Graybridge Malkam - Culture Shock

Ever since the economy in Silicon Valley North went south, the stories of layoffs and cutbacks have littered Ottawa newspapers and broadcasts.

With thousands of people affected by the downturn, there are many different stories to be told. For a large number of the recently unemployed, telling that story is a little more difficult, especially when English is their second language.

While there is no conclusive evidence as of yet, it is clear that high proportions of those being laid off are non-native speakers of English. The reason is not prejudicial, but likely circumstantial.

"Many of the jobs that are being cut, for example in fiber optic assembly lines, were more likely to be filled by speakers of English as a Second Language," explains Virginia Taylor, Language Coordinator at MALKAM Cross-Cultural Training. "These were the jobs that were filled last and many of the people that got these jobs did not have the language skills to be hired in a less dynamic economy."

For those new to Canada, the experience of being laid off is often more difficult than for those who have spent most of their life here.

"It's something that is so foreign to them. In their culture they are assigned a job and it is generally for life," says Ms. Taylor. "(In Canada) it is something that even if you don't know from personal experience, you know it is a reality because it is something you talk about in schools and is always around."

For newcomers to Canada the problems go beyond just understanding what being laid-off is all about. Ms. Taylor says finding support is extremely difficult as well.

"The event of being laid off is a very personal experience and you will only rely on those closest to you - they don't have the same number of people for guidance and support around them."

With the tough employment market that currently exists, many ESL speakers who are looking for work have realized they must upgrade their language skills for their job search, as well as for their next job.

"We are not just going helping them learn enough so that they can find a job, we want to teach them so that they can be more comfortable once they find new employment," says Ms. Taylor.

Perception does not always equal reality. An outsider's view of some cultural norms, such as the exchange of gifts, may be based on misconceptions or incorrect assumptions. Don't impose your values on another culture. Increasing comfort level in a second language is the ultimate goal of the program, both inside and outside the workplace.

"Many of the people can function within the technical demands of the job, but they have trouble with other aspects such as supervising, running meetings, and sales," comments Ms. Taylor. "But the workplace is only half the issue. One of our classes the other day was all about barbecues. With everybody having barbecues this time of year, people would like to know what to say, what to do and what is expected of them. The same is true for a number of other social situations that present themselves in a corporate setting."

With most of the students having been laid off from high tech companies, there is a certain sense of bonding. It also provides a shared experience within a class, everyone understands each other's communication challenges, making the job of the teacher that much easier.

"From a delivery perspective, this sense of unity and understanding makes it much easier to customize the program to the needs of the students," says Ms. Taylor. "We start by focusing on general language for oral and language proficiency, but then we customize the training and with so many people coming from the same perspective, it is a much easier process."

How many states are there in the Federal Republic of Germany?

When was the Berlin Wall torn down?

Which ethnic groups reside in Germany?

What is Germany's national beverage?

When you are the third party making an introduction between two parties in Germany, who should be introduced first?

How do Germans usually get someone's attention?

When invited to dinner at a German home, what should you bring for your hostess?
What should you avoid doing when conversing with Germans?

Berlin Wall Answers at the bottom of the page.

With MALKAM rolling out a new intensive English Language Training program at the beginning of September there will be even more opportunity for those looking for employment to upgrade their language skills.

That means by the time the employment market takes a turn for the better, there will be a whole lot more people out there able to tell their story, even in a second language.

Do you have questions concerning cross-cultural practices or diversity issues? E-mail us at research@malkam.com . We will answer you as soon as possible. And you may find your question and answer in the next issue of CULTURESHOCK!

Answers to
Germany
Quizz
de-flag1.gif - 18511 Bytes

Top

There are sixteen states in the Federal Republic of Germany. These states are: Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, the two city-states of Bremen and Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, the city-state of Berlin, Hessen, Thuringia, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria.

The Berlin Wall, which was built in 1961, was opened on November 9, 1989 by the East Germans with the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War. The Wall was torn down by the end of 1990.

The majority of Germany's population is made up of Germans. The next largest ethnic group is Turkis, followed by Italians, Greeks and Poles. A portion of the population is made up of people fleeing the war in former Yugoslavia.

Germany's national beverage is beer. Each region and brewery gives its beer a distinctive taste and body.

In Germany the younger or lower-ranking person's name should be given first.

To get someone's attention in Germany, raise your hand with the palm facing out, with only the index finger extended. Avoid waving or beckoning.

A bouquet of unwrapped flowers should be brought for the hostess. But there are several things to be considered when purchasing flowers. A bouquet should not be ostentatiously large and should have an uneven number of flowers (but not thirteen). Red roses are reserved for courting, and calla lilies are for funerals. In Northern Germany, heather is often planted on graves, so it is considered bad luck to bring it into a house.

When speaking to someone of German decent, avoid standing with your hands in your pockets. This is considered rude.

Graybridge Malkam1309 Carling Avenue, Suite 5 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Z 7L3
Telephone: (613) 761-7440