay. Meanwhile, the Department for Business is holding an inquiry into a range of working practices - including the gig economy.
The department says it wants to ensure its employment rules are up to date to reflect "new ways of working". The status of gig economy workers is of importance to the government, as last November's Autumn Statement showed for the first time how it is cutting into the government's tax take. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated that in 2020-21 it will cost the Treasury £3.5bn. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond said then he would look to find more effective ways to tax workers in the UK's current shifting labour environment.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38930048
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
Grammar
Let's look at ...inversions. Not only do jobs include couriers but also ride-hailing drivers and video producers.
Hardly had the courts finished with one case, than a tribunal found that Maggie Dewhurst, a courier with logistics firm City Sprint, should be classed as a worker rather than independent contractor, entitling her to basic rights.
Study the Grammar Desk to learn more about inversions.
Inversions
Complete the sentences with the words in brackets.
Put these in the correct tense and the correct order.
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
Make a new sentence beginning with the word(s) in brackets.
I have seldom seen such poor driving. (Seldom)
I have never travelled alone by plane. (Never before)
My parents rarely helped me with my homework. (Rarely)
I can dance and sing. (Not only/too)
Martin had hardly finished one assignment when he had to start another one. (Hardly)
No one taught us anything useful about personal finances. (At no time)
Step 6 - Task
Writing Task
With your partner, you are going to create a new sharing economy app.
It’s going to be a shopping delivery app for your town/village.
Answer the questions. Brainstorm some ideas using these questions to help you.
What will your app do? (i.e. which markets will it connect?)
Think of things that people do themselves and think whether you could do it for them.
Think of a catchy name for your app/website.
Write a short description of your idea (180–250 words)
saying why it will benefit your target market.
Answers
Section B1: What is Gig Economy?
Speaking
airbnb - rent or book your house/room in your house
amazon flex - deliver amazon parcels
croqqer - search for a project or ask help for a project
deliveroo - a home delivery food service
etsy - online platform for artists selling their wares
task rabbit - jobs like cleaning/window cleaning
uber - alternative to a taxi
udemy - a global marketplace for learning and teaching online
Uurtjeover - a job finding platform
Video watching
To illustrate that the sharing economy is a good thing. Economy is often seen as a dirty word.
Neighbours lending each other food, tools and a place to crash (sleep).
By saying that humans have been sharing and lending things to each other for thousands of years.
Airbnb (rooms) Uber (carpooling)
With consumerism, comes waste. Also that consumerism is perhaps at a tipping point (i.e. can’t go any further).
It’s young and youthful, and it is growing.
Reading
Students own answers - no sick pay, no holiday pay, no job security, might not actually have any work.
Answers:
Whilst the work offers flexibility, there is no or little workplace protection (holiday pay/sick pay). Also, when you don’t work, you don’t get paid.
They lost their appeal against a previous ruling that stated that one of their plumbers was a worker rather than an independent contractor.
Flexible hours, control over how much time you work while juggling with other things you have to do in your life.
Neither have guaranteed hours or much job security, but zero hours contracts are seen as employees in some sense and they are entitled to holiday pay.
Tax – in 2020- 2021 it could be worth £3.5 bn
Students own answers: The gig economy is a new way of working, and in the future there may be other ways of working.
Grammar Answers Exercise 2:
Seldom have I seen such poor driving.
Never before have I travelled by plane.
Rarely did my parents help me with my homework.
Not only can I dance but I can sing too.
Hardly had Martin finished one assignment when he had to start another one.
At no time did anyone teach us anything useful about personal finances.
Growing up
Introduction
Introduction
Many people believe that you, Gen Z will be more prepared for the future work environment than generations before you. What do you think? Do you think that that’s true? Do you feel prepared for the world of work? Or not? Why?
Preparation for the working world is something that most people agree is important. Read on and find out!
This second section contains 7 steps. Work them through step by step.
