Level 1:
Bob and Jenny discuss a broken coffee machine at work, but their boss has already called IT. Boss announces a new wellness program, but Bob is initially skeptical. They get food poisoning from a sandwich shop during lunch break.
Level 2:
Bob and Jenny discuss the broken coffee machine at work but their boss has already called IT to fix it. The boss announces a new wellness program, which Bob is initially skeptical about. They get food poisoning from a new sandwich shop during lunch break and inform their boss. Despite feeling unwell for several days, they take comfort in having each other for support. They head home feeling drained and tired, hoping for a better day tomorrow.
Full Story:
Narrator: It’s a Monday morning at the office and Bob and Jenny have just arrived.
Bob: Good morning, Jenny. How was your weekend?
Jenny: Oh, it was great! I went hiking with some friends. How about yours?
Bob: It was good, just relaxed at home.
Narrator: As they make their way to their desks, there seems to be a commotion near the coffee machine.
Bob: What’s going on over there?
Jenny: Looks like the coffee machine is broken again.
Narrator: They both sigh in frustration, knowing that the coffee machine is a crucial part of their morning routine.
Bob: Well, there goes my plan for staying awake during the meeting.
Jenny: Same here. Do you think we should report it to the IT department?
Narrator: Just then, their boss walks by and overhears their conversation.
Boss: Good morning, team. What seems to be the problem?
Bob: The coffee machine is broken again, sir.
Jenny: Yes, we were just discussing whether we should report it to IT.
Boss: Actually, I already called them. They should be here any minute now.
Narrator: Bob and Jenny exchange looks of surprise and gratitude.
Bob: Thank you, sir. That’s really thoughtful of you.
Jenny: Yeah, we appreciate it.
Narrator: With the promise of a fresh cup of coffee, they head to their desks and start their workday.
Narrator: As they settle into their work, Bob notices something unusual.
Bob: Hey Jenny, have you noticed the new artwork hanging in the lobby?
Jenny: Oh yeah, I saw it this morning. It looks really nice.
Narrator: Unbeknownst to them, their boss had recently commissioned a local artist to create a piece for the office.
Bob: I wonder how much that cost the company.
Jenny: I heard our boss is really invested in creating a more welcoming and creative office space.
Narrator: As they discuss their thoughts on the artwork, they receive an email from their boss requesting an impromptu meeting.
Bob: That’s odd, did he mention what it was about?
Jenny: No, but I hope it’s not about the coffee machine.
Narrator: They make their way to their boss’s office, feeling a bit nervous about what the meeting may entail.
Boss: Good morning, Bob and Jenny. Please take a seat.
Narrator: The boss gestures towards the chairs in front of his desk before getting straight to the point.
Boss: I wanted to talk to you both about something important. As you know, we’ve been trying to create a more engaging work environment. And I believe that starts with investing in our employees’ well-being and happiness.
Boss: With that in mind, I’m pleased to announce that we’ll be launching a wellness program next month.
Narrator: Bob and Jenny are taken aback by the news, as they had never heard of such initiative being taken at their workplace.
Jenny: That’s great news, sir. What kind of activities will be involved in the program?
Boss: We’re still finalizing the details, but we’re considering yoga classes, meditation sessions, and even a nutrition workshop.
Bob: Wow, that sounds amazing. Thank you for prioritizing our well-being at work.
Narrator: As the meeting wraps up, Bob and Jenny leave the room feeling grateful for the positive changes being made at their workplace. They head back to their desks, feeling re-energized and more motivated than ever to tackle their tasks for the day.
Narrator: As Bob and Jenny make their way back to their desks, Bob’s initial excitement about the wellness program starts to fade.
Bob: A wellness program? What a waste of time and money. I have too much work to do to be spending my time on yoga and meditation.
Narrator: Jenny notices the change in Bob’s demeanor and asks him if something is wrong.
Jenny: Hey, are you okay? You seem a bit down.
Bob: I don’t know, I just can’t help feeling like this whole wellness program is a waste of time and resources.
Narrator: Jenny looks at him sympathetically before offering her perspective.
