Can e-bikes transform our cities?
When by Daniel Pink
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Zespół The Blue Tree
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THE BLUE TREE
Personal
Productivity

CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below.
| When do you feel the most energized during the day? |
TRANSCRIPT
I feel the most energized in the late morning, usually after I’ve had my coffee and gotten into the flow of things. That’s when I try to tackle my most creative or important work. By the afternoon, though, my energy starts to dip, and it gets harder to focus, so I try to schedule easier tasks for that time.
| What do you do when your energy levels are dropping? |
TRANSCRIPT
When my energy levels drop, especially in the afternoon, I usually take a short walk or do a quick meditation. I’ve also tried power naps, and they really help to reset my mind. It’s all about finding ways to recharge, even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes, so I can get back on track and finish my day strong.
| How well do you know your body as regards your circadian rhythm? |
TRANSCRIPT
I’ve learned a lot about my circadian rhythm over the years. I know that my most productive time is in the morning, so I try to do all my focused work then. In the afternoon, I hit that ‘trough’ where my energy dips, so I plan more routine tasks for that part of the day. Being aware of my body’s natural rhythm has definitely helped me organize my day better.
part one
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 00:39 When do people perform the worst during the day according to research?
- ⌚ 00:49 What is the most unproductive time in the UK?
- ⌚ 01:07 Why does Daniel Pink call this time the Bermuda Triangle?
- ⌚ 01:18 What is the daily Circadian Rhythm?
- ⌚ 01:43 What are the three stages of our attention and mental ability during a day?
part two
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 1:58 What is the best thing you can do at the beginning of a trough?
- ⌚ 2:14 How long should our naps be?
- ⌚ 2:25 What effect does a 10 minute nap have?
- ⌚ 3:05 What is Nappuccino and why is it so effective?
- ⌚ 3:17 If you cannot take a nap, what should you do during a trough?
- ⌚ 3:32 If we absolutely have to do important work during a trough, what should we remember about?
- ⌚ 3:44 When should we do our most important work?
part three
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 4:00 What are the two categories of important work?
- ⌚ 4:17 What are some examples of logical work?
- ⌚ 5:18 What makes the Linda Problem a logical problem? Did you get the answer right?
- ⌚ 5:18 When did people answer this problem correctly more often?
part four
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 5:34 Which side of the brain does insight work rely on?
- ⌚ 5:40 What are some examples of insight work?
- ⌚ 6:19 Why was the coin fake?
- ⌚ 6:25 What is required to solve insight problems like the Coin Problem?
- ⌚ 6:25 When did people answer this problem correctly more often?
part five
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 7:01 How should we organize our work taking the above information into account?
- ⌚ 7:16 Who are the people who have a late chronotype? Is this you?
- ⌚ 7:38 How can we know if we have a late chronotype?
- ⌚ 8:30 What is the ultimate goal that can help us be most productive?
POLL
Cast your vote in the poll.
lesson glossary
Introduce Yourself with Confidence
Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.
Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂
Zespół The Blue Tree
THE BLUE TREE
Better
Communicator

CEFR B1
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below. Then listen to the sample answers and report back on what you’ve heard.
| How do you usually introduce yourself to new business associates? |
TRANSCRIPT
When I introduce myself to new business associates, I usually start by stating my current role and responsibilities. Then, I mention a bit about my professional background, like where I’ve worked before, and highlight some skills relevant to the situation. I try to keep it concise and focus on how I can bring value to the conversation.
| What can you do to make a positive and lasting first impression? |
TRANSCRIPT
To make a positive and lasting first impression, I think it’s important to be genuine and confident. I usually focus on being attentive to others, making eye contact, and asking thoughtful questions. A firm handshake and a friendly smile always help in person. For online meetings, I ensure my background is professional, and I’m clear and concise when speaking.
| Are introductions different when they happen online or in real life? |
TRANSCRIPT
Yes, introductions are definitely different online compared to real life. In person, there’s more emphasis on body language, tone of voice, and small talk, which helps build rapport. Online, you have to be a bit more direct and clear, especially since people’s attention spans are shorter. Sometimes, the digital medium also creates a bit of distance, so I try to keep the tone warm and engaging.
LISTENING
Listen to the article first. What is the main idea behind this management tip?
reading
READING
Read the text below. Hover over the underlined words to see their meaning in Polish.

