READING COMPREHENSION TELECOMMUTING OR TELEWORKING

Telecommuting

Teleworking is defined as remote work or work from

home, during which the employee is working away from the
primary place of work (office), usually at their home.

To work from home, it is necessary that the employees

must follow certain rules:

1. to perform additional tasks assigned to the workers outside their usual work
roles, during an event of an emergency.

2. To think up a daily routine, keep hours consistent, eliminate any potential

distractions and leave communication channels open (phone, emails,

3. cellphones, video conference (Zoom, Google Meet, Jitsi Meet, Teams).

4. To take care for kids, or dependent elderly, while teleworking is not realistic.
The teleworkers should assume that a space at home is the office, and it is
not allowed to do a task that is not related to his-her functions.

5. To work in teams. When people work in teams, the job is easier.

There is a fact or truth, which worries to many people. There are jobs, which cannot
be developed by teleworking. For that reason, some workers may lose their jobs
or may be dismissed. When they lose their jobs, they search for other options of
job. One of them is freelance.

ACTIVITY 1 Select the best answer for the definition.

 Teleworking is a- to work at office b- to work at home c- to work at company
To dismiss is a- to be freelance b- to work c- to fire
To think up is a- to devise b- to work c- to dismiss
To follow is a- to lose b- to search c- to obey
To take care of is a- to work b- to tend c- to dismiss

a- Select what is the main idea of the reading

ACTIVITY 2

When people do teleworking, they can combine their personal

a duties with their professional duties.
b When people do teleworking, they do not need to report what they
have done while they work at home.
c When people do teleworking, they must obey some norms that the
ompany sets up.

ACTIVITY 2 B. ANSWER TRUE OR FALSE

___F_ When people are in video conference, they only use Google Meet.
__T__ To follow norms is one of the most important requirements when people
work at home.
__T__ Teleworkers only use the cellphone to ask for and to give information.
___F__ Freelance means that you can work with different organizations.
___F_ The verb “fire” is an informal way of saying that a person loses her-his jobs.

ACTIVITY 2 C- ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIION

What is the most important requirement for developing teleworking?
 the most important requirement is to follow the rules and regulations of the
company.

STRUCTURE PASSIVE VOICE (FORM, MEANING AND USE)

Fom Subject + Verb be (am-is-are) + Verb (past participle) + Predicate.

Meaning
Active voice means that a sentence has a subject that acts upon its verb.
Passive voice means that a subject is a recipient of a verb’s action.

Use descriptive texts like reports or description of a process.

Examples:

Make some sentences in passive voice, describing the

ACTIVITY 3 table of information.

The teleworker sends the email. (active The email is sent by the teleworker.
voice)

The team worker writes the report. The report is written by him.

They follow some rules at home. Some rules are followed by them.

Example: Rosa’s task: to get the documents.

Passive voice: The documents are gotten by Rosa

 Rose’s tasks Jeremy’s tasks

ü to send three emails ü to prepare the meeting report.

ü to get the image of the product ü to select the product

ü to make the project. ü to propose three solutions

1Rose is in charge of sending the 3 emails. 1 Jeremy will prepare a report for the meeting.

2 Rose can get the product picture. 2 to get to select the product.

3 for Rose to complete the project. 3 Jeremy find 3 solutions.

Complete the following ideas with words from the

word chart, and usethe first letter of the word to
find a hidden word.

Available Beyond Computer Dismiss Email Fire

Google Home Intranet Job Know Listen
Massive News Opportunity Pandemics Quarantine Remote
Search Technology Useful Vacant Worker X-ray
Yo-yo Zoom
Computer is one example of … Technology
Rosa sends an … Email
Rosa’s boss says “…” and “write these tasks Listen

Rosa and Jeremy are … of that company Worker

My … is broken and I need a new one. Computer

I have an … for working with this company. Opportunity

It is possible to send … emails Job

Jeremy has some … doubts about the products. Remote

There are some … strategies to follow if the Useful

worker is doing teleworking.
I always read … before working News
I have problems with the … because I cannot Zoom
share the information.
What do you know about …? Pandemics
…is a system that connects the computers. Intranet

I have a good … for him. He won´t be dismissed. Vacant

This is a search machine and started in 1996. Google

THE HIDDEN WORD IS

__ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ____ ____ ___ ____ ____ ____ _____ ____

FINAL EVALUATION ACTIVITY

 Survey about how telecommuting /teleworking has
been developed in Panama since March 2020

To survey is to gather information about a topic. To do it, follow the following process
of four steps:

• Step one: read the survey. It has 3 questions.

