Cross-Cultural Training

Lesson 2: What is your culture?

Discovering Reactions to Common Situations in Foreign Lands

If you’ve studied the other lessons in this module, you already have some knowledge of your own personal values and beliefs. Now let’s see how they would come into play in some common situations that could occur in your new culture.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. These are topics for discussion and are here to help you identify potential differences and the decisions you can make to easily adjust to your new culture.

1.You’ve moved to a new country where job opportunities are rather limited. You find out that there is a great need for English teachers, so you decide to teach. You are hired instantly, but are told that you will be paid at a later date. You have some money in savings, so you say fine. However, the first semester ends and you haven’t been paid anything. The second semester begins and you’re told that your papers have been lost and you will have to start the process all over again. Now your money is running out. You have no idea when you will be paid. The school says that can give you a loan, but when you ask for one, they say that they don’t have any money. You have passed the mid-point of the school year. Other teachers are quitting for a myriad of reasons. You also know that there are no other English teachers who can take you place if you decide to leave. What do you do?

2.You move to a new country that is very proud of its music. However you aren’t that crazy about it. To you, once you’ve heard one song, you’ve heard them all and their concerts tend to bore you. One day you’re asked by someone who saw you at a concert if you enjoyed it. What do you say?

3.You (and your mate) are invited to a party by an acquaintance in your new country. You are quite excited because you’re told that al ot of influential people will be there and it is quite a social event. However when you get there, the person who invited you comes up to talk to you for awhile, but in general, you are ignored. What do you do? The next day, your acquaintance asks you if you enjoyed the party. What do you say?

4.You (and your partner) decide to invite your co-workers from your new job to your house for dinner. Everyone accepts and seems to have a good time. However, time passes and you never receive a return invitation from any of them. In fact, you are never invited to any of their houses. What do you do? How do you treat them?

5.A man comes to visit a couple (husband and wife). Upon entering the house, both the man and the woman prepare to meet their guest with a handshake. The guest shakes the hand of the man, but completely ignores the woman even though her hand is extended. What do you do if you are the woman? What do you do if you are her husband?

6.You are a woman and a man hisses at you as you walk by. What do you do?

7.Word has gotten around that you are a computer expert. People have begun to ask for lessons. It is very hard to find jobs in your new country, so you begin to think that this might be a solution. You advertise that you are going to be giving lessons and get a good amount of students. They ask how much the lessons will be. You tell them and they agree that it is a good price. The first lesson goes well. Everyone does not pay, but they all seemed to enjoy it. Now you’ve taught for a month. You’ve made handouts, used the Internet (another expense) and spent money on a few more class related items. Still, not many of the students have paid. The next month begins and class attendance begins to decline. Finally you are only left with the few students who paid in the beginning and they do not even attend classes on a regular basis. On some days you are left waiting, without any students at all. You begin talking to others who both tutor and teach in schools and are told that what you have experienced is quite common. Your first session ends and more people ask about classes. Do you continue to give classes?

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