Introduce Yourself with Confidence
Many of us 1. dread the self-introduction, whether it’s in an online meeting or at a boardroom table. The secret to introducing yourself with 2. confidence, in any context, is a simple three-step process: Focus on your present, past, and future.
• Present. Start with a present-tense statement to introduce yourself. Your name and job title is a great place to start. If there’s an 3. opportunity to 4.elaborate, you can also share other details such as a current project, your 5. expertise, or your geographical location.
• Past. Add two or three points that will provide 6.relevant details about your background and 7.credibility. Consider your education, past projects, employers, and 8. accomplishments.
• Future. Demonstrate enthusiasm for what’s ahead. If you’re in a job interview, share your 9. eagerness about potential opportunities at the company. Or, if you’re in a meeting, express interest in what the team is 10. setting out to accomplish.
This tip is adapted from “A Simple Way to Introduce Yourself,” by Andrea Wojnicki
obawiać się, być przerażonym (czymś)
pewność siebie
możliwość, szansa
wyjaśnić szerzej, wytłumaczyć
odpowiednie, właściwe
wiarygodność
osiągnięcia
zapał, entuzjazm
zamierzać, określać, ale również wyruszyć
COMPREHENSION
Answer the questions below. Try to throw some of the newly learned words into your answers.
- How do many people feel about self-introductions?
- What should we focus on when we are introducing ourselves to others?
- What can we include in the first step of the introduction?
- What purpose does mentioning our past serve?
- What should we demonstrate when we are focusing on the future?
POLL
Cast your vote in the poll.
COMMENTS
How would you introduce yourself during a onboarding training in a company you have just joined?
Nail Your Answer to “Why Do You Want to Work Here”?
Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.
Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂
Zespół The Blue Tree
THE BLUE TREE
Better
Communicator

CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below. Then listen to the sample answers and report back on what you’ve heard.
| Which question do you find most difficult during a job interview? |
TRANSCRIPT
The most difficult question for me is probably ‘Why should we hire you?’ It’s tricky because you have to talk about your strengths without sounding arrogant, and at the same time, you have to connect your skills directly to the company’s needs. It feels like a balancing act between confidence and humility.
| Do you think it is better to prepare your answers to typical interview questions or just go with the flow? |
TRANSCRIPT
I think it’s better to prepare for typical interview questions in advance. You don’t want to sound too rehearsed, but having a framework in mind helps you stay focused and ensures that you hit the key points you want to make. If you go with the flow, there’s a risk of forgetting important details, especially if nerves kick in.
| What can a candidate do to leave a good impression on the interviewers? |
TRANSCRIPT
To leave a good impression, I believe candidates should be genuine and show enthusiasm for the role. Listening carefully to the questions and giving thoughtful, relevant answers is key. It also helps if the candidate has done their research about the company, so they can align their responses with the company’s values and goals. A follow-up thank-you email afterward doesn’t hurt either.
LISTENING
Watch the video. What is the key idea behind this management tip?
reading

Nail Your Answer to “Why Do You Want to Work Here”?
Sometimes the toughest job interview questions are also the simplest and most direct. One you should always expect to hear and definitely prepare for: “Why do you want to work here?” Here are three approaches to try when answering this common interview question:
• Express your passion for the employer’s product, service, or mission. Prepare a clear and honest explanation for why you personally connect with the organization’s purpose. You might say something like, “X is very important to me in both my professional and personal life because I strongly believe in Y.”
• Explain why you would enjoy the responsibilities of the role. Make the connection between job and joy clear. For example, you might say, “Analyzing data has always been fun for me — the challenge of using numbers to tell a story and 1. convey an idea — and I look forward to the data visualization work we’ll be doing on this team.
• Describe how you see yourself 2. succeeding in the role, given your skills and experience. The organization isn’t just looking to hire you; they’re looking to invest in you. Use phrases like, “Given my experience, I can see myself succeeding in X,” or “I look forward to using my skills to 3.accomplish Y.”
This tip is adapted from “How to Answer ‘Why Do You Want to Work Here?’,” by Joel Schwartzberg
przekazać, wyrazić
odnieść sukces, powieźć się
osiągnąć, zrealizować
COMPREHENSION
Answer the questions below. Try to throw some of the newly learned words into your answers.
- Which question should we always expect to hear during a job interview?
- How can we express passion to the employer’s product, service, or mission?
- Why do you think it is important to prepare an honest answer to this question?
- How can we make a connection between the job and joy?
- What can we say to persuade the interviewer to invest in us?
POLL
Cast your vote in the poll.
COMMENTS
How would you answer the question “Why do you want to work here?” for your current job? Would the answer be different today from the one you perhaps gave during the original interview?
Share your views and experience here.








COMMENTS
Do you agree that it as important to know when your trough? What do you do when your energy levels are dropping? How well do you know your own Circadian Rhythm?
Share your views and experience here.