Clarifying role scope and priorities | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a job interview, a candidate clarifies the breadth of a role and explains how they would handle unclear priorities across teams..

EN → KO / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Clarifying role scope and priorities to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

그 역할은 설명에서 제시된 것보다 범위가 더 넓어 보이네요.

guh yuhk-HAHL-eun sul-MYUNG-eh-suh jeh-SHEE-dwen gut-PPoh-dah bum-WEE-gah duh NUL-buh boh-ee-NEH-yoh. The role sounds broader than the description suggested.
B

팀 구조를 개편하고 있어서 역할의 범위가 넓어졌습니다.

teem GOO-joh-rul geh-PYUN-ha-goh ee-SUH-suh yuhk-HAHL-eh bum-WEE-gah nul-buh-JYUT-seum-nee-DAH. It has grown because the team structure is being revised.
A

우선순위가 명확하다면 폭넓은 역할도 맡을 수 있습니다.

oo-sun-soon-WEE-gah myung-HWAK-ha-dah-myun pong-NUL-bun yuhk-HAHL-doh mah-TEUL soo eet-seum-nee-DAH. I can handle a broad role if the priorities are clear.
B

첫 번째 우선순위는 내부 조율을 개선하는 것입니다.

chut-PPUN-jjae oo-sun-soon-WEE-neun nae-BOO joh-YOOL-eul geh-SUN-ha-neun guh-SHIM-nee-DAH. The first priority would be improving internal coordination.
A

그건 제가 여러 부서가 협력하는 프로젝트에서 쌓은 경험과 잘 맞습니다.

guh-GUN jeh-GAH yuh-ruh boo-SUH-gah hyum-NYUK-ha-neun puh-roh-JEK-teu-eh-suh SSAH-eun gyung-uhm-gwah jal maht-seum-nee-DAH. That fits my experience with cross-functional projects.
B

서로 상충하는 기대를 가진 팀들에는 어떻게 대응하시겠습니까?

suh-ROH sang-CHOONG-ha-neun gee-DAE-reul ga-JIN teem-deu-REH-neun uh-TUH-keh dae-OONG-ha-shee-GET-seum-nee-KKAH? How would you handle teams with conflicting expectations?
A

먼저 의사결정 사항과 담당자, 그리고 아직 해결되지 않은 가정을 정리해 보겠습니다.

MEON-juh ee-SAH-gyul-JUNG sah-HANG-gwah dam-DANG-jah, guh-REE-goh ah-JIK hae-GYUL-dwae-jee ah-neun gah-JUNG-eul jung-NEE-hae boh-GET-seum-nee-DAH. I'd start by mapping the decisions, owners, and unresolved assumptions.
B

그 말씀을 들으니 행동하기 전에 문제를 이해하는 데 시간을 들이시겠다는 뜻이군요.

guh MAL-sseum-eul deu-REU-nee haeng-DONG-ha-gee JUN-eh MOON-jeh-reul ee-HAE-ha-neun deh SHEE-gan-eul deu-REE-shee-get-TTA-neun tteu-SHEE-goon-NYOH. That tells me you'd take time to understand the problem before acting.

