Culture Archives - Page 3 of 6

How LaLa Foods Reduced Turnover by 50% with Cultural & Language Training

LaLa Foods in Mexico Reduced Turnover by 50% with Language Training

Lala Foods transferred an entire service department to Mexico. That transition, however, wasn’t nearly as smooth as they had hoped. Miscommunications, frustrations, and inefficient meetings were only the beginning for the popular dairy product company serving Mexico and South America.

Allyson, the compensation and benefits manager for LaLa Foods, realized that the new teams were struggling. Tasks were taking longer, colleagues in both the US and Mexico were frustrated, and little was going as planned.

As turnover increased, Allyson knew that something had to change. She saw that it wasn’t just a language issue; many employees spoke both Spanish and English.

There Was a Different Issue Beyond Language Training

LaLa Foods employs around 35,000 individuals in Mexico and South America, and about 300 in the US. As a well known brand in Mexico, the company wants to make their reputation just as strong in the USA. But that means the US teams have to efficiently and accurately communicate with the Mexican teams.

To streamline processes, the finance department was moved to Mexico. US colleagues who were once able to walk across the hall and talk with the finance department now had to email or set up video chats with the department based in Mexico.

As a consumer packaged goods company, there are many levels of customer interactions that need to be handled. The US based team interacts with local vendors and customers, and the Mexican team handles processing, accounts payable, and a lot of the IT work as well.

But when you’re not all on the same page, snags come up. Sometimes it is largely a language barrier, but other times, it has more to do with cultural differences than anything else.

They ran into a problem that only a customized solution from Fluency Corp could figure out.

Conflict Arises Between Different Cultures

The methods of working in Mexico are vastly different from those in the US. Micah Bellieu, founder of Fluency Corp, describes it as “a bit of a turtle and hare” situation. Where both parties have the same end goal, but the means of getting there are considerably different.

For many of the US based employees, work is very task oriented. If there’s only 30 minutes allotted for a meeting, then you jump right in and get started in the meeting. But that’s not how things are done in Mexico. In fact, if you don’t spend 10 minutes or so talking about kids, weekend plans, and catching up, you come across as downright rude.

Of course that sets the entire meeting on edge from the beginning. So at the end, when the question is asked, “Are there any questions, anything that’s unclear?” A simple and straightforward, “No” would result.

But that, “No” wasn’t the truth. There were plenty of questions, but the conflict at the beginning of the meeting meant that nobody wanted to raise their hand and ask the questions.

Communication was Breaking Down; Inefficiencies Increased

Situations arose where work wasn’t done as requested, or it wasn’t done on time. The goal of creating this cross-cultural team was to streamline processes. The reality was that miscommunication and conflict led to frequent inefficiencies.

“The Mexican team is very transactional,” Allyson tells us. “The US teams were not expecting that. They [the Mexican team] would process transactions exactly how they were written.” But that’s not what needed to be done; double checking for duplicates and asking clarifying questions was expected.

After Micah presented at a global HR workshop, Allyson and LaLa Foods knew that Fluency Corp was exactly what they would need to help solve this problem.

A Custom Solution Beyond Language Training was the Only Option

Off-the-shelf cultural and communication training doesn’t exist. Because cultures vary incredibly, even within a small geographic area, and because every culture interacts differently, you would need billions of courses to accurately cover all of them.

In the same vein, communication challenges are situation specific and company specific. Understanding the issues before providing a solution is critical to ensure the training is relevant and immediately applicable.

Instead, Fluency Corp sits down with every company to discover how they operate. Only then can they create customized training that fully addresses what’s going on within the cross-cultural departments or communication challenges.

For LaLa Group, it was a unique combination of global communication with SASS training.

SASS – which stands for Simplified, Ask, Support, Slow Down – helps corporations fully understand where their communication is falling short. What seems perfectly clear to the speaker is often misinterpreted by the recipient. These misinterpretations are compounded when there are language or cultural differences.

By simplifying the language, asking for input on what made sense (and what didn’t), finding support through communication training, and slowing things down (people speak really fast, slow it down by 20% for better understanding), the groups talking to each other were able to relay the right information.

Learning about Different Cultural Norms

In the US, it’s very fast paced. In Mexico, things are a bit more leisurely.

To fully understand how these cultural norms affect interaction, Fluency Corp developed a role play to emphasize the differences. Individuals were randomly assigned either an A or a B.

Those receiving an A designation were to be reserved, speak quietly, stand at least 3 feet apart, don’t shake hands, and don’t talk much about yourself. Group B, however, was the opposite. They were energetic and loud, touching people on the arm when they speak, hug when you first meet them, and ask lots of questions.

The goal was to illustrate the vast differences in the way people interact. And for those who are naturally an “A” to understand that the “B” isn’t being rude, but rather doing what comes naturally to them, and vice-versa. Throughout the exercise, the two groups gained an understanding of how awkward it is when you’re dealing with a person that’s the opposite.

