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E10 M - Responsibilities at school, work and in society

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E10 M - Responsibilities at school, work and in society

Mini-description: Compare responsibilities in school, the workplace, family life and the community. Discuss what is fair, realistic and appropriate in fictional situations. The course is designed for English as a first foreign language, Grade 10, M level, Baden-Württemberg and follows a B1-oriented learning path: English first → understand → respond → analyse → communicate → feedback → revise → transfer.

Look – think – speak: What responsibilities can you see or imagine in this scene? Name three. Then add one responsibility that students should not have.

I can...

I can ...	Goal
understand	understand the main ideas and important details in longer, simple texts and natural standard audio about responsibilities.
compare	compare expectations at school, at work, in a family and in a community.
discuss	give reasons, react spontaneously, disagree politely and negotiate a fair solution.
write	write an appropriate email, application text, report, article or opinion paragraph.
mediate	pass on relevant information for a clear purpose and audience instead of translating word for word.
revise	use feedback to improve clarity, structure, vocabulary and grammar.

Before you start: prior knowledge

Work in English first.

Responsibility check: Finish the sentence: “A responsibility is ...”
Modal check: Give one example with must, have to, should and don’t have to.
Discussion check: Give one polite phrase for agreeing and one for disagreeing.
Writing check: Name two differences between an informal and a formal email.

Quick rule: Do not translate every word. First ask: What do I already understand from the context?

Media entry: four areas of responsibility

School

30-second challenge: Describe what good group responsibility could look like here. Use: Everyone should... / One person could... / It would be unfair if...

Workplace

Think: In a workplace, which expectations are about reliability, which are about teamwork, and which need to be negotiated?

Family

Media literacy: This photo shows one specific household and time. Describe only what you can observe. Do not generalise about countries, cultures or “typical families”.

Community

Think: Is volunteering still a responsibility if nobody can force you to do it? Give one reason for your answer.

Understand

Core idea

A responsibility is something a person is expected to do or take care of. Expectations can come from rules, agreements, roles, relationships or personal choices.

Not every expectation is automatically fair. To judge an expectation, ask:

Fairness: Is the task shared in a reasonable way?
Ability: Can the person realistically do it?
Time: Does the person have enough time?
Safety: Is the task safe and age-appropriate?
Communication: Was the expectation explained clearly?
Choice: Is it a duty, a request or voluntary help?

A useful discussion sentence is:

“The expectation seems reasonable because ... However, it may need to change if ...”

Context vocabulary

Word or phrase	Simple English meaning	Example
responsibility	something you are expected to take care of	Finishing your part of a group task is a responsibility.
reliable	doing what you promised	A reliable colleague arrives prepared.
deadline	the latest time when work must be finished	Our deadline is Friday afternoon.
workload	the amount of work a person has	Her workload is too high this week.
household chore	a regular job at home	Cooking can be a shared household chore.
volunteer	a person who chooses to help without being forced	The volunteers organise a community event.
expectation	what someone believes should happen	The manager’s expectation must be clear and realistic.
compromise	a solution in which both sides change something	We found a compromise about the rota.
accountable	expected to explain or take responsibility for a result	Each team member is accountable for one task.
boundary	a reasonable limit	It is important to communicate a boundary politely.

Use the words in context. Do not learn the list as isolated translations.

Pronunciation focus

Say these words slowly, then in a full sentence:

Word	Main stress	Practice sentence
responsibility	responsiBILity	Taking responsibility means doing your part.
reliable	reLIable	A reliable team member communicates early.
community	comMUnity	Our community project needs volunteers.
appropriate	apPROpriate	Is this expectation appropriate for the situation?

Goal: Be understandable. Accent-free speech is not the goal. Clear stress, useful pauses and complete ideas matter more.

Listening and viewing

Workplace viewing 1: notice the problems

Watch the British Council job-interview scene once at natural speed.

First viewing: What is Daniel trying to achieve?
Second viewing: Note three moments where he shows weak professional responsibility.
Analyse: Which problem is about honesty, which is about teamwork, and which is about communication?
Respond: Choose one answer and improve it in your own words.

Do not copy the transcript. Use short notes.

Workplace viewing 2: compare approaches

Now watch the second British Council interview.