Step
Activity
1 Speaking and writing
Make a list of different ways of working with explanation. Discuss questions with a classmate.
2 Reading
First make notes and then read an article about Growing up teens and the Gig Economy. Answer questions with your classmate.
3 Words
An exercise with words from the text. Also an exercise to complete sentences.
4 Speaking
Answer and discuss questions about getting work in the gig economy.
5 Grammar
Theory about The Future. Complete the sentences in the table. An exercise to fill in the correct form.
6 Listening
Make a list of websites you visit when you plan your holidays. Listen to a conversation about a student's trip to South Africa. Make notes about apps and sites he mention. A fill in gaps exercise after listening the conversation.
7 Task
Read the memo about the innovative idea. Make a list of qualities to work out this idea. Write questions and interview
a classmate.
Speaking and writing
What different ways of working are there?
Make a list and note down the meaning of these ways of working.
Which do you think are good points, and which would you not enjoy?
Explain your choices. Start with:
Full time contract:
usually a certain number of hours per week
benefits (sick pay/holiday pay)
pension contributions
....
A young university student was recently told that her future job might not yet exist. Why do you think her lecturer might have said that?
Talk to your partner and note down at least three reasons.
Step 2 - Reading
Reading
You’re going to read an article entitled ‘How teens must adapt to growing up in the Gig economy’.
Before you read, make a note of what reasons you think will be mentioned.
Read the article quickly. Were your ideas mentioned?
How Teens Must Adapt To Growing Up In The Gig Economy Posted by Contributor on 2/15/17 - Categorized as Thinking Aloud
by Scott Bennett, Founder and CEO of Skratch
Today’s generation of teens will be more prepared for the future work environment than the generations before them because of the accelerating gig economy.
Generation Z, which are those born between 1996 and 2010, strive to solve problems instantly and are maturing in a stranger-trusting community that utilizes daily on-demand services for food delivery like 'Favor', transportation solutions like 'Uber', and instant current event influence with news sent directly to their smart phones. Similar to generations before them, Gen Z will idolize job opportunities that fit their schedules, are convenient and will maximize their skill set. But how does that affect their current and future career landscape? Today’s teens face a trending decline in traditional summer jobs including lawn care help, food service attendant, and store cashier, to name a few.
Due to the recessions we have faced, and the plethora of more qualified adults who infiltrated the market, the teen demographic has been shut out of their go-to work environments. Companies are no longer reliant on teens to fill summer openings and after school hour schedules.
Since 2000, employment for teens between the ages of 16-24 has dropped 35% and with minimum wage soaring to upwards of $15.00 per hour, today’s teen is even farther away from the work opportunities and lessons that Generation X knew so well.
So, what can teens do to gain work experiences for the future, earn money and learn equally important intangible skills like communication, decision making, and interpersonal skills? It turns out, some experts say, “It’s simple: do nothing. Stop looking.”
In her MBA course work, Diane Mulcahy, Adjunct Professor at Babson College, advises her graduate students to stop looking for a job. She explains, “That jobs aren’t what they used to be and that growth in the number of jobs is stagnating and full-time jobs are both insecure and risky.” According to Mulcahy, “Most companies no longer make promises of either professional or financial security of today’s workplace.” In short, more and more graduates are adapting their career expectations and shifting them to fit gig economy opportunities.
Gig opportunities are changing the face of our economy. We navigate life with the swipe of a finger. We solve for transportation needs, entertainment, residence and employment with our smart mobile devices. The future of the job market lies in the gig economy, and GenZ already has the upper hand. 73 percent of all teenagers, regardless of socio-economic status, have access to a smartphone. They spend well over 200 minutes on their devices per day and use devices for learning in school.
