IELTS Speaking Lesson about Teamwork
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Table of Contents
Teamwork is a popular topic in IELTS Speaking, but not an easy one to talk about. In this lesson you will find ideas to talk about it, essential vocabulary, advanced idioms and also a discussion about the pros and cons of teamwork.
Teamwork Examples
IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Teamwork
Teamwork (n. Uncountable) = Working together on an activity to achieve a common goal
- Effective teamwork
- Good teamwork
- To encourage teamwork
To collaborate /kəˈlæ bə reɪt/ = To work together on an activity to achieve a common goal
_____ on a project
_____ with someone
In close collaboration with someone
The students collaborated on a group project to create a presentation to
their classmates.The sales team worked in close collaboration with the marketing
team.
To cooperate /kəʊˈɒp ər eɪt/
_____ on a project
_____ with someone
John is on our team, but he isn’t cooperating, he just wants to do his
own thing.
To coordinate /kəʊˈɔː dɪ neɪt/ = To organise the different parts so they work effectively as a whole
___________ people
___________ activities
___________ a campaign
___________ efforts
I need to coordinate my staff so they can work more effectively.
Synergy (n. UN or C) /ˈsɪn ə dʒi/ = The combined power of a group or team, that is greater than the
power of the individual parts
The synergy between people / teams
Good _____
Powerful ____
Our team’s synergy led to an innovative solution that none of us could
have developed alone.
Team dynamics (n.) /daɪˈnæm ɪks/ = The way that individuals in a team interact with each other
The team dynamics are good, let’s not change anything for the moment.
IELTS Speaking Idioms: Teamwork
Can you guess these idioms?
Answers
1. To work hand in hand = to work closely together
Related idioms
- Two heads are better than one = you get better ideas with more
people. - Many hands make light work (proverb) = more people make the
work easier - The sky is the limit = There are no limits
- To put your heads together = to work closely together and share
ideas
2. To pull your weight = to work as hard as others in a group, do your responsibilities.
I don’t like working with Jane, she never pulls her weight!
Related idioms
- Dead weight = unnecessary things or people (especially in a team or project), often a liability
3. To see eye to eye = to agree I don’t always see eye to eye with my colleagues.
Related idioms
- To be on the same page = to have the same idea (about something)
- To be in the same boat = to be in the same situation
4. All hands on deck = Everyone in the team needs to contribute
This is a big project, we need all hands on deck
IELTS Speaking Discussion:
Pros and Cons of teamwork
What are the pros of teamwork?
- Two heads are better than one
- You can spread the workload
- Brainstorm your ideas
- Harness / leverage different people’s skills and experience
- Team spirit can boost productivity, effectiveness and efficiency
- Diversity of ideas
- Combine skills
- Source new ideas
What are the cons of teamwork?
- You need to compromise
- You have to put up with dead weight
- Conflict, disputes, mistrust
- Waste time
- Don’t always see eye to eye
- People may be on a different bandwidth/wavelength
- Personality clashes
- Some people may dominate, manipulate others
- Miss out on ideas from shy people
- There are always ‘free loaders’ (people who don’t contribute)
- Some members don’t pull their weight (contribution)
- Go off track, lack of direction
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