Word by Word

그 Here 그 means “that” and points back to the role being discussed. It is used before a noun, as in 그 역할, to identify something already known in the conversation.
역할은 역할은 means “as for the role” or “the role,” introducing the role as the topic of the sentence. The ending 은 marks the topic, a useful pattern when describing or comparing a role.
설명에서 설명에서 means “in the description” or “from the description,” referring to the source of the earlier information. 에서 marks the context or source, as in 설명에서 제시된 내용.
제시된 제시된 means “presented” or “suggested” here and describes the information in the description. It modifies 것 in 설명에서 제시된 것, so the phrase refers to what was presented in the description.
것보다 것보다 means “than what” or “compared with what,” setting the standard for the comparison. In 설명에서 제시된 것보다, it compares the actual scope with what the description presented.
범위가 범위가 means “the scope” or “the breadth,” marked as the subject of the comparison. It identifies what is 넓어 보이네요, and a useful pattern is 범위가 넓다 for saying that a scope is broad.
더 더 means “more” and increases the degree of 넓어 in the comparison. It commonly appears before an adjective or descriptive expression when comparing two degrees.
넓어 넓어 contributes the idea of being broad or wide and connects that description to 보이네요. In 범위가 더 넓어 보이네요, it describes the role’s scope as broader in appearance.
보이네요 보이네요 means “seems” or “looks,” expressing the speaker’s observation that something appears a certain way. Here it makes the statement softer than a direct assertion, and it is useful for giving an impression politely.
팀 팀 means “team” in the sentence about the team structure. It is used before 구조를 to form the compound 팀 구조, a common way to describe how a team is organized.
구조를 구조를 means “the structure” and marks the structure as the object being revised. In 팀 구조를 개편하고 있어서, 를 identifies what the restructuring affects.
개편하고 개편하고 means “restructuring” and connects that ongoing action to the reason given next. In 개편하고 있어서, it is followed by 있어서 to explain that the team structure is being reorganized.
있어서 있어서 helps form the reason expression 개편하고 있어서, meaning “because the restructuring is in progress.” It is useful after an ongoing action when explaining why a situation has changed.
역할의 역할의 means “of the role,” showing that the following change belongs to the role. In 역할의 범위, it links 역할 to the scope being discussed.
넓어졌습니다 넓어졌습니다 means “has become broader,” describing a change from a narrower state to a broader one. The formal polite ending makes it suitable for a job interview or other professional explanation.
우선순위가 우선순위가 means “the priority” as the subject of the condition. In 우선순위가 명확하다면, it identifies what must be clear for the speaker to handle the role.
명확하다면 명확하다면 means “if it is clear,” introducing the condition that the priorities are clear. The ending 다면 is useful for stating a condition before describing its result.
폭넓은 폭넓은 means “broad” or “wide-ranging” and directly modifies 역할. It is useful before a noun when describing responsibilities or experience that cover many areas.
역할도 역할도 means “a role too” or “even a role,” adding this role to the things the speaker can take on. 도 commonly adds the meaning “also” or “even” to a noun.
맡을 맡을 means “to take on” or “to handle” in the expression 맡을 수 있습니다. It describes the role that the speaker is able to take on, and 맡을 수 있습니다 is a reusable way to say that someone can handle something.
수 수 expresses possibility or ability in 맡을 수 있습니다. Together with 수 있습니다, it forms the meaning “can take on” or “is able to handle.”
있습니다 있습니다 completes the possibility expression 맡을 수 있습니다, meaning “can” or “is possible.” Its formal polite style fits the professional interview setting.
첫 첫 means “first” and comes before 번째 to identify the first item in an order. It is used directly before an ordinal expression such as 첫 번째.
번째 번째 is the ordinal element in 첫 번째, meaning “first” when combined with 첫. It is used after a number or number-related word to mark an order.
우선순위는 우선순위는 means “as for the priority,” making the priority the topic of the sentence. The ending 는 is useful when introducing what a particular priority will be.
내부 내부 means “internal” or “inside,” specifying that the coordination concerns the organization itself. In 내부 조율, it modifies 조율 to describe coordination within the organization.
조율을 조율을 means “coordination” as the object of 개선하는. It refers to arranging different people or groups so that they work together, and 조율을 개선하다 is a useful workplace pattern.
개선하는 개선하는 means “improving” and modifies 것 in 개선하는 것입니다. It identifies the activity that is presented as the first priority.
것입니다 것입니다 frames the preceding activity 개선하는 as the thing being identified, giving the meaning “is improving” or “would be improving” in this explanation. Its formal polite style is appropriate for stating a professional priority.
그건 그건 means “that” or “as for that,” referring to the priority just mentioned. It is used to connect the previous point with the speaker’s own experience.
제가 제가 means “I” with the speaker marked as the subject. In 제가 여러 부서가 협력하는 프로젝트에서 쌓은 경험, it introduces the experience that belongs to the speaker.
여러 여러 means “several” or “various” and modifies 부서. It indicates that more than one department is involved without specifying the exact number.
부서가 부서가 means “departments” as the subject inside the modifying phrase 여러 부서가 협력하는. The ending 가 marks the departments as the ones collaborating.