The gig economy is already an integral part of the teen’s daily decision set. And giving teens a chance to participate in an economy that values their skill set will prepare them for navigating work opportunities in the 21st century. They will grow up understanding that their specialized skill sets, confidence and strong, innate entrepreneurial skills can yield opportunity in an on-demand world. With services that help teens find work like, 'SnagAJob', 'HireTeen', 'SimplyHired', and 'Skratch', there are a few platforms working to bring opportunity to teens with the flexibility they so desperately need to face the demands of packed schedules and overwhelming extracurricular activities. It is estimated that by 2025 40% of working adults will be working this way. Shouldn’t teens have a chance to participate? We think so.
As the gig economy continues to influence the current economy and the work force, many job seekers must yield to the different qualifications and expectations the gig economy demands. As generations continue to grow up in the gig economy, an environment that fosters the entrepreneurial spirit, the innovations that arise will be world-changing.
Source: http://www.youngupstarts.com/
Now read the article more carefully and choose the correct answers.
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
What job do you want to do when you finish your education?
How do you feel about having a job that has no security or benefits?
Is this a viable model to continue for adults (who have children, for example)? Why/Why not?
Step 3 - Words
Words
Match the words from the text 'How Teens Must Adapt to Growing Up....' to their synonym.
How Teens Must Adapt To Growing Up In The Gig Economy Posted by Contributor on 2/15/17 - Categorized as Thinking Aloud by Scott Bennett, Founder and CEO of Skratch
Today’s generation of teens will be more prepared for the future work environment than the generations before them because of the accelerating gig economy.
Generation Z, which are those born between 1996 and 2010, strive to solve problems instantly and are maturing in a stranger-trusting community that utilizes daily on-demand services for food delivery like 'Favor', transportation solutions like 'Uber', and instant current event influence with news sent directly to their smart phones. Similar to generations before them, Gen Z will idolize job opportunities that fit their schedules, are convenient and will maximize their skill set. But how does that affect their current and future career landscape? Today’s teens face a trending decline in traditional summer jobs including lawn care help, food service attendant, and store cashier, to name a few.
Due to the recessions we have faced, and the plethora of more qualified adults who infiltrated the market, the teen demographic has been shut out of their go-to work environments. Companies are no longer reliant on teens to fill summer openings and after school hour schedules.
Since 2000, employment for teens between the ages of 16-24 has dropped 35% and with minimum wage soaring to upwards of $15.00 per hour, today’s teen is even farther away from the work opportunities and lessons that Generation X knew so well.
So, what can teens do to gain work experiences for the future, earn money and learn equally important intangible skills like communication, decision making, and interpersonal skills? It turns out, some experts say, “It’s simple: do nothing. Stop looking.”
In her MBA course work, Diane Mulcahy, Adjunct Professor at Babson College, advises her graduate students to stop looking for a job. She explains, “That jobs aren’t what they used to be and that growth in the number of jobs is stagnating and full-time jobs are both insecure and risky.” According to Mulcahy, “Most companies no longer make promises of either professional or financial security of today’s workplace.” In short, more and more graduates are adapting their career expectations and shifting them to fit gig economy opportunities.
Gig opportunities are changing the face of our economy. We navigate life with the swipe of a finger. We solve for transportation needs, entertainment, residence and employment with our smart mobile devices. The future of the job market lies in the gig economy, and GenZ already has the upper hand. 73 percent of all teenagers, regardless of socio-economic status, have access to a smartphone. They spend well over 200 minutes on their devices per day and use devices for learning in school.
The gig economy is already an integral part of the teen’s daily decision set. And giving teens a chance to participate in an economy that values their skill set will prepare them for navigating work opportunities in the 21st century. They will grow up understanding that their specialized skill sets, confidence and strong, innate entrepreneurial skills can yield opportunity in an on-demand world. With services that help teens find work like, 'SnagAJob', 'HireTeen', 'SimplyHired', and 'Skratch', there are a few platforms working to bring opportunity to teens with the flexibility they so desperately need to face the demands of packed schedules and overwhelming extracurricular activities. It is estimated that by 2025 40% of working adults will be working this way. Shouldn’t teens have a chance to participate? We think so.