The Cultural & Language Training Resulted in Less Stress & Fewer Resignations

With nearly every cultural and language training, the biggest successes can’t be measured and quantified.

Instead, they are seen and felt in the workplace, in the office culture, and in the job satisfaction amongst all the teammates.

The end result is that employees have a better feeling about coming to work each day. Increased job satisfaction means that there are fewer resignations. Over the course of about a year, LaLa Foods noticed that there was roughly a 50% improvement in turnover rate. More people were staying because of the improved cultural awareness and communication.

But it doesn’t stop there. Many of the US based employees were seeing jobs being transferred to Mexico; the knee-jerk reaction was that they were about to lose their job. With cultural training and improved communication, everyone found out that nobody was coming for their job; instead, they were able to work with some amazing cross-cultural colleagues.

When resignations did come down the line, sharing those responsibilities with the rest of the company was much easier. So as a person from the payroll department left, it wasn’t a mad scramble to find a replacement; instead, it was a promotion from within the Mexican team to alleviate the burden on the US team.

Off-the-Shelf Rarely Works: Fluency Corp Customizes the Training

Allyson explains that “Micah customized the approach for the need. She took the time to understand what the issues were, and really dug in. It wasn’t a surface-level training at all. She customized the content, and then followed up every two weeks to check in and see how people were doing: did they implement, are they following through, what struggles they were having.”

It’s not just enough to learn a new language, but also how to use it in a certain context. You also must learn aspects of the new culture that goes along with that language.

When everyone understands – and respects – the differences, only then can an organization say that they truly have their communication firmly in place.

Do you think your company could benefit from customized cultural and language training? Set up a free consultation with Fluency Corp by contacting us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

Remote Work Culture and What it Means for Language in the Workplace

Remote Work Culture & Language in the Workplace

In just a few short years, the rise of remote work has transformed today’s business environment. And the changes are far from over. At Fluency Corp, we’re especially interested in how remote working will affect language in the workplace, as well as the need for language training. So today we want to talk about the trends we’re seeing in remote work — and where those trends might take us.

Remote Work Is Here to Stay

Remote work was starting to gain popularity even before the coronavirus pandemic. In 2019, just under 6% of employed people in the U.S. worked primarily from home, and about a quarter did some work from home. According to Buffer’s State of Remote Work survey that year, remote workers loved not being tied to the office.

In fact, 99% said they wanted to keep working remotely, at least part of the time, for the rest of their careers. Based on that statistic, Buffer declared that “while remote work is sometimes portrayed as a trend, these results seem to infer that this way of working is here to stay.”

Buffer’s prediction turned out to be spot-on. As we all know, remote work suddenly exploded as Covid-19 swept through the world. The U.S. Census Bureau found that the number of Americans who worked mostly from home tripled between 2019 and 2021.

And, like those early adopters of remote work in Buffer’s 2019 survey, many people who started working from home during the pandemic decided that they just couldn’t go back to the way things were, even as Covid restrictions and anxieties eased. Employers are realizing that they must offer remote or hybrid work to stay competitive in hiring.

Are You Ready for ‘Borderless Hiring’?

These are huge changes, and both individuals and organizations are still trying to figure out what the remote work revolution will mean for them. So far, there’s been a lot of focus on how remote work affects U.S.-based employees. For example, some workers who can now do their jobs remotely are moving out of expensive cities to more affordable areas.

However, we should also be talking about how the rise of remote work widens the pool of candidates that companies can now hire from. Jack Kelly, founder and CEO of the job-search site WeCruitr, believes that if the economy continues to worsen “it’s only a matter of time until CEOs start considering cutting jobs in the U.S. and hiring workers in lower-cost countries around the world.”

Now, that doesn’t mean a future where every task is outsourced to global contractors, says Johnny Taylor Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management. While he does think that we’ll see more outsourcing, Taylor also points out that companies still need full-time employees to create a consistent culture.

But we could also soon start to see more “borderless hiring” for full-time roles. After all, if a Boston-based company has already seen that a professional working remotely from Boise can be successful, then why not an employee based in Barcelona or Bengaluru?

How Language Differences Affect Remote Work

We believe that all signs point to the workforce becoming more and more global. Picture a manager 10 years ago leading a team whose members were all based in the same city.

Today, that manager might have some who come to the office daily, others who work from home most of the week, and others still who are fully remote and based in different U.S. cities. And in the not-too-distant future, that team could also include both contractors and full-time employees hired from around the globe.

While remote work and borderless hiring can open up new opportunities for both companies and employees, it also creates new challenges. One of the biggest has to do with culture. Companies have already seen that it takes extra effort to build community and connection when employees work remotely. When you throw in language differences, things get even more complicated.

And, yes, language differences in the workplace can be an issue even when you hire an international employee who already speaks English as a second language. There’s a big difference between using English occasionally and speaking English at work, day in and day out, with co-workers who are native English speakers.