Focus	Your note
responsibility	What responsibility does Sarah want to take on?
teamwork	How does she describe dealing with conflict?
volunteering	What voluntary activity does she mention?
questions	What does she ask the employer about?

Compare: Which answers sound more responsible, and why? Use evidence from the video, not personal assumptions.

Natural workplace English

This BBC Learning English workplace material contains natural connected speech and workplace vocabulary.

Listening strategy:

First listen: catch the situation and speakers’ goals.
Second listen: catch useful phrases.
Third listen only if needed: check one difficult section.

Do not stop after every unknown word.

Read

Reading: Four responsibilities, one busy week

Fictional text

Alex is 16 and has a busy week. At school, Alex is part of a group preparing a presentation about local transport. The group has agreed that each person will research one topic and upload notes to the school platform by Wednesday. Alex also has a maths test on Thursday.

At home, Alex usually cooks dinner on Tuesdays because a parent works late. This week, Alex’s younger sibling is ill, so the family asks Alex to help for an extra evening. Alex wants to help but is worried about the group deadline.

On Friday, Alex has a two-hour shift at a fictional student café used for a school work-experience project. The supervisor expects students to arrive on time, wear suitable clothes, communicate politely and report mistakes instead of hiding them.

At the weekend, Alex has also signed up for a voluntary community clean-up. The event matters to Alex, but participation is voluntary. Alex now has to decide what can be moved, what cannot be moved, and who needs to be informed.

Task A – understand: Identify one responsibility in each area: school, family, workplace and community.

Task B – analyse: Which responsibilities are fixed, which are negotiable and which are voluntary?

Task C – respond: Write 80–100 words of advice to Alex. Give at least two reasons and one practical communication step.

Reading strategy: evidence before opinion

Use this three-step pattern:

Step	Question	Useful language
Evidence	What does the text actually say?	The text states that...
Interpretation	What does this suggest?	This suggests that...
Evaluation	Is the expectation reasonable?	I think this is reasonable because...

Important: Do not turn a guess into a fact.

Respond

Quick situations

For each fictional situation, answer in 2–3 sentences.

School: Your partner has not finished their part of a presentation. The deadline is tomorrow. What should you say?
Work: A supervisor asks you to stay 30 minutes longer, but you have an important family commitment. How can you respond professionally?
Family: Two siblings think the weekly chores are unfair. What information is needed before judging the situation?
Community: A friend agreed to help at a voluntary event but now has an exam the next day. What would a responsible response look like?

Challenge: Use at least one phrase with should, one with have to, and one compromise phrase.

Analyse

What makes an expectation appropriate?

Use the FAIR check:

Letter	Question
F	Fair? Is the task shared reasonably?
A	Achievable? Does the person have the time, skills and resources?
I	Informed? Was the expectation communicated clearly?
R	Respectful? Does it respect safety, boundaries and the person’s situation?

Do not confuse equal with fair. Equal means everyone gets the same task. Fair may mean tasks differ because time, ability or circumstances differ.

Scenario lab

Fictional situation: A class is organising an open-day event. Jamie designs the poster, Robin contacts guests, Casey prepares the room and Taylor gives the presentation. Two days before the event, Casey becomes ill. The teacher says: “The group must solve this.”

Discuss:

Which tasks are essential?
Which tasks can be redistributed?
What should the teacher reasonably expect?
What should the group reasonably expect from Casey?
Which solution protects both the project and the people?

Use evidence from the situation. Do not invent private information about the characters.

Communicate

Speaking: negotiate responsibilities

Work in pairs or groups.

Situation: You are planning a fictional school-community event. You have four jobs: welcome desk, room preparation, short presentation and clean-up. One person has sports training, one has a family duty, one dislikes public speaking and one is available only in the morning.

Your goal is not to “win”. Your goal is to agree on a fair plan.

Useful phrases:

Function	Phrase
suggest	I suggest that we...
explain a limit	I can do that, but I won’t be available after...
ask for a reason	Could you explain why that would work better?
disagree politely	I see your point, but I’m not sure that is fair because...
compromise	What if we split the task?
react spontaneously	That could work. Let me think...
clarify	Do you mean that...?
conclude	So we have agreed that...

