Section A Discussion

▇Sit in groups of threes or fours and discuss the following questions.

1. Can you give some examples of what you can accomplish only through teamwork?

2. Do you enjoy working with others? Why or why not?

3. Have you ever had any experience of successful cooperation with others? Describe it briefly.

4. What should you keep in mind if you want to work well with others?

Section B Quotes

Study the following quotes about personality and see if you accept the ideas expressed in the quotes.

  ⊙Many hands make light work.   — John Heywood

Interpretation:

What is impossible for one person may be easily accomplished by a group of people.

About John Heywood:

John Heywood (1497-1580): English writer known for his plays, poems, epigrams (警句) and collection of proverbs. Important in the development of English comedy (喜剧), Heywood was the most famous writer of the interlude (幕间表演), a short comic (滑稽的) dialogue. Chief among his interludes are The Play of theWeather (《天气剧》) and The Four P's (《四大行当》).

 

⊙If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.                    — Henry Ford

Interpretation:

Cooperation within a team is important. If everyone works well with everyone else, success will come as a natural outcome.

 About Henry Ford:

Henry Ford (1863-1947): US businessman and engineer, who started making cars in 1896 and established the Ford Motor Company. He developed the idea of the assembly line (=system in which each worker is responsible for one small part of the process of making something), and this made it possible to produce cars in large numbers. He designed the famous Model T Ford, and became one of the richest and most successful businessmen of his time.

 

⊙Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.

                                     — Michael Jordan

Interpretation:

With a great player, a team may win agame now and then. But in team sports like a basketball game, the sole dependence on a single star can damage the chances of the whole team. Only when all players cooperate well can the team win enough games to become the champion.

  About Michael Jordan:

Michael Jordan (1963- ): US basketball player who is considered to be the best player of the 1980s and 1990s. He has helped his Chicago Bulls team win five NBA championships. He is also known as “Air Jordan” because he jumps very high when he scores points. He is one of the most highly-paid sports players in the world.

 

⊙A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.             —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Interpretation:

A leader plays a vital role in a team. People are willing to join the team because they are attracted by the leader. Meanwhile, only a good leader can hold people together and make them work well to their best abilities.

 About Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe(1749-1832): German poet and scientist, and one of the best known writers of plays and books of all time. He is known especially for his play Faust (《浮士德》).