ESL CONNECT - Can Work Make You Happy? Should It? | ESLconnectsite

1. Before watching

Discuss these questions before watching. Try to give examples from study, work or everyday life.

1. Should work make people happy, or is a job mainly about earning money?

Discuss with a partner. Give examples, include a counterargument and reach a clear conclusion.

2. What makes a job meaningful?

Discuss with a partner. Give examples, include a counterargument and reach a clear conclusion.

3. Can success at work ever make people less happy?

Discuss with a partner. Give examples, include a counterargument and reach a clear conclusion.

2. Watch

Watch the video using the image from YouTube, then complete the comprehension and language tasks.

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Open the video

3. Comprehension

Choose the best answer based on the video’s main ideas.

1. What can work provide besides money?

2. Why can workplace happiness become problematic?

3. What makes work meaningful?

4. Why are boundaries important?

Answers: 1 B, 2 B, 3 B, 4 B.

4. Five-paragraph gap-fill

Choose the correct word or phrase from each dropdown. The paragraphs are adapted from the video topic for classroom use.

Work can offer structure, purpose and social connection, but it can also create pressure and unrealistic expectations. The question is whether organisations can support wellbeing without turning happiness into another target.

Meaningful work often involves autonomy, competence and contribution. However, people also need boundaries, rest and relationships outside work if they want to protect long-term .

The video gives examples so learners can connect the main ideas to real situations and make the topic more .

A useful lesson is to notice both the language and the practical in the video.

After watching, students should discuss the topic and apply the ideas to their own experience.

Answers: Complete the dropdowns in order. Extra answers may include memorable, advice, critically.

5. Phrasal verbs

Match each phrasal verb or phrase with the best meaning.

1. burn out

2. take on

3. switch off

4. build up

5. cut back on

Answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 D, 5 E.

6. Vocabulary

Vocabulary matching

Match each word or phrase with the correct meaning. The answer choices are in the side column.

1. job satisfaction

2. purpose

3. achievement

4. to serve others

5. career path

6. burnout

Answers: 1 B, 2 D, 3 A, 4 F, 5 C, 6 E.

Drag and drop: happiness at work

Drag each word into the correct sentence.

1. Money can be important, but it may not be the only source of ______.

Drop the answer here

2. A meaningful job often gives people a sense of ______.

Drop the answer here

3. People may feel happier when their work helps or ______ others.

Drop the answer here

4. Success can feel better when it is earned through real ______.

Drop the answer here

5. A healthy career needs balance, not only ______.

Drop the answer here

Answers: 1 happiness, 2 purpose, 3 serves, 4 effort, 5 achievement.

7. Grammar

Grammar focus: gerunds and infinitives

Choose the best form.

1. Many people want ______ meaningful work.

2. ______ others can make a job feel more valuable.

3. It is important ______ a balance between ambition and wellbeing.

4. Some people enjoy ______ hard when they can see progress.

Answers: 1 to do, 2 Helping, 3 to find, 4 working.

Grammar practice: expressing opinions

Complete the sentences with your own ideas.

1. I believe work can make people happy when...

2. Work can become unhealthy if...

3. A good manager should help employees to...

4. In the future, I would like a job that...

Example answers:
1. I believe work can make people happy when it gives them purpose.
2. Work can become unhealthy if people never rest.
3. A good manager should help employees to grow and feel respected.
4. In the future, I would like a job that is useful to other people.

8. Discussion

Use the useful language and questions below to discuss the topic.

Five discussion questions

1. Is happiness at work a personal responsibility or a company responsibility?
2. Would you prefer a high salary with low purpose, or a lower salary with high purpose?
3. Can a person be successful at work but unhappy in life?
4. Should schools teach students how to choose meaningful careers?
What is the main idea of the video?

9. Speaking task

Create a short pitch for a job that could make people feel happy and useful.

Job title

Main purpose

Daily tasks

Why it could make someone happy