hoc et illud

🍹“I work hard, but nobody sees me” (A2)

Verfasst von

wolfgang kugler

in

,

– How it feels to be unappreciated at work — and how I can stay strong, proud, and professional

🌟 How I Feel at Work

I work in the restaurant of a five-star hotel. Every day, I try to do my best. I work hard when it is busy, I help my team, and I stay polite with the guests. But many times, I feel like no one sees what I do.

My group leader does not give me good feedback. They only talk when something is wrong. My colleagues do not say “thank you” when I help them. I feel like my work is not important.

Because of this, I feel sad and tired. Sometimes I think I am not good enough. It is difficult to work hard every day when no one says anything nice. It makes me feel alone at work.

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💬 What I Can Do

1. Look at real signs of my good work

Sometimes people do not say “thank you,” but that does not mean my work is bad.
I can look at other things to understand my value:

  • Guests are happy when I serve them.
  • They smile and say nice words.
  • My service is clean and correct.
  • I finish my tasks on time.
    These signs show me that I am doing a good job, even if no one says it out loud.

2. Ask for feedback in a polite way

If my leader does not give me feedback, I can ask for it.
I can say something simple, like:

“I want to learn and grow. Can you please tell me what I do well and what I can improve?”

This shows that I care about my work. It also gives my leader a chance to see my effort and maybe give me more feedback in the future.

3. Keep doing my best every day

Even if I do not hear “good job,” I can still be professional.
I can:

  • Be on time for every shift.
  • Wear my uniform correctly.
  • Be calm and polite, even when it is busy.
  • Serve guests with a smile.
    People may not always talk, but they notice. Over time, this builds respect.

4. Build good relationships with my colleagues

Sometimes colleagues do not talk much because they are tired or stressed. It does not always mean they don’t like me.
I can:

  • Smile and greet them.
  • Offer help when they are busy.
  • Say “thank you” to them first.
    This can make the team feel closer and more friendly. When people feel connected, they start to show more respect and appreciation.

5. Remember my own value

I work hard. I give my best. I am responsible. These things make me strong.
Even if nobody says it, I know what I do. I should not let the silence of others make me doubt myself. I can be proud of my work and of who I am.

6. Think about the future if nothing changes

If I try everything and still feel unappreciated, then maybe the problem is not me.
I can:

  • Talk to someone I trust, like HR or a senior staff member.
  • Think about other opportunities in the future where my work is respected more.
    I have the right to feel valued and respected at work.

___________________

Vocabulary:

  • unappreciated – when people do not say “thank you” for your work.
  • to be proud – to feel good about what you did.
  • busy – when you have a lot to do.
  • to stay polite – to be friendly and respectful to people.
  • a feedback – what someone tells you about your work.
  • a colleague – a person who works with you.
  • to be tired – to need rest.
  • a sign of good work – something that shows you did well.
  • a personal value – something important to you.
  • to serve guests – to help people who visit.
  • to finish on time – to complete something before the deadline.
  • a task – a small job or thing to do.
  • to grow (character) – to become a better person.
  • to care about something – to think something is important.
  • an effort – when you try hard.
  • maybe – it is possible.
  • to wear a uniform – to put on work clothes.
  • to be calm – to feel relaxed and quiet.
  • to notice something – to see or hear something.
  • to build respect – to make people trust and like you.
  • a relationship – a connection between people.
  • to be stressed – to feel worried or nervous.
  • to greet somebody – to say “hello” to someone.
  • to feel connected – to feel close to other people.
  • to show respect – to be kind and polite to others.
  • appreciation – saying thank you for something good.
  • a value (character) – a good quality of a person.
  • to be responsible – to do what you must do.
  • a silence – when nobody speaks.
  • to doubt oneself – to not believe in yourself.
  • to trust somebody – to believe someone is honest and good.
  • an opportunity – a good chance to do something.
  • to feel valued – to feel people see your good work.

