View Content #29165

This activity was created to support learners studying Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP). Specifically, it guides learners in the exploration of the effects of rank of imposition at work. It was created for Intermediate and Advanced learners, and it would be particularly useful for Facilitated Interdependent Language Learning contexts or other language self-study contexts. As such, the instructions are written with the learner as the intended audience.

Learning outcomes:
Learners will be able to:

• Sort requests into categories of more or less imposition based on type of request
• Sort requests into categories of more or less imposition based on the person being asked
• Provide justification for how they sorted requests

Mode(s): Interpersonal, Presentational

Materials: Rank of Imposition in the Workplace video, How Much Imposition? worksheet

Procedure:

1. First, think about situations at work where you find it easy to ask for more time to complete a task, or to borrow an item from someone else. Then think about situations where you find it challenging to ask. What similarities are there between these two types of situations? What differences are there?
2. Then, watch the Rank of Imposition in the Workplace video.
3. Next, think about the people you communicate with at work. If you do not currently work in the setting for which you are learning the target language, imagine who you might work with in this future setting.
4. On the How Much Imposition? worksheet, read through the Time Request Bank and the Resource Request Bank for examples of requests one might make in the workplace. If these requests do not fit your context, feel free to add your own examples.
5. Then, sort the examples into where they fall in the chart on the handout. As you sort, think about how both the type of ask (time or resource) and the person you are asking (coworker or supervisor) affect how large of an imposition the request could be.
6. As you sort, note that rank of imposition is a continuum. Thus you do not need to sort the situations into two distinct categories of imposition. Instead, think about how the situations relate to one another in terms of imposition, and place them accordingly along the continuum.
7. After you are done sorting, notice if there are any patterns in how you sorted the situations based on type of ask. Then, notice any patterns based on the identity of the person being asked. Are there similarities or differences in how much of an imposition a time ask is versus a resource ask? How about for asking a coworker (peer) versus asking a supervisor? Why do you think these similarities or differences exist?

Notes:

• The examples included in this activity are all in English. Please feel free to update to the language that is most relevant to your context.
• If you complete the word sort in both your L1 and an L2, compare your sorts and notice any similarities or differences based on the language being spoken in the workplace.