Recording: A recording is optional. If you record, keep it private or local unless your teacher has explicitly organised a protected school process. Do not upload voices, names, photos or personal data to public platforms or external AI tools.

Speaking: 60-second mini-presentation

Choose one statement:

“Students should have more responsibility for organising school life.”
“A good workplace gives responsibility and support.”
“Family responsibilities should change when circumstances change.”
“Community responsibility starts with small actions.”

Structure:

Position → two reasons → one example → short conclusion

Then answer one spontaneous follow-up question.

Functional grammar

Modals and responsibility

Form	Function	Example
must	strong obligation from speaker or rule context	We must follow the safety instructions.
have to	external requirement or practical necessity	I have to finish my shift at six.
should	advice or reasonable expectation	You should tell the group early.
don’t have to	no necessity	You don’t have to volunteer.
mustn’t	prohibition	You mustn’t share private applicant data.
could	option or polite suggestion	We could swap the two tasks.
be expected to	describe an expectation	Team members are expected to meet deadlines.

Common error: mustn’t does not mean “not necessary”. Use don’t have to for no necessity.

Conditionals for negotiation

Use a real or likely condition:

If I take the morning shift, could you do the clean-up?

If the deadline changes, we can divide the research again.

Use these forms to solve a problem, not just to show grammar knowledge.

Write

Writing choice board

Choose one task. Use fictional names and organisations only.

Text type	Fictional task	Target
informal email	Write to a friend about a responsibility conflict and suggest a solution.	120–150 words
formal email	Write to a fictional supervisor to explain a scheduling problem and propose two solutions.	140–170 words
application and mini-CV	Apply for a fictional weekend helper role. Show reliability, teamwork and one relevant experience.	short application plus one-page fictional CV
report	Write a short report on how a fictional class project shared responsibilities.	150–180 words
article	Write an article for a fictional school website: “What makes responsibility fair?”	160–190 words
opinion with source reference	Use one course source and discuss whether volunteering should be expected from teenagers.	160–190 words

Source reference: Name the source clearly, e.g. “In the British Council interview video, the applicant describes...”. Do not copy long passages.

Writing support: B1 structure

Opening → main point → reasons and examples → possible counterpoint → solution or conclusion

Useful connectors: firstly, however, because of this, for example, in addition, on the other hand, therefore, in conclusion.

Mediation

Purpose before translation

German source for a fictional school event:

“Für den Aktionstag am Samstag werden noch Helferinnen und Helfer gesucht. Treffpunkt ist um 9:00 Uhr in der Aula. Die Aufgaben werden vor Ort verteilt. Wer nur vormittags Zeit hat, kann trotzdem teilnehmen. Arbeitsmaterial wird gestellt. Bitte feste Schuhe mitbringen. Die Teilnahme ist freiwillig.”

Situation: Your fictional English-speaking exchange partner Sam asks: “Can I join if I only have time before lunch, and what do I need to bring?”

Respond in English in 40–60 words.

Rule: Give the information Sam needs. Do not translate every sentence.

Mediation check

Before you answer, ask:

Who needs the information?
What is the purpose?
Which details are relevant?
Can I paraphrase instead of translating?
Is my message clear and culturally neutral?

Feedback

Peer feedback: CARE

C	Clear – Is the main message easy to understand?
A	Appropriate – Does the language fit the audience and situation?
R	Reasons – Are opinions supported with reasons or evidence?
E	English – Are grammar and vocabulary accurate enough for clear communication?

Give feedback in this order:

One strength → one specific improvement → one revision idea

Example: “Your position is clear. Add one example to support your second reason. You could use the school-project situation.”

Revise

Error analysis

Correct the fictional learner sentences and explain the problem briefly.

Draft	Better version	Focus
I must to help my team.	I must help my team.	modal plus base form
I have not to stay late.	I don’t have to stay late.	no necessity
I am agree with the manager.	I agree with the manager.	verb pattern
The work is too much and I say nothing.	The workload is too high, so I should speak to my supervisor.	precise vocabulary and solution
Everybody gets the same task, so it is always fair.	The same task is equal, but it is not always fair.	reasoning

Now choose two mistakes from your own draft. Correct them and state the rule in simple English.