To go back to our earlier example, that employee from Bengaluru may have gotten top marks in English when they were in school. But chances are they will have some trouble interpreting the accents, idioms, and slang of their Boston co-workers.

As a result, the quality of their work might suffer. They may not pick up on key information shared during calls or Zoom meetings. If they are self-conscious about their English abilities or their non-native accent, they may hesitate to ask questions or share ideas. They could also have more trouble forming relationships with their co-workers.

Language Training for Remote Workers

Bottom line: Being able to hire the best job candidates in the world won’t do your company any good if language differences keep those employees from performing at their full potential and fully engaging with their teammates.

That’s why we believe that organizations pursuing borderless hiring must also step up their efforts around language in the workplace — even as the workplace becomes increasingly virtual.

Providing English language and cultural training will help global hires who work remotely collaborate with U.S. teammates and give them the confidence they need to contribute to their fullest ability. Language training is also an attractive benefit that will help with recruiting and retention.

So what kind of language training will deliver the best results for global remote workers? Look for classes that are customized to your employees’ needs. They should be learning words and phrases that are relevant to their jobs. Classes should also emphasize real-time speaking and listening.

Reviewing vocabulary lists isn’t enough to help your employees navigate online meetings. They need conversational practice.

Finally, classes need to fit your employees’ schedules — no matter what time zone they are in.

English Language Training for Your Remote Teams

At Fluency Corp, we have deep experience helping professionals from around the world improve their English skills. Contact us now to learn more about language training that will help your company attract, engage and retain top global talent.

Set up a free consultation with Fluency Corp by contacting us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

How to Pronounce Qatar – Language and Culture Facts

Currently, we are living during one of the most exciting events of the year: the World Cup. The event celebrates sportsmanship and football and brings together the different cultures of the world. Because despite it being a competition, you also get to know something about the different countries that participate. You especially learn about the nation that hosts the World Cup.nnThis year the nation hosting the World Cup is Qatar. So we bring you some of the most important cultural and linguistic facts about the 2022 World Cup’s host country.nnThis will be interesting whether you want to go to the games or just watch them from the comfort of your home. And it’ll be especially important if you want to live and work there, as it could be your new home.

Qatar Customs and Rules

Clothing

If you’re not used to covering your whole body, the clothing rules can be very restrictive for your taste. Women must cover their whole bodies with an abaya, a loose type of dress, usually black. They must also wear a shayla to cover their hair, and some women even cover all their faces except the eyes.

As for men, they use a thobe, a white, loose robe. Though the thobe covers all their bodies, they also have to wear a sirwal, which is a pair of white pants. They must also wear a gutra to cover their heads, with a type of rope called agal that holds the sirwal together.

Though if you’re going to the World Cup, that clothing is not applicable to you. Nonetheless, you still have to be careful and follow some rules, like covering your shoulders and knees, especially if you visit sacred places. Check the specific dress code for World Cup tourists.

Ramadan

Ramadan happens on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, specifically when the crescent moon appears. And it is one of the most important periods of the Islamic calendar. For Ramadan, people fast from dawn to sunset. It lasts for 29 to 30 days and finishes when the next crescent moon appears.

Before fasting, they have the suhoor, a pre-dawn meal that ensures they have enough energy to last throughout the day. But it’s not just about fasting, it’s a moment to reflect, pray, and give to charity.

On the 14th day of Ramadan, children celebrate the Garangao. They wear traditional clothes and go out to ask their neighbors for sweets and nuts, which they receive in some bags hanging from their shoulders. All while singing the Garangao song. So, it’s an exciting celebration even for kids.

After Ramadan finishes, they celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which means “the festival of breaking the fast”. As you can imagine, they happily celebrate the end of their fasting. Eid al-Fitr is so important that people don’t work and schools are closed that day. They pray, wear new clothes, donate money to charity, and eat a feast.

Public Displays of Affection

Public displays of affection are not well seen and are completely forbidden. There are some cultures that are used to being very passionate or affectionate in public, even with people that are not their partners.

But in Qatar forget about kissing, hugging, or any big gesture of affection, even if it’s your husband/wife. If someone does that, they could be arrested.

Language of Qatar

Arabic is the official language of Qatar. There are different types of Arabic; in Qatar, people speak Gulf Arabic, also called Khaleeji. This Arabic dialect is also spoken in many other countries, including the United Arab Emirates.

If you want to learn Arabic to travel to the World Cup, or for any other reason, you should know some basic things. Like the fact that Arabic people use verbs first and then adjectives. This might be particularly difficult if in your native language it works the other way around. But you’ll get used to it with practice and by listening or reading it repeatedly.

Another fact is that they write and read from right to left. Which might be confusing at first if you’re not used to it. Also, their alphabet is called Al-abjadiyah, and it has 28 letters, all of which are consonants. Because they only write consonants, but vowel sounds do exist, you just have to guess where they are pronounced in a word.

