Kudos Archives - Dialogue

The reality of relocating: language barriers and culture shock

Robert Shimwell — Wed, 17 May 2023 14:04:35 +0000

Ever wondered what it’s like to relocate? To use another language more than your native language? To experience culture shock and – yes, it’s a thing – even reverse culture shock?

Moving from one country to another is no mean feat and there are lots of things that must be taken into consideration. To give yourself just a flavour of what it’s like to live and work in a new country and culture, take a read of this exclusive interview with our translation project manager, Arianna Esardi. And if you’re planning a trip to Italy anytime soon, get ready to be spontaneous, have answers prepared to fend off direct questions and be sure to take some cash with you!

Ari, what is one thing you wish someone had told you before you first moved to the UK?

So, I first moved into the UK when I was 17 and I was still in high school. Back then, I wish someone had told me was how different the school system was. Because obviously from outside, all your knowledge about the UK is from TV shows or films. When I was 17, British pop culture was really big, you know, One Direction boyband kind of thing… Everyone was completely in love with the idea of the UK and London without understanding what it might be like to live there day in day out.

Moving to the UK was a big change for me, especially as our school systems are so different. The fact you get to choose your subjects was one of the main differences and the concept of dropping a subject was completely new to me. I had friends that started taking, like, four subjects at A-level and then dropped down to only three, which again, for teenage-me, used to 12 subjects in Italy, that was quite a shock. Also, back at home, you are awarded your final grade as an average of your exam results throughout the year and you don’t need to worry about your end of year exams being the be all and end all. Interestingly, although the school year runs from September to June, it’s the year that you’re born (January to January) that determines what school year you’re put in!

Has language ever been a barrier for you in the UK?

When I first moved here, language was definitely a barrier. At the age of 17, I had my English just from what you learn in school; some songs, you know, that kind of typical, very basic English. Actually, the very first thing that happened to me in the UK was that I got on the train from Gatwick to Hastings where I was staying for the year, and it was one of those trains that splits up at a station and only one half was continuing to Hastings… not my half…

They must have announced it, as now I know that that’s how it works, but I didn’t fully understand the speaker, maybe it wasn’t very audible or maybe the fact that my English wasn’t that good is why I didn’t get what was going on. So, I sat there in an empty carriage that was going to stay at the station and I did nothing. Thankfully though, the guard walked down the train to make sure everyone had left. I don’t really remember what he said but I do remember he was extremely nice and he got me off the carriage, walked me through to the right part and even allowed me to sit in first class. He later came back to check on me and told me when to get off the train. The bottom line is that I was completely lost; I was a teenager terrified of going to a new county. And he was, honestly, my saviour in that situation!

Obviously, the language barrier has got smaller as my English has got better with time. I have got to the point where I would say my main language has changed to English as, you know, I work in English and, at home, my partner is British, so we are always speaking English. There are still times where I’m absolutely convinced that a word means something when it doesn’t, though. I mean, even the other night a calque from my Italian crept in; I was talking about anticipating a meeting. Because the word ‘anticipare’ – which is similar to the English ‘anticipate’, actually means to bring forward. I was talking about bringing a meeting forward from 4pm to 3pm but kept going on about anticipating it until I realised, after some funny looks, what was wrong!

Being able to speak two languages is a blessing and a curse! Do you think it’s possible for a person to lose their fluency in their native language the more they learn a new one?

When I was 17, I would translate in my head from Italian into English, but now I find myself having to do it the other way around, having to translate from English to Italian. That’s what happens when you move abroad and when you don’t use your language that much. And that is why when it comes to reading, for example, I do prefer reading in Italian. I’m a big reader and I can read in English, but reading in Italian allows me to sort of tap back into my language and rebuild my vocabulary in my native language. And sure, reading in English allows me to do the same with English, but if I were to drop reading in Italian in favour of reading in English, then I would lose that kind of vocabulary in my native language, because if you don’t use it, you do tend to lose it.

Now, let’s get down to the juicy stuff: what are some of your pet peeves about British people?

One thing that I don’t want to say drives me mad, but let’s say, one thing that I’ve noticed… is I just don’t get the need to have everything planned. Some things are ok, you know, I plan my holidays months in advance. But when it comes to social stuff and seeing your friends, in my opinion, you don’t need that level of planning. When we go back home to Italy, it might be that I get a message to a group chat at 6pm saying, who wants to meet up tonight at 10pm? I might not answer until eight and then say, yeah, I’ll see you in a couple of hours. And that’s all you need. You can also drop by someone’s house unannounced, and perhaps stay for a coffee or just chat for a bit – this depends from person to person of course – but I wouldn’t be like, no, I’m not letting you in unless you send me a letter in the post first…!

Sounds like you’re definitely more spontaneous than we are in the UK! So, how do people's attitudes and mentalities differ between the two countries?

I’d say the UK is a bit more open in terms of mentality. There’s a bit more conservatism back at home over certain topics, but then again, I guess it just depends on where you are. If you’re In London, you’re going to have a more international and open mindset than if you live in some really small village in the middle of nowhere – generally speaking. And I think it’s the same in Italy. If you’re in Milan, you’re probably going to gain a different mentality to the ones you might find in some sort of, like, tiny little town.

