1 Talk about the infographic with your partner. MOST ANNUAL WORKING HOURS Answer the questions. MEXICO 2,237 1 What does the infographic tell us about Mexico? 2 How many hours a week do Russians work SOUTH KOREA 2,163 on average? 3 Do you find any of these statistics surprising? RUSSIA 1,980 Why/Why not? 4 Do you know how many hours a week people in POLAND 1,918 your country work on average? TURKEY 1,832 2a Read about the different working cultures. Can you guess which countries the speakers UNITED STATES 1,788 are from?
WORKING HABITS AROUND THE WORLD
People from other countries think we’re very hard-working, that we must be at our desks at seven every morning, that we are obsessed with work, that we don’t know how to enjoy ourselves. But this is all wrong! We actually have more public holidays than anybody else and we love going out at the weekends and having a good time. It’s true that we take work seriously, but we’re not workaholics at all. I think that’s because as a nation we’re very productive when we work. We make the best of the time at our desks. And the stereotype that we always have to be busy, or at least look busy, is true to an extent! I work nine to five in an office job, but when I get home I can really relax. I don’t have to do overtime and I never take my work home with me. We have a bit of a reputation for perhaps not spending as much KISHO time as we should in the workplace, but this really is a stereotype! I think one of the reasons is because we’re known for the siesta – that little sleep people say we take in the middle of the day. But I actually don’t know anyone who has a siesta. It’s nothing but a myth nowadays! It really is advisable to have a siesta in the summer because it’s very hot, but people never do during the week because they’re too busy working. And did you know we have one of the longest working days that I know of? This is because we start at eight or nine in the morning, take an hour for lunch, and then we work from three or four in the afternoon until about eight o’clock in the evening. These are typical private sector working hours, although there are a lot of civil servants who only work until three o’clock. I wish I could be one of them! I have to work at the weekends sometimes too, and I hate that. My work/life balance could be better, I think! ANA
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1 People in my country are able to enjoy themselves, despite what the rest of the world thinks. 2 My working day can be very long. 3 There are quite a lot of holidays in our work calendar. 4 We’re known for being a country of efficient workers. 5 Sometimes I’d quite like to have a different work schedule! 6 I often put in extra hours at work when I need to. 7 Our reputation for being so crazy about work – that’s just a stereotype! 8 People think we have a long break during our working day, but that’s not true at all.
2c Read the stereotypes and the facts about working habits in Kisho and Ana’s countries. Then write them in the correct place in the table. 1 People are serious about their jobs. 6 People are expected to do overtime when necessary. 2 Everyone has a rest in the afternoon. 7 People should always look busy in the workplace. 3 There’s a high number of public holidays. 8 People don’t spend enough time in the office. 4 Public sector working hours can be shorter. 9 A typical working day is up to 12 hours long. 5 People are obsessive about their work. 10 A typical working day is about eight hours long.
Kisho’s country Ana’s country
Stereotypes
Facts
Gateway to culture PROJECT
3a Work with a partner and discuss the questions. 3b You are going to work on a project about the 1 Do you think your country has a very work-orientated working habits of different countries. Read the society? Why/Why not? questions and prepare your project research. 2 Do people in your country work hard in general? 1 Work in groups. Choose a country and research it 3 What are the benefits and the dangers of working on the Internet. Consider the following points: too hard? ■ what types of jobs people have in this country ■ where most people work ■ what that country is famous for producing ■ the number of people employed ■ how long people work per week on average ■ whether there is a ‘typical’ working day 2 Find out the same information about your own country. 3 Use your notes to make a poster or an infographic comparing the working habits between your chosen country from 1 and your own country.
3c Put your posters or infographics around the
classroom. Move around and read the information from the other groups. What similarities and differences are there between countries?
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