Revision routine

Use RERUN:

Read for meaning.
Evidence: check facts and source references.
Reasons: add support where needed.
Useful language: improve connectors and precise vocabulary.
Notice errors: correct grammar, spelling and register.

Keep your own voice. Do not replace your whole text with an automatically generated version.

Source and AI check

If you use digital tools or AI suggestions:

Check factual claims against a reliable source.
Keep a note of which source you used.
Do not enter real names, private applications, CV data, voices, photos or school-internal information into external AI services.
Use fictional profiles for practice.
Keep your original draft and decide yourself which suggestions to accept.
If a tool gives a claim you cannot verify, do not present it as a fact.

Your work remains your work.

Transfer

From one context to another

Complete the table with your own examples.

Skill	School	Workplace	Family	Community
reliability	meet a project deadline	...	...	...
communication	...	explain a problem early	...	...
negotiation	...	...	share chores fairly	...
accountability	...	...	...	report what you agreed to do

Then answer:

Which responsibility skill transfers best across all four areas? Give two examples.

Can-do check

Mark each statement: secure / almost / practise again.

Can-do statement	secure	almost	practise again
I can understand the main point of natural standard audio about work and responsibility.
I can compare expectations in four different areas of life.
I can use evidence before giving an evaluation.
I can negotiate a fair solution and react spontaneously.
I can write for a clear audience and purpose.
I can mediate relevant information without translating everything.
I can use must, have to, should, don’t have to and could accurately enough for clear communication.
I can use feedback to revise my own text.

Current exam connection: Baden-Württemberg

Checked on 2 October 2026. If you take the Realschulabschluss 2027 on M level, the current official Baden-Württemberg documents state that the written compulsory foreign-language exam includes listening, text-based work, vocabulary and grammar in context, language production and method-related tasks. The pure working time is 150 minutes plus a 20-minute break after Part A. No dictionary is available for Part A; a bilingual dictionary is available for Parts B–E under the current rules.

The current official communication-exam criteria require monologic speaking, dialogic speaking and mediation. The exam is about 15 minutes per student, with no preparation time between the three parts. The official window for the 2027 communication exam is 22 February to 2 March 2027; the written English exam is scheduled for 3 May 2027.

Important: Always check the newest official information from your school and the Ministry before an exam because rules can change.

Official Ministry page: Abschlussprüfung Haupt- und Realschulen

Official Ministry page: Prüfungstermine

Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg: Englisch als erste Fremdsprache, Klasse 10

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which sentence expresses advice rather than a strict obligation? (You should tell your group early.) (!You must follow the safety rule.) (!You have to arrive before the shift starts.) (!You mustn’t share private data.)

Which phrase means that something is not necessary? (You don’t have to do it.) (!You mustn’t do it.) (!You have to do it.) (!You should do it.)

What is the best first step when judging an expectation? (Check the situation and available evidence.) (!Assume that every rule is fair.) (!Translate every word into German.) (!Choose the fastest solution without discussion.)

What is the main goal of mediation? (Pass on relevant information for a purpose and audience.) (!Translate every sentence word for word.) (!Use the longest vocabulary possible.) (!Add information that is not in the source.)

Which action shows workplace reliability? (Informing a supervisor early about a problem.) (!Hiding a mistake to avoid criticism.) (!Ignoring a deadline without explanation.) (!Changing a task without telling the team.)

Which sentence is a polite disagreement? (I see your point, but I’m not sure that is fair.) (!That is completely stupid.) (!You are wrong and I am right.) (!I will not listen to your reason.)

Which factor belongs to the FAIR check? (Achievable.) (!Famous.) (!Automatic.) (!Random.)

What should you do before using a claim from an AI tool? (Check it against a reliable source.) (!Treat it as automatically correct.) (!Delete your own original draft.) (!Upload personal data for better results.)

Which sentence uses the modal correctly? (We must finish our part today.) (!We must to finish our part today.) (!We must finishing our part today.) (!We must finished our part today.)

What makes a strong B1 discussion answer? (A clear position with reasons and an example.) (!A list of difficult words without a point.) (!A complete German translation first.) (!An opinion with no explanation.)

