Clarifying Role Scope and Priorities | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam 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 → NL / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Clarifying Role Scope and Priorities to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

De functie klinkt breder dan de beschrijving deed vermoeden.

duh FUNG-tshee klinkt BRAY-dur dahn duh buh-SKHRAI-ving DAIT vair-MOO-dun. The role sounds broader than the description suggested.
B

De functie is uitgebreid omdat de teamstructuur wordt herzien.

duh FUNG-tshee iss OYT-ghuh-BRITE OHM-daht də TEAM-struk-TOOR vort her-ZEEN. It has grown because the team structure is being revised.
A

Ik kan een brede functie aan als de prioriteiten duidelijk zijn.

ik kahn un BRAY-duh FUNG-tshee ahn ahls duh pree-oh-ree-TIE-tun DOW-duh-luk zain. I can handle a broad role if the priorities are clear.
B

De eerste prioriteit zou het verbeteren van de interne coördinatie zijn.

duh AIR-stuh pree-oh-ree-TITE zow ut ver-BAY-ter-un vahn duh in-TAIR-nuh koh-ur-dee-NAHT-see zain. The first priority would be improving internal coordination.
A

Dat sluit aan bij mijn ervaring met projecten waarbij verschillende afdelingen samenwerken.

daht SLOWT ahn bai mine air-VAH-ring met proh-YEK-tun var-BYE fər-SKHIL-un-duh AHF-dai-ling-un sah-MUN-wair-kun. That fits my experience with cross-functional projects.
B

Hoe zou u omgaan met teams met tegenstrijdige verwachtingen?

hoo zow oo OHM-ghahn met teams met TAY-ghun-STRY-di-ghuh ver-WAHKH-ting-un? How would you handle teams with conflicting expectations?
A

Ik zou beginnen met het in kaart brengen van de beslissingen, de verantwoordelijken en de onopgeloste aannames.

ik zow buh-GHIN-un met ut in KAHR(t) BRANG-un vahn duh buh-SLIS-ing-un, duh ver-ant-WOR-duh-luk-un en duh on-OP-ghuh-LOHS-tuh AHN-nah-mus. I'd start by mapping the decisions, owners, and unresolved assumptions.
B

Daaruit blijkt dat u de tijd zou nemen om het probleem te begrijpen voordat u handelt.

DAHR-owt blaykt daht oo duh TITE zow NAY-mun om ut proh-BLAYM tuh buh-GRAI-pun voor-DAHT oo HAN-dult. That tells me you'd take time to understand the problem before acting.

