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Avalern · by SimmondsB25 min · English

Working from home in English: vocabulary, dialogue and conversation questions

Editorially responsible: James Simmondspublished 28 Sept 2026AI-generated text (learn more – how we use AI on these pages)

Live rounds with a trainer and a small group. To warm up: Theo asks, you answer.

Allow the microphone – Theo asks the first question.

AI conversation partner, synthetic voice · your voice is processed live by Google Gemini, we store no audio and no transcript · max. 5 minAbout the AIWith headphones you can interrupt Theo. Without them, the microphone only listens once Theo has finished.

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Question of the day

What does Aisha arrange to help Daniel?

  1. A move to another team
  2. Fewer chances to ask questions
  3. A regular check-in
Show the answer – Open the answer to the question of the day

Correct answer: A regular check-in

You can find the answer in the English introduction.

Listen to the introduction

Speed

Transcript

Daniel has joined a team that works remotely – Jump to the vocabulary entry for remotely three days a week. He enjoys the flexibility – Jump to the vocabulary entry for flexibility, but sometimes hesitates to ask a small question in a busy group chat. His manager, Aisha, thinks good onboarding – Jump to the vocabulary entry for onboarding needs more than a welcome email. She pairs him with an experienced colleague and arranges a regular check-in – Jump to the vocabulary entry for check-in. Daniel can ask for feedback – Jump to the vocabulary entry for feedback and discuss anything he finds difficult. Aisha also encourages the whole team to share knowledge – Jump to the vocabulary entry for share knowledge, including the reasons behind important decisions. Daniel feels more confident, although he still values time together in the office. How could your team help a new colleague feel included?

Vocabulary

remotely/rɪˈməʊt.li/
Meaning: From a different place, using technology to communicate.
Example: Our team works remotely on Mondays and Fridays.
flexibility/ˌflek.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/
Meaning: The ability to change plans or arrangements to suit different needs.
Example: Working from home gives me more flexibility.
onboarding/ˈɒnˌbɔː.dɪŋ/
Meaning: The process of helping someone settle into a new job.
Example: Good onboarding gives new staff clear information and support.
check-in/ˈtʃek.ɪn/
Meaning: A short conversation to find out how someone is getting on.
Example: We have a weekly check-in to talk about my work.
feedback/ˈfiːd.bæk/
Meaning: Comments about someone's work that can help them improve.
Example: I asked my manager for feedback on my presentation.
share knowledge/ʃeə ˈnɒl.ɪdʒ/
Meaning: To tell others what you know so they can learn from it.
Example: We share knowledge by explaining how we solve problems.

Dialogue

  1. DanielCould we talk about how my first week has gone?
  2. AishaOf course. How are you finding working from home?
  3. DanielI like the flexibility, but I'm not always sure who to ask for help.
  4. AishaWould a regular check-in with me be useful?
  5. DanielYes. I also learn a lot when I hear how colleagues solve problems.
  6. AishaWe could ask them to explain their decisions during our team meetings.
  7. DanielThat would help. I don't think learning has to happen only in the office.
  8. AishaI agree. Let's see what works and review it at our next check-in.

Questions for your conversation

Partner A

Easier: Do you learn new things when you work at home? Why or why not?

Do young employees learn less when they work from home?

More challenging: To what extent is a new employee's learning shaped by where they work, rather than by the support available to them?

Partner B

Easier: Do you prefer asking questions in a chat or face to face? Why?

How does your team share knowledge remotely?

More challenging: How could a team preserve informal knowledge when its members rarely share the same physical workspace?

Partner A

Easier: Would you like a colleague to help you in a new job? Why or why not?

What would you change about onboarding?

More challenging: If you redesigned onboarding for a remote team, how would you judge whether new colleagues felt included and could work independently?

Useful phrases

  • I partly disagree, because …
  • Most people in my team …
  • We discussed it recently.
  • Could we arrange a regular check-in?
  • Who can I ask for help?
  • Let's see what works.

Topic quiz

Five quick questions check vocabulary and listening comprehension.

All conversations – Back to all conversations of our English conversation classes

Questions

Who is Theo?

Theo is an AI conversation partner for warming up, not a teacher. The voice is synthetic. In the live rounds, a trainer talks with you.

Is my conversation stored?

We store neither audio nor a transcript. During the conversation, your voice is sent to Google (Gemini) for processing. The conversation ends after no more than five minutes.

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