Unit 1 Today's Workplace
Topic Employment trends; workplace issues
Vocabulary Discussing employment trends
Functions Negotiating a solution
Lesson A Work issues
Vocabulary Focus: Trends in the workplace
Listening: Pretending to work
Speaking: I can agree to that.
Optional Listening: Your true calling
Lesson B Job choices
Video: Forced to outsource
Unit 2 Big Spender
Topic Earning; spending; budget planning
Vocabulary Spending habits
Functions Making suggestions
Lesson A Are you a savvy saver?
Vocabulary Focus: What do you spend your money on?
Listening: We need a plan.
Speaking: Why don't you rent a car?
Optional Listening: Money makes the world go round.
Lesson B The global economy
Video: Britain's migrant boom
Unit 3 Believe It or not
Topic Mysterious and unbelievable events; incredible coincidences
Vocabulary Reporting on a case; describing a mysterious event
Functions Making and responding to speculations
Lesson A Mysterious disappearances
Vocabulary Focus: A mysterious disappearance
Listening: A chance meeting
Speaking: The boss's birthday cake
Optional Listening: Mystery world
Lesson B More mysteries
Video: Missing student mystery
Unit 4 Men & Women
Topic Relationships and dating
Vocabulary Describing first dates
Functions Making and responding to invitations
Lesson A An ideal date
Vocabulary Focus: An eligible bachelor
Listening: Don't talk about that!
Speaking: Can I get back to you about that?
Optional Listening: The etiquette of breaking up
Lesson B Online dating
Video: Online dating rules
Unit 5 What's the Story?
Topic Personal and traditional stories
Vocabulary Verbs used with story
Functions Telling and listening to stories
Lesson A The story of my life
Vocabulary Focus: What's the story?
Listening: Everybody has a story.
Speaking: Did I ever tell you about the time ... ?
Optional Listening: The monkey's paw
Lesson B Tell me a story
Video: The storytellers of Moher
Unit 6 Technology
Topic Technology troubles; technological innovations
Vocabulary Phrases and words used to express advantages/disadvantages of technology
Functions Expressing opinions; sharing experiences; discussing abilities / habits
Lesson A Technostress
Vocabulary Focus: Information overload
Listening: When technology doesn't work
Speaking: I'm pretty good at it.
Optional Listening: Not your typical store
Lesson B Extreme gadgets
Video: Extreme gadgets
Unit 7 Emergency!
Topic Major and minor emergencies
Vocabulary Preparation for emergencies
Functions Dealing with a crisis situation
Lesson A Do you know what to do?
Vocabulary Focus: Be prepared
Listening: It's an emergency!
Speaking: Everything's going to be OK.
Optional Listening: Recognizing the signs
Lesson B Hurricane dangers
Video: Hurricane dangers
Unit 8 Family Matters
Topic Family life and living arrangements
Vocabulary Family types; issues; relationships
Functions Stating and rebutting a case
Lesson A Different types of families
Vocabulary Focus: Family issues
Listening: Giorgio's ad
Speaking: A lot of people think...
Optional Listening: Friends: today's new family
Lesson B Families past and present
Video: The life of a house husband