Pronunciation might be tough for some people, but there are some general keys that will help you out. Like the fact that in Gulf Arab, the Qatari people pronounce the ‘p’ sound as ‘b’. Or when there are double consonants, you must pronounce them stronger and longer than you would pronounce a single consonant.

For example, for the pronunciation of Qatar you just have one “raa” (ر), so you say that letter softly. In contrast, in the word marra, where you have a double consonant, the ‘r’ sound is stronger.

For some people, especially native English speakers, Arabic is one of the hardest languages to learn. But there are many English words that come from Arabic that can help you understand or learn more easily.

Here are 12 English words with Arabic roots:

Algebra – al-jabr
Algorithm – al-ḵawārizmiyy
Alcohol – al-kuḥl
Coffee – qahwa
Sorbet – šarba
Sofa – ṣuffa
Safari – safar (سفر)
Syrup – šarāb
Zero – ṣifr
Lemon – laymūn
Mattress – maṭraḥ
Giraffe – zarāfa

If you still have trouble understanding Arabic, you must know that English is the second most spoken language there. So, you can get your way around the country by speaking English. Though it’s always cool and interesting to try to learn the official language.

But if you’re not an expert, you can use English for the most difficult things to speak. And use your basic Arabic for easy things.

Enjoy the World Cup by Learning Languages with Fluency Corp

You should learn another language if you want to keep enjoying this year’s – or any other year’s – World Cup. Like we said in the beginning, this event is made to celebrate football but also cultures. And as the World Cup continues, you’ll keep seeing many different countries, fans of many nationalities, international news, and football players from around the world. If you want to understand their cultures better or what they’re saying, take some language classes with Fluency Corp.

Our native teachers will make sure you speak during classes, so you achieve language fluency. They’ll also teach you useful vocabulary. This way you’ll be prepared to discuss the matches with fans from around the world. Or take a business meeting with a potential Qatari business partner. If you’re unsure about which language to learn, pick the mother tongue of your favorite player. Or pick a language that will help you do business in this country, like Arab or English. It all depends on your goals.

But the benefits of learning with Fluency Corp don’t stop there. We’ll also help your company thrive in international markets. Who knows? You might even start doing business with Qatari companies.

Set up a free consultation with Fluency Corp by contacting us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

3 Best Practices for Remote Teams

Remote work is here to stay. According to a survey by McKinsey & Company, 35% of people with jobs have the freedom to work remotely full time, and 25% can do so sometimes.

Employees’ preference for remote work is well documented. And many workers say they’re less stressed and more productive when they don’t have to go to the office. But everything isn’t rosy when it comes to remote work.

So if you manage remote teams or support them as an HR leader, it’s essential to become aware of the possible pitfalls of remote work so that you can help alleviate them.

Set Clear Expectations

The good news? We can now work anywhere, anytime. The bad news? We can now work anywhere, anytime. While remote employees savor the flexibility of working from home, that flexibility has a flip side. Studies have found that remote workers tend to work longer hours. The idea of “leaving work at the office” seems like ancient history now.

Never disconnecting from work can lead to stress and burnout. To protect remote employees’ well-being, Gallup recommends allowing them as much flexibility as possible while making clear that no one is expected to be “always on.”

As a language training firm that works with global companies, we can add to that advice. If bosses and remote employees work in different countries, they’re also likely in different time zones. For example, an email that a manager sends during lunchtime in Dallas hits a Tokyo-based employee’s inbox in the middle of the night. So managers must reinforce the idea that global employees don’t have to sleep with one eye open to monitor their inboxes.

2. Support Middle Managers

We’ve all been through a lot of adjustments in how we work over the past few years. But a recent survey by Slack found that middle managers are carrying the highest stress load amid all the changes we’ve experienced. Globally, 43% of managers said they are burned out.

An article in Harvard Business Review sums up the situation: “Leaders are expected to attend to employees’ mental and physical health and burnout (while also addressing their own), demonstrate bottomless sensitivity and compassion, and provide opportunities for flexibility and remote work — all while managing the bottom line, doing more with less, and overcoming challenges with hiring and retaining talent.”

All of this means that executives and HR leaders need to pay special attention to the managers in the trenches every day. One way to support middle managers is to provide training to help them navigate the increasing challenges of today’s workplaces. However, it’s also important that this training fits into their schedules and doesn’t become just one more thing to do.

3. Cultivate Connections

Perhaps the biggest challenge for remote teams, though, is creating and maintaining a sense of connection among team members who don’t regularly see each other in person. A survey of executives found widespread worries that remote employees will quit because they feel so disconnected. Among employees themselves, 72% said remote work doesn’t provide enough opportunities to socialize with their colleagues.