For example, again, back to when I was a teenager, I used to have blue hair. I’ve always had coloured hair, really bright and everything. To have blue hair hadn’t exactly caught on back then and I was one of very few in Italy to have blue hair. I was getting stares – even in Milan! But stares nonetheless, and when I moved here, my mum was concerned I was going to get the same kind of thing. So, because I was going to be in the UK alone and I was not yet eighteen, I dyed it back to a very dark brown and left my much-loved blue hair behind. But when I moved here, I was surprised to find that one of the professors in college, while I was doing my A-levels, had bright pink hair! So yeah, I regret that I dyed it, I really wish I had kept it blue!

And what are some of the main cultural similarities or differences between the UK and Italy in the workplace?

One thing that I’ve noticed is that I can talk about money a little more openly. I won’t ask people how much they earn, but I have no issues discussing my salary. I’m not sure if it’s an Italian thing or a me-thing, but generally speaking we are certainly more direct and can get to the point quicker than most English people!

Another difference is how you write emails. I think we are a lot more formal in our writing, just like how French emails and writing is very structured, and very formal. Whereas, in the UK, it’s not quite a text message, but your emails are a lot more like a conversation and you can use emojis and so on. Every now and then I still need to get my emails checked here in the UK to make sure that they don’t sound too formal just because I don’t want to come across as rude in English to British people. But if I were to write an email like I do in English in Italian, I would definitely come across as rude to the Italian person. There are different pronouns in Italian that you can use for addressing people and you should always address people that you don’t know using the formal address in Italian.

Have you ever experienced culture shock in the UK or reverse culture shock when you go back home?

When I go back to Italy, I experience reverse culture shock for sure. So, credit cards and debit cards. Up until a couple of years ago, they were still not very widely accepted. I think there was a law that was passed maybe six months to a year ago that says shops have to accept them. But up until then, there was no obligation. And actually, banks tend to charge quite a bit extra on any transaction done by a credit or debit card. And that’s why up until the new law came into effect, they weren’t that widely used. You can still see some shops now where they don’t take card or there’s a minimum amount, for example, no card payments under 10 quid. Obviously, in the UK I’m used to being able to pay even 10p with a card or being able to split a bill 6 ways in a restaurant, and so going back home I’m forever having to scramble for cash!

I’m hoping it’s going to change because I do find it a lot more convenient and safer here in the UK. So, if anyone here wants to go on holiday to Italy, be aware, it’s really important! Take some cash. There will still be places that don’t take card at all, like taxi drivers. I mean, now with the law, they sort of have to, but do take some cash with you, as you never know!

And finally, is there any advice you might have for people planning to relocate to the UK?

Check out the UK government webpages. There is a lot of really clear and helpful information. You don’t have to call people, as it will take a long time to get through to anyone on the phone and actually you can find what you need online. Chat to people who have already relocated, if you’re moving with work, definitely get some language and cultural training arranged. And yeah, documents take time. Be prepared to wait but stick at it! Living and working in another country and culture is worth the wait!

If you want to find out how Dialogue can help you with relocating for work or study or you just want to brush up on those language skills before an upcoming business trip, get in touch with our training department today!

The post The reality of relocating: language barriers and culture shock appeared first on Dialogue.

Improve employee performance and achieve results with Kudos

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 08:49:27 +0000

I’ve always been a chatterbox. When I was about twelve years old, the dentist once asked my mother, “Mrs Atkinson, can your daughter talk under water?”

I always object when my mum retells this story; I mean, the dentist did ask me how my school day went, so I decided to tell him! It didn’t matter to me that he was already making a note of my teeth “from the upper right, 18 – partially erupted…” with a couple of dental tools wedged into my mouth. I was busy (over)sharing what I’d learned in my French lesson period 1: J’adore le goût du dentifrice // I love the taste of toothpaste…

Communication is so important. It is the answer to so many problems – at home, in the workplace and even on an international level. To be able to express yourself freely, make your thoughts heard and be clearly understood is a basic necessity. And it’s why at Dialogue, communication is at the heart of what we do: offering language services to break down communication barriers and grow your business. One distinctive way in which we do this is through our language and cultural training services, in particular, our very-own business English ed-tech platform, Kudos.

What is Kudos?

Kudos is a unique library of business English and cultural training that includes over 30 hours of online lessons plus 18 hours of live group training sessions – monthly webinars on additional topics – for people whose first language isn’t English. Blended learning is widely recognised as the most effective and engaging way to fully absorb all of the material. Its focus is on developing business skills: presenting, negotiating, using formal/informal English and more.

Who is Kudos for?

If you have an international team, or offices in countries around the globe, providing language and cultural training to your colleagues or employees is essential in order for them and for your business as a whole to succeed. And I’m not just talking about the obvious benefits of improved communication, and all that that entails (a bigger market reach, improved language skills for securing client deals, easier team integration, smoother internal interaction, fewer misunderstandings…) but about the knock-on effect of improved employee confidence and wellbeing.

