História: Resolver conflitos complexos entre pessoas

Nível: C2

Two uses for one hall

A youth choir and a group of older residents both wanted the community hall on Wednesday evenings. Their stated positions sounded incompatible, but their underlying interests were different. The choir needed a regular rehearsal, while the older residents needed a warm indoor place for conversation.

Pressure and dignity

The coordinator was under pressure because both groups had already invited members. She acknowledged that the choir was protecting its performance date and that the residents were protecting a social tradition. That wording gave both groups a face-saving way to consider a change.

A workable agreement

The choir used the hall on the first and third Wednesdays, while the residents used it on the other weeks. Both groups agreed to review the arrangement after one month and adjust if attendance changed. The solution did not give either side everything, but it protected the interests that mattered most.

Notas de vocabulário

• a regular rehearsal — um ensaio regular
• a social tradition — uma tradição social
• to adjust an arrangement — ajustar um acordo

Prática com a história

1. Use separate the person from the problem: The groups are selfish.
2. Escreva uma frase de revisão de um acordo.