• Step two make these questions to 10 people. Observation: you can
interview people in your family context, make phone calls to your
friends, relatives, send a what’s App message or an email.
• Step three: tally the results

How many “Yes”

How much “No”

• Step four: analyze the data and present the results

Objectives: to now how many people are doing teleworking in your context.

Survey

Questions YES NO

Do you have a job? yes

Do you continue going to yes

your work?

Do you do teleworking? no

Rubric
 Report Criteria 1 2 3
I live in ___________HERRERA________ Province
Followed
I surveyed about _________TELEWORKING______________ steps
I interviewed _________my father___________ people.
Completed
The results were the following: the report

Wrote the
fact
Quantity of people who do teleworking in my
context Evidence
(data-
NO
results)

It is a fact that
It is a fact that most people have a job in the office and not at
home.

Observation present your results in percentajes

GLOSSARY More words for your vocabulary

Word Definition

distraction a thing that takes your attention away from what you are doing or
thinking about
elderly people who are old
employee a perso n who is paid to work for somebody.
function a speci al activity or purpose of a person or thing
opportunity a time when a particular situation makes it possible to do or achieve
somethi ng
perform to do so mething, such as a piece of work, task or duty
realisticc sensible and appropriate; possible to achieve

https://w ww.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

CHECK YOUR LEARNING OUTCOMES.

I CAN…

* I can give the main idea about a given reading. *

* I can describe ideas using the passive voice.

* I can survey and report information.

More resources for your learning.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

WEEK 8

TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FOR COMMUNICATION AMONG FAMILIES AND

FRIENDS DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
 INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC

Families have had to make certain changes in the way that

The volume
communicate with their family members and friends ofphone calls
because all the members should be at home as a sanitation
measure to control the virus spread. has surged more

OBJECTIVES than internet use

1. To use vocabulary and language related to as people want

technology devices for communication. to hear each
2. To distinguish facts from opinions. other's voices in
the pandemi .

https://www.nytimes.com

Look at these images. Which one is familiar for you? Why? Put a check

*
I find it more familiar because I always eat with family.
TOPIC FAMILY AND COMMUNICATION IN
EXPLANATION TIMES OF PANDEMIC

The concept of communication-based on the frame face-to-face interaction

has been transformed into voice messages, video calls using WhatsApp or
FaceTime after March 2020.

To be with family members all the time and not having the opportunity of
face-to-face interactions outside the family context has become one of the
most stressful factors that people have suffered due to the pandemic. To
handle this stressful situation, families have used some technological
resources as a way of keeping in touch with their beloved ones.

Some of the most common technological devices at home are cellphones,

smartphones, tablets, iPods, among others. Adults, elderlies, teens, and kids
use these resources. These resources may have some characteristics like
the following:

1. A great camera.
2. a sound processor and speakers
3. YouTube video player.
4. One forward-facing and one rear-facing camera.
5. . Multiple windows.

When it is time to be in contact with others, especially the family members with who
you have not seen for months, any of these devices becomes one of the most
powerful in terms of communication.
 VOCABULARY
LET’S SEE SOME KEY WORDS.

Word Defnition
cellphone a phone that does not have wires and works by radio, and that you can
carry with you and use anywhere
iPod a brand of MP3 player that can store information taken from the internet
and that you carry with you, for example so that you can listen to music

Padlet an application to create an online bulletin board that you can use to
display information for any topic.
smartphones a mobile phone that also has some of the functions of a computer, for
example the facility to use apps and the internet
Tablet a small computer that is easy to carry, with a large touch screen and
usually without a physical keyboard

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

READING COMPREHENSION Read the following text and take notes

about meaningful details.