As a naturally chatty person, a language lover with a passion for communicating with other people, imagine how I felt when I was first thrown into an environment as a working adult, where I couldn’t communicate easily. Working in a Russian office with only Russian-speaking colleagues was, at first, immensely difficult for me. It completely knocked my confidence as a natural communicator: I was often tongue-tied and unable to find the right words. It was hugely frustrating and, at times, humiliating when I’d say the wrong thing or had only just built up the confidence to say something in a group meeting, but the conversation had moved on.

So now imagine the sense of achievement and how rewarding it was when, thanks to a combination of training, studying and immersion, I managed to get my Russian language to a level at which I could communicate confidently on a daily basis. I could answer the phone, build a rapport with clients, write emails without batting an eyelid, present ideas to my colleagues and even present client-pitches entirely in Russian. As cliché as it sounds, I’d never grown up imagining that many of my biggest achievements, memorable conversations and dearest friendships would ever be a result of communicating in a language other than English…

Why should you invest in Kudos?

So, L&D managers, HR managers, decision makers, listen up! You have a unique opportunity at your fingertips. By introducing Kudos to your employees, not only will you have more confident team players, but more loyal ones for having invested in them.

According to the recent LinkedIn 2023 Workplace Learning Report carried out amongst L&D managers & learners around the world, 93% of organisations are currently concerned about employee retention. And the number 1 way that organisations are working to improve retention is by providing learning opportunities.

Kudos is that learning opportunity you have been looking for. As employees can learn online, anytime, anywhere, Kudos is a brilliant tool to facilitate – buzz word alert – LITFOW. Learning In The Flow Of Work. A bit of a mouthful, but LinkedIn research suggests that employees who spend time learning at work are actually 47% less likely to be stressed, 39% more likely to feel productive and successful and 23% more ready to take on additional responsibilities.

According to a report based on research from Deloitte, companies that foster a growth-mindset, and implement LITFOW, will witness increased productivity, increased profit and decreased employee turnover. What is stopping you from signing up right now?! Ah yes. Cost of living is on the rise and my HR budget has already been reduced, halved and now squeezed again.

But I would argue that it’s not about the budget – however small or miniscule it currently is – it’s more about priority. Let’s face it, the budget is there. The question is, is training, up-skilling and investing in your employees a priority? Do you want to develop a stronger and more cohesive team that thrives at work, is more effective and loyal to you, their employer, at a time of economic instability and high employee turnover rates? I imagine, your answer to that is quite simply – yes!

So, if you’re committed to improving employee performance and achieving greater company results, why not give us a call today to chat about how Kudos may just be the answer you’ve been looking for…?

The post Improve employee performance and achieve results with Kudos appeared first on Dialogue.

Surviving Valentine’s Day in the City of Love

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:04:46 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today at Dialogue, we’ve got an exclusive interview for you with our very own, Arianna Esardi – our wonderful project manager and talented linguist who was born and raised in the same city as Romeo and Juliet – Verona, the city of love. Having spent the last 8 or so years going back and forth between the UK and Italy, Arianna is our in-house expert on the differences and similarities between Italian and British culture. So read on for some top tips on how to survive Valentine’s Day in Italy and some interesting facts about the Italian language and romantic traditions…

What traditions do you have in Italy on this day?

Well, something that has always been a tradition, but it became more and more popular after a particular film came out in the 2000s, are the locks with your name on. The film was called 3 metri sopra il cielo and the meaning is the equivalent of your ‘cloud nine’ expression – that you’re really, really excited or happy and it translates literally to ‘three meters above the sky’. So that’s a classic romantic gesture that couples often like to do on Valentine’s Day – attaching a padlock with your names on it to a bridge and then throwing the key away into the river as a sign of love.

But it’s not that straightforward! If you take a look at the picture of Juliet’s courtyard in the picture above, you can see that there is a gate to the left of her statue. This was once a favourite spot for attaching locks to, but over time, it got covered in so many locks that it wasn’t possible to even open the gate anymore! So, they have all been removed and now, it is actually classed as an act of vandalism to attach locks to any historical monument, including the city centre bridges – which are from the medieval or Roman era. So, if you want to celebrate your love in this way, best to find a more remote place that isn’t going to damage or weigh down any historical monument! You’ve been warned!

Do you think Italian is a romantic language?

I like to think so… I like to think so! We have a lot of poets and authors… it’s quite a nice and melodic language. It sounds really beautiful as are the sounds of many of the words as well. I think we have a wonderful vocabulary and you can say and create wonderful things with our language.

What do you think are some of the most romantic Italian phrases? Let’s start with ‘I Love You’. That must be a romantic one…

That is actually an interesting one. So, there’s two ways of saying I love you in Italian; one is more directed towards your partner or your loved one. You’ll find people occasionally saying it to their parents, but it tends to be really a romantic kind of I love you, which is Ti amo. And the other one is more directed towards your friends or your family, the people that you love in a different way, which is Ti voglio bene.

Another phrase that I personally really like, which comes from La Divina Commedia (Dante), is the phrase l’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle, which means the love that moves the sun and the other stars. It conveys the idea of love being the driving force behind a lot of what we do – our motivations, emotions and actions.

