APIEIELTS Speaking: Remote Work and Future Office
Remote work and the future of the office
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Remote Work and the Future of the Office
📌 How to use this lesson
For the teacher:
Guide learners through all three stages in 30 minutes, keeping them on time during practice.
Check the build-up answers on screen, then review the recorded speech scores together.
For the learner:
Warm up with the vocabulary and patterns in Module 1 before you record any answers.
Next, speak directly into each recording box and check the model answers once you finish.
Get your ideas and words ready before you speak.
1. Choose the correct unit word to complete the sentence:
"After three months of working from home alone, he began to feel a sense of ___ and missed chatting with colleagues."
2. Choose the correct unit word to complete the sentence:
"Our team adopted a ___ model where we spend two days in the office and three days at home."
3. Choose the correct unit word to complete the sentence:
"Managers do not need to ___ every tiny task when employees have clear goals and trust."
4. Choose the correct unit word to complete the sentence:
"Having a dedicated desk and proper lighting created a much calmer ___ for studying."
5. Choose the correct unit word to complete the sentence:
"Setting small daily goals helps keep my ___ high even on days when I feel tired."
Match 6 common word pairs to their meanings
Choose the single best meaning for each natural combination.
Useful sentence patterns to try in your speaking
Notice how these sentences connect two ideas smoothly without awkward words.
I do this so that I can ...
"I keep my phone in another room so that I can finish reading before dinner."
I left early so as not to ...
"I packed my bag the night before so as not to forget my charger."
It helps me to ... while ...
"It helps me to take short walks while taking a break from screen time."
I prefer ... because it allows me to ...
"I prefer studying in the morning because it allows me to have relaxed evenings."
According to Eurostat, what percentage of employed people aged 20 to 64 in the EU usually worked from home in 2019?
ℹ️ Choose an answer to see the fact.
According to the UK Office for National Statistics, what percentage of working adults in Great Britain were hybrid working in autumn 2024?
ℹ️ Choose an answer to see the fact.
Talk for one to two minutes about a place you know well.
Describe a place where you like to work or study, at home or outside your home.
You should say:
- where the place is
- what it looks like
- what you usually do there
- and explain why it suits you.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Well, to be honest, the spot I like most is just a small wooden desk by my bedroom window. It’s pretty simple, really. I have my laptop right in the middle, a warm lamp on the left, and a small potted plant on the corner that my sister gave me.
Most days, I sit there in the morning to review my vocabulary or write short practice essays. It completely suits me because it’s quiet, and having natural daylight keeps my eyes from getting tired. Whenever I get stuck on a difficult paragraph, I can just look out at the trees in the yard for a minute to clear my head. I also feel like I can settle down much faster there because nobody interrupts me. To be fair, I’ve simply got used to sitting at that desk now, and it really helps me keep up with my daily goals without getting distracted.
Useful phrases & notes:
• clear my head: take a short rest so you can think clearly again.
• settle down: become calm and ready to work.
• got used to: no longer find something strange because you do it often.
• keep up with: manage to do what you planned without falling behind.
Share your thoughts on the bigger picture of work and office life.
Why do some people prefer to work in an office rather than at home?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Well, I think the biggest reason is routine. When you leave the house and travel to a shared building, it’s much easier to draw a line between your work duties and your personal life. At home, you might look at a pile of laundry or feel like checking the fridge every twenty minutes. In contrast, being around other people working hard helps you keep your focus. Also, catching up quickly with a desk neighbour over a cup of tea is just way more natural in person.
• draw a line: create a clear separation between two different things.
• keep your focus: stay attentive to the job in front of you.
Should companies let their employees choose where they work?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
In my view, yes, they probably should, as long as the job allows it. People have completely different lifestyles. For instance, a parent might need to pick up their child from school, so having that freedom makes a huge difference. When bosses trust their staff, workers usually step up and take responsibility. Of course, the team still needs to get together on regular days for group planning, but giving choice simply shows respect and helps people avoid burning out over long daily commutes.
• step up: take action and meet expectations when given freedom.
• get together: meet face to face.
• burning out: getting completely exhausted from too much continuous pressure.
How might cities change if more people work from home?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Honestly, I think downtown areas might look quite different. If fewer commuters travel every weekday, busy center streets could become much quieter. That might take a toll on small sandwich shops or newsstands that depend on morning foot traffic. On the other hand, local residential neighbourhoods might actually get busier during the daytime, with nearby bakeries and public parks being used a lot more. So, the rhythm of the town would probably move away from one big center to smaller local areas.
• take a toll: cause gradual damage or hardship over time.
• get busier: have more people and more going on.
• move away: go from one place or way of doing things toward another.
Do you think it is easier to make friends when people work together in one place or when they work online?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Personally, I’d say it is definitely easier in one shared place. When you share a physical room, friendships happen by accident. You might smile in the corridor or make a joke while waiting for the elevator. That makes it easier to break the ice without planning. Online, almost every call has a clear business purpose, so you rarely hang out or chat about everyday life. In my experience, face-to-face contact just lets people get along much more naturally.
• break the ice: make people feel more relaxed with each other at the start.
• hang out: spend time together in an informal, relaxed way.
• get along: have a friendly relationship with someone.
Related lessons
Grammar: Purpose Clauses at Work
Remote work and the future of the office
Grammar · 12 min
Reading: Remote Work and Future Office Trends
Remote work and the future of the office
Reading · 18 min
Vocabulary: Remote Work and Future Office
Remote work and the future of the office
Vocabulary · 20 min
IELTS Writing: Remote Work and Future Offices
Remote work and the future of the office
Writing · 55 min
Class activity: Curiosity Quiz Show (Science in Everyday Life)
Science in everyday life
Speaking · 30 min
Class activity: Digital Detox Debate
Technology and social media
Speaking · 30 min