###################

audio fil 1: 1-1

Audio file 2: 18-20

Multiple choice, one answer correct:

1. What does “unappreciated” mean?
a) People do not say thank you
b) People always agree with you
c) People give many gifts

2. To be proud means:
a) To feel angry at others
b) To feel good about yourself
c) To feel very sleepy

3. If someone is busy, they:
a) Have a lot to do every day
b) Never speak to anyone
c) Always feel happy all day

4. To stay polite means:
a) To eat food politely
b) To be friendly and kind
c) To work very quickly

5. A colleague is:
a) A person who works with you
b) A person who travels often
c) A person who goes to school

6. Feedback is:
a) A type of music or song
b) A kind of food you eat
c) What someone tells you about work

7. To serve guests means:
a) To clean all the rooms
b) To help people who visit you
c) To watch television at home

8. A task is:
a) A kind of animal you keep
b) A small job you need to do
c) A type of clothing you wear

9. To care about something means:
a) To ignore it completely
b) To think it is important
c) To sell it to someone

10. An effort is:
a) When you sleep a long time
b) When you try very hard
c) When you run very fast

11. To finish on time means:
a) To complete work before the time
b) To forget your work quickly
c) To stop working early today

12. To wear a uniform means:
a) To put on work clothes
b) To wash clothes every day
c) To buy shoes and shirts

13. To be calm means:
a) To feel very angry often
b) To feel relaxed and quiet
c) To feel hungry all day

14. To notice something means:
a) To lose it very quickly
b) To ignore it completely
c) To see or hear it clearly

15. To build respect means:
a) To argue with everyone all day
b) To make people trust and like you
c) To sleep more than usual

16. A relationship is:
a) A type of food you eat
b) A connection between people
c) A new kind of game you play

17. To be stressed means:
a) To feel worried or nervous
b) To feel very happy all day
c) To feel very strong always
——–end of audio file 1————–

18. To greet somebody means:
a) To say hello to someone
b) To cook food for others
c) To write a letter to friends

19. To feel connected means:
a) To feel very tired and weak
b) To feel lost in a new place
c) To feel close to other people

20. To trust somebody means:
a) To ignore them completely
b) To ask a question about them
c) To believe someone is honest and good

________________
Answers:

1-a, 2-b, 3-a, 4-b, 5-a, 6-c, 7-b,
8-b, 9-b, 10-b, 11-a, 12-a, 13-b, 14-c,
15-b, 16-b, 17-a, 18-a, 19-c, 20-c

________________

Correct version:

  1. What does “unappreciated” mean? – People do not say thank you
  2. To be proud means? – To feel good about yourself
  3. If someone is busy, they? – Have a lot to do every day
  4. To stay polite means? – To be friendly and kind
  5. A colleague is? – A person who works with you
  6. Feedback is? – What someone tells you about work
  7. To serve guests means? – To help people who visit you
  8. A task is? – A small job you need to do
  9. To care about something means? – To think it is important
  10. An effort is? – When you try very hard
  11. To finish on time means? – To complete work before the time
  12. To wear a uniform means? – To put on work clothes
  13. To be calm means? – To feel relaxed and quiet
  14. To notice something means? – To see or hear it clearly
  15. To build respect means? – To make people trust and like you
  16. A relationship is? – A connection between people
  17. To be stressed means? – To feel worried or nervous
  18. To greet somebody means? – To say hello to someone
  19. To feel connected means? – To feel close to other people
  20. To trust somebody means? – To believe someone is honest and good

##############

Fill in:

  1. I feel very _______ when nobody notices my work. (a) unappreciated (b) proud (c) busy
  2. I always try to _______ politely with guests, even when it is busy. (a) stay polite (b) an effort (c) serve guests
  3. My group leader rarely gives me good _______. (a) a task (b) feedback (c) a colleague
  4. Guests smile when I _______ politely. (a) greet (b) build respect (c) serve guests
  5. I make sure to finish each _______ on time. (a) task (b) an effort (c) a sign of good work
  6. After a long day, I often feel _______. (a) angry (b) maybe (c) stressed
  7. I can look for a _______ to see that my work is good. (a) sign of good work (b) relationship (c) notice something
  8. I try not to _______ even if no one says thank you. (a) talk (b) be stressed (c) grow (character)
  9. When I ask politely for _______ I can learn what I do well. (a) feedback (b) a colleague (c) a task
  10. I always wear my uniform correctly and stay _______ at work. (a) calm (b) stressed (c) maybe
  11. Smiling and greeting my colleagues helps me _______ with my team. (a) feel connected (b) serve guests (c) a value
  12. Giving my best every day shows my _______ and responsibility. (a) a silence (b) character (c) personal value
  13. Over time, my good work helps me _______ from others. (a) build respect (b) be stressed (c) trust somebody
  14. Even if nobody says anything, I can still feel _______ for my work. (a) maybe (b) proud (c) busy