Do you think English is a romantic language in comparison?

I love English poetry and I love literature. So, I think you have a really nice language that you can do a lot with as well. I love the British accent and I might be biased because my partner is British, but I think it sounds really nice! Um… a part of me wants to say no though; it’s certainly not as romantic as Italian, because you know, my language comes first! But I think you definitely have ways of saying things and idioms that are brilliantly descriptive and can be so delicate at the same time, so the language can be romantic when you want it to be!

Speaking of idioms, Valentine’s Day isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so what’s your advice on how to survive Valentine’s Day today in Italy?

There’s going to be a lot of love hearts about, lots of couples going round, especially in Verona and in the more touristic cities like Venice. You might see a few proposals as well; Valentine’s Day seems to be a great day for getting engaged. But as for surviving the day and the all too visible PDAs, I’d just say go and do something fun with your friends – it doesn’t have to be a day just for romance. Go and celebrate your friendships – have dinner, go for drinks, go to the cinema with the people you love – your family, your friends, on your own – why not? Just enjoy being in a beautiful place in a beautiful part of the world.

Are you interested in having cultural training classes with Dialogue? Then get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you survive any day, meeting or occasion in your language and culture of choice!

The post Surviving Valentine’s Day in the City of Love appeared first on Dialogue.

How Cultural and English Training Can Lead to an Increased ROI

Robert Shimwell — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 13:27:19 +0000

It’s always nice to know there is someone new on the way. It’s fresh, exciting, and stressful. No, I’m not talking about babies, but a new employee.

We all know how much time, energy and money companies can place in ensuring a new member of staff is found that can do the job. And I’m sure we have also all had experience employing or working with someone who, for whatever reason, left almost as soon as they arrived.

But why?

It may be that on paper, your new employee is golden. Absolutely capable of doing the job and is making you money. But they already want to leave. Their reason: They don’t feel at home. In order to take this job, they’ve moved to a different country, which speaks in a different language and even eats dinner at a different time. Their emails are “unclear”, they’re constantly being told to repeat what they’ve said and to top it off, they’ve upset a colleague and they have no idea why. They’re lost, confused and stressed.

It can be completely overwhelming.

As an employer, your first thought might be, “I need to ensure our new employee receives support in learning the local language” and you’ll work towards setting them up on a course. This will, in time, help massively – breaking the language barrier will ensure clearer communications, a reduction in errors and a more cohesive team. You may also extend this to their family members, to assist them in fitting in at school, or going about their general day-to-day tasks.

But what about the cultural implications? Would your new employee know that during a meeting, new ideas may take longer to discuss before reaching the approval stage? Or that there is a hierarchy system that must be adhered to? That “Yes” could mean “Maybe” or even “No?” That during meals, it’s preferable (not) to burp/leave cutlery open on the plate or not use their left hand?

If your new employee isn’t aware of the “usual way of doing things around here”, it can cause embarrassment, feelings of exclusion, low morale for the and the team and leave them wondering if they’ve made the right decision in working for you. Therefore, it’s vital to ensure that as an employer, enough preparation and thought is given to ensuring your recruit feels at home – both in and out of the workplace.

Language isn’t the only way in which we communicate.

Understanding a new language and culture isn’t something that can be learned in a day. It requires patience and the understanding that errors will be made, but they will be learned from. If you know you have the right person for the job, start your preparations early and talk to them:

Have they relocated before? Are they bringing their spouse / family members?
How do they feel their language skills are? Are they (or you) aware of any areas of weakness?
What do they already know about the culture of the country they are moving to?
Would they feel less anxious if support was given in the form of language and cultural training?

Preparation is key to success.

Post-pandemic, more and more people are working from home or adapting to a hybrid working style. The benefits of this, from a recruitment perspective, have removed somewhat the location barrier and so your new team could consist of those based anywhere within the UK – and beyond – meeting up in person only every now and again. This new way of working has highlighted more than ever the importance of communication – clarity in emails and on phone calls is vital and on a video call, it’s not always so easy to see and interpret body language, that would usually be picked up on if you were in an office together.

So, if you have a new member of staff who doesn’t use English as their first language, and does not yet have the experience in understanding UK business culture, think about how you can support them further. By investing that little extra time, money and energy into their individual needs, you could be rewarded with a dedicated, long-term member of staff, who is a clear communicator, and effective team member and (unfortunately for them) understands the poor office Dad-jokes and will roll their eyes with the rest of us.

Training isn’t always just about being shown how to use a piece of software. It’s about how to feel at home.

The post How Cultural and English Training Can Lead to an Increased ROI appeared first on Dialogue.

The Power of Language Training: Increased effectiveness of your workforce

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:17:22 +0000

Q: What connects: George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill?

A: They’re all supposed to have created the famous quotation along the lines of:

Great Britain and America: 2 nations separated by a common language

Now, if getting 2 sets of people who supposedly speak the same language to understand each other seems to have worried these 3 famous gentlemen, what about when the companies have speakers whose languages are different? Apart from the obvious errors of misunderstanding, three other things can occur:

Them and us syndrome

Inevitably, people feel most comfortable speaking in their own tongue. But when there is a multi-national environment, a lack of language skills can lead to cliques, and feelings of distrust and fear – ultimately, a break-down in team ethos and a drop in morale.