As the gig economy continues to influence the current economy and the work force, many job seekers must yield to the different qualifications and expectations the gig economy demands. As generations continue to grow up in the gig economy, an environment that fosters the entrepreneurial spirit, the innovations that arise will be world-changing.
Source: http://www.youngupstarts.com/
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
Choose the correct word in the correct form to complete the sentences.
Look at your answers in Excercise 1.
In her work, Jayne [.....] for a balance between innovation and traditional forms.
The children [.....] their father.
This industry is already showing signs of [.....].
Property prices [.....] in recent years.
New ways of doing business [.....] our company.
New technological developments are likely to [.....] this year, adding further pressure on training.
Step 4 - Speaking
Speaking
The author says that he believes that Gen Z has the upper hand.
Do you feel that you have the upper hand?
Do you feel confident about getting work in the gig economy?
Or do you feel that as you still haven’t yet finished school, this kind of article is just adding more pressure?
Make a note of your ideas and share them with your classmates.
Step 5 - Grammar
Grammar
Let's look at ..... the future. Fill in the correct answers to complete the table.
Choose from:
- are going to walk
- will be playing
- are playing
- will have finished
- leaves
- will look after
will
going to
simple present
present continuous
future continuous
future perfect
will + infinitive
to be + going to
simple present
to be + ing
will + be + infinitive + ing
will + have + past participle
Jake [1] your phone for you.
Jodie and I [2] into town.
The bus [3] at 8.05.
We [4] football on Sunday afternoon.
We [5] football on Sunday afternoon.
We [6] this exercise soon.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
Listening
Which apps and websites do you and your family use when you go on holiday?
Make a list of as many as possible. Who has the most in your class?
You will hear a student called Pete Bishop talking about a recent visit to South Africa with family and friends.
Note down any apps or websites he mentions. Were they the same as yours?
Listen again and complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Pete’s write up of his trip is going to appear as an article in a local [.....] next week.
Booking the flight by bidding is described as [.....].
They received a [.....] after the first time they visited the airbnb site.
It sounded as though the view from the [.....] was going to be amazing.
They were about to choose somewhere [.....] when they remembered a taxi app.
Pete talks about the beautiful flowers including one that had an [.....] tone.
No one liked the websites where you had to compete online [.....] forms.
A disadvantage of technology is that Wi-Fi is not always possible or [.....].
Step 7 - Task
Task Writing & Speaking–Interview questions and answers
Your school has had an innovative idea. Read about it.
Memo: to all staff About: mobile phones
We all know about digital addiction and the school wants to try giving students several hours with no mobile phones.
From now on, all students will leave their mobile phones in a box as soon as they go into their first lesson.
The box will be taken away and put in a safe.
The phones will be distributed for use from lunchtime only.
We would like to involve the students.
So selected Year 4 students will collect and distribute the phones.
We would like Year 6 students to hold interviews with interested Year 4 students.
Please organise this with interested year 6 students.
Your class has been asked to write out some questions to interview students to do these jobs.
Make a list of the qualities that the Year 4 students will need to do this work.
Then make a list of questions to find out whether the students have these qualities.
Tip: Try to avoid yes/no questions e.g. Are you reliable?
Better: Why do you think being reliable is important? Tell me about a time when you had to be reliable.
Write 10 questions. Then interview your partner to see if they could do this job.
Answers
Section B2: Growing up
Speaking & writing
Students own answers but will probably include the following.
Note that they are not exclusive e.g. full time might including flexi time.
- Part time contract
- Shift work
- Telecommuting
- Flexi time
- Hot desking
- Freelancing
- Working from home
Full time
Part time – same as full time but less number of hours (days) per week.
Shift week – you may or may not know in advance your shifts. You can find shift work in factories but also cafes.
Telecommuting – the original work from home. All you need is a computer and a phone line.
