Subject File THE WORLD OF WORK: At work

Introduction

The average person spends approximately 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, which equates to roughly one-third of their life. On a weekly basis, employees typically spend between 35 and 44.5 hours in their main job, with full-time US employees averaging around 8 hours per weekday or 2,080 hours annually. 

Key Time-at-Work Statistics:

Lifetime Total: ~90,000 hours, or about 13 years and two months.

Weekly Average: 35–40+ hours, depending on industry and country.

Actual Productivity: While on the clock, studies suggest the average worker is truly productive for only about 2 hours and 53 minutes to 4 hours per day.

"Work About Work": Significant time is lost to meetings, checking emails, and unproductive tasks, sometimes averaging over 6 hours lost weekly due to distractions.

Commuting: In the UK, the average commute adds another 28–30 minutes per day. 

In the EU, 37.3% of employees worked between 40.0 and 44.5 hours per week in 2024, with some European countries seeing higher concentrations in the 35–39.5 hour range.

Subject File ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: The Importance of Energy in Europe

The Importance of Energy in Europe

In Europe, energy is the fundamental engine that powers every aspect of modern life, from basic survival to global economic competition. Beyond just "keeping the lights on," energy is essential for three primary reasons: functional daily life, economic stability, and strategic autonomy

Courtesy of: https://ourfuture.energy/cop26/the-energy-transition/

Subject File ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Pollution

• Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials (pollutants) into the environment, damaging ecosystems and human health. 
• Major types include air, water, soil, noise, and light pollution, largely driven by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and burning fossil fuels. 
• Key impacts range from respiratory diseases to habitat loss.

Grammar Review: FUTURE SIMPLE with "going to"

Ex. 1: Learn more about the 'going-to' future in this video.

Ex. 2: Practise the use of the 'going-to' future. 

Prior Plans and Intentions ... for actions you have already decided on or planned before the moment of speaking. 

Example: "I'm going to buy a new car next month" (I already made this decision). 

Exercise: Answer the following questions. 

• What are you going to do tonight? 
• What are you going to do tomorrow? 
• What are you going to do Saturday night? 
• What are you going to do next week? 
• What are you going to do on 24 December 2026? 

 

Predictions Based on Present Evidence ... when you can see something in the present that indicates what will happen next. 

Example: "Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain". 

Exercise: Make predictions based on present evidence. 

• “Look! The sun is setting over the mountains! ...” 
• “There is a cake in the oven! This afternoon, ...” 
• “She is 8 months pregnant. I think, ...” 
• “My wallet is empty. I have no money left this month! ...” 

 

Events About to Happen ... to describe something that is just about to occur. 

Example: "Watch out! That phone is going to fall off the table". 

• “There is an alligator in the water! ...” 
• “The lights are flickering! ...” 
• “I can hear someone breaking down the door! ...” 

Commands or Instructions: In informal contexts, it can be used to give a firm order. 

Example: "You are going to clean your room right now!" 

 

TEFL File: Classroom Language & Vocabulary

Types of exercises

• working with words
• self-assessment tasks 

Exercise descriptions

• Beside each of the phrases below ... 

Commands/instructions

• Re-tell the story in your own words 
• Work in groups of ... 
• Tick the words ... ❎
• Pick the best words you can think of. 
• Use at least four of the phrases from the previous exercise. 
• Remember to use the appropriate tense.
• If you can't think of anything real, make a story up.
• Write your story in about 100 words.
• Check your answers by comparing them with the key. 
• Pick out the words you prefer
• Can you come to an agreement with ...?
• Listen to check your answers. (See if they are right.)
• Choose the phrase which best completes the sentence.
• Choose the definition which matches ... best.
• Be prepare to explain.
• Can you give us a clue?
• Now write a sentence for each of these phrases.
• Draw a mind map of what you have learnt.
• Complete the following quiz by checking/ticking 'yes' or 'no'.
• Match the adjectives below with the questions.

Subject File ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Additional Concerns

 

1 Carbon Footprint 

Ex. 1: What is the carbon footprint? 

Ex. 2: Read about options to reduce your personal carbon footprint.

Climate change: top 10 tips to reduce carbon footprint revealed

Subject file WORLD of WORK: Employability _ Reading Job Adverts

Reading job adverts is a crucial, strategic step in a successful job search, going far beyond simply seeing if a job is open. A thorough analysis of an advert allows you to customize your application, prepare for interviews, and determine if the role and company are a good fit for you.

Ex. 1: Study the job advert for a teacher of history below and consider the following questions while looking at it. Then compare your findings with the KEY.

• What job is advertised?
• What are the overall responsibilities?
• What are the daily duties and routines?
• What is offered by the employer?
• What perks and incentives are offered?
• What hard and soft skills are required?
• What additional qualifications and experience are required?

KEY: 

The vacancy advertised in this job ad is that of a teacher of history. 

Overall responsibilities comprise teaching history and cover supervision.

Daily duties are: teaching history across all stages, teaching cover lessons, arranging the cover timetable for absent staff, and deploying and managing cover staff;

The employer, a school, offers a permanent position and a teacher's salary according to the salary scale for teachers in Inner London.

Additional perks are not mentioned, but the incentives include working for a successful school and becoming a member of a strong team. 

In terms of hard skills, qualifications, and experience, the school requires the qualifications for teaching history (usually a university degree) and a lot of teaching experience. 

Regarding soft skills, the school expects the applicant to be skilled and a good teacher with a lot of enthusiasm, prepared to work in teams, and the dedication to promote the school's future success.