Memory

deadline	latest time when work must be finished
compromise	solution in which both sides change something
workload	amount of work a person has
reliable	doing what you promised
volunteer	person who chooses to help
boundary	reasonable personal limit
accountable	expected to explain a result
expectation	belief about what someone should do

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
must	strong obligation
should	advice
don’t have to	no necessity
mustn’t	prohibition
could	possible suggestion

Kreuzworträtsel

deadline	What word means the latest time when work must be finished?
volunteer	What do you call a person who chooses to help without being forced?
fairness	What idea asks whether expectations are shared reasonably?
feedback	What helps you improve a draft after another person responds to it?
reliable	Which adjective describes someone who does what they promised?
respect	What value helps people communicate boundaries appropriately?

LearningApps

Lückentext

A responsibility is something a person is expected to

. A fair expectation should be realistic, clearly communicated and

. The modal verb

is useful for advice, while must can express a strong obligation. If something is not necessary, English often uses

. In a discussion, a strong opinion includes reasons and

. In mediation, you pass on the information that is relevant for the

. Good feedback should be specific and help a learner

a draft. Before using factual information from an AI tool, you should

it with a reliable source.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Responsibility photo analysis: Choose one course image and write five English sentences about responsibilities you can observe or reasonably infer. Separate observation from inference.
Modal mini-dialogue: Write an eight-line fictional dialogue using must, should, don’t have to and could.
Fair or unfair: Create three fictional expectations and explain in one sentence each why they are fair, unfair or negotiable.
Vocabulary map: Make a concept map linking responsibility, deadline, workload, compromise, boundary and reliability.

Standard

School responsibility interview: Conduct a short fictional role-play interview about responsibilities in a school project. Use follow-up questions.
Workplace email: Write a formal email to a fictional supervisor about a schedule conflict and propose two workable solutions.
Family negotiation: Design a fictional weekly household plan for four people with different time limits. Explain why the plan is fair.
Community project pitch: Prepare a 90-second English pitch for a fictional community project and explain which responsibilities volunteers would have.

Schwer

Source comparison: Compare one course video with the reading text. Identify two similarities and two differences in how responsibility is shown.
Mini debate: Discuss the statement “Schools should require community service.” Present a position, one counterargument and a compromise. Do not claim that one solution fits every culture or school system.
Fictional application: Create a fictional application and CV for a weekend role. Then annotate where you show reliability, teamwork and responsibility.
Responsibility policy: Write a 200-word proposal for a fictional school project team. Include roles, communication rules, deadlines, a conflict procedure and a revision after peer feedback.

Lernkontrolle

Case analysis: A student has a school deadline, a family duty and a voluntary event on the same weekend. Explain how you would decide what is fixed, negotiable and voluntary.
Transfer: Show how the same skill, such as reliability or communication, works differently at school and in a workplace.
Negotiation: Write a short dialogue in which two people disagree about a task and reach a compromise without ignoring either person’s limits.
Evidence-based opinion: Use one course source to support an opinion about fair responsibility. Clearly separate source information from your own judgement.
Mediation transfer: Summarise a short German event notice in English for a fictional person with a specific question. Include only relevant details.
Revision task: Improve a weak paragraph by adding a clear position, one reason, one example, a connector and a more appropriate modal verb.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, you should be able to show that you can:

understand key ideas and relevant details from B1-oriented reading and natural standard audio.
compare responsibilities in school, workplace, family and community contexts.
discuss whether expectations are fair, realistic, safe and clearly communicated.
negotiate and react spontaneously using appropriate English.
write for a clear audience and purpose in an appropriate register.
mediate relevant information without full translation.
use modals and conditionals to express obligation, advice, limits and compromise.
use a source accurately and distinguish evidence from opinion.
revise your own work after feedback.
protect privacy by using fictional profiles and avoiding unnecessary uploads of personal data.

OERs zum Thema

OER media note: The Wikimedia Commons images in this course are linked to their file-description pages, where author and licence information can be checked. Use media as evidence and learning material, not as decoration.

Follow-up course

Continue with:

E10 M - Rights, rules and civic participation

Transfer question: How are responsibilities connected to rights, rules and participation?

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

E10 M - Responsibilities at school, work and in society

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