Unit 5 Lesson 1

1.

1) exhausted - all I want to do is curl up in a
2) productive - focused on work and willing to
do my best
3) depressed - unable to accept that the
holidays are over:(
4) full of energy - spring is just around the
corner, with summer not far behind!

2. FIND YOUR VOICE

Based on the title, what do you think
this unit will be about?

3. Read these sentences and check that you understand the words highlighted.

means/ indicates
1.
implies
signals
2. In general, women tend to be better at recognising social cues than men.
going on and on
3. If someone is droning on
smile.
4.
understand
interpret
understanding what they are saying.

4.

unclear
5. If you invite someone to an event and they only give you a vague answer, it
speak unclearly and quietly
6. Never mumble in a job interview. Instead, speak a little louder and more slowly
than you usually would.
express
7. A text can never convey emotion in the way that a face-to-face conversation can.
8. If a friend constantly dominates the conversation, a subtle hint

5. Do you agree with these statements? Discuss each statement with your partner.

6.

Answer the questions:
1. In your experience, what’s the difference between learning
in a physical classroom and attending a virtual lesson?
2. What annoys you about participating in a video call?
3. What advantages do video calls have over face-to-face
communication?

7.

Are you ready for your close up?
these go smoothly?
A ___
who were ready to go from the start are becoming exasperated
huff, well aware that time is moving on. But no one should assume that
every attendee has the same level of familiarity with an online app. And all these problems could
probably have been avoided if someone had run a session on how to navigate the software. If a
offer. It allows users to try things out before they join a real video call with peers, friends or
feature you might want to recommend.

8.

B ___
But even when there are no audio and video quality challenges, the whole experience of
communicating via a video call can be unexpectedly demanding, and natural interaction
can suffer. For example, video creates a kind of filter, meaning we have to work twice as
hard to interpret non-verbal cues and work out the intentions and feelings they convey.
Facial expressions, gestures and tone of voice all things that assist with face-to-face
encounters are more difficult to spot and process online, and we expend a lot of energy
searching for these clues. Introverts in particular are often affected, as they may spend
more time in their body language and others may not pick up on this fact when they are
overlooked. We may be connected, but the unfamiliarity of the medium prevents us
becoming involved in a natural and relaxed way.

9.

С ___
There is also the fact that when people engage in face-to-face
conversations, they often pause either to give themselves time
to think or let someone else have a turn. Online, a pause can feel
like a sudden, jarring
pipes up
with
The anxiety and discomfort these pauses cause not only
compounds the stresses placed on the attendees, but also creates
an atmosphere that can be perceived as less friendly or focused.

10.

D ___
Making the online experience even more exhausting is the
anxiety caused by being on camera, with a group of people
scrutinising you and the accompanying self-consciousness and
compelled to perform. The fact that we can often see our own
just makes things worse. Perhaps, if more people realised how
universally disliked the gallery feature is, they would not insist
on using it.

11.

E ___
So how do we maximise opportunities for successful communication via a video
and what is expected of them. For informal chats, a group might agree that they
will add a virtual background to add interest and humour in order to alleviate the
strangeness of the encounter. For both formal and casual meetings, there is the
option to switch off the camera entirely and agree to voice-only conversation, but
again, this needs to be decided beforehand. Educational or business meetings must
also have a clear agenda
know what they are expected to contribute. Furthermore, allocating speaking time
to each person will help ensure equal contributions and make the most of each
to drop hints when a speaker is droning on
and dominating the conversation.

12.

F ___
Successful video communication also requires familiarity with the protocols.
example, if you are in a work situation, you will be expected to look relatively
professional and ensure that there are no distractions in the background.
There are similar expectations in educational contexts: students are expected
to have all their class materials ready and not to join meetings in their
pyjamas, or text their friends. Sitting forward on a chair implies that a person
is switched on and paying attention to the speaker, whereas slumping back on
the sofa gives the opposite impression. Participants are also strongly advised
not to send negative comments via private chat messages. If someone takes a
screenshot of the message, it can be shared with the entire group, leaving the
original poster in a very awkward position.

13.

