Min Wag

VO LA
GA
QU ON
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Teacher
Fellipe Lobo
Vocabulary:

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

_____ not likely to happen

1) get by
_____ to hire temporary workers outside of a company
2) merely
_____ to have just enough money to pay the bills and
3) outsource
live off it
4) desperate
_____ cash paid illegally without being taxed
5) think twice
6) get a foot in the _____ in great need of resources
door _____ to consider the consequences of one’s actions
7) overqualified _____ just barely
8) disposable _____ to have more than the necessary skills or
income education for a job
9) within one’s _____ manual work or workers, particularly in industry
grasp _____ to get an entry-level position or opportunity that
10) unrealistic could lead to something better
11) under the _____ money that is not already designated to pay for
table
living expenses and bills
12) blue-collar
_____ possible, achievable

Complete the sentences using vocabulary.

1) I wasn’t trying to start a fight. I was _____________________ telling you
how I felt.
2) The newlyweds are barely ____________________ by. They only have
enough money for groceries and rent.
3) A peaceful community is _____________________. It would help if we all
got to know each other.
4)The big banks _______________________ work from India. This leaves
local people unemployed.
5) You should _______________________ before you hire that painter. She
has a criminal record.

1) merely
2 )getting
10 / 3 / 1 / 11/ 4 / 5 /
3 )with our
2 / 7 / 12 / 6 / 8 / 9
grasp
4) outsource
5) think twice
Warm up:

TABOO
Taboo is a word, guessing, and party game. The objective
of the game is for a player to have their partners guess the
word on the player's card without using the word itself or
five additional words listed on the card.

Questions:

What is the lowest amount of money that people can legally earn in
your country?
Which types of jobs offer minimum wage?
In your country, minimum wage is a fair value?
Do you recall your first job? What was your hourly wage?
Are under the table jobs common in your country?
Do you agree with the concept of minimum wage? Why or Why not?
Does your country outsource work to other countries? How have
blue-collar workers reacted?
Do you agree with the practice of having different minimum wage rates in a
single country (based on age, type of job, etc.)?
How did you get your "foot in the door" at your current job?
Is your profession job secure from automation or outsourcing?
Does raising the price of low-skilled labor reduce the demand for it?
Should postsecondary students who are investing in their education
receive a higher minimum wage than adults who do not enroll in school?
Does higher minimum wage means better quality of life?
What is purchasing power?
Is the money in your country powerful?
Reading:
n
Minimum Wage
hensio
- Is it enough to make life worth living? - pre
Com
Minimum wage is the lowest amount of money an employer is
legally allowed to pay an employee. The hourly rate or yearly 1. Provide a definition for
salary differs in every country. In some countries, minimum “minimum wage.” Use
your own words.
wage is enough for people to get by. In other nations, minimum
wage allows people to merely survive.

Some people argue that increasing the rate of minimum wage 2. How could increasing
can actually lead to job loss. If forced to pay more, employers the rate of minimum
may choose to maintain a smaller workforce. They may also wage also increase
outsource work from countries where people are more unemployment?
desperate and will accept lower wages.

Businesses aren’t the only ones to blame. Our purchasing

habits help keep minimum wage low. Most people don’t think 3. What does the
twice about where cheap clothing and goods are reading say about
manufactured. Would you be willing to pay more for products if consumer habits?
you knew workers were being paid a fair wage to make them?

Many students and teens take minimum wage jobs in order to

get a foot in the door. After they graduate, many students are
overqualified for these jobs, but they have to start at the 4. Why is it difficult for
bottom. Young people can’t contribute much to the economy if young people to help
grow the economy?
they have no disposable income. Is spending more really the
answer, though? What would happen if everyone in the world
had a bit more spending money?

Minimum wage in some countries is so low that it traps people

in poverty. Some people think putting an end to world poverty
is within our grasp. Would an “international minimum wage” 5. Why might an
international minimum
help us reach this goal? Many economists argue that this is
wage not be ideal?
an unrealistic idea. Anything that is “universal” is very difficult
to enforce. Would you bother getting an education if a minimum
wage job let you live comfortably?
l d a fo t o
, wo a
w i , in o n op .”
“Pe p t
e
a is t , Gawker.com
—
i f
do r lan Hamilton
— No
 Is it
enough
to make
LIFE
worth
living
????
tch
Wa

What's the right

minimum wage?
Questions:

Does your current job provide room for growth?

Do you want your children to have a part-time job or focus on school?
What is the minimum age before being able to work in your country?
How much are you taxed? Is it fair in your opinion?
What professions are in high demand?
Would you recommend your career to your children? Would you want them
to follow in your footsteps?
Do you think children need allowance?
What was your first job? What were some of the perks?
Will you work part-time or start a business after you retire from you
profession?

"I LOVE WORKING FOR A BIG

COMPANY BUT MY BOSS MAKES
ME DO MONKEY WORK ALL DAY.
IT CAN GET DEPRESSING."