Word by Word

De “De” means “the” before “functie” in this sentence. It identifies the specific role being discussed. This article is used directly before the noun in a job description or interview context.
functie “functie” means the role or position being discussed. In “De functie” it refers to the job itself, including its responsibilities. You can use it when discussing the scope or content of a job.
klinkt “klinkt” means “sounds” here: the role sounds broader than expected. The citation form is “klinken”; “klinkt” is the form used with “De functie”. It is useful when giving an impression about a role, idea, or proposal.
breder “breder” means “broader” and describes the greater scope of the role. It is the comparative form of “breed” and is used here with “dan” to compare the role with the description. This pattern is useful when comparing the scope of two responsibilities.
dan “dan” introduces the second part of the comparison in “breder dan de beschrijving”. It means “than” here. Use it after a comparative form when comparing two things.
beschrijving “beschrijving” means “description”, specifically the written description of the job. The phrase “de beschrijving” refers to the information that was provided about the role. It is useful when comparing an actual role with its written description.
deed “deed” contributes “did” or “made” in the expression “deed vermoeden”. Together, “deed vermoeden” says that the description suggested or led someone to infer something. The form “deed” is the past form of “doen” and is useful when describing what earlier information suggested.
vermoeden “vermoeden” means “to suspect” or “to infer” in “deed vermoeden”. After “deed”, it expresses what the description led someone to believe. This construction is useful when information suggests a conclusion without stating it directly.
is “is” combines with “uitgebreid” in “is uitgebreid” to say that the function has been expanded. It is the form of “zijn” used with the singular subject “De functie”. This combination is useful when describing a change that affects a role or structure.
uitgebreid “uitgebreid” means “expanded” in “De functie is uitgebreid”. It describes the increased breadth or scope of the function. The form is useful when explaining that a role, task, or area has become broader.
omdat “omdat” means “because” and introduces the reason why the function was expanded. In the clause beginning with “omdat”, the verb phrase comes at the end: “omdat de teamstructuur wordt herzien”. Use it to give a reason for a statement.
teamstructuur “teamstructuur” means “team structure”, the way the teams are organized. It is a compound noun used here as the subject of “wordt herzien”. This word is useful when discussing organizational changes in a workplace.
wordt “wordt” combines with “herzien” in “wordt herzien” to express that the team structure is being revised. It is the form of “worden” used with the singular subject “de teamstructuur”. This pattern is useful for describing an ongoing change to a structure or process.
herzien “herzien” means “revised” in “de teamstructuur wordt herzien”. Together with “wordt”, it describes a structure being reviewed and changed. This form is useful when discussing an organizational plan, policy, or process under review.
Ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the candidate as the person who can handle the role. It is the subject of “kan”. Use it to state your own ability, experience, or proposed action in an interview.
kan “kan” means “can” and expresses the candidate’s ability to handle the role. It is the form of “kunnen” used with “Ik”. It is commonly followed by an infinitive or, as here, by the separated particle in “een brede functie aan kunnen”.
een “een” means “a” or “an” and introduces “brede functie” as one possible role. It is the indefinite article used before the noun phrase. Use it when referring to a role without identifying it as a specific previously named position.
brede “brede” means “broad” and describes the scope of the function. It is the form of “breed” used before “functie” in “een brede functie”. This phrase is useful when discussing a role with many areas of responsibility.
aan “aan” is the separable particle in “een brede functie aan kunnen”, which means “to be able to handle a broad role”. Its meaning here comes from the full expression “aankunnen”, not from “aan” alone. This construction is useful when describing whether someone can manage a demanding task or responsibility.
als “als” means “if” and introduces the condition for handling the broad role. The condition is “als de prioriteiten duidelijk zijn”. Use it to connect a possible action with the condition required for it.
prioriteiten “prioriteiten” means “priorities”, the matters that should receive attention first. In “de prioriteiten” it refers to the priorities for the role. This word is useful when discussing what a team or employee should focus on.
duidelijk “duidelijk” means “clear” and describes priorities that are understandable and not ambiguous. In “de prioriteiten duidelijk zijn”, it is linked to “prioriteiten” by “zijn”. This word is useful when explaining what information or expectations you need before acting.
zijn “zijn” means “are” in “de prioriteiten duidelijk zijn”. It links the priorities with the description “duidelijk”. The same form is also the citation form of the verb and is useful for describing a state or condition.
eerste “eerste” means “first” and identifies the priority that should come before the others. In “De eerste prioriteit”, it specifies the order of importance. Use it when presenting the initial or most immediate focus of a plan.
prioriteit “prioriteit” means “priority”, a matter that should receive particular attention. “De eerste prioriteit” names the initial focus for the role. This noun is useful when organizing responsibilities or explaining an action plan.
zou “zou” means “would” and presents a possible or proposed priority rather than a definite one. It is a form of “zullen” used here in “zou ... zijn”. This is useful in an interview when describing what you would do in the role.
het “het” means “the” in “het verbeteren van de interne coördinatie”. Here it introduces “verbeteren” as the specific activity that would be the priority. This pattern is useful when naming an activity as the focus of a plan.
verbeteren “verbeteren” means “improving” in “het verbeteren van de interne coördinatie”. With “het”, the activity is treated as the thing that would be the priority. It is useful when describing an intended improvement to a process or result.
van “van” means “of” and connects “het verbeteren” with what is being improved: “de interne coördinatie”. It introduces the object of the improvement. Use this pattern when naming the area affected by an improvement.
interne “interne” means “internal” and describes coordination within the organization. It modifies “coördinatie” in “de interne coördinatie”. This word is useful when distinguishing work inside an organization from coordination with external parties.
coördinatie “coördinatie” means “coordination”, especially the organization of work between people or teams. In this dialogue, improving it is presented as the first priority. It is useful when discussing how activities or departments can work together more effectively.
Dat “Dat” means “that” and refers to the proposed priority of improving internal coordination. It is the subject of “sluit aan bij”. Use it to refer back to a complete idea that someone has just mentioned.
sluit “sluit” is part of “sluit aan bij”, which means “fits with” or “aligns with” in this sentence. The citation form is “sluiten”; “sluit” is used here with “Dat”. This expression is useful when explaining that an opportunity or proposal matches your experience.
