Teamwork

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Today's English Lesson

Teamwork

A: So, does that sound okay with you?

B: What? Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't hear what you said.

A: You seem preoccupied today. What's up?

B: Oh, it's this guy I know from this class I'm taking. His name is Richard. I think I've mentioned him before.

A: Yeah, sure, the guy you're working on a project with. Right?

B: Yeah, that's him. The four of us are supposed to be working as a team on this project and I'm having a lot of trouble dealing with him.

A: What do you mean?

B: Well, he doesn't know how to express his opinion without putting other people down. And, he always has to be right.

A: He sounds a little immature.

B: Yeah, I think it's partly that. He doesn't know how to be diplomatic with people.

A: He doesn't know how or he doesn't want to.

B: I don't know, but I do know that sometimes he really gets the better of me.

A: Well, he sounds pretty hard to get along with. Are the other people in your group feeling the same way?

B: Yeah, in fact, they're fed up with him. I keep having to run interference when our discussions get too heated. Actually, I feel really sorry for the guy. He doesn't seem to have too many friends and he always seems so unhappy.

A: Well, I think you're helping just by putting up with him.

B: Thanks for trying to make me feel better. OK, now what were you saying

Sound ok:seems alright يبدو حسنا

Preoccupied: worried about قلق

Mentioned يذكر

dealing with تعامل مع

putting other people down: insult people يهين الناس

immature غير ناضج

diplomatic لبق – مهذب

gets the better of: get angry by يضايق

get along with يتفق مع

fed up with: tired of يتعب من

to run interference: to help someone achieve something by dealing with the people or problems that might prevent them from doing so
منفعل heated
feel really sorry for the guy اسفة علي هذا الرجل

putting up with: tolerate يتحمل