Never underestimate the pressure that this puts on the international workforce. Even someone with ostensibly great language skills is working like a swan on the water: elegant on the surface but working its metaphorical socks off underneath to keep up, to communicate in a way that’s sophisticated enough for the given audience. It’s physically demanding too.

Knowing that someone else can understand your language (or indeed that you speak theirs!) levels the playing field beautifully, brings harmony to a team and greater effectiveness. Especially if both sides realise that the burden of being the ‘foreign body’ amongst a group of natives is shared.

Feeling of being judged

I used to teach English to the MD of a large international car manufacturer which had a subsidiary in the UK. His English was really very good, but he refused to speak publicly in English for the first 2 months for fear of being judged – not on his ability to do the job, but on his ability in English.

I worked with an overseas global sales manager who so lacked confidence in herself and her English comprehension that she would use the captions option in Teams meetings rather than rely on her advanced, if occasionally accented, English.

“I just want them to see the real me at work,” was her understandable lament. “Not a 2^nd rate version of me.” Nobody seemed to consider this pressure in the workplace, and nobody considered speaking to her in her native tongue every now and then.

Not taking into consideration a foreigner’s limitations (and of course we don’t include ‘shouting more loudly’ to get yourself understood as a way of helping) can have a negative impact on the team.

Empathy goes a long, long way. And if you’ve felt pressure trying to communicate in a language that’s not your own, you are bound to sympathise more.

Language and Culture

Even when language levels are high, people often forget language can impact on culture and can cause discomfort at best, and offence at worst.

“Sorry, Jim. I don’t suppose you could possibly pass me that file, could you? Thank you. Thank you very much.”

is rendered in some languages simply by:

“Pass me that file!”

“Ooh they’re so direct, the XYZs aren’t they?” – I can hear it now!

Profanity or cursing is another prime example of this. What one country finds offensive, another may not – and by the time you discover how wrong it is, it’s often too late.

Learning a foreign language provides insight into why international colleagues speak the way they do – and then hopefully allows us to cut them some slack when they do it differently from us. Not better, not worse, just differently.

So, what are you waiting for? Get some language skills under your belt – bring that team together.

The post The Power of Language Training: Increased effectiveness of your workforce appeared first on Dialogue.

Native Vs. Non Native Teaching: Does Native Speakerism Matter?

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:10:42 +0000

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

A language trainer called me a while back, enquiring into new courses. “I know I usually teach a foreign language, but would you consider me for teaching English too? I have all the relevant qualifications”. I was confused. “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

A few days later I read a news article by Gerald Nikolai Smith headlined “Teacher sues over native-speakerism”, which features a case brought to Court by a language trainer who was not considered for an English teaching position – on the basis that English is not his/her/their first language.

If you haven't read the article, you can find it here.

I found this article interesting, because it had never crossed my mind that this was a reason for rejection. I am a native English speaker, living in England, so call me naïve, blind, ignorant or privileged to this matter if you want but it at least explains my confusion about the phone call.

I am not a language trainer or translator but work for a company that specialises in arranging language training courses. I receive requests for both foreign language and English language trainers. When I receive a course request, my first thought has never been “Oh, a new French course request, I need a native French speaker living in France. Instead, I just think: “I need to call Z, they can teach French and would work well with that student”.

Because overall, as a company, what does matter to us is that the language trainer is engaging and dynamic. Someone who can structure a lesson well and create a great rapport with their students. Who can break down tricky subjects into bite-sized, digestible and understandable chunks. From the very beginning I was always taught that the most important thing is getting the right match. Sometimes I feel like I work at a dating agency! Yes, there may be some specific requests issued by our clients that are reasonable and so may affect who we contact, such as “lessons need to be in X location” or “language trainer needs extensive knowledge on Y subject areas” but other than that, we’ll be in touch.

But...

Our company has in the past received requests to have native speakers, as it can be the belief that not having one may in some way put the student at a disadvantage. One could argue: would a non-native speaker understand local idioms? Culture? Accents? Would they be able to take the English version of a slang comment and know the exact foreign alternative to use instead? Could having, for example, an Italian accent when delivering a English lesson impact the student in learning? Could not growing up in that native country mean there is a portion of the language that is still undiscovered to you? How can a tutor convey all of this across to a student who wants to fully understand and immerse themselves in the language and culture of their preferred country, if the language trainer has only ever been a “visitor”?

As many linguists out there already know, and as the court case has highlighted, of course you can. It doesn’t matter if you weren’t born there. Living and working there for X amount of years is enough. Spending years understanding the grammar and sentence structure rules, completing the courses and obtaining the teaching certificates is enough. You know how to compare and contrast the English language with a foreign language, find the similarities and differences, flip it, reverse it. AND THEN go on to explain all of that to another person, in a clear and simple 1hr lesson. You are qualified in that language for a reason. You have the knowledge and the experience and students should be all ears.

