The Myth of the Brilliant Loner
Grammar: discourse markers and cohesion devices
A Level 5 English lesson exploring work.
What's in this lesson
A Level 5 (advanced) ESL lesson on work, practising discourse markers and cohesion devices. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Myth of the Brilliant Loner
In 2015, Google launched a two-year internal study called Project Aristotle, named after the philosopher's claim that the whole can exceed the sum of its parts. The company analysed 180 of its own teams, scrutinising variables ranging from personality mix and educational background to seniority and social habits. The result surprised even Google's data scientists: none of those factors predicted whether a team would succeed. What mattered above all else was something far harder to quantify — psychological safety, the shared belief that members could take risks, voice half-formed ideas, and even fail without fear of humiliation.
Vocabulary
- bite the bullet
- on the same page
- pull your weight
- take the heat
Discussion questions
- Have you ever worked on a team where everything just clicked?
- Is it possible to build great teamwork, or does it just happen naturally?
- What makes someone difficult to work with on a project?
The Myth of the Brilliant Loner
Grammar: discourse markers and cohesion devices
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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