Interviews

High-intermediate

Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert? Explain.

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

coping strategy (noun):  a behavior or thought process that helps people adjust to new or stressful situations
– What is your coping strategy when you find yourself in stressful situations?

gathering (noun): a group of people getting together
– I am looking forward to the family gathering later this week.

ambivert (noun): a person who displays both introverted and extroverted traits
– My brother is an ambivert. He feels comfortable spending time alone reading a book and going to loud parties with a lot of people.

contemplation (noun): deep reflective thought, thinking about something for a long time
– I enjoy spending time in my room in the evening for quiet contemplation.

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, let us talk about whether we are introverts or extroverts. Aubrey, where do you find yourself on that spectrum? And also, is that situational?

Aubrey: Oh, I’m sure you’ll all be surprised to hear that I’m an introvert, and it’s all the time. I don’t want to go around people.

Randall: Okay. So talk just a little bit about that. When you say that you’re an introvert, uh, how does that play out in work or in, you know, relationships and family? How would you describe that?

Aubrey: Yeah. I mean, I have some pretty serious social anxiety, and, like, leaving my house and going places is hard. And then when there are people at those places like my social battery gets drained really fast, um, so like it’s usually not too bad going to like small gatherings as long as I have the ability to leave at any time.

Randall: Okay. All right. And that is perhaps, could you say, kind of a coping strategy in that particular situation? I have a way of exiting as needed.

Aubrey: I’m not trapped. Yeah.

Randall: Okay. Uh, Emily.

Emily: I’d primarily agree with Aubrey. I’m also an introvert, Just not quite to the extent that she is. I really like being by myself a lot of the time, listening to podcasts.

Randall: Okay.

Aubrey: What about you?

Randall: How would you describe me?

Aubrey: Yeah.

Randall: I don’t know. How would you describe me?

Emily: Introverted.

Randall: Okay

Aubrey: Maybe an ambivert.

Randall: Okay. And in what way both? You know, you’re talking about that, Emily.

Emily: In what way both for you?

Randall: Yeah. Yeah. As an introverted person, how would you describe that? Because a lot of people who are watching probably only see me in a very one-dimensional way, you know, on the internet and so forth.

Emily: Yeah. Uh, I feel like you’re very, you’re very friendly, and you’re kind and things like that, but I think you really value quiet contemplation and just spending a lot of time by yourself. Like you run by yourself. You do a lot of your, like, thought processing and stuff just by yourself. And I think that that primarily makes you kind of introverted.

Randall: Yeah, I agree. I agree. Aubrey Any thoughts on that?

Aubrey: I was going to say, on the other hand, though, um, you do talk to random people sometimes, which is something I avoid.

Emily: That, that is true. There are some times I’m like, What are you doing? Let’s go.

Aubrey: Why are we talking to that person?

Randall: And often I have to find boundaries, like you mentioned, Aubrey, about going to an activity and so forth. I have to feel comfortable that I can step away from the situation if I’m feeling uncomfortable for whatever reason. All right. Well, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on being an extrovert or an introvert.

Describe each person in your family. Are they introverts or extroverts?  What about some of your friends? What are the pros and cons of each personality type?

Easy Level:

1. Are Aubrey and Emily more comfortable spending time alone or with other people?
2. How does Aubrey feel about going out and being around others?
3. Should people have the option to leave social situations if they start feeling tired or overwhelmed?