What is better? A tablet or a smartphone

Smartphones and tables are the most used devices for communication among family
and friends in this time. Do they know some characteristics? Maybe, they do or they
do not.
What about those people who have a tablet. Let’s see some important details
between them and take a decision about which one is better.
Characteristics Smartphone Tablet
Connectivity WiFi/3G Some have may have WiFi/3G
Location everywhere At home
use Entertainment platform Communication device
size Smaller (4 inch screen) Bigger (7 inch screen)
communication Call and Short Message Don’t have Short Message
Service Service

.
It is a fact that both are similar because they share some characteristics. For
example, they are devices that people use for entertainment (games). However,
some features make them different. Tablets are different from smartphones in size.
For these reasons, some people believe that buyers should ask for information when
they buy a new device. They look alike, but they are not.

ACTIVITY 1 ANSWER TRUE OR FALSE

Tablets and smartphones are the same……………………………………----F----

The tablet is bigger than a smartphone. …………………………………….__T__
A tablet has the same functions that a computer…………………………..----T----
It is possible to make calls using a tablet if you use internet. …………….---T----
A smartphone cannot send messages. …………………………………….----F----
People use the tablet for entertainment. …………………………………..-----T---
Smartphones are bigger than a tablet. …………………………………….----F---
Most of time people use tablets at home. …………………………………----T---
The screen of a smartphone measures 20 inches. ………………………---F---
Tablets and smartphones are the hottest gadgets………………………..---T---
1. Match the word with the question. Use the dictionary to check
meaning.

Match
1- Connectivity __8_ Why did you buy a cell phone?

2- bigger _10__ What do you need to send much bigger files?

3- portability 5__ Where can I buy a new cell phone?

4- devices __9__ What does it mean?

5- location _2__ What model do you prefer? Smaller or ….

6- better _3__ Do you always carry your phone?

7- ask for information __1_ Did you receive the email? No, I did not. No internet

8- communication ___2_ Where do you have your tablet?

9- SMS ____ What is _6_ for this device?

10- 3G _7__ When do you get the iPod and the computer?

b- LOOK AT THE IMAGES AND WRITES DOWN DETAILS ABOUT

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES. WRITE SENTENCES
ACTIVITY 2 THAT EXPRESS A FACT AND AN OPINION.

Fact: is known to be true Opinion: feelings or thoug

Similarities Differences
 both are white skin one is sitting and the other
standing
they are both smiling One is higher than the other
they are both male one has black hair and the other
chocolate color
they both have clothes one holds a notebook the other
some balloons
they both have hair one is a man and the other a boy

Structure THE SAME-SIMILAR TO-LIKE-DIFFERENT FROM-ALIKE(FROM MEANING AND US

the same To show that two things are identical

Similar and like To show that two things share some quality but not necessarily
identical

alike As an adjective means the same or similar

different from To show that two things are different.

Examples:

1. Your cellphone and mine are the same. They have the same
characteristics.
2. The Samsung A10 and the Samsung A20 are similar. They share some
characteristics.
3. Tablets are different from smartphones.
4. The ideas in this short message are alike.

ACTIVITY 3 LOOK AT THE IMAGES AND WRITE SENTENCES EXPRESSING

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES.
 USBs are smaller than mobile phones.
both keep information.

cell phones have more functions than usb.

both are comfortable to wear.

Final Activity for Evaluation

Write a short opinion paragraph using adjectives denoting opinion. (15

sentences)
Here is a guide: how to write an opinion paragraph:
Write your opinion in the topic of sentence clearly. This is your first
sentence. Example: According to my experience, technology has been
 important for families for two reasons.

Explain each reason in logical order. (sequence of ideas) Use facts to support each
reason. (mention 2 facts-use examples) Finish your paragraph with a concluding
sentence at the end.

Topic: importance of technology in times of Pandemic. The importance of technology

in times of Pandemic.

