• 2 Gen Z @ work in the "phigital age"

    Lesson 3/4

    Dear students

    In this lesson, you are going to listen to a speech by generational researcher Jonah Stillman in which he presents the concept of "Gen Z @ work" and you are going to comment on the views he expresses, considering your own ideas and attitudes.
    • Pre-listening activity


      Use the chat to communicate with your partner. Alternatively, you can use your school's video conference system. 

      If you want to note down the meaning of an unknown word, use our course glossary.

      Share your ideas with the class.

    • Listening activity

      The TEDx Talk was given by Jonah Stillman in Los Angeles, California on 12 December 2018. He and his father, generational researcher David Stillman, have written a book titled Gen Z @ Work. In the given TEDx Talk, Stillman explains what characterizes Gen Z and how this generation is going to impact the workplaces of the future. 

      • Listen to the TEDx Talk "The phigital world of Gen Z" by Jonah Stillman.
      • If you prefer a closed exercise type where you can pick an answer, choose Level 1. If you like to work with more open exercise types where you have to come up with an answer yourself, choose Level 2. 

      If you have questions or want to note down/find out the meaning of an unknown word, use the chat or your school's video conference system and visit our
      course glossary.

    • Video: Jonah Stillman, "The phigital world of Gen Z":

    • Icon Test
      • Fast lane: Do some research on David and Jonah Stillman and their philosophy on how to bridge generational differences. You can, for example, visit their website. What seems to be the main purpose of their research?

    • Post-listening activity

      • Go back to your answers to the pre-listening activity and discuss the following questions with your partner. Share your ideas in class.

      • Now that you're familiar with Stillman's ideas, write a first draft of a comment on his view on Gen Z and his attitudes towards technology and work. Refer to the TEDx Talk as well as to your own views, plans for the future and experiences. 
      • Before you start the writing process, choose a group. Then, write your first draft in the writers' conference. Use the structure and language support sheet which includes tips and useful phrases for your comment. The language support sheets range from Level 1 (the highest amount of support, including all the structure and language help you might need while writing your comment) to 3 (a basic amount of support). Depending on how experienced you are in writing creative texts and how confident you are in your writing skills, choose the level you feel most comfortable with. 
      • After having finished the first drafts of your comments, review the texts from your other group members and give feedback. The feedback criteria below will give you an idea of what features to look out for. 
      • Before you start, have a look at the "food for thought", which includes a comment from one of the viewers of Stillman's TEDx Talk.

    • Icon Gruppenwahl
    • Icon Aufgabe