Views #739 | Intermediate 5

Good Qualities

Matt explains what he thinks makes a good student, friend, parent, and boss.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Matt	Todd

Todd: So, Matt, we're talking about adjectives this week and, or qualities about people, so let's talk about what makes people good at what they do. First of all, what do you think makes a good student? We're both teachers so in your mind what's a good student?

Matt: I think somebody who is motivated, self-motivated and somebody who takes an interest in what they are doing and works at it, and I mean, as a teacher I always enjoy people who are outgoing and have a personality, but I know reality is that not every student can be like that so you just try to... as a student I think that the most important thing is to show interest and participate and work outside of class.

Todd: Right, I totally agree. OK, so now how about work. What makes a good boss?

Matt: I've had so many different jobs and so many different bosses. I think a good boss is somebody who knows his... the people who work for him, and he knows the strengths and he can communicate or she can communicate what they really want for each worker and somebody who can delegate responsibility, but that shows that they know and that they care about what their minions are doing for them.

Todd: Right. OK, now moving on, how about what makes a good friend?

Matt: A good friend? I think somebody who just can listen and kind of unconditional love almost or like anything that you do, anything that you do can't tarnish the relationship and somebody who is loyal and who is honest basically.

Todd: OK, and this is the last one. What makes a good parent?

Matt: A good parent! Not that I would know from firsthand experience, but I think, you know, just somebody who is there always and who takes care of the child and, you know, spends time I think, spends quality time. People who work hard can tend to forget about their child if they're too focused on other things and parents who really are there and listen and talk to the kid usually have the greatest success.

Todd: OK, thanks a lot Matt. I appreciate your time.

Matt: Yeah.

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

self-motivated

I think somebody who is motivated, self-motivated and somebody who takes an interest in what they are doing and works at it.

When you are 'self-motivated,' it means that you are able to get things done on your own, without someone else telling you what to do.

Notice the following:

If you work from home, you have to be a very self-motivated person.
We need self-motivated people to work for our company.

delegate responsibility

He can communicate or she can communicate what they really want for each worker and somebody who can delegate responsibility.

When you 'delegate responsibility,' it means that you divide what needs to be done and give other people tasks to do.

Notice the following:

I think I need to learn how to delegate responsibility.
She has nothing to do all day as she has delegated most or her responsibilities.

minions

They care about what their minions are doing for them.

Here, 'minions' refers to the people who are subordinate in a company, like those people who are doing jobs that require less training than higher positions. When used in a serious way, it is not a very nice way to describe less trained people.

Notice the following:

He makes his minions to do all of the horrible messy jobs.
Send your minions to come and clean my house for me.

unconditional love

I think somebody who just can listen and kind of unconditional love almost or like anything that you do.

'Unconditional love' means that you will love somebody despite of their faults or the horrible things they do.

Notice the following:

True love is pure unconditional love.
Parents love their children with unconditional love.

not that I would know from firsthand experience

A good parent! Not that I would know from firsthand experience, but I think, you know, just somebody who is there always and who takes care of the child.

'Not that I would know this from firsthand experience' means that you have not had any practical experience in what you are talking about. In the example, Matt is saying that this is what he believes, but he is not a parent.

Notice the following:

I think that a manual car is easier to drive, not that I would know from firsthand experience.
I think a good husband is someone who adores you, not that I would know from firsthand experience.

Vocabulary Quiz

self-motivated • delegate • minions
unconditional • firsthand

You are in a high position in the company, and you shouldn't be doing all this yourself. You have responsibility to others.
She just sits in her fancy office all day and tells her what to do.
He is one of those students that teachers love, because he is very .
Not that I would know from experience, but wouldn't traveling by bus be easier?
They have been friends for so long that they have a sort of love between them.