Criteria
Topic Sentence 1 2 3

Two supporting points (2 reasons-example) 1 2 3

Concluding sentence 1 2 3

Grammar 1 2 3

Mechanics (spelling-punctuation) 1 2 3

GLOSSARY MORE WORDS FOR YOUR VOCABULARY

Word Definition
connectivitdad the ability of systems, platforms and applications to be
connected to each other

entertainment films, music, etc. used to entertain people; an example of this

radio, television and other forms of entertainment

fact a thing that is known to be true, especially when it can be

proved

opinion our feelings or thoughts about somebody/something, rather

than a fact

WiFi a system for connecting to the internet or sending data over

computer networks using radio waves instead of wires.

I can Check your learning outcomes

_______ I can make sentences comparing objects and contrasting them.
________ I can distinguish between facts and opinions.
________I can write a short opinión paragraph.
WEEK 9
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS, APPS AND
THEIR INFLUENCE IN EDUCATION AND IN
HUMAN LIFE DURING THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC
Over 850 million
One of the sanitary measure to stop spreading the virus is to be at
home .For this reason, some daily life activities are affected ,especially children and youth –
education students cannot attend their daily classes. roughly half of the
world’s student
population – had to
stay away from schools
OBJECTIVES and universities due to
the COVID - 19.
1. To use vocabulary and language related to technology
platforms. https://en.unesco.org

2. To compare and contrast technology platforms.

Are these images familiar for you?

Where are they?

What are they doing?
Are you at school now?
Why aren’t you at school?
 TOPIC Education in Times of Pandemic
EXPLANATION

On March 19, 2020, UNESCO sent a clear message worldwide: people were facing one of
the most harmful situations in their lives, but they could not stop developing the social and
economic development in their countries. For that reason, UNESCO recommended setting
up a global coalition to accelerate the deployment of remote learning solutions in all areas,
especially education.

Ministry of Education, Panama, accepted the challenge and prepared an action to emigrate
from synchronic classes to synchronic classes. To do it was necessary to use platforms
that allow teachers to guide learning using technology. Some of these available platforms
are Moodle, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, WhatsApp, and Zoom.

VOCABULARY LET´S SEE SOME KEY WORDS

Since July 2020, many Panamanian students will be experimenting a new scope: remote
learning.

Google Meet Google Meet, also known as Google Hangouts Meet, is built to let dozens of people join
the same virtual meeting, and speak or share video with each other from anywhere with
internet access.

Moodle Moodle is an acronym for "Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment." a

brand name for a computer system for creating and sharing educational materials online.

Microsoft Microsoft Teams is the hub for team collaboration in Microsoft 365 that integrates the
Teams people, content, and tools.

WhatsApp American freeware, cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP (VoIP) service owned
by Facebook, Inc. It allows users to send text messages and voice messages, make
voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other media

Zoom Videoconferencing software program developed by Zoom Video Communications. It

provides a video chatting service that allows up to 100 devices at once for free, albeit
with a 40-minute time restriction for free accounts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

READING
 COMPREHENSION Asynchronous and Synchronous Classes

Remote learning provides an opportunity for students and teachers to remain connected
and engaged with the content while working from their homes. Opportunities for remote
learning are typically linked to emergency situations that pose a threat to student safety. In
the case of Panama, this is a new scope and may pose a challenge to both teacher and
learner. For that reason, Panama has a strategy, which will be implemented from July 20,
2020.

The strategy sets up students will have classes every day. Teachers will define a set period
throughout the day when they will be available to students to respond promptly to any needs
about homework, practices, projects using the asynchronous form. Sometimes, teachers
will want to connect in real-time, or synchronously, with a student or groups of students.
These types of connections can be done through videoconferencing, through chat, or by
phone. Apps such as Google Meet, Skype or What’s App, can be used to provide these
synchronous connections.

ACTIVITY 1 SELECT THE BEST ANSWER

Google Meet is a. an App b- a search c- a team
engine

Asynchronous means a- face-to-face interactions b- action plan c- not existing or happening

at the same time

Synonym of opportunity a- strategy b- chance c- connection

Synchronous means a- not existing or happening b- Face-to-face c- an issue

at the same time interaction

A chat is - action Plan b- To talk in a c- to exchange

friendly way with messages with
someone somebody on the internet

ACTIVITY 2 A-ANSWER TRUE OR FALSE

 _______________ Panama has a strategy for education due to
Pandemic.

Students will have the opportunity of having face-to-

face interactions and distance learning.
________________

Teachers can communicate using WhatsApp with

the students
_______________

Teachers can communicate using WhatsApp with

_______________ the students.

Panamanian teachers and students have used

remote learning previously
______________

AQUÍ FALTA
 Do you recognize these symbols?