I’m not a linguist. Teaching a student is not something I can do. The other day I was asked to carry out user-experience review of a new Kudos module, headed “Reporting Unspoken Ideas and Commands”. An English tutor teaching English to a person who knows and speaks English. I didn’t get it. Because I have never needed to go into that much depth with my English – I just know that you say it in this way, “because you do.” It was then passed on to a colleague who was a non-native English speaker, who was able to relate to the grammar and give appropriate feedback. Read paragraph 3 again. I am a native English speaker, living in England, so call me naïve or blind or ignorant or privileged to this matter if you want.

How do accents play a part with native speakerism?

Everyone has an accent of some sort. I’m from the South West of England. I’m not Kerry from This Country, but sometimes I get twangy. If you’re being told you must sound like Mary Poppins, then you are being set an unrealistic goal. That is not real life. Some of us do say “everyfing” and “all-ryte” and “lush”, and language trainers from Newcastle, Swansea, Belfast or Edinburgh may have their own local expressions or pronunciation.

Our Kudos modules teach you that what you read in a book may not be what you hear in real life. You are not the Queen and neither your language trainer nor employer should expect you to come away from your lessons sounding like her!

Sometimes, too much native-ness can be a disadvantage.

What are the cons of accepting native speakers to teach English?

In terms of marketing, there may be an argument to say: “I’ve just travelled half-way round the world for my course in the UK – and I don’t expect to be taught by someone who was raised down the road from me back in South America.” But then, do we get upset if the chef in our local Spanish Tapas bar was born in Southampton? It’s certainly an argument, but a weak one.

If a large, Swiss-based language school thought it was ok to exclude applicants for not being a native speaker, then it’s up to the smaller (but ever growing!) companies like Dialogue to further embed our values and put the record straight. We’re a company whose values are strong. We are conscientious. We are not machines, but individuals and we will always celebrate that.

At the end of the day, what every student should come away with is a clear understanding of HOW to use the language, WHY you use those words, WHEN to use them and WHAT they mean.

And that WHO teaches you this is competent in doing so, regardless of their mother tongue.

The post Native Vs. Non Native Teaching: Does Native Speakerism Matter? appeared first on Dialogue.

How to smooth the transition for people coming to work in the UK

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 31 May 2022 14:54:09 +0000

Relocating overseas can seem like a great adventure, and why wouldn’t it be? New job, new experience, new team and new (if somewhat protective) culture.

It can, however, be quite daunting too: people can often feel like a fish out of water once the honeymoon period is over or they can feel that they are being judged intellectually, based on their ability in English. All unfounded of course, but perception is everything, and it can impact heavily on a co-worker’s confidence. And let’s not forget the spouse and the rest of the family – more about them later…

An example

I once taught English to an MD of a large automotive company. His English level was probably upper-intermediate, but he was a little rusty as he hadn’t used it for some time. He didn’t utter a word of English to his colleagues for the first 5 weeks of his secondment, for fear of what people might think of him if his English wasn’t ‘just so’.

Part of his English training was confidence-building and showing him that he could clearly communicate his message despite the occasional hesitation. To restore this confidence, he delivered mini-presentations (in a structured, ‘safe’ environment) to scaffold his English skills; we looked at the way people really speak rather than text-book English (including some less than obvious idioms and bits of vernacular to surprise his colleagues – Fancy a cuppa? was a favourite). Oh, and plenty of cultural input – living aboard isn’t just about speaking the language, it’s about living it too. It’s all very well learning I disagree, but if your average Brit uses, I’m not sure I agree to be less direct, I disagree can come across as a little aggressive.

Now, if you’re an accountant, the language bubble you reside in has its own set of jargon. Balance-sheet, assets, deficit and GPM may not be a part of everyday parlance, but they get repeated and repeated and repeated if that’s your profession. You see the same vocabulary in the workplace again and again, so you don’t even really need to actively learn the words: they just start to stick. Marketing specialist, SEO expert, HTML coder: as far as language is concerned, it’s the same ol’ same ol’. Quite a comfort, really, until…

O-O-O

I worked with another student of English who said he could do a PowerPoint presentation on last quarter’s sales, could share information on next month’s special offers but dreaded going for a ‘social’ after work, because who knew what topics of conversation would raise their ugly head? And this was for only a few hours of their life.

Pity, then, the spouse, who managing the household on a day-by-day basis, might need to talk about the finer details of an illness, a broken washing machine, tennis results or the government of the day – because that’s what life will throw at him or her. And yet it’s often the spouse that is given a token 20-hour block of English lessons to help facilitate integration into the country.

Pity, then, the spouse who must work out how the education system works compared to the one at home; how to cope with true culture shock because we do things ‘that bit differently’ over here and who is also the last person to be told the recycling is only collected every other week.

And if the spouse ain’t happy, you can be sure that sooner or later, the expat won’t be either.

How can these pitfalls be avoided?

When it comes to relocating employees to the UK, most international companies organise the visa, the bank account, the car and the accommodation; it’s a given.

But…

Do the employees have the language support for themselves and their spouses? Is it commercial, cultural, and practical – inside and outside the office?
Is the training as in-depth as it should be? Or is it little more than a ‘pat on the back and off you go’?
Has everyone been given access to practical cultural training, complete with coping mechanisms, local knowledge and reassurance that it’s normal to miss being ‘back home’?