Again, as a language training firm, we have some extra insights into how the connection issue affects global companies. As an example, let’s imagine Elena, a Mexico City-based employee of a multinational organization. She’s just gotten a promotion that in the past would have involved moving to New York to work at company headquarters. Now, however, her company supports remote work, so Elena can stay in Mexico City. While she’s happy to remain close to friends and family, she’s also having trouble forming connections with her new colleagues.

Elena had thought her English skills were strong, but now she struggles to keep up with conversations during conference calls with her English-speaking colleagues. And since she and her co-workers aren’t in the same office, there aren’t as many opportunities for small talk that would help her both practice her English skills and get to know her U.S. teammates.

We’ve seen time and again that language training helps build stronger relationships on teams where employees are based in different countries. There’s a bonus, too. Language classes can help employees who aren’t co-located bond because they’re engaging in a different kind of activity together. The shared experience can open doors to other non-work-related conversations.

Can Language Training Help Your Remote Teams?

All organizations still have a lot to figure out when it comes to maximizing the benefits of remote work while minimizing the downsides. Solutions must be tailored to the needs of your company and your people.

If you believe that language training could benefit the productivity and engagement of your remote teams, we’d love to tell you more about our offerings.

Set up a free consultation with Fluency Corp by contacting us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

The World’s Top 10 Spoken Languages

Top 10 Languages in the World & Where They are Spoken

More than 7,000 languages are spoken around the world today, but you can think of these 10 as the “all stars.” If your goal is to work internationally, consider studying at least one of the languages from this list.

10. Indonesian

Our list starts off with the Indonesian language, which has 199 million speakers. Indonesia has the largest economy in Southeast Asia. The country also boasts the #15 economy in the world overall. Besides Indonesia, the language of Indonesian is also spoken in East Timor (also known as Timor Leste), a nation that’s hoping for an oil boom.

Fun Facts About Indonesian
Even though the language may look super intimidating, the words are easy to pronounce. In addition to that, Indonesian is considered one of the most polite languages. That’s not surprising, because Indonesians are known for their politeness.

9. Portuguese

Next up is Portuguese. There are about 232 million native speakers of this language, and around 70 million people speak Portuguese as a second language.

The economy in Portugal has moved from manufacturing to the services sector. Portuguese is also the language of Brazil, the seventh-most-populous country in the world.

Besides Portugal and Brazil, Portuguese is also spoken in:

Portugal
Brazil
Angola
Guinea Bissau
Macau
Mozambique
São Tomé
Príncipe
Cape Verde

Fun Facts About Portuguese
Portuguese is actually highly influenced by Arabic and contains some words like saudade (nostalgic or melancholy longing) that can’t be translated directly to English.

8. Russian

Russian has around 154 million native speakers. The country of Russia is important to the global economy because of its energy exports. It’s the #1 producer of crude oil in the world and the #2 producer of dry natural gas.

Besides Russia, the language of Russian is mainly spoken in:

Belarus
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan

Fun Facts About Russian
The most popular Russian word adopted by English speakers is probably vodka. However, Russia also has words that can’t be directly translated into English. One such word is Pochemuchka. According to Language Insight, the word refers to someone who asks too many questions.

7. Bengali

You may be surprised to know that Bengali is the seventh-most-spoken language in the world. It has 265 million native speakers. Bengali is primarily spoken in Bangladesh, whose economy is starting to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, and India, which has the world’s sixth-largest economy.

If you’re interested in working in one of those countries, or if your company is seeking Bengali speakers, students at some colleges in the U.S. have the option of taking Bengali language courses and even earning a degree. For example, the University of Texas has many Bengali courses.

Fun Facts About Bengali
The history of the Bengali Language Movement is a fascinating one. The movement is celebrated by a national holiday in Bangladesh on February 21.

6. Arabic

This language has 274 million native speakers. Arabic is mostly spoken in African countries and Middle Eastern countries such as:

Egypt
Algeria
Sudan
Saudi Arabia
Tunisia
Syria
Chad
Qatar

Arabic is consistently ranked as one of the top languages for business and to learn for career advancement.

Fun Facts About Arabic
Words like coffee, kebab, and hummus have Arabic origin. And did you know that Arabic has over 14 words that describe love?

5. French

French is a popular second language in American high schools and the third-most-studied language in the world. All those students of French should find their second language very useful. French is spoken by 280 million people worldwide. And top brands like Peugeot, Renault, Christian Dior, and L’Oreal are based in France.

Besides France, countries where French is widely spoken, include:

Canada
Senegal
Ivory Coast
Madagascar

Fun Facts About French
English words like camouflage, money, and jury all have French origins. French also has many “false friends” — words that resemble a word in English, but don’t mean the same thing. For example, un coin (corner) and sale (dirty).

4. Spanish

Spanish is also a popular foreign language choice in high school and is spoken as a second language by millions of people. It is the fourth-most-spoken language in the world with 534 million speakers. Spanish is also a great language to learn to make yourself more employable.

