| Testimonials |
"This way of learning a language made complete sense to me. Working with the SpeakEZ German course, I was able to understand more in 2 weeks than in five years of German in school!"
-- Asbjørn Finsnes
"The way in which this method is presented provided me with language that will suit me in a foreign country instead of a collection of unusable vocabulary words.
Those who have studied languages realize that looking-up individual words cannot convey a language in the correct manner. Becoming fluent means being able to verbalize ideas ; not learning technical rules and identifying the Past Predicate Indicative.
The audio part of this method has been my favorite portion of the learning process. Not only is the pronunciation slow and clear, but it is presented so that I remember the flow of sentences and concepts.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with this amazing program; it has been a blessing for me."
-- Destiny Yarbro, College Student
|
|
5 Questions to Ask Your Foreign
Colleagues
by Nathalie V. Fairbanks
Let's assume you have a co-worker
from another country on your team at work. You notice that she seems stressed
out when asked to make a presentation in front of a group. You wonder what
exactly are her qualifications.
If you haven't witnessed another country's education in action,
it's easy to assume that everything works just like it does here. The truth is
that every country has a very unique education system that is in great part a
reflection of the country's culture. The fact that our education shapes how we
think and work warrants a closer look at what the differences between education
systems are.
Here are a few questions that will shed some light on how your
colleague grew up and why she might feel uncomfortable in certain situations at
work.
1. How is the education system structured in your country?
In many countries, children start with an elementary education, go on to get a
degree to complete their state-required schooling and then have an option to get
a higher education or to specialize in a trade.
It's almost impossible to compare the school systems in different countries. The
number of hours spent at school, as well as the homework loads, vary greatly and
impact how much time youngsters have left to pursue extra-curricular activities.
It also affects how much they actually learn! For example, the math skills
taught in American colleges are completed by French students by age 16.
Conversely, presentation, debate and teamwork skills are only taught much later
in Europe and Asia, if at all.
Below is a great site that compiles the education requirements for different
professions for most countries around the globe. It might contain more
information than you'd ever want to know. What I like about it is that it is
comprehensive (most countries are represented) and that it has in-depth
information about each level of education. Some of the information is only
available in the target language (e.g., in French for the French education
system).
European Network of Information Centres-National Academic
Recognition Information Centres
Look around the website and see what you would have had to do to get to where
you are if you had studied in Mexico, or another country where the language
you're studying is spoken.
Then take some time to listen to your foreign colleague. Get her to explain what
her teenage years were like. Find out if she had time to play sports or music,
and what her typical day was like. Depending on whether she's Chinese, German or
Peruvian, her answers will be very different!
2. Did you pay for your education?
What a question! Americans are often baffled when I tell them there is a very
minimal registration fee at German universities, and education is essentially
free.
Consequently, getting a university degree in Germany is a choice that doesn't
depend on your parents' wealth or your willingness to take on loans. On the
other hand, it seems that many German students don't realize the value of what
they're getting. It's easy for them to take for granted that taxpayers pay for
their education.
Would you have made a different choice for your education if it had been free?
3. What's your degree and what were the requirements to get it?
Degrees are often hard to compare. My German degree, abbreviated Dipl.-Kff
surely doesn't mean anything to anybody outside of Germany, and neither does the
name of the degree, Diplom-Kauffrau! (It's a degree that's equivalent to an
M.B.A., although the way subjects are taught is so different that it's almost
like comparing apples and oranges.)
To give you an idea, German exams always comprised material taught over a year,
sometimes two. There was no graded homework in between, and everything depended
on a single 4-5 hour exam held twice a year. We were solely responsible for
getting registered for the exam and preparing for it. Those who made it learned
thorough discipline and how to organize their work over a long stretch of time.
Over 60% of students drop out, even though they've spent years trying to prepare
for these exams. It's not exactly the most effective system!
I prefer the American system much better in that respect. The fact that
attendance would be part of my grade surprised me at first. How hard could that
be? Then, professors would actually look through homework--what a privilege!
It's impossible to list all of the differences, just realize that there are many
and that they may result in very different perspectives on what to expect from
work.
So when your colleague tells you "what" she is, ask her to elaborate. Ask her
what her field of study was, what she specialized in, what her grades were based
on, etc.
4. How did you choose your profession?
I always find it interesting to learn how people end up in their careers. I ask
what got them started, and why they chose that particular field of work. Most of
us have some say in deciding what we want to do when we grow up.
In some cultures, parental directives override any talent or interest that
children might have. While it's hard for Westerners to imagine, citizens of the
former Eastern-block countries didn't even get to choose their line of work.
Instead, the government assigned it to them according to their grades and their
solidarity with the Communist Party. How's that for motivation?
5. Did your opinion matter?
This is another culturally loaded question. In the U.S. a major focus of
education is on developing a critical and discerning mind. In addition, students
learn how to form and express an opinion about a topic. That's not necessarily
the case in other countries.
At your next team meeting with international participants,
observe who's voicing an opinion, who's keeping quiet, even though you know they
have strong feelings about an issue, and who seems indifferent either way,
willing to implement whatever the other members of the group decide.
This little exercise might give you a clue as to how much individuality was
valued in their education and if they were encouraged to express it. It might
also just be a matter of personality, but you'll never know unless you start
digging a little!
Understanding what makes people tick can be a tremendous asset in the
workplace. Knowing where someone comes from can change the dynamics of
a team and help people to work together more effectively. Get started on your
conversation today!
© 2008 Nathalie V. Fairbanks
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You may, as long as you include this blurb with it: SpeakEZ Languages publishes "Language Learning Express," a free bi-weekly e-zine for language learners who are eager to discover the secrets of efficient language learning, transition seamlessly into a new culture and have fun on the way. Get your FREE subscription and your FREE e-book now at http://www.SpeakEZLanguages.com.
SpeakEZ Languages, LLC
72-12 62nd Street
Glendale, NY 11385
Phone 646-644-2914
E-mail: first.contact@speakezlanguages.com
|