———————–
Answers:

1-a, 2-a, 3-b, 4-a, 5-a, 6-c,
7-b, 8-b, 9-a, 10-a, 11-a,
12-c, 13-a, 14-b

##################

True or false:

  1. The author feels unappreciated when nobody notices their work.
  2. The author’s colleagues always say “thank you” when they help.
  3. Guests are happy when the author serves them politely.
  4. The author never asks for feedback.
  5. Finishing tasks on time is a sign of good work.
  6. Smiling at colleagues can help build relationships.
  7. The author feels proud of their work even if nobody says anything.
  8. Wearing the uniform incorrectly shows professionalism.
  9. The author thinks it is impossible to improve their character.
  10. Feeling stressed is something the author tries to avoid.
  11. The author believes that their effort is unimportant.
  12. Guests’ smiles and kind words are signs of good work.
  13. Saying “hello” to colleagues does not affect respect or appreciation.
  14. The author considers it important to feel connected with the team.

___________________
True: 1,3,5,6,7,10,12,14

___________________

Correct version:

  1. The author feels unappreciated when nobody notices their work.
  2. The author’s colleagues always say “thank you” when they help. True is: They do not always say “thank you.”
  3. Guests are happy when the author serves them politely.
  4. The author never asks for feedback. True is: The author sometimes asks politely for feedback.
  5. Finishing tasks on time is a sign of good work.
  6. Smiling at colleagues can help build relationships.
  7. The author feels proud of their work even if nobody says anything.
  8. Wearing the uniform incorrectly shows professionalism. True is: Wearing the uniform correctly shows professionalism.
  9. The author thinks it is impossible to improve their character. True is: The author can grow and improve their character.
  10. Feeling stressed is something the author tries to avoid.
  11. The author believes that their effort is unimportant. True is: The author’s effort is important.
  12. Guests’ smiles and kind words are signs of good work.
  13. Saying “hello” to colleagues does not affect respect or appreciation. True is: Saying “hello” helps build respect and appreciation.
  14. The author considers it important to feel connected with the team.

#################

Match word/s and definition:

Words:

  1. unappreciated
  2. to be proud
  3. busy
  4. to stay polite
  5. a feedback
  6. a colleague
  7. to be tired
  8. a sign of good work
  9. a personal value
  10. to serve guests
  11. to finish on time
  12. a task
  13. to grow (character)
  14. to care about something


Definitions:

a) Something that shows you did well
b) When people do not say “thank you” for your work
c) A person who works with you
d) To think something is important
e) To complete something before the deadline
f) A small job or thing to do
g) To become a better person
h) To feel good about what you did
i) When you have a lot to do
j) To help people who visit
k) To be friendly and respectful
l) To need rest
m) Something important in your character
n) What someone tells you about your work

__________________
Answers:

1-b, 2-h, 3-i, 4-k, 5-n, 6-c, 7-l, 8-a, 9-m, 10-j, 11-e, 12-f, 13-g, 14-d

__________________
Correct version:

  1. unappreciated – When people do not say “thank you” for your work
  2. to be proud – To feel good about what you did
  3. busy – When you have a lot to do
  4. to stay polite – To be friendly and respectful
  5. a feedback – What someone tells you about your work
  6. a colleague – A person who works with you
  7. to be tired – To need rest
  8. a sign of good work – Something that shows you did well
  9. a personal value – Something important in your character
  10. to serve guests – To help people who visit
  11. to finish on time – To complete something before the deadline
  12. a task – A small job or thing to do
  13. to grow (character) – To become a better person
  14. to care about something – To think something is important

###############

Oooooopps, scrambled, which phrase are we looking for:

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