Spanish is spoken widely in:

Spain
Mexico
The Caribbean (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico)
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Panama
Argentina
Chile
Venezuela
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Uruguay
Bolivia
Paraguay

Fun Facts About Spanish
Spanish isn’t spoken exactly the same way in all of those countries. Check out our guide to Spanish dialects in Latin America and Spain.

3. Hindi

Hindi has 615 million speakers in more than 10 countries. Hindi is mainly spoken in India, which is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and Nepal. However, there are 649,000 Hindi speakers in the United States. The U.S. has the third-largest group of Hindi speakers in the world. According to World Atlas, Hindi speakers can also be found in many other countries as well, such as:

Trinidad and Tobago
Mauritius
Fiji
South Africa
Uganda

Fun Facts About Hindi
We bet you didn’t know that you know some Hindi too. If the words shampoo, bungalow, and bandana sound familiar, then congratulations — you know some Hindi words.

2. Mandarin

With over 1.1 billion native speakers, Mandarin is the second-most-spoken language in the world. If you choose to learn this language, saying you’ll have plenty of people to talk to is an understatement. Learning Mandarin should also boost your career. It has been ranked as the second-most-useful language for business.

Qiu Gui Su, a Chinese language expert, says that Mandarin is spoken in:

Mainland China
Taiwan
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia

Mandarin is also sometimes spoken in Chinatowns around the world, such as those in San Francisco in the United States and Liverpool in England.

Fun Facts About Mandarin
Mandarin is all about tones. The same syllable can be pronounced in different ways. And if you use the wrong tone, you can end up saying a very different word than the one you intended (“horse” instead of “mother,” for example).

1. English

If you’re reading this, we’re going to assume you’re an English speaker. That makes you a speaker of the most spoken language in the world. English is spoken by 1.35 billion people, and it’s a global lingua franca for business.

English is the dominant language in a long list of countries:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
United States of America

However, if you’re not fluent in English, there is no need to stress. Almost a billion people in the world learned English later in life.

Fun Facts About English
There are roughly 30 major dialects of English in the U.S.
So an American might run into a convenience store to “grab a soda” or “grab a pop.” They might say they’re going to “pahk the cah,” or they’re going to “park the car.” They might be “fixin’ to do” something or “about to do” it.

Need to learn one of these languages for work?

Responsible for choosing language training programs for your company? At Fluency Corp, we’ve helped professionals in all fields improve their language skills so that they can accomplish the goals that are important to them. Most of our clients get results that others can notice after just 10 hours of instruction. Our highly tailored classes, taught by native speakers, include lots of practical, conversational experience to help you learn your target language faster and apply what you’ve learned right away. Interested in hearing more about language training with Fluency Corp? Contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

*This list changes from time to time.

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Interview with Audrey | An Expat from the Netherlands

Every month, Fluency Corp reaches out to clients, friends or even family, who have relocated to another country for a job, in order to ask them why they moved, how they got there and the way in which they made a new home for themselves in their new country. We are fascinated by their resilience and we want to support others who will be moving in the future. In these interviews, you will find authenticity, humility and also tips for how to make your relocation smoother. This month we spoke with Audrey Mezas, an expat from the Netherlands. Thanks for joining our Expat Chat!

Meet Audrey: An Expat from the Netherlands

Where are you from? Where have you moved to? And how long did you spend in each country?
I’m Dutch and was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I have moved to 17 locations on 4 continents (sometimes several moves within one country). I have lived in The Netherlands, Tahiti, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United States. I spent anywhere between 1 to 7 years in each country.

Where did you become an adult?
In the United States and in the Netherlands.

What do you do now?
I am the owner of a niche Relocation company called Expat in Amsterdam® and I live in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Challenges of Being an Expat from the Netherlands

What were the specific challenges you faced after moving to The United States from Australia?
I often find that locals put you in the nationality box of the country you last lived in. When I moved from Australia to The United States, I was considered an Australian, when I moved from The United States to the Netherlands, I was considered an American.

When moving to the USA, I wasn’t used to the ‘everything’s possible’ mentality. Everything really was possible! Everything was available. You could take your car through the drive-thru of the bank, and could grocery shop until 10pm at night. There were 100 different cereals. And the weird thing was that you needed your car to go everywhere. I lived in Florida and never took public transportation there, since everyone has a car and it wasn’t considered safe.

We came to Florida where I started high school. My parents were thinking about Miami, but said that the security system would cost about as much as the house. We ended up moving to Clearwater, FL, near Tampa. I went to a small Greek school in Tarpon Springs which was an amazing but fun culture shock! My dad was a banker and when he was transferred, we would move to wherever his new assignment would take us.