Flexi time – you start and finish between certain hours e.g. between 7 and 9.
Hot desking – a new way of working that began about 15 years ago. It was thought that people have a fixed desk meant that they had a fixed way of thinking, and it was also very hierarchical. So hot-desking – you just put your computer down where you want to work or where there’s a free desk. Used a lot with sales people who spend the week on the road coming to the office on a Friday (for example).
Freelancing – you get projects, with a contract. This type of work is usually for writers, architects etc.
Working from home – This way of working is becoming more and more popular especially if you have children or are looking after elderly parents.
Words
strove
idolized
stagnating
have soared
have infiltrated
accelerate
Grammar
will look after
are going to walk
leaves
are playing
will be playing
will have finished
Listening
newspaper
nerve wracking
discount
lounge
closer
orange
registration
straightforward
Writing & Speaking
[Students own answers: but qualities involve: honest, reliable, hardworking, etc. Questions could involve: w/h questions, but also tell me about a time when etc.…]
The Upstarts
Introduction
Introduction
So far we’ve been talking about the Gig Economy. But it’s also sometimes called The Sharing Economy. How much sharing actually happens? And why has this term helped a lot of companies? Read on and find out.
This third section contains 4 steps. Work them through step by step.
Step
Activity
1 Speaking
Match the name of CEO's with the company. Make a list of other CEO's and companies and compare with a classmate.
2 Reading
Read a text about an interview regarding the book 'The Upstars'. Answer questions in your own words.
3 Words
Find words in the text that match the meanings. An exercise to complete sentences.
4 Writing Task
Write an essay with arguments about a motion. The motion will be used for a debate in your class.
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
Do you know the names of any other CEO's of big companies?
What characteristics do you think they need to make their companies successful?
Make a list of at least five words or phrases.
Compare with your partner.
Step 2 - Reading
Reading
You’re going to read an interview with Brad Stone who has written a book called The Upstarts. It is about the Sharing Economy and the people who had the ideas.
Read the article and answer the questions in your own words.
Brad Stone: 'We should watch Uber and Airbnb closely'
It’s really not the sharing economy at all, though that phrase has been a useful one for the companies
At the start of the book you note that the dictionary definition of an upstart is either “a newly successful person” or “someone who does not show proper respect to the established way of doing things”...
I wanted to frame the defining question of the book for the reader. Are these brilliant entrepreneurs who have built tremendous businesses through sheer creativity and ingenuity? Or are they renegades that grew in large part through contempt for the status quo? There’s an ambivalence that surrounds companies like Uber and Airbnb, and I think this question over their identity – and the dual meanings of the word “upstart” – gets to the heart of it. My own squishy answer, of course, is that they are a little bit of both.
You’ve written about Silicon Valley for more than 20 years… have we reached peak Valley yet?
In terms of the business impact, I don’t think so. There’s a new set of transformative technologies such as machine learning, AI and virtual reality that will spawn another set of big tech franchises. But in terms of cultural impact, perhaps we are at peak Valley. For decades, technology entrepreneurship has been revered, and people like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk were heroes. Now we have to contend with lost jobs due to automation, the effects of digital addiction and simple fatigue with all this constant change. So perhaps our feelings toward Silicon Valley are about to get a lot more complicated.
You met some of the individuals who had similar startup ideas to Uber and Airbnb but didn’t become billionaires. Have these people been able to move on and were they reluctant to be featured?
I call these companies the non-starters. They had the same ideas but were too early, or too nice, or too idealistic. They all shared a strain of wistful regret; it is difficult to see someone else execute the same idea and win unimaginable success and riches. The best story was the founder of a company called Seamless Wheels – a pre-Uber limo service – who abandoned the business after getting a death threat on his voice mail, probably from a limo fleet owner.
What’s the best call Travis Kalanick has ever made?