Jenny: I can understand why you might feel that way, but don’t you think it’s important to take care of our well-being and mental health?
Bob: Sure, but we’re not getting paid to do yoga or meditate. And what if they expect us to stay later to make up for the time we spend on these activities?
Jenny: That’s a valid concern, but we won’t know until we get more details about the program. Plus, even just taking a short break during the day can actually make us more productive in the long run.
Narrator: Bob seems skeptical but decides to keep an open mind about the program.
Bob: I guess you’re right. It can’t hurt to give it a try.
Narrator: As the day goes on, Bob finds himself feeling increasingly stressed and overwhelmed with his workload.
Bob: This wellness program is not going to solve my problems. If anything, it’ll just add more stress and pressure to my already busy schedule.
Narrator: Despite his reservations, Bob decides to attend the first yoga class offered by the wellness program after work.
Bob: Might as well see what all the fuss is about.
Narrator: However, as he struggles to keep up with the poses and clear his mind, Bob finds himself feeling even more stressed and frustrated than before.
Bob: This is a waste of my time. I should be working on my projects instead of wasting my energy on this.
Narrator: As the class comes to an end, Bob leaves feeling even more drained and unmotivated than before.
Bob: That was a complete waste of time. I’m never doing that again.
Narrator: The next day at work, Bob decides to skip the meditation session, convinced that it won’t make any difference in his productivity or well-being. Jenny notices his absence but decides not to push the issue. However, as the days go by, Bob finds himself struggling more and more with his workload and stress levels. He starts to wonder if maybe he should have given the wellness program a chance after all.
Narrator: As Bob and Jenny continue with their work, they engage in a mundane conversation about the upcoming office party.
Bob: Hey, have you heard anything about the office party next week?
Jenny: Not really. I heard it’s going to be at that new restaurant downtown.
Bob: Oh, yeah? Do you know what the theme is this year?
Jenny: I think it’s supposed to be a masquerade ball.
Bob: Hmm, I don’t know if I have a mask lying around.
Jenny: Don’t worry, they usually provide masks for everyone. But to be honest, I’m not really looking forward to it. I’d rather just go home and relax after work.
Bob: Yeah, same here. I don’t like the idea of being forced to socialize with everyone from work.
Narrator: As they continue with their work, they both feel a sense of relief knowing that the weekend is fast approaching.
Bob: Hey, do you have any plans for the weekend?
Jenny: Not really. I was thinking of just catching up on some sleep and maybe doing some shopping.
Bob: Sounds like a good plan. I was thinking of watching the game and maybe going out for dinner with my wife.
Narrator: They both return to their work, grateful for the small talk that helped break up the monotony of the day. However, as the day comes to a close, they can’t help but feel a sense of dread for the upcoming workweek.
Narrator: As the clock strikes noon, Bob and Jenny realize that it’s time for their lunch break.
Bob: Hey, Jenny, want to grab some lunch together?
Jenny: Sure, where do you want to go?
Bob: How about that new sandwich shop down the street? I heard they have some really good options.
Narrator: They make their way to the sandwich shop, discussing their plans for the weekend and their thoughts on the latest office gossip.
Jenny: So, have you heard anything about the new project that our team is working on?
Bob: No, not really. Our boss has been pretty tight-lipped about it.
Narrator: As they place their orders and wait for their food, they notice a familiar face at a nearby table.
Narrator: They engage in small talk, discussing their work and sharing stories about their personal lives. However, as they start to eat their sandwiches, they notice something unusual.
Jenny: Ugh, there’s something off about this sandwich. It tastes kind of funny.
Bob: You’re right. Mine doesn’t taste quite right either.
Bob: Yeah, we should have just gone to our usual spot.
Narrator: Despite their underwhelming lunch, they head back to the office feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of their day.
Narrator: As the afternoon wears on, Bob and Jenny start to feel increasingly unwell.
Bob: Oh man, now I’m starting to feel sick.
Jenny: Are you okay?
Narrator: Suddenly, they realize that they may have all contracted food poisoning from their sandwiches.
Bob: Oh no, this is not good.
Jenny: We should probably report it to the restaurant and our boss.