So, to start at the beginning, we started in Tahiti, an amazing tropical island in the Pacific Ocean, where I went to a French school and had to learn the language. Then we moved to Australia, where I went to a private international school and later to a private boarding school. Then we moved to Saudi Arabia, where girls at that time were not allowed to go to the international school. I had the choice of going to a boarding school – by myself – or moving to England and living with friends of my family. What did I choose? I decided to stay and go to the boarding school in Australia and would visit my parents and younger brother in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A few years later we met up again in Florida. Before arriving, I thought the USA was like Mork and Mindy. I felt like I was in one of those (High School Musical) movies. I don’t know why we chose Tarpon Springs but I ended up loving it. Very interesting to have a high school with a strong Greek Orthodox history. European culture in Florida? Anything is possible.

In high school, all of a sudden there were these groups – during lunchtime they would sit together – the Greek kids, the cheerleader/football group, the African American group and the LGB(TQ were not yet acknowledged) group. There was even a group of intelligent kids, which people then called the nerdy kids. Note: I found this to be a very strange word! They would sit with ‘their own group’, but they would also stay with their own group outside of the school. It was the first time that I experienced segregation of different types of people and backgrounds.

I have family and friends from all over the world with all types of racial backgrounds, from light to dark skin. I have always been raised to be comfortable and accepting with everyone.

In terms of being an expat anywhere, especially as a kid, what I notice is that when you don’t live in your own house, you’re often not allowed to hang anything on the walls or move any furniture and are therefore limited. People often see the glamour of the expat life, but not the other side of it. For example, not knowing how long you’ll be staying in the country or suddenly moving to another country, which is difficult and not glamorous at all. There’s a whole other side to this life of constantly having to leave your loved ones.

How did you prepare for your move? Any tips for others?
Call a Relocation expert or talk to locals (if you know any) in the country that you will be moving to. Always get expert advice.

What did you expect when moving to The United States that didn’t turn out to be so?
I didn’t expect people to be so open in the US. People in the check-out line would chat with you and you could even get a dinner invitation so easily and quickly! But once invited, would the friendship grow? That wasn’t so sure.

Whereas in the Netherlands, it may take a while to get the dinner invitation, but once you do, you can expect to be invited for a lifetime.

Also, I didn’t expect the news to have such a big impact on my life in the US. Seeing bad news stories being repeated over and over again on the TV or in the newspapers. The bad news has such a big impact in the US. And every channel represents a political power – and each one has a different point of view.

What did you NOT expect that did happen during one of your big moves?
I did not expect a bucket of red/white/blue paint to be poured over my head in the shower once arriving at boarding school in Australia. I was told that this way everyone knew where I came from (i.e. the Dutch flag is red/white & blue).

Once you moved to Amsterdam later in your life, what was most challenging personally and most challenging as a family?
When I arrived in Amsterdam (quite some years ago) strangers who would hear my heavy (then American) accent would actually tell me “go back to the US.” That was quite a shock, seeing I was actually a local Dutch native.

The most challenging part was making new friends, finding a job, a home and finding out what the rules and regulations were within the Netherlands.

Looking Back

Do you have a funny expat story? Or another funny language story where something was misunderstood?
These days we actually buy/sell/rent homes to and for our clients. But the first year I would walk around in the homes during viewings and realtors would think I was one of the American clients trying to buy a home – no one knew I spoke Dutch. This came in quite handy when it came time to bid on behalf of my clients, as I always knew what the competition was thinking!

That first year in the USA, from 1 to 10, what would you score it?
A six.

By the time you left, what score would you give it?
A nine.

Being a Successful, Long-Term Expat

What are the three top characteristics needed to be a successful, long-term expat?

Mingle with locals asap.
Learn the language.
Find out what the locals appreciate and what they stand for…

What role did language play in the success of your moves?
A big part.

In Tahiti I had to speak and learn French as a child. In Australia and the US I had to learn English but two different types of English. British – English and American – English (both countries have their own words).

Fluency Corp is passionate about expats having the very best experience in their new country. More than anything, we believe that language is the key component to ANY and ALL successful relocations internationally, both in business and personally. If you or your team are interested in ensuring highly effective collaborations and communication in your second language, or are interested in improved communication training for your multilingual teams, reach out to us here.

Can an Expat Ever Truly Feel at Home in Japan?

Have you ever thought of accepting that job in Asia? Taking all of your family to another country, with a new language, and foreign customs? Something that often holds people back from making life-changing moves is a feeling of security and acceptance. It’s a scary situation to be an expat, living in Japan for the first time. People must make a new life in a place away from all that is comfortable. Often your employees will question their motives and choices. Can they, as foreigners, make a living and be welcomed by the native population in a new country? Even more, can they ever truly feel at home? nn

How do I Feel at Home in a New Country?