Surrendering in China in an expensive battle with local rival, Didi Chuxing. Last year Uber lost $2bn trying to win that market; Kalanick couldn’t bring himself to sacrifice his dream of building a truly global network. But the rules of competition in China will always favour the local champion and Didi, it turned out, had the same access to capital as Uber. By stepping away from the fight, Uber not only saved its balance sheet from more destruction but negotiated an impressive 17% stake in its rival.
And the best call Brian Chesky has made?
Branding the Airbnb user base as a “community”. For years before Airbnb, people posted their homes and spare rooms on the internet (via sites like Craigslist and Couchsurfing.com). Chesky and his colleagues drummed up an evangelical spirit to their endeavour and held meet-ups and, in later years, global conferences of hosts. It got Airbnb users to feel part of something larger and strengthened their ties to the company, even when it meant that they were violating provincial laws.
In most territories these firms operate outside of laws and regulations around minimum wages, health and safety, and tax collection… has exploiting these loopholes been key to their success?
Absolutely – just as Amazon’s navigation of its sales tax obligations was key to its success over its first decade. With tough interpretation of taxi and zoning regulations, neither Uber nor Airbnb would have gotten started. By the time many cities recognized their existence, both were fairly large and had the political support of their customers.
Did you witness much sharing in the sharing economy?
Certainly some hosts on Airbnb are opening up their spare bedrooms to meet new people; and some drivers use Uber to carpool with strangers for the companionship. But the most productive members of each community are professional operators, making available their homes or cars as a way to earn or supplement a living. It’s not the sharing economy at all, though that phrase has been useful for the companies to bolster their image.
Which sectors have been able to embrace upstarts’ disruption with any success?
The auto industry. Upstarts like Tesla have achieved enormous success but haven’t slowed down the car companies – 2015 was their best year ever. The auto giants are all researching autonomous vehicles alongside the likes of Google and Uber and they could conceivably get there first. The real estate market has also remained fairly impervious to disruption, as well as (to everyone’s consternation) the airline industry. Perhaps an industry’s immunity is related to the size of each individual transaction.
You state that the founders of Airbnb and Uber are very different from Bill Gates, Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg… How?
For all their strengths, Gates, Page and Zuckerberg are not charismatic communicators or storytellers. They generally avoided the press and focused their attentions inward. Chesky and Kalanick couldn’t get away with that. Early on, they faced regulatory fights that their predecessors never encountered until much later. This took skills like mustering political coalitions, enlisting the support of customers and testifying publicly. They had to be politicians, as well as innovators and managers.
Are the fortunes and efficiencies created by these companies worth the price paid by the disrupted?
I think so – as long as they follow on their promises. Uber has pledged to reduce or eliminate traffic in major cities within five years and to treat drivers more equitably. Airbnb thinks it can create a new industry where people are paid to provide authentic travel experiences. It has also set out to eradicate racial bias from its platform. Let’s watch these companies closely and make sure they achieve their goals, instead of replacing one set of distant, dominant companies with another.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/29/brad-stone-not-sharing-economy-upstarts-book-interview-airbnb-uber
Now answer the questions in your own words.
What remarks are made about the meaning of the word ‘upstart’?
What does Brad Stone himself think about the definition of ‘upstart’?
Why are technological entrepreneurs no longer revered in the way that Gates and Jobs were?
Who has ‘a strain of wistful regret’ and why?
Why were legal ambiguities crucial to the success of these companies?
Why has the term ‘Sharing Economy’ been a useful phrase?
Why have the CEO's of Airbnb and Uber had to be ‘politicians, as well as innovators and managers’?
Why do you think that Airbnb and Uber have made somewhat ethical promises?
Step 3 - Words
Words
Brad Stone: 'We should watch Uber and Airbnb closely'
It’s really not the sharing economy at all, though that phrase has been a useful one for the companies
At the start of the book you note that the dictionary definition of an upstart is either “a newly successful person” or “someone who does not show proper respect to the established way of doing things”...