Choose the correct heading (1 8) for each paragraph (A F).
There are two extra headings that you do not need.
1. How to make video meetings more productive and enjoyable
3. Dealing with disruptive group members
4. Working out which app is most suitable for the group
5. Understanding the new codes of behaviour
6. Minimising the possibility of technical issues
7. Being uncertain what silence might signify
8. Becoming stressed by being constantly observed

14. A - 6 B - 2 C - 7 D - 8 E - 1 F - 5

A-6
B-2
C-7
D-8
E-1
F-5

15.

Read the article again and choose the best answers.
1. Which TWO of the following video call problems are mentioned by the writer?
b) unclear instructions mean some people completely miss a meeting
c) less confident and shy participants tend to be ignored by their group
d) constant verbal interruptions from participants get in the way of progress
2. Which TWO pieces of advice does the writer offer for successful video call communication?
a) share a story you think will amuse other participants
b) give each participant a specific role in advance of every meeting
c) make sure participants know how long they are allowed to talk for
d) be firm with participants who start to discuss things that are off-topic
e) ensure that your posture shows that you are interested and listening

16.

In your opinion, which are the two
best pieces of advice in the text?
What makes you say that?

17. What do you think Zoom fatigue means?

18.

Match the words/phrases you will hear in the video to their meanings.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Meeting colleagues over Zoom felt so
novel a year ago
Novelty has worn off
You can shrink the video chat window
a. make something smaller
b. a mix of in-person and online
participation at the same time
Hybrid meetings can work well when
the team is spread across different
locations
c. learn how to do something
It took me a few meetings to get the
hang of using all the Zoom features
e. has disappeared
d. something new and unusual

19.

20.

Tick the reasons for Zoom fatigue mentioned in the video:
1.Loud background noise
2.Close-up eye contact
3.Reduced mobility (staying in one spot)
4.Mental strain from watching for visual cues
5.Poor internet connection
6. Constantly seeing yourself in real time
What solutions are presented in the video?

21.

Talk show
Imagine you are recording a short talk show episode. One person is the host, one is the expert,
and one is the caller.
Goal: Use ideas from the video to diagnose the problem and give realistic solutions.
Timing (8 10 minutes per group):
1.Opening (30 sec) Host introduces the topic + guest
2.Caller story (60 90 sec) Symptoms + daily routine
3.Expert diagnosis (2 min) Link symptoms to causes from the video
4.Host challenge (2 min) Host asks questions
5.Action plan (2 min) Expert gives 3 practical solutions (+ how to apply them)
6.Wrap-up (30 sec) Caller commits to 2 changes; Host summarises

22.

23.

Homework
Write a blog post (180 220 words) on paper. Use at least 3 new words/
phrases.
•Start with a hook (1 2 sentences): a mini story, strong opinion, or
surprising statement
•Write in an informal way
•End with a closing line that invites the reader to try your ideas
Content requirements:
•Describe 2-3 problems
•Give 2-3 solutions

24.

Online Meetings: 3 Problems, 3 Fixes (My Personal System)
Last month I had a day with back-to-back online meetings. By
the end, I felt exhausted, slightly irritated, and worst of all
unsure what we had actually agreed on. It hit me: the problem
meetings simply need clearer rules than face-to-face ones. So I
tested a few habits, kept what worked, and turned it into my
personal system.
In a real room, you can sense when someone wants to speak.
Online, those signals get messy: people talk over each other, or
the quieter ones disappear.
My fix: I use a visible speaking order. At the start, the host names
has a quick extra point, they write it in the chat instead of
interrupting. It sounds strict, but it actually makes the
conversation calmer and fairer.
Problem #2: Topic drift
discussing a totally different issue, and the main goal is forgotten.
My fix:
-topic ideas go
there immediately. If two people want it discussed, we schedule it separately.
If not, it stays as a note instead of stealing time.
Problem #3: Screen fatigue and constant self-awareness
Online meetings can feel like performing. You monitor your face, your
while sitting still
for too long.
My fix: I split the meeting into two modes: cameras on for decisions and
sensitive discussion, cameras optional for updates. I also add a 60 90 second
movement break every 20 minutes. Surprisingly, productivity goes up when
people are allowed to breathe.
If your meetings feel chaotic or draining, try just one of these changes for a
week. Small rules can create a big difference and you might finally finish a
call knowing exactly what happened.