It’s a statistical truth that failed secondments are often down to the inability of the expat and spouse to adjust to life in the UK. Not the ability to do the job.

And it’s an expensive mistake to make.

Contact Dialogue to see if we can help with the integration of what is often your most valuable resource – personnel.

The post How to smooth the transition for people coming to work in the UK appeared first on Dialogue.

Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 17 May 2022 13:35:28 +0000

Working in the UK: A Dialogue Primer

The United Kingdom is a major global hub. Home to more than 67 million people, it comprises England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The World Bank ranked the UK as among the best locations globally for ease of commerce—the ease with which taxes, corporate laws and business are conducted – there’s just not as much red tape as in many countries. As a major destination spot, the UK also hosts many first-time visitors from all over the globe.

Despite added Visa-Worker rules following Brexit, each year, hundreds of thousands of people travel to the UK from all over the world. To make your UK stay a real success, it’s wise to come prepared. Below is our ranking of the key things to consider when arriving in the UK for work. The most important factor when working abroad: good Business English skills.

Dialogue, as a multi-cultural advisor, translation company, and language specialists, wants you to know what to expect, so you can practice English, today. By preparing yourself in advance, you won’t just survive—but thrive.

Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work

Double-check recent Visa changes.
With Brexit passing, most nationals of European Economic Area (EEA) countries will now be required a Visa to be allowed to live and work in the UK.
Study your transit maps.
Wherever it is that you’ll be based in the UK, we recommend you study the transit maps for your area in advance. This will help you better process locations once you arrive.
How will you travel internally?
Will you commute to work daily? Will you need to take a taxi, the subway, the train, or will you drive to work? If you plan to drive, bring an International Driver’s License with you—issued by most major governments, and typically valid for one year.
The London Underground.
Rather than counterrevolutionaries or a Ska band, the London Underground simply refers to Britain’s subway or metro. This underground rail system is also referred to as ‘the Tube.’
Don’t be ‘put off’.
The British have a reputation for being reserved, stoic, even distant—at first. Don’t take that personally. They are just that way. Don’t be ‘put off’ by this – just give us time and we do warm up once we get to know you!
Reach out to your contacts.
The UK is huge. It’s always a good idea to initiate a meeting through third-party contacts or family ties. Whether within a school, university, or company, personal referrals can greatly enhance access and increase trust.
Work on pronunciation, daily!
Every day, make time to practice the things you need to say more clearly. Listen to phonetic training videos on business English. Practice speaking—aloud. Not just in your head.
Ask for ‘take-home menus.’
In any restaurant or cafe, you can ask for a menu to take with you. This will help you learn the names of regional meals, local foods, basic ingredients and more.
Prepare to swim – not sink!
There’s nothing like full immersion to teach one English, quickly. Those brave enough and fortunate enough to travel to the UK for work will have to adapt to speaking in English ’24/7.’ When it’s sink or swim time, you’ll learn faster than you ever have before.
Practice all the above, right now.
Kudos, our English language learning library, will make sure you’re prepared. Our needs-oriented, professional business English courses target needs. This way, you learn what you most need to know first, so you can do your job in English.

Speak Responsibly

There are many things to expect when arriving in the UK for work. The most important thing for you to focus on, long before your first day on the job: learn the English language.

Our Kudos learning library is very different from conventional teaching methods. Not only is our library accessible every day, rain, or shine, but our modules focus on teaching a solid base of professional competence. This lets teams build confidence in their business English, and helps learners overcome many of the frustrations that bilingual students often feel.

Why is the Kudos library so complete? Because we at Dialogue aren’t just translators. We’re also leaders in measuring English competency through Advanced (CAE) and Proficiency (CPE) Cambridge English exams. At Dialogue, we know how much language matters.

For those transitioning to working in the UK, a word to the wise: Don’t leave for tomorrow what you should have been practising yesterday. With our intuitive and engaging Ed Tech learning resources and cultural training services we help teams adapt and adjust, linguistically. Our vital resource library can be the bridge that helps you reach—and exceed—your dreams.

The post Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work appeared first on Dialogue.

7 reasons why learning English online is best for your team in 2022

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 10 May 2022 14:06:33 +0000

Turns out that by 2010, more than half of the world’s population had become bilingual.

While the reasons why are varied—from migration needs to the digital transformation driving globalisation—more and more people found it necessary to develop the ability to speak more than one language. After digital interconnectivity improvements allowed for a global reach, this made it even more crucial to have a lingua franca, or common language. As Psychology Today reported:

“How can one explain such large numbers of bilinguals? One reason is simply that many countries house numerous languages: 722 in Indonesia, 445 in India, 207 in Australia and so on. Contact between communities means learning other languages or, at the very least, acquiring a common language of communication and hence being bilingual.”

For this bilingual generation, English became a global language, and the most-used language on the internet. Below are just 7 of the key reasons to learn English easily and immediately, online.

1. Economically speaking, English has taken the lead in our global economy.

It’s become the lingua franca in growing online commerce, remote learning, virtual sales and more. It’s also the native tongue spoken in the top two financial centres on Earth: New York (01) and London (02).