Narrator: They quickly inform their boss about the situation and head home, feeling miserable and nauseous.
Bob: This was not how I wanted my day to end.
Jenny: At least we have each other for support, right?
Narrator: Over the next few days, they all experience the unpleasant symptoms of food poisoning, causing them to miss work and disrupting their weekend plans.
Bob: I can’t believe this happened.
Jenny: Yeah, me neither. But at least we caught it early and took action.
Narrator: Despite their misfortune, they take comfort in knowing that they had each other for support during this trying time.
Narrator: With the day coming to an end and their unpleasant lunch experience behind them, Bob and Jenny head home feeling drained and exhausted.
Bob: I can’t wait to go home and take a nap.
Jenny: Yeah, me too. It’s been a long day.
Narrator: As they part ways, they both look forward to some much-needed rest and relaxation.
Bob: Have a good evening, Jenny.
Jenny: You too, Bob. See you tomorrow.
Narrator: They head home, hoping for a better day tomorrow and looking forward to a fresh start.
Questions:
What was the cause of Bob and Jenny’s unpleasant lunch experience?
Do you think the company’s new wellness program will actually benefit employees’ well-being and productivity, or is it just a waste of time and resources?
How did Bob and Jenny feel about the new artwork commissioned for their office?
What activities did the boss mention as part of the upcoming wellness program?
How did Bob and Jenny react when they found out their boss had already called IT to fix the coffee machine?
Fill in the Blanks:
several, it, comfort, tomorrow, initially, broken, support, during, drained, fix, tired, IT, inform, skeptical, announces, Boss, It, hoping, Despite, better, boss
Narrator: ________‘s a Monday morning at the office and Bob and Jenny have just arrived.
Jenny: Oh, ________ was great!
Jenny: Looks like the coffee machine is ________ again.
Bob: Well, there goes my plan for staying awake ________ the meeting.
Do you think we should report it to the ________ department?
Narrator: Just then, their ________ walks by and overhears their conversation.
________: Good morning, team.
Narrator: Bob seems ________ but decides to keep an open mind about the program.
Narrator: ________ his reservations, Bob decides to attend the first yoga class offered by the wellness program after work.
Narrator: As the class comes to an end, Bob leaves feeling even more ________ and unmotivated than before.
Narrator: They quickly ________ their boss about the situation and head home, feeling miserable and nauseous.
Jenny: At least we have each other for ________, right?
Narrator: Despite their misfortune, they take ________ in knowing that they had each other for support during this trying time.
See you ________.
Narrator: They head home, ________ for a ________ day tomorrow and looking forward to a fresh start.
Boss ________ a new wellness program, but Bob is ________ skeptical.
Bob and Jenny discuss the broken coffee machine at work but their boss has already called IT to ________ it.
Despite feeling unwell for ________ days, they take comfort in having each other for support.
They head home feeling drained and ________, hoping for a better day tomorrow.
Vocabulary:
Broken: damaged, not working properly
Coffee machine: a device used to brew coffee automatically
Work: a place where one performs their job
Boss: a person who is in charge of others at work
Called: requested someone’s presence or services
IT: Information Technology, refers to the use of computers and other electronic devices to store, process, and transmit information
Fix: repair or mend something
Announces: makes a public statement about something
Wellness program: a program designed to promote health and well-being among employees
Initially: at first, originally
Skeptical: doubtful or unsure about something
Food poisoning: an illness caused by consuming contaminated food or drinks
New: recently made, discovered, or created
Sandwich shop: a place that sells sandwiches
During: throughout the course or duration of
Lunch break: a period during the day when people take a break from work or school to eat lunch
Inform: tell someone about something
Despite: in spite of, regardless of
Feeling unwell: feeling sick or ill
Several: more than two but not many
Days: a period of 24 hours that starts and ends at midnight
Take comfort: find comfort or solace in something
Each other: two or more people considered together
Support: emotional or practical assistance
Head home: go back to their homes
Drained: exhausted or tired
Tired: in need of rest or sleep
Hoping: expressing a desire for something to happen
Better: improved or more favorable
Tomorrow: the day following today