bij “bij” completes the expression “sluit aan bij mijn ervaring”, meaning “fits with my experience”. It introduces the experience that the proposal matches. This preposition is useful with “sluiten aan” when describing alignment with experience or interests.
mijn “mijn” means “my” and shows that the experience belongs to the speaker. It comes directly before “ervaring” in “mijn ervaring”. Use it when connecting your own background to a job requirement or proposal.
ervaring “ervaring” means “experience”, referring here to the speaker’s previous work with projects. “Mijn ervaring met” introduces the area in which that experience was gained. This noun is useful when linking your background to the responsibilities of a role.
met “met” means “with” and connects “ervaring” to the projects involved: “ervaring met projecten”. It introduces the subject or area of experience. Use this pattern when describing experience with a type of work, project, or task.
projecten “projecten” means “projects”, the organized pieces of work in which the speaker has experience. It follows “ervaring met” in the phrase “mijn ervaring met projecten”. This word is useful when specifying the kind of work included in your professional background.
waarbij “waarbij” means “in which” and introduces information about how the projects operate. Here it connects “projecten” with the fact that different departments work together. Use it to add a defining activity or situation connected to a noun.
verschillende “verschillende” means “different” or “various” and describes the departments involved in the projects. In “verschillende afdelingen”, it shows that more than one distinct department participates. This phrase is useful when discussing cooperation across an organization.
afdelingen “afdelingen” means “departments”, the organizational units that work together in the projects. It is the subject of “samenwerken” in the clause introduced by “waarbij”. This word is useful when describing coordination across parts of a company.
samenwerken “samenwerken” means “work together” and describes the departments cooperating in the projects. It is used after “waarbij” to explain what the departments do. This verb is useful when discussing collaboration between teams or departments.
Hoe “Hoe” means “how” and asks about the method the candidate would use. It begins the question “Hoe zou u omgaan met teams...”. Use it to ask someone to explain their approach to a situation.
u “u” means “you” in the formal form used by the interviewer. It is the person who would handle the teams in the question. This form is appropriate when addressing an interview candidate formally.
omgaan “omgaan” is used with “met” in “omgaan met teams” and means “deal with” or “cope with”. The full expression describes how someone responds to a situation or group. This construction is useful when discussing how to handle difficult expectations, problems, or relationships.
teams “teams” means “teams”, the groups whose expectations may conflict. It follows “met” in “omgaan met teams”. This word is useful when discussing responsibility for several groups within an organization.
tegenstrijdige “tegenstrijdige” means “conflicting” and describes expectations that do not agree with one another. In “tegenstrijdige verwachtingen”, it identifies the difficulty the candidate must handle. This phrase is useful when explaining that different teams want incompatible outcomes.
verwachtingen “verwachtingen” means “expectations”, what the teams believe should happen or what they want from the role. In the dialogue, these expectations are “tegenstrijdige”. This word is useful when clarifying what different stakeholders expect from a project or position.
beginnen “beginnen” means “begin” or “start” in “beginnen met het in kaart brengen”. It introduces the first step in the candidate’s proposed approach. This verb is useful with “met” when naming the activity that starts a process.
in kaart brengen “in kaart brengen” means “map out” or “identify systematically” the decisions, owners, and assumptions. In this expression, “in” means “into”, “kaart” means “map”, and “brengen” means “bring”; together they describe putting information into a clear overview. The pattern “beginnen met het in kaart brengen van” is useful when explaining the first step in analyzing a complex situation.
beslissingen “beslissingen” means “decisions”, the choices that have been made or still need to be understood. They are one of the elements mapped out in the proposed analysis. This word is useful when clarifying how a project is governed or directed.
verantwoordelijken “verantwoordelijken” means “the people responsible” or “owners” for the decisions or work. It refers to the people who have responsibility, rather than to the responsibility itself. This word is useful when identifying who should make decisions or take action.
en “en” means “and” and joins the listed elements: decisions, responsible people, and unresolved assumptions. It links items of equal importance in the list. Use it to add the final item in a series.
onopgeloste “onopgeloste” means “unresolved” and describes assumptions that have not yet been settled or checked. In “onopgeloste aannames”, it identifies an issue that may affect decisions. This phrase is useful when analyzing uncertainty before taking action.
aannames “aannames” means “assumptions”, ideas that are being treated as true without having been fully confirmed. The dialogue refers specifically to “onopgeloste aannames”. This word is useful when checking what a team is relying on before making a decision.
Daaruit “Daaruit” means “from that” and refers to the candidate’s proposed method of mapping decisions, owners, and assumptions. In “Daaruit blijkt”, it introduces the conclusion drawn from that method. This word is useful when linking evidence or an earlier statement to a conclusion.
blijkt “blijkt” means “shows” or “becomes clear” in “Daaruit blijkt dat”. The citation form is “blijken”; “blijkt” is used here with “Daaruit”. This expression is useful when drawing a conclusion from information or someone’s actions.
tijd “tijd” means “time” in “de tijd zou nemen”, referring to time deliberately spent understanding the problem. It is part of the common expression “tijd nemen”. This noun is useful when explaining that careful analysis is needed before action.
nemen “nemen” means “take” in “de tijd nemen om het probleem te begrijpen”. Together with “tijd”, it describes deliberately spending time on an activity. This pattern is useful when saying that you will give an issue sufficient attention before acting.
om “om” introduces the purpose in “om het probleem te begrijpen”: the reason for taking time is to understand the problem. It works with “te” and the infinitive “begrijpen”. This construction is useful when explaining the purpose of an action.
probleem “probleem” means “problem”, the issue that should be understood before action is taken. In “het probleem”, it refers to the specific situation under discussion. This noun is useful when describing an issue that requires analysis or resolution.
te “te” is the infinitive marker in “te begrijpen”. Together with “om”, it forms “om ... te begrijpen”, meaning “in order to understand”. This marker is useful in purpose constructions before an infinitive.
begrijpen “begrijpen” means “understand” in “om het probleem te begrijpen”. It names the purpose of taking time before acting. This verb is useful when describing the need to understand an issue, context, or objective first.
voordat “voordat” means “before” and introduces the action that should happen later: “voordat u handelt”. It connects understanding the problem with acting afterwards. Use it to set a time order between two actions.
handelt “handelt” means “acts” in “voordat u handelt”. The citation form is “handelen”; “handelt” is the form used with formal “u”. This expression is useful when explaining that someone should understand a situation before taking action.

