Speaking calendar/May Day (labour Day)
May 1st · labour & Society

May Day (labour Day)

A day to celebrate the struggles and achievements of workers worldwide. From the fight for the 8-hour workday in the 19th century to modern debates about the 4-day work week and the impact of AI on manual labour, work remains at the centre of human identity.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. Why is May Day celebrated in so many different ways around the world?
  2. Do you think the "8-hour workday" is still a relevant concept in our digital, 24/7 world?
  3. "We live to work, we don't work to live." How true is this for you?
  4. Should governments introduce a mandatory 4-day work week to improve mental health?
  5. Who do you think has a harder job: someone who works with their hands or someone who works in an office?
  6. As AI becomes more advanced, which jobs do you think will disappear first?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Work-Life Negotiator

The Task: You are an employee who wants to transition to a 4-day work week, but your boss is worried about productivity.

Prepare 3 strong arguments to convince your boss that you will get *more* done in less time. in your pitch.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most rewarding thing about my job is..."
  • "If I never had to work again, I would spend my time..."
  • "Success at work is 20% talent and 80%..."