I wanted to frame the defining question of the book for the reader. Are these brilliant entrepreneurs who have built tremendous businesses through sheer creativity and ingenuity? Or are they renegades that grew in large part through contempt for the status quo? There’s an ambivalence that surrounds companies like Uber and Airbnb, and I think this question over their identity – and the dual meanings of the word “upstart” – gets to the heart of it. My own squishy answer, of course, is that they are a little bit of both.
You’ve written about Silicon Valley for more than 20 years… have we reached peak Valley yet?
In terms of the business impact, I don’t think so. There’s a new set of transformative technologies such as machine learning, AI and virtual reality that will spawn another set of big tech franchises. But in terms of cultural impact, perhaps we are at peak Valley. For decades, technology entrepreneurship has been revered, and people like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk were heroes. Now we have to contend with lost jobs due to automation, the effects of digital addiction and simple fatigue with all this constant change. So perhaps our feelings toward Silicon Valley are about to get a lot more complicated.
You met some of the individuals who had similar startup ideas to Uber and Airbnb but didn’t become billionaires. Have these people been able to move on and were they reluctant to be featured?
I call these companies the non-starters. They had the same ideas but were too early, or too nice, or too idealistic. They all shared a strain of wistful regret; it is difficult to see someone else execute the same idea and win unimaginable success and riches. The best story was the founder of a company called Seamless Wheels – a pre-Uber limo service – who abandoned the business after getting a death threat on his voice mail, probably from a limo fleet owner.
What’s the best call Travis Kalanick has ever made?
Surrendering in China in an expensive battle with local rival, Didi Chuxing. Last year Uber lost $2bn trying to win that market; Kalanick couldn’t bring himself to sacrifice his dream of building a truly global network. But the rules of competition in China will always favour the local champion and Didi, it turned out, had the same access to capital as Uber. By stepping away from the fight, Uber not only saved its balance sheet from more destruction but negotiated an impressive 17% stake in its rival.
And the best call Brian Chesky has made?
Branding the Airbnb user base as a “community”. For years before Airbnb, people posted their homes and spare rooms on the internet (via sites like Craigslist and Couchsurfing.com). Chesky and his colleagues drummed up an evangelical spirit to their endeavour and held meet-ups and, in later years, global conferences of hosts. It got Airbnb users to feel part of something larger and strengthened their ties to the company, even when it meant that they were violating provincial laws.
In most territories these firms operate outside of laws and regulations around minimum wages, health and safety, and tax collection… has exploiting these loopholes been key to their success?
Absolutely – just as Amazon’s navigation of its sales tax obligations was key to its success over its first decade. With tough interpretation of taxi and zoning regulations, neither Uber nor Airbnb would have gotten started. By the time many cities recognized their existence, both were fairly large and had the political support of their customers.
Did you witness much sharing in the sharing economy?
Certainly some hosts on Airbnb are opening up their spare bedrooms to meet new people; and some drivers use Uber to carpool with strangers for the companionship. But the most productive members of each community are professional operators, making available their homes or cars as a way to earn or supplement a living. It’s not the sharing economy at all, though that phrase has been useful for the companies to bolster their image.
Which sectors have been able to embrace upstarts’ disruption with any success?
The auto industry. Upstarts like Tesla have achieved enormous success but haven’t slowed down the car companies – 2015 was their best year ever. The auto giants are all researching autonomous vehicles alongside the likes of Google and Uber and they could conceivably get there first. The real estate market has also remained fairly impervious to disruption, as well as (to everyone’s consternation) the airline industry. Perhaps an industry’s immunity is related to the size of each individual transaction.
You state that the founders of Airbnb and Uber are very different from Bill Gates, Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg… How?