Grammar Points

sluiten aan bij + zelfstandig naamwoord

De ervaring sluit aan bij de prioriteiten.

duh air-VAH-ring SLOWT ahn bai duh pree-oh-ree-TIE-tun.

The experience aligns with the priorities.

The fixed expression aansluiten bij means “to align with.” In a main clause, the separable part aan appears after the verb.

omgaan met + zelfstandig naamwoord

We moeten omgaan met tegenstrijdige verwachtingen.

vuh MOO-tun OHM-ghahn met TAY-ghun-STRY-di-ghuh ver-WAHKH-ting-un.

We must deal with conflicting expectations.

The fixed expression omgaan met means “to deal with” or “to handle” and is followed by met.

Dutch Vocabulary

beschrijving noun
buh-SKHRAI-ving description
breder adj
BRAY-dur broader
deed verb
DAIT did
duidelijk adj
DOW-duh-luk clear
functie noun
FUNG-tshee role; position; function
herzien verb
her-ZEEN revised; reviewed
klinkt verb
KLINGKT sounds
prioriteiten noun
pree-oh-ree-TIE-tun priorities
teamstructuur noun
TEAM-struk-TOOR team structure
uitgebreid verb
OYT-ghuh-BRITE expanded; extended
verbeteren verb
ver-BAY-ter-un to improve
vermoeden verb
vair-MOO-dun to suggest; to suspect

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to suggest; to suspect

Show Answervermoeden

sounds

Show Answerklinkt

role; position; function

Show Answerfunctie

did

Show Answerdeed