Interviews

High-intermediate

Agree or Disagree? (Opinion Poll)

Present the statements below:

• Then, students indicate agreement/disagreement (thumbs up/down, move to different sides of the room, or write responses).
• Briefly discuss opinions.

1. Honesty is always the most important trait in any relationship.
2. A good boss should be strict and manage employees closely.
3. It’s better to give indirect feedback rather than being too blunt.
4. You should always tell someone if they have food in their teeth, no matter the situation.
5. “It’s okay to tell a small lie to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.”
6. Integrity is more important than kindness in a leader.
7. Encouragement is more valuable than honesty in a close relationship.
8. A boss should prioritize making employees feel comfortable over giving constructive criticism.
9. A person’s character traits don’t change depending on the situation.
10. Being too honest can sometimes cause more harm than good.

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the video:

• honest (adjective): truthful, sincere, not lying
  – It is important to be honest when talking to your friends.
  – She gave an honest answer, even though it was difficult.

• manage (verb): to control, direct, or organize
  – A good boss knows how to manage a team well.
  – He learned to manage his time better after starting his new job.

• integrity (noun): strong moral principles, honesty, and fairness
  – The teacher is respected because of her integrity.
  – He showed great integrity by admitting his mistake.

• discreetly (adverb): carefully, privately, without drawing attention
  – She discreetly told her friend about the mistake.
  – He discreetly left the meeting to take an important call.

• feedback (noun): advice, opinion, or response about performance
  – The manager gave helpful feedback on my project.
  – Students need feedback to improve their writing.

Now, watch the interview and answer the comprehension questions. You can also turn on the automatically-generated captions for the video once you start it.

Randall: In this video, Aubrey, let’s talk about some of the top best personal traits that you might find or seek after in other individuals, whether it be a close friend, whether it be a parent, whether it be a teacher, a coworker, or a boss. What traits do you value most?

Aubrey: Yeah, I guess it does depend on who we’re talking about. Like, I might value different traits in a boss versus like a partner. In a partner, I’m looking for, you know, someone who’s honest and open, maybe encouraging, um, understanding of, you know, where I am in life, where, like, in a boss, I need someone to manage me, right? I don’t want my partner to manage me.

Randall: Oh, that’s a good point.

Aubrey: I guess it just depends. Um, you know, honesty, integrity, those are good ones, but again, it’s situational, right? You do want people to be honest, but how honest?

Randall: And that is really important. I mean, it’s such a situation. Let’s say you go out to eat and someone has broccoli in their teeth. I mean, I, I’d probably even if it were a first date, I would probably say something discreetly like, “Oh, sorry, I, you have some broccoli in your teeth” versus they finding out two hours later . ..  It becomes so obvious that you haven’t said anything, and I don’t think that’s good of . . . [unclear].

Aubrey: Oh yeah, it’s so awkward.

Randall: And then you mentioned about a boss. I want someone that is very directed who will make good decisions, sometimes provide meaningful . . . well, not well, always provide meaningful feedback, but not beating around the bush. You know, just tell me how it is and give me opportunities to improve.

Aubrey: Yeah, exactly.

Randall: All right. Thank you.

Intermediate Level

1. What personal trait do you think is the most important in a friend? Why?
2. Aubrey says she values honesty, but she asks, “How honest?” What do you think she means by that?
3. Would you tell someone if they had food in their teeth? Why or why not?
4. Randall mentions that a good boss gives direct feedback. How do you like to receive feedback?
5. Think about your favorite teacher. What personal traits made them a good teacher?

Advanced Level

1. Do you think personal traits change over time, or do people always stay the same? Explain.
2. In what situations might honesty be harmful rather than helpful? Give an example.
3. Randall and Aubrey discuss how different relationships require different traits. Do you agree, or do you think the same traits should apply to all relationships?
4. In a professional setting, is it better for a boss to be strict or supportive? Why?
5. If you had to choose between being respected or being liked, which would you prefer? Why?

Kinesthetic Learners (Role-Playing & Interactive Stations)

• Role-Playing Activity: Students act out different scenarios based on the interview, such as giving a coworker constructive feedback or handling an awkward honesty situation (e.g., telling someone about food in their teeth).
• Learning Stations: Set up different stations with activities, such as writing a short response, ranking personal traits, or acting out a scenario. Students rotate through stations in small groups.

Here are some possible situations:

1. The Honest Friend

Scenario: Your friend is about to give an important presentation, but their shirt is wrinkled, and they have food in their teeth. Do you tell them? How do you say it?

2. The Direct Boss

Scenario: You are a manager, and an employee is consistently late to work. You need to give them honest but professional feedback. How do you handle the situation?

3. The Supportive Teacher

Scenario: A student in your class is struggling but feels embarrassed to ask for help. How can you encourage them while being honest about their progress?

4. The Awkward Date

Scenario: You are on a first date, and the other person makes a joke that is a little rude. Do you say something or let it go? How honest should you be?

5. The Encouraging Friend

Scenario: Your friend is auditioning for a singing competition, but they don’t sound very good. They ask for your opinion. Do you tell them the truth or focus on encouragement?

6. The Team Player at Work

Scenario: A coworker made a mistake on an important report, and your boss will see it soon. Do you tell your coworker or let the boss handle it? How do you phrase your feedback?

7. The Honest Customer

Scenario: You order food at a restaurant, but the waiter brings you the wrong dish. You don’t want to be rude, but you also don’t want to eat something you didn’t order. How do you handle it?

The following activities deal with related topics to give you additional language practice.

• Introvert or Extrovert?