2. English is the most common language on the internet, by far.

As Statistica demographic data shows: by 2020, English was being used by 25.9% of all internet users. The next-most common online languages: Chinese (19.4%), Spanish (7.9%) and Arabic (5.2%).

3. English is now the most-spoken language around the world.

In Ethnologue global rankings of 7,111 living languages, among the most-often spoken on the planet, English has taken the lead.

4. Politically speaking, English is often used in international diplomacy efforts.

With its British roots and years of colonising influence, English remains the dominant language of three G7 nations (UK, USA, Canada), plus Australia from the G20. It’s also the primary language for UN meetings.

5. Never has English been more important for a vibrant work life.

For those who want a steady career progression, able to conduct commerce in hyper-competitive global markets—English is key.

6. Much of Social Media and entertainment depend on English.

From Instagram to LinkedIn to TikTok, our social life and online presence now often depends on English, or English translations.

7. Geographically speaking, knowing English can help you travel with ease.

English is the most-commonly spoken language in destination spots around the world, all catering to tourists.

Both personally and financially, in terms of travel, entertainment, career progression and more—it’s important to develop your English skills. For business teams that want to succeed in today’s digital marketplace, Business English is now a necessity—not a luxury.

How fluent is your team? Can they be understood clearly? Do they have the self-confidence to reach out to others in English and make an impact in the workplace? Want the best English training and coaching around?

Try the Kudos Library, Today

As global leaders in translation services, no one understands the need for real-time, accurate translation, localisation and training more than us.

For those who lack the time to enrol in a formal schooling process, Dialogue has made English language learning simple. Anyone who wants to improve their business English skills can immediately sign up to our English library for online training. If you lead a team, or need to develop bilingual people, make visiting our library your new priority. Our Kudos library is brimming with engaging online activities and learning sessions that will help you master English at your own pace, boost career opportunities and respect for you in the workplace.

By 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic had pushed much of commerce and communication online and kept countless traditional schools closed. Unlike face-to-face training, our learning library will not close, removing the issue of accessibility. Allow our years of experience in cross-cultural coaching and translation resources to help improve your enterprise’s international reach and reputation.

Especially if English is a second language rather than a first, it’s important to learn the correct grammar, expand your vocabulary and practice speaking, now. Gain the knowledge you need to speak English correctly and with rewarding self-confidence.

At Dialogue, we make learning intuitive, accessible, and fun. Make your self-development a reality this year. Log onto our learning library and change your world.

The post 7 reasons why learning English online is best for your team in 2022 appeared first on Dialogue.

Kudos Archives - Dialogue

The reality of relocating: language barriers and culture shock

Ari, what is one thing you wish someone had told you before you first moved to the UK?

Has language ever been a barrier for you in the UK?

Being able to speak two languages is a blessing and a curse! Do you think it’s possible for a person to lose their fluency in their native language the more they learn a new one?

Now, let’s get down to the juicy stuff: what are some of your pet peeves about British people?

Sounds like you’re definitely more spontaneous than we are in the UK! So, how do people's attitudes and mentalities differ between the two countries?

And what are some of the main cultural similarities or differences between the UK and Italy in the workplace?

Have you ever experienced culture shock in the UK or reverse culture shock when you go back home?

And finally, is there any advice you might have for people planning to relocate to the UK?

Improve employee performance and achieve results with Kudos

What is Kudos?

Who is Kudos for?

Why should you invest in Kudos?

Surviving Valentine’s Day in the City of Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

How Cultural and English Training Can Lead to an Increased ROI

But why?

It can be completely overwhelming.

Language isn’t the only way in which we communicate.

Preparation is key to success.

The Power of Language Training: Increased effectiveness of your workforce

Them and us syndrome

Feeling of being judged

Language and Culture

Native Vs. Non Native Teaching: Does Native Speakerism Matter?

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

If you haven't read the article, you can find it here.

But...

How do accents play a part with native speakerism?

What are the cons of accepting native speakers to teach English?

How to smooth the transition for people coming to work in the UK

An example

O-O-O

How can these pitfalls be avoided?

Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work￼

Working in the UK: A Dialogue Primer

Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work￼

Double-check recent Visa changes.

Study your transit maps.

How will you travel internally?

The London Underground.

Don’t be ‘put off’.

Reach out to your contacts.

Work on pronunciation, daily!

Ask for ‘take-home menus.’

Prepare to swim – not sink!

Practice all the above, right now.

Speak Responsibly

7 reasons why learning English online is best for your team in 2022

For this bilingual generation, English became a global language, and the most-used language on the internet. Below are just 7 of the key reasons to learn English easily and immediately, online.

1. Economically speaking, English has taken the lead in our global economy.

2. English is the most common language on the internet, by far.

3. English is now the most-spoken language around the world.

4. Politically speaking, English is often used in international diplomacy efforts.

5. Never has English been more important for a vibrant work life.

6. Much of Social Media and entertainment depend on English.

7. Geographically speaking, knowing English can help you travel with ease.

Try the Kudos Library, Today

Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work

Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work

**Practice all the above, right now.**