I first moved to a non-English speaking country almost 30 years ago. I did not know how much I would change my own way of communicating. My own English. And it has really changed. The Difficulties Of A Non-Native English SpeakerI think most people who learn English as a second language go through more adjustments in learning English as a foreign language than English speakers learning a second language. Foreigners often tell me English is an easy language to learn. It should be. There is just so much of it around. On the radio, the internet and very often in the workplace. Foreigners think English is easy. But there is a variety of English communication. There is a big step in thinking you know a language and in being a good communicator. Good cross-cultural communication takes some adjustments. Both parties need to make an effort in finding a common understanding. The Native English Speaker’s JobWhen a native English speaker is in a foreigner’s home country, often the native English speaker does most of the adjusting. If the native English speaker has traveled before, this usually happens naturally. He instinctively knows how to make it easy for his foreign listener. Non-native English speakers do not always realize how much the English speaker will adapt his conversation to make it easy for him. English speakers adjust their communication in several ways to make it easier for non-native English speakers: Slang Strong accents Different dialects or country specific vocabulary Awkward grammar Difficult vocabulary Different communication stylesThe Adjustment ProcessI can easily forget the years of adjusting my conversation I went through. This is what I remember I did: Pay attention constantly to make sure everyone understands the same thing. Backtrack the conversation as soon as a little doubt came up or if I was surprised by any reaction or remark Explained I was tired, when I was and finding the effort too much. I remember feeling as if I was doing all the effort in making the conversations work. I remember being surprised at many misunderstandings. I was also surprised at how and why they happened. Everyone has their own perceptions of their cross-cultural communication. There is no right or wrong. There are only effective and enriching cross-cultural exchanges. Native-English speakers communicating with non-native English speakers are in a situation with many different and uncontrollable perceptions. Some perceptions are based on the person or culture, and others on workplace specific conditions. It is important for native-English speakers to remember to adjust their own English communication during their first cross-cultural encounters. Practice Makes Productive Cross-Cultural CommunicationIt takes practice to smooth over the hurdles caused by these communication differences. The more conversations you have with non-native English speakers the more you pick up receptive, productive and interactive cross-cultural communication skills. Seasoned English speaking international professionals end up constantly using a reduced vocabulary. They have to adapt to so many different language levels. This makes it very easy for their non-native English-speaking partners to understand them. The non-native speakers feel flattered. This reinforces their opinion that English is a very easy language to learn. I have lived in a non-English speaking country longer than I have in my native English speaking home. Adjusting my own communication is permanently on automatic. My own day-to-day English is very simple and direct. I rely on creating pictures with words to get specific points across. Sometimes I get frustrated at limiting my own vocabulary. That’s when I hunt down stimulating conversation, or reading. And even writing. Language is important. How you use your language to communicate with others is also important. Adjusting your English communication to meet the language levels of others is part of an effective communication process. Are you committed to speeding up your international sales cycles?Learn how to combine cross-cultural marketing tools and international sales strategies for faster sales. Join us on the International Sales Road MapWould you like to develop your international business? Are you a beginner at international sales and marketing? Read the Beginners Guide Discover Your International Business
Posts Tagged ‘Foreigner’
Why Chinese (Mandarin) Is One of the Easiest Languages to Learn – Reason 2
December 22nd, 2009In my 1st article I discussed how Mandarin Chinese is an easy language to learn because of the lack of verb conjugations. Now I want to demonstrate to you how easy Mandarin Chinese is when we look at how they describe verbs in the Past Tense. Using English again as a comparison lets take the verb “to go” as an example. I go -> I went What relation does the word “go” have with “went”? NONE! There isn’t even 1 common letter between them! So think about how hard life is for the foreigner who is learning English that they must simply memorize these words that have no logical relation to one another. How about Chinese? SO EASY! In Chinese when you want to describe past tense you simply ad the sound “le” after ANY verb and it becomes past tense. So using the verb “to go” as an example, in Mandarin Chinese it goes like this: I go -> I go “le” In order to simplify things above, I have used the English words of course. But that’s all you need to learn in Mandarin Chinese. Learn the verbs and just add “le” when you want to express that verb in past tense. SO EASY! It’s kind of like how we add “ed” to regular verbs in English. I play -> I played But of course in English we have many exceptions to this “ed” rule, making foreigners wonder if it even is a rule at all. French of course is the same which is again why I struggled with 10 years of French. But after only 2 years of learning Mandarin Chinese it was already better than my conversational French. Let me show you yet again how easy Mandarin Chinese is when using the Past Perfect tense. Look at these 2 English sentences: I ate fish I have eaten fish Both are using the verb “to eat” but the meanings are completely different. The first sentence is referring to something in the recent past (perhaps today or yesterday) while the other referring to eating anytime in the past, perhaps many years ago, conveying the idea that I have eaten fish at least once in my life at some point. In English the verb again must change (“ate” becomes “eaten”) and further we need to add the verb “to have” in order to convey this meaning. Mandarin Chinese? Again VERY EASY. Simply add the word “guo” to any verb and you convey the idea of Past Perfect. So the 2 sentences above would be “ I eat “le” fish I eat “guo” fish Notice how I kept the verb as “eat” in the above examples, as that is how it goes in Chinese. Keep the original verb exactly as is and just add “le” or “guo” depending on what kind of past tense meaning you want to convey. Hopefully in these 2 short articles I have already built up your confidence in your ability to master this surprisingly easy language. But I have not even begun! In the next article I will show you how easy it is to express Future Tenses.
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easy learn mandarinBenefits of Learning Languages
December 20th, 2009Many people enjoy learning languages for the pleasure of learning something new and there are people who want to learn a new language to satisfy their career requirement. In the present globalized economic environment, demand for employees with knowing many foreign languages has become a necessity, because of increasing role of export -import . Learning a new language will help in three ways 1) It will help to keep our brain active. 2) For people with a well established career it will help gain promotions or while undertaking international travel it will help them to interact with their counterparts personally which will help to develop positive rapport with the clients. Depending upon an interpreter is avoided. 3) It will help to utilize new career and employment avenues. In this article we shall explore about the various career and employment opportunities which will be available to us because of learning new languages. Multi National Organizations. These are business organizations with business interest in multiple countries. And this necessitates the employees to travel to their oversees manufacturing units, interact with clients in those countries for example local vendors of spare parts, dealers, etc and in such circumstances knowledge of the local knowledge will prove to be an asset. Similarly for people working in those units knowing employers language will help them to have hassle free communication with their employers. Ability to speak in a foreign language will help a person to get a career opportunity in the hospitality and tourism industries. Interpreting and Translation. Once high degree of proficiency in a foreign language has been acquired by a person these two areas i. e. translation and interpretation provides excellent career opportunities. Inspite of many people learning foreign languages, still when they suddenly have to meet a foreigner speaking a language which has not been learnt by them the service of a highly qualified interpreter becomes a vital necessity. An interpreter has to work in two ways. They are as follows: 1) Simultaneous translation has to be done in events like conferences. 2) The interpreter has to make consecutive interpretation i. e. he listens to a speaker and when the speaker pauses the interpreter translates and such a work is done in events like a business meeting. So my dear readers start learning a new language for the pleasure of learning something new, it will certainly add zest to life and also it will help to keep your brain active. There are chances for you to get a new career or business opportunity which will improve your finances along with increased satisfaction level. And in this internet era learning a new language can’t be a Herculean task. One need not go to a school in the evening hours or weekend. Sitting inside the cozy comfort of your home you can attend an online course and learn a language. It is so easy. What you require is an urge to learn and excel. To all my dear readers of this article and aspirants of language learning.