For all their strengths, Gates, Page and Zuckerberg are not charismatic communicators or storytellers. They generally avoided the press and focused their attentions inward. Chesky and Kalanick couldn’t get away with that. Early on, they faced regulatory fights that their predecessors never encountered until much later. This took skills like mustering political coalitions, enlisting the support of customers and testifying publicly. They had to be politicians, as well as innovators and managers.
Are the fortunes and efficiencies created by these companies worth the price paid by the disrupted?
I think so – as long as they follow on their promises. Uber has pledged to reduce or eliminate traffic in major cities within five years and to treat drivers more equitably. Airbnb thinks it can create a new industry where people are paid to provide authentic travel experiences. It has also set out to eradicate racial bias from its platform. Let’s watch these companies closely and make sure they achieve their goals, instead of replacing one set of distant, dominant companies with another.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/29/brad-stone-not-sharing-economy-upstarts-book-interview-airbnb-uber
Find the words in the text that match these meanings.
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
De onderstaande antwoorden moet je zelf nakijken; vergelijk jouw antwoorden met de goede
antwoorden, en geef aan in welke mate jouw antwoorden correct zijn.
Writing Task
You are going to imagine that your class is going to have a debate.
The motion is: This house believes that teenagers should be allowed to have jobs.
Decide if you support or oppose the motion.
You are going to write your arguments in an essay format. (180-200 words).
Decide whether you agree or disagree.
Research your points: what do you learn from having a job? Why would people be opposed to it?
Be careful to write generally and not just about your own experience.
Organise your points logically making a good case.
Check your work.
Answers
Section B3: The Upstarts
Speaking
[Students own answers, but probably – need to have a good idea/right time/place/be resilient (i.e. not let one blow set them back), well-connected (or able to get good connections), rebellious, tenacious etc.]
Reading
It can mean two things – positive and negative – creative geniuses or renegades.
A mixture of both.
Due to automation, there have been job losses, social problems resulting from digital worlds, and a general tiredness of constant change.
The people who had the ideas but who were unable to take them forward.
They now see other people who had similar ideas reaping financial success.
They were able to exploit them (e.g. minimum wages etc.) to their benefit.
People like the idea of ‘sharing’ and so it has increased appeal.
They had to deal with legal issues a lot earlier on in their careers than say Gate and Zuckerberg.
Students own answers but perhaps it’s a reflection of the 21st century.
We want companies to be more open about what they are doing, and to ensure that they have ‘ethical’ and moral goals as well as financial ones.
Writing Task
[Students own answers: the argument should be well organised, with an introduction, main paragraph saying why they support/ don’t support the idea, with some examples, and summing up with a conclusion.]
Project
Gig Economy
Final project - A speech
You are going to give a a 3-minute speech about your opinion on future ways of working.
Look back over the theme and make notes about ideas.
Structure your speech. For example: Introduction: What are you going to say? Main points: Are you in favour of the gig economy? What advantages are there?
How has it helped people? Disadvantages: What are the negative points of this way of working?
What other ways of working are there? (Advantages/disadvantages)
Consider the number of jobs that you might have, what other factors might influence your choice of job (if you have children, you may choose to freelance from home rather than pay for child care – but you will have to gain sufficient experience for that (or not? what do you think?) Conclusions: your view of how you will be working when you are 30. Language tips: try to reuse new words from this theme and also the grammar points about inversions and a good range of the future tenses.
Good
Sufficient
Insufficient
Organisation
Information is presented in a logical sequence.
Information is mostly presented in a logical sequence.
Information is not presented in a logical sequence.
Content
Interesting, clear information.
Information is mostly interesting. Some was already known.
There was not much that was of interest in this presentation.
Speaker style
Speaks clearly and at an understandable pace. Well-rehearsed.
Mostly speaks clearly and a good pace. Has rehearsed a bit.
Mostly unintelligible. Has not rehearsed.
Language
The vocabulary use is very good and the sentence structure is good.
The vocabulary use is fairly good and the sentence structure is good.
The vocabulary use is not very good, neither is the sentence structure.
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