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AI image: A group of colleagues looks at a laptop together in an office – working in international teams.
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Simmonds · live on simmonds.onlineC15 min · English

International teams in English: vocabulary, dialogue and conversation questions

Editorially responsible: James Simmondspublished 11 Nov 2026AI-generated text (learn more – how we use AI on these pages)

Live rounds with a trainer and a small group. To warm up: Theo asks, you answer.

Allow the microphone – Theo asks the first question.

Find a live round with a trainer – Opens simmonds.online: conversation classes in small groups

AI conversation partner, synthetic voice · your voice is processed live by Google Gemini, we store no audio and no transcript · max. 5 minAbout the AIWith headphones you can interrupt Theo. Without them, the microphone only listens once Theo has finished.

International teamsC1 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about working in international teams (level C1)Numbers & trendsB2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about describing numbers and trends (level B2)Video callsB1 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about video calls (level B1)

Question of the day

According to the podcast, what is replaced by scheduled video calls?

  1. An email summarising the project
  2. A quick chat by the water cooler
  3. A written update from the manager
Show the answer – Open the answer to the question of the day

Correct answer: A quick chat by the water cooler

You can find the answer in the English introduction.

Listen to the introduction

Speed

Transcript

Hi, I'm Theo, and this is a two-minute conversation starter. Today: working in international teams. In our globally connected economy, cross-cultural collaboration – Jump to the vocabulary entry for cross-cultural collaboration is no longer the exception; it's the rule. But bringing together diverse minds isn't always plain sailing – Jump to the vocabulary entry for plain sailing. You might find yourself navigating completely different communication styles – Jump to the vocabulary entry for communication styles. For instance, while some cultures value directness and getting straight to the point, others prefer a more nuanced approach to preserve harmony – Jump to the vocabulary entry for preserve harmony. Then there's the challenge of building rapport – Jump to the vocabulary entry for building rapport across time zones, where a quick chat by the water cooler is replaced by scheduled video calls. Despite these hurdles, the payoff is immense. Diverse teams often drive innovation and spot blind spots – Jump to the vocabulary entry for blind spots that a homogenous group might miss. So, think about your own experiences bridging cultural gaps. How do you adapt your approach when collaborating globally?

Vocabulary

cross-cultural collaboration/ˌkrɒsˈkʌl.tʃər.əl kəˌlæb.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
Meaning: Working together with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Example: Effective cross-cultural collaboration is essential for our expansion into Asia.
plain sailing/ˌpleɪn ˈseɪ.lɪŋ/
Meaning: Smooth and easy progress without any major problems.
Example: The merger wasn't exactly plain sailing, but we managed it in the end.
communication styles/kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən staɪlz/
Meaning: The different ways people interact and share information.
Example: We need to adapt our communication styles to avoid misunderstandings.
building rapport/ˌbɪl.dɪŋ ræˈpɔː/
Meaning: Developing a friendly and harmonious relationship in which people understand each other's ideas.
Example: Building rapport with clients takes time and genuine interest.
preserve harmony/prɪˌzɜːv ˈhɑːməni/
Meaning: To avoid conflict and keep relationships friendly.
Example: We discussed the disagreement privately to preserve harmony.
blind spots/ˈblaɪnd spɒts/
Meaning: Areas where someone lacks understanding or fails to notice something important.
Example: An external consultant can help us identify our strategic blind spots.

Dialogue

  1. SarahHow is the new project with the Tokyo and London offices going?
  2. DavidIt's fascinating, but it hasn't been entirely plain sailing.
  3. SarahI can imagine. Managing different communication styles must be tricky.
  4. DavidExactly. I'm used to being very direct, but I've had to adopt a more nuanced approach.
  5. SarahHave you found any effective ways of building rapport remotely?
  6. DavidYes, we dedicate the first ten minutes of our meetings to informal chat. It really helps.
  7. SarahThat sounds like a good way to help everyone feel included.
  8. DavidIndeed. The diverse perspectives are definitely helping us uncover our blind spots.

Questions for your conversation

Partner A

Easier: Have you ever worked with people from another country? Why or why not?

What surprised you most about working with colleagues from other countries?

More challenging: How can multinational companies foster a truly inclusive culture that goes beyond superficial diversity?

Partner B

Easier: Is it better to talk to colleagues in person than on a video call? Why or why not?

What are the main challenges of building rapport across different time zones?

More challenging: To what extent do you think technology can bridge the gap in cross-cultural collaboration?

Partner A

Easier: Is it easy to understand colleagues who speak a different native language? Why or why not?

How do you adapt your own communication style when speaking to an international audience?

More challenging: In what situations might a homogenous team actually outperform a highly diverse one?

Useful phrases

  • We need to take cultural nuances into account.
  • Let's address the elephant in the room regarding the time zone differences.
  • I'd like to make sure we're all on the same page.
  • Could you elaborate on how this might be perceived in your market?
  • We shouldn't jump to conclusions based on our own cultural bias.
  • Let's touch base next week to review our progress.

Topic quiz

Five quick questions check vocabulary and listening comprehension.

All conversations – Back to all English conversations

Questions

Who is Theo?

Theo is an AI conversation partner for warming up, not a teacher. The voice is synthetic. In the live rounds, a trainer talks with you.

Is my conversation stored?

We store neither audio nor a transcript. During the conversation, your voice is sent to Google (Gemini) for processing. The conversation ends after no more than five minutes.

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