협력하는 협력하는 means “collaborating” or “working together” and modifies 프로젝트. In 여러 부서가 협력하는 프로젝트, it describes a project in which multiple departments work together.
프로젝트에서 프로젝트에서 means “in projects” and marks the setting where the experience was gained. It is useful with experience verbs when identifying where an experience occurred.
쌓은 쌓은 means “built up” or “accumulated” and modifies 경험. Here it describes experience gradually gained through projects, as in 프로젝트에서 쌓은 경험.
경험과 경험과 means “experience with” in this sentence and links that experience to 잘 맞습니다. The ending 과 connects the experience to the idea that it fits the priority.
잘 잘 means “well” and shows the degree to which the experience fits. It commonly appears before 맞다 when saying that something matches or suits something well.
맞습니다 맞습니다 means “fits” or “matches,” stating that the priority agrees with the speaker’s experience. The formal polite ending makes this a professional way to express a good match.
서로 서로 means “with each other” or “mutually” and shows that the expectations conflict with one another. It is useful when describing a relationship or action involving two or more sides.
상충하는 상충하는 means “conflicting” and modifies 기대를. It describes expectations that cannot easily be satisfied together, especially in the phrase 서로 상충하는 기대.
기대를 기대를 means “expectations” as the object of 가진. In 기대를 가진 팀들, it identifies what the teams have or hold.
가진 가진 means “having” and modifies 팀들, describing teams that hold particular expectations. The pattern 기대를 가진 + noun is useful for identifying people or groups based on what they expect.
팀들에는 팀들에는 refers to “the teams” as the group being responded to or considered. The plural marker 들 shows multiple teams, while 에는 marks them as the relevant target or topic of 대응하시겠습니까.
어떻게 어떻게 means “how” and asks about the method of responding. It commonly comes before a verb when asking how someone would handle a situation.
대응하시겠습니까 대응하시겠습니까 means “would you respond” or “would you handle,” phrased as a formal question. The honorific element 시 respects the interviewee, making it suitable for asking about professional conduct.
먼저 먼저 means “first” or “to begin with,” introducing the first step in the proposed approach. It is useful for organizing an answer into a sequence of actions.
의사결정 의사결정 refers to “decision-making” or, in 의사결정 사항, decision-related matters. It is a useful workplace term for discussing how decisions are made or which decisions need to be tracked.
사항과 사항과 means “matters and” or “items and,” connecting 의사결정 사항 to 담당자. The ending 과 links two items in the list that the speaker will organize.
담당자 담당자 means “the person in charge” or “owner,” identifying who is responsible for an item or decision. It is commonly used in workplace discussions about assigning responsibility.
그리고 그리고 means “and” and introduces another item in the list after 의사결정 사항과 담당자. It can also help move the listener to the next point in an explanation.
아직 아직 means “still” or “yet,” emphasizing that the assumptions have not been resolved at this point. It commonly appears with a negative or unfinished state, as in 아직 해결되지 않은.
해결되지 해결되지 contributes “not resolved” to the phrase 해결되지 않은. It identifies the state of the assumptions before 않은 completes the description.
않은 않은 completes the negative description 해결되지 않은, meaning “that has not been resolved.” It modifies 가정을 and is useful for identifying matters that remain unfinished or unsettled.
가정을 가정을 means “assumptions” as an object that will be organized. In 아직 해결되지 않은 가정을 정리해, it refers to assumptions that still need to be made explicit or reviewed.
정리해 정리해 means “organize” or “map out” and connects the proposed organizing action to 보겠습니다. In 정리해 보겠습니다, it presents the speaker’s plan to lay out the decisions, owners, and assumptions systematically.
보겠습니다 보겠습니다 means “will try” or “will see” after 정리해, giving 정리해 보겠습니다 the meaning “I will try to organize.” This is a polite way to present a proposed action or approach.
말씀을 말씀을 means “your words” or “what you said,” using the respectful noun 말씀 for speech and marking it as the object of 들으니. It is useful when referring politely to another person’s explanation or comment.
들으니 들으니 means “hearing” or “upon hearing,” linking what was said to the conclusion that follows. In 말씀을 들으니, it introduces an interpretation formed after listening to the other person.
행동하기 행동하기 means “acting” or “taking action,” with the action treated as a noun before 전에. The pattern 행동하기 전에 means “before acting” and is useful for sequencing decisions.
전에 전에 means “before” and places one action earlier than another. In 행동하기 전에, it marks taking action as the event that has not yet happened.
문제를 문제를 means “the problem” as the object of 이해하는. It identifies what the candidate would understand before taking action.
이해하는 이해하는 means “understanding” and modifies 데 in 이해하는 데. It describes the activity for which time would be devoted.
데 데 helps turn 이해하는 into the purpose or area for the time being spent in 이해하는 데 시간을 들이시겠다는. The pattern V-는 데 시간을 들이다 means to spend time doing something.
시간을 시간을 means “time” as the object of 들이시겠다는. In 시간을 들이다, it refers to the time someone devotes to an activity.
들이시겠다는 들이시겠다는 presents the meaning that the listener would devote or spend time, as in 시간을 들이시겠다는 뜻이군요. The respectful element 시 acknowledges the person being discussed, and the form is used here to report an interpreted intention.
뜻이군요 뜻이군요 means “that means” or “I understand that to mean,” expressing the interviewer’s conclusion about the candidate’s answer. It is useful when confirming the meaning or implication of what someone has just said.