Match symbol and concept

ZOOM

MS Team

Moodle

WhatsApp

Google Meet
WEEK 10 10 million metric
EFFECTS AND MEASURE TO
tons less CO2
PROTECT THE PLANET DURING THE COVID-19
OUTBREAK. emitted from
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC
aviation
Pandemic has affected worldwide since March, but it has
represented a good opportunity for the environment, which has been as a
affected by global warming.
consequence
OBJECTIVE
of the COVID-
1- To use vocabulary and language related to global warming effects and
measures.
19 Ou
https://www.bloomberg.
com

Have youseen these scenes is your context?

Write your own ideas

_________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 Every year it is very common to listen or to watch news commenting about the
flood, low water level in the rivers, droughts, among others. All these events have a
source, and this is called global warming. It is a phenomenon of increasing average
air temperature near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries.
According to certain studies, this phenomenon brings consequences in some areas:
economy, environment, and health to mention some.
In the case of environment, some environmental groups have made awareness
campaigns to stop environmental damages. Suddenly, a sanitary emergency
began, the COVID-19 emergency, affecting the lives of people around the world.
One of the ways of mitigating the virus is being at home and do not go working, which
has a sudden reduction in economic activity globally. Such a measure has
constituted a problem for societies, but a great help for the environment because
emissions haven fallen.
This aspect is something is positive, but this event, Pandemic, has guided
scientists to evaluate what other problems might appear due to Pandemics.

VOCABULARY Let’s see some key word.

Word Definition

biodiversity the existence of a large number of different kinds of animals

and plants which make a balanced environment

diseases an illness affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by

infection

environment the natural world in which people, animals and plants live

Global Warning a phenomenon of increasing average air temperature near the

surface of Earth

harmful causing damage or injury to somebody/something, especially to a

person’s health or to the environment

pathogens a thing that causes disease

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
 READING Is there any relationship between climate change
COMPREHENSION and biodiversity loss with pandemics?

Researches continue looking for the main factor, which triggered the current outbreak.
They have a hypothesis: the virus passed from bats to humans through an unknown
intermediary animal, possibly a pangolin. With this hypothesis, they
want to call people’s attention to the following aspect: human
activities, like industry activities, increase the temperature level. As the

temperature level increases, animals move from their environment

looking for better conditions. This movement allows humans to get
into contact with other animals they normally would not.

When this takes place, something might happen: animals pass harmful pathogens to human
beings.
This process is called “zoonosis”.

Some example of zoonosis are Ebola in Africa, Marburg in Europe (and subsequently in
Africa), Hendra virus in Australia and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
coronavirus and Nipah virus in east Asia. The current Covid-19 pandemic was likely caused
by this process.

Zoonosis might happen in the following cases: directly through animal bites, the
consumption of raw or undercooked animal meat or products such as milk, or through
contaminated water or indirectly if humans come into contact with a surface that has been
contaminated by an infected animal. Both wild animals and livestock can pass on disease.

For this reason, scientists recommend being careful with our actions personally and
globally and avoid doing actions, which might be a threat for you and all of us. Don’t forget
to think about this vent that we are living right now, pandemics. It is sending us a message:
you are receiving a payment for your action into the environment, which demands changing
in the process.

Read the following ideas and put a check to

ACTIVITY 1 the main idea of the reading.
 There is a hypothesis that pandemics emerged due to zoonosis.

Pandemics emerged due to zoonosis.

Climate Change is the principal cause of pandemics.

a. Identify the supplementary ideas of the

ACTIVITY 2 reading. Put a check.

1 Zoonosis is a possible cause for COVID 19.

2 Researchers do not believe in zoonosis.

3 There are two ways of spreading a virus or bacteria.

4 People should continue eating exotic meat.

5 Some illnesses have emerged due to zoonosis.