Last year, the Human Resources (HR) department hired over 500 new employees worldwide. The team organized training sessions, updated company policies, and attended international HR conferences. They also managed employee benefits and handled workplace conflicts.
Over the past five years, HR teams have changed the way they work. Many companies have introduced remote hiring processes, and HR professionals have used AI to screen job applications. Some teams have developed online training programs, while others have implemented new diversity policies. HR work has become more digital and global.
2️⃣ Challenging Questions
📌 Text-Based Questions:
- What did the HR department do last year?
- How did HR professionals manage employee benefits?
- What changes have HR teams made in the past five years?
- What new technologies have companies introduced in HR?
💡 Personal & Professional Questions:
5. Have you ever worked in HR or interacted with an HR professional?
6. What hiring or training processes have changed in your company?
7. Did you or someone you know experience a hiring process last year?
3️⃣ Grammar Exploration – Simple Past vs. Present Perfect
📍 Simple Past (Completed Actions in the Past)
- “Last year, the HR department hired new employees.”
- “They organized a training session in July.”
📍 Present Perfect (Actions That Happened Over Time / Have a Connection to Now)
- “HR teams have introduced digital recruitment tools in the last five years.”
- “The company has developed new remote work policies.”
🔹 Practice: Fill in the blanks
- The HR department ______ (interview) 30 candidates last month. (simple past)
- My company ______ (change) its hiring process in the last two years. (present perfect)
- The HR manager ______ (attend) an international HR event last year. (simple past)
- Many companies ______ (implement) new diversity policies recently. (present perfect)
4️⃣ Character Perspective Activity
Imagine you are an HR specialist in a big international company.
✅ Describe one task you completed last year (use the simple past).
✅ Describe one HR change your company has made in the last five years (use the present perfect).
Example:
- “Last year, I organized a leadership training program.” (simple past)
- “My company has introduced a flexible work policy.” (present perfect)
5️⃣ Creative Expansion
✍️ Writing Task:
- Write a short email to a colleague explaining how HR policies have changed in your company in recent years.
🗣️ Speaking Task:
- Imagine you are explaining HR improvements to a new employee. Speak for 30 seconds, using both tenses.
6️⃣ Wrap-Up & Reflection
- What new vocabulary did you learn today?
- How does the present perfect help describe long-term changes?
- How has HR management evolved in your company or industry?