TRANSCRIPT
# Introduction to the Episode
Host Alex: Hey there,
listeners! Welcome back to another episode of English on the Go, the
podcast that helps you learn anywhere and speak everywhere. Today, we’re
talking about a topic that affects all of us—staying organized in our daily
lives. With so many tasks, commitments, and distractions, it can be hard to
keep everything on track. So let’s dive into today’s conversation and discover
how to stay organized.
# Introduction to the Topic
Host Alex: Being organized
is key to managing our time, responsibilities, and stress. In today’s
conversation, you’ll hear from Emma and Jake, two busy professionals who share
their strategies for staying organized. Emma is naturally organized, while Jake
has had to develop new habits to keep up with his busy schedule. Let’s listen
to how they manage their daily lives.
# Pre-listening Questions
Host Alex: Before we jump
into today’s conversation, let’s take a moment to think about your own
experiences. These questions will help you focus on the topic and get ready for
what’s coming:
- What
tools do you use to stay organized in your life—apps, notebooks, or
something else?
- How do
you prioritize tasks when you have a lot to do?
Keep these in mind as you listen to
Emma and Jake’s chat.
# Conversation
Emma: Hey Jake, you’ve been really busy
lately. How do you keep track of everything?
Jake: Honestly, I wasn’t always organized,
but I’ve had to learn. I started using a digital planner to help me manage my
schedule. I keep everything in one place, from work deadlines to personal
appointments.
Emma: That’s a good idea. I’ve always used
a traditional notebook to write down my tasks, but I also use reminders on my
phone.
Jake: Yeah, I tried the notebook, but I
kept forgetting to look at it. The digital planner sends me notifications,
which helps a lot. How do you prioritize what needs to be done?
Emma: I usually start by writing down
everything I need to do, then I break it down into smaller tasks. I focus on
the most urgent things first. What about you?
Jake: I do something similar. I create a
to-do list every morning and rank the tasks by importance. It helps me stay on
top of things.
Emma: I find that breaking tasks into
smaller steps makes them more manageable. If I look at a big project all at
once, it can feel overwhelming.
Jake: Exactly. I also started blocking out
specific times in my day to work on certain tasks. For example, I set aside an
hour in the morning just for emails, so I don’t get distracted by them
throughout the day.
Emma: That’s a great strategy. I try to set
aside time for focused work as well, especially for more challenging tasks. It
helps me be more productive.
Jake: Another thing that’s helped me is
decluttering my workspace. When my desk is organized, I feel more in control of
my day.
Emma: Oh, absolutely! A tidy workspace
makes such a difference. I feel more focused and less stressed when everything
is in its place.
Jake: Do you ever feel like you’re spending
too much time organizing, though? Sometimes I wonder if I’m over-planning.
Emma: I think it’s all about balance.
Staying organized shouldn’t feel like another task. It should help you feel
more in control, not add more stress.
Jake: That’s true. The goal is to be more
efficient, not to spend all our time planning.
Emma: Right. And I think everyone needs to
find the system that works best for them. Some people like digital tools,
others prefer writing things down. The important thing is that it helps you
stay on top of everything.
Jake: Agreed. Staying organized has
definitely helped me manage my time better and feel less overwhelmed.
Emma: Me too. It’s all about finding what
works and sticking with it.
# Vocabulary Analysis
Host Alex: Let’s go over
some key vocabulary from today’s conversation:
- Organized
(adjective) – Arranged in a systematic way. Example: "Jake had to
learn how to stay organized to manage his busy schedule."
- Deadline
(noun) – The latest time or date by which something should be completed.
Example: "Jake uses a planner to keep track of his work
deadlines."
- To-do
list (noun) – A list of tasks or things to be done. Example:
"Emma starts her day by making a to-do list of everything she needs
to accomplish."
- Productive
(adjective) – Able to produce a lot of work or results. Example:
"Blocking out time for specific tasks helps Emma be more
productive."
Listen to the conversation again and
see if you can identify these words in context.
# Comprehension Questions
Host Alex: Now that we’ve
explored some key vocabulary, let’s reflect on what we’ve heard. I’ll ask you a
few questions to see how well you understood the conversation. Think about what
happened and try to answer them in your own words.
- What
tool does Jake use to stay organized?
- How
does Emma prioritize her tasks?
- What
strategy does Jake use to avoid distractions from emails?
- What
effect does decluttering have on Jake and Emma’s productivity?
- Why
does Emma believe finding a balance is important when staying organized?
Think about your answers and how these
tips could help you in your own life.
# Post-listening Questions
Host Alex: Now that you've
heard the conversation, let’s think a bit deeper. These questions are designed
to help you reflect on what you’ve learned and connect it to your own life:
- What
new strategy can you try to stay organized in your daily routine?
- Do you
prefer digital tools or traditional methods like notebooks for organizing
tasks?
- How
does organizing your workspace affect your productivity?
Reflect on these questions and see how
you can improve your organizational skills.
# Conclusion
Host Alex: That’s it for
today’s episode on staying organized in your daily life. Don’t forget, we’ve
put together a special free PDF for this episode with tips and vocabulary to
help you stay on top of things. Check it out, and see you next time on English
on the Go! Stay organized, everyone!
DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT HERE
EXERCISE
EXERCISE 01: Fill
in the Blanks
Complete the
conversation with the correct words:
- Emma: Hey Jake, you’ve been really busy lately. How do you
__________ track of everything?
Jake: Honestly, I wasn’t always organized, but I’ve had to learn. - Jake: I started using a digital planner to help me manage my
__________. I keep everything in one place, from work deadlines to
personal appointments.
Emma: That’s a good idea. - Emma: I usually start by writing down everything I need to
do, then I break it down into __________ tasks.
Jake: I do something similar. - Jake: I also started __________ out specific times in my day
to work on certain tasks.
Emma: That’s a great strategy. - Jake: Another thing that’s helped me is decluttering my
__________. When my desk is organized, I feel more in control of my day.
Emma: Oh, absolutely!
Answer Key
1. keep
2. schedule
3. smaller
4. blocking
5. workspace
EXERCISE 02:
Multiple Choice Questions
Choose the best
answer for each question:
- What tool does Jake use to stay organized?
- a) A traditional notebook
- b) A digital planner
- c) A physical calendar
- How does Emma prefer to stay organized?
- a) Using a digital planner
- b) Writing tasks on sticky notes
- c) Using a traditional notebook and phone reminders
- What does Jake say helps him avoid distractions from emails?
- a) Turning off notifications
- b) Setting aside specific times for emails
- c) Delegating emails to someone else
- According to the conversation, what does Emma believe helps
make tasks more manageable?
- a) Writing everything down
- b) Breaking tasks into smaller steps
- c) Asking for help
- What do both Jake and Emma agree on at the end of the
conversation?
- a) Staying organized is stressful
- b) Everyone needs to find the system that works best for
them
- c) Using digital tools is the best way to stay organized
Answer Key
1. b) A digital planner
2. c) Using a traditional notebook and phone reminders
3. b) Setting aside specific times for emails
4. b) Breaking tasks into smaller steps
5. b) Everyone needs to find the system that works best for them
EXERCISE 03:
True/False Statements
Determine whether
each statement is true or false:
- Jake started using a traditional notebook to stay organized.
True / False - Emma breaks down large tasks into smaller steps to make them more
manageable.
True / False - Jake spends a lot of time answering emails throughout the
day.
True / False - Both Emma and Jake agree that organizing should be a
balancing act.
True / False - Emma believes that staying organized adds stress to her daily
life.
True / False
Answer Key
1. False (Jake uses a digital planner, not a traditional notebook.)
2. True
3. False (Jake sets aside time in the morning for emails, so he doesn't spend time on them throughout the day.)
4. True
5. False (Emma believes staying organized should help reduce stress, not add to it.)
EXERCISE 04: Matching
Match the phrases in Column A with the
corresponding ideas or actions in Column B:
|
Column A |
Column B |
|
1. Digital planner |
a) Helps avoid distractions from
emails |
|
2. Traditional notebook |
b) A method Jake uses to manage tasks |
|
3. Blocking time for specific tasks |
c) Emma's preferred way of organizing |
|
4. Decluttering workspace |
d) Makes Emma feel focused and less
stressed |
|
5. Breaking tasks into smaller steps |
e) A strategy to make large tasks
manageable |
Answer Key
1-B
2-C
3-A
4-D
5-E
EXERCISE 05: Sentence Reordering
Put the sentences in the correct order
to form part of the conversation:
- Emma:
A tidy workspace makes such a difference. I feel more focused and less
stressed.
- Jake:
When my desk is organized, I feel more in control of my day.
- Emma:
Do you ever feel like you’re spending too much time organizing?
- Jake:
Sometimes I wonder if I’m over-planning.
- Emma:
I think it’s all about balance.
Answer Key
1. Jake: When my desk is organized, I feel more in control of my day.
2. Emma: A tidy workspace makes such a difference. I feel more focused and less stressed.
3. Emma: Do you ever feel like you’re spending too much time organizing?
4. Jake: Sometimes I wonder if I’m over-planning.
5. Emma: I think it’s all about balance.
EXERCISE 06: Gap Fill with Word Bank
Fill in the gaps using the words from
the word bank.
Word Bank: reminders,
manageable, prioritize, control, organized, overwhelmed
- Emma:
I use both a traditional notebook and phone __________ to stay on track.
- Jake:
Staying __________ has helped me manage my time better.
- Emma:
Breaking tasks into smaller steps makes them more __________.
- Jake:
When I have a clutter-free workspace, I feel more in __________ of my day.
- Jake:
Do you ever feel __________ by all the tasks you have to do?
- Emma:
I usually start by writing everything down and then __________ what needs
to be done first.
Answer Key
1. reminders
2. organized
3. manageable
4. control
5. overwhelmed
6. prioritize
EXERCISE 07: Short Answer Questions
Answer the following questions based on
the conversation:
- Why
did Jake stop using a traditional notebook to stay organized?
- How
does Emma ensure she stays focused when dealing with a big project?
- What
technique does Jake use to avoid distractions from emails throughout the
day?
- How
does decluttering their workspace help both Emma and Jake?
- What
advice does Emma give about balancing time spent on organizing?
Answer Key
1. Jake stopped using a traditional notebook because he kept forgetting to look at it.
2. Emma ensures she stays focused by breaking tasks into smaller steps to make them more manageable.
3. Jake sets aside a specific time in the morning for emails so he doesn't get distracted throughout the day.
4. Decluttering their workspace helps both Emma and Jake feel more in control and focused.
5. Emma advises that staying organized shouldn't add stress, and it should help you feel more in control.
