Gig Work and the Gig Economy (Conversation Club)

This week the ‘Thinking in English’ Community is talking about the gig economy!

Gig work is nothing new, in fact, gig work is probably older than fixed employment, but with modern technology, the gig economy has really taken off around the world.

Have you ever been a part of this gig economy? What are the benefits and drawbacks of gig work? What does the future hold for traditional employment and gig work?

Here are 10 conversation questions to get you talking about the gig economy!

The Thinking in English Conversation Club takes place every TUESDAY and THURSDAY at 12pm, 6pm, and 9pm UK time!

You can find more details on how to participate on Patreon and Discord!

Conversation Questions: Gig Work and the Gig Economy

1. Have you ever had a gig, worked freelance, or had a temporary job?

2. How big is the gig economy in your country?

3. What is the best thing about gig work?

4. What is the worst thing about gig work?

5. Have you ever hired someone for a gig?

6. Could your job be done as gig work? Would you consider doing it?

7. Do you think the gig economy will continue to grow in the future?

8. Would you support a family member who wanted to start gig work?

9. When it comes to work, how important are flexibility, autonomy, and independence?

10. “In today’s gig economy most people find themselves doing more things less well for two-thirds of the money.”

– Tina Brown

What do you think of this quote?

Vocabulary List:

• Gig
  • a job that is temporary, does not offer many hours, or may end at any time, usually involving working for yourself rather than for an employer
• Freelance
  • doing particular pieces of work for different organisations, rather than working all the time for a single organisation
• Temporary
  • not lasting or needed for very long
• Hire
  • to employ someone or pay someone to do a particular job
• Consider
  • to spend time thinking about a possibility or making a decision
• Support
  • to agree with and give encouragement to someone or something because you want him, her, or it to succeed
• Flexibility
  • the ability to change or be changed easily according to the situation
• Autonomy
  • the ability to make your own decisions without being controlled by anyone else
• Independence
  • the ability to live your life without being helped or influenced by other people

Model Answers:

B1 (Intermediate) Model Answers

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B2 (Upper Intermediate) Model Answers

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C1 (Advanced Level) Model Answers

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See you all at this week’s conversation club!

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