The Shifting Shape of Work
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors
A Level 6 English lesson exploring work.
What's in this lesson
A Level 6 (proficiency) ESL lesson on work, practising discourse markers and connectors. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Shifting Shape of Work
Behind every employment statistic is a decision — to stay in a job, leave one, work fewer hours, or work well past the age at which previous generations retired. When statisticians at the Central Statistics Office (CSO) combine data from a quarterly survey of 32,500 households with administrative records held by other public bodies, what emerges is not a single headline figure but a layered portrait of a workforce in motion. The headline, for what it is worth, is robust: 2.84 million people were in employment in the second quarter of 2026, the highest number ever recorded, though the employment rate had eased slightly to 74.3%, down from a peak of 75.3% in late 2024.
Vocabulary
- barely moved
- for what it is worth
- in motion
- redefining what
- at any given time
- by almost 30%
- by historical standards
- over 1.3 million
- well past
Discussion questions
- Is the idea of a 'job for life' still meaningful in your country?
- Should governments decide when people must retire?
- What does a good salary actually mean to you?
The Shifting Shape of Work
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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