Grammar Points

-다면

우선순위가 명확하다면, 담당자가 대응할 수 있습니다.

oo-sun-soon-WEE-gah myung-HWAK-ha-dah-myun, dam-DANG-jah-gah dae-OONG-hal soo eet-seum-nee-DAH.

If the priorities are clear, the person in charge can respond.

-다면 expresses a hypothetical condition: “if…” or “provided that…”. It attaches to the verb or adjective stem.

-기 전에

행동하기 전에 가정을 정리해 보겠습니다.

haeng-DONG-ha-gee JUN-eh gah-JUNG-eul jung-NEE-hae boh-GET-seum-nee-DAH.

Before taking action, I will organize the assumptions.

-기 전에 means “before doing something.” It turns a verb into an action noun before 전에.

Korean Vocabulary

개선하다 verb
geh-SUN-ha-dah to improve 개선하는
개편하다 verb
geh-PYUN-ha-dah to restructure; to reorganize 개편하고 있어서
내부 조율 phrase
nae-BOO joh-YOOL internal coordination
넓어 보이다 phrase
NUL-buh BOH-ee-dah to seem broader; to appear wide in scope 더 넓어 보이네요
맡다 verb
maht-TTAH to take on; to handle a role 맡을 수 있습니다
명확하다 adj
myung-HWAK-ha-dah to be clear 명확하다면
범위 noun
bum-WEE scope; breadth
설명 noun
sul-MYUNG description
여러 부서가 협력하는 phrase
yuh-ruh boo-SUH-gah hyum-NYUK-ha-neun cross-functional; involving collaboration among several departments
역할 noun
yuhk-HAHL role
우선순위 noun
oo-sun-soon-WEE priority
팀 구조 phrase
teem GOO-joh team structure

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

priority

Show Answer우선순위

to be clear

Show Answer명확하다면

to improve

Show Answer개선하는

scope; breadth

Show Answer범위