So, what is the process like? The doubt tends to come in waves, starting with little things like missing a Starbucks. And it can transform into your employees wondering whether moving or accepting this job or promotion was a good choice. In the midst of all this doubt, more often than not, there comes a point where a light bulb goes off – where one can reach a state of acceptance. nn nnWell, let’s start off by qualifying your thoughts: the acceptance sought is not what they will gain. Expats will always look different, pronouncing words will be hard. Every look will most likely be accompanied by a second glance. Interactions will be hard and the learning curve is usually steep and unforgiving. They’ll forget how to address their superiors, or which hand to shake with before realizing that it is customary to bow in greeting. There will be mounting frustration with each day that something goes wrong. Everything will seem as though it is pushing them to get on the next flight back to their home country and never look back. These “mishaps” and slight embarrassments are a part of the journey to assimilation, especially in the workplace. nn

At First, It’s Hard Living in Japan

Life in Japan, or any foreign country, can be uncomfortable and unaccepting, far from a walk in the park. In Japanese culture, the idea of a gaikokujin, in its literal translation, is a “foreign-country person.” It holds no prejudice or malicious intent. But for an expat, it puts a large arrow over their head saying “look at me”. Chances are they stand out in the racially homogenous Japanese society. Even as a Japanese-American, living in Japan, while their attempts at assimilation could be much easier, they may still feel as if they exist in the periphery because even though they may look the same, they have little cultural similarity with the majority of the Japanese society. nn

Can I ever Find Acceptance in Japan?

Expats in Japan won’t ever really find the acceptance they’ve come to enjoy in their home countries. A weekend barbeque with Japanese friends or a Sunday family dinner won’t feel the same. The cursory glances and prodding questions won’t stop. In some positive way, there comes a point in their expat journey where they make peace with and accept the fact that assimilation is beyond their grasp. Yes, they now live in a new country. And, they are away from your family and friends. Also, they have to gain a whole new understanding of Japanese culture, their world and the people. It’s true, even with their most sincere efforts, assimilation might just not be possible. Here are some suggestions you can give your employees to alleviate the feeling of alienation. nn

Embrace the fact that expats stand out.
There will be mistakes. Some will have trouble understanding every cultural difference and expectation placed upon them. Misunderstanding and mistakes are the norm, and the fact is that many times people aren’t paying as close attention as you think they are.
No one is expected to do everything perfectly on the first attempt – all that’s needed is some effort and a willingness to try.
Step out of the comfort zone, explore and find things that they enjoy and stick with them.
Do not neglect creature comforts. If they usually do yoga to keep their peace, find a yoga studio and give themself that time.

How Can I Help My Employees Feel at Home Abroad?

As an employer, there are things that you can do to ensure that your employees feel at home in Japan.nn

Encourage interaction between your employees. Plan biweekly or monthly company outings immersed in the culture of the country. You can foster community while creating space for them to be more acquainted with their new surroundings.
Check in. Whether that’s assigning someone to report back to you on the progress of your employees’ assimilation or personally making visits to show that you do care about more than their productivity.
Create an assimilation plan. Think of it as a 90-day assimilation review and meet with your employees to ensure that they are moving in a positive direction and feeling more comfortable with their new surroundings.
Honor their contributions. They’ve moved across the world to be a contributing member of this team, acknowledging that can help make the move feel worth it.
No time for checking in or biweekly BBQs? Hire a language coach, as they will have 2 meetings each week for approximately one year. This will give the expat the much-needed support they need to help get used to everyday life, and they’ll also learn key phrases in Japanese language to help them feel comfortable and confident around their neighborhood and with their neighbors.

What if Employees Have a Hard Time Working Abroad?

Your employees (expats) could refuse to embrace the new experiences and attempt to do everything the same way they did it back home, instead of stepping far outside of their comfort zone and giving their new lives a chance. Many expats simply exist in an Expat Bubble. Deliberate steps to try is what makes the ultimate difference in their experience. Eventually, the stares become less frequent and obvious, the words cause less pause, and things get easier. So to answer, yes they can feel at home, but home isn’t Japan or wherever they choose – home is the experience, the friends, the memories and culture gained. So, allow them time and space to harvest those experiences and feelings and being truly at home won’t ever be a question. nn nnHave questions about moving employees to Japan and increasing your retention rate? Email micah@fluencycorp.com.

Moving to Mexico: 6 Things to Know about Assimilating

Has your company decided to set up shop in the country to our south? Or maybe your company already has an office in Mexico and they’ve decided to send you there for a few years to improve collaboration and productivity between the two offices. Either way, you’re heading towards warm beaches, cool mountains, amazing food, and exciting historical sites. But what you probably aren’t expecting is how you’ll have to adapt when moving to Mexico.

Time is Different in Mexico

First off, you’ll need to adjust to the time difference. No, Mexico is not in the Japanese Time Zone, but time is seen very differently there. When arriving at dinners or even parties, you may want to be a little more than fashionably late. Or, sit outside the party and watch what time people generally start arriving. You don’t want to be the first to arrive and surprise the host while he or she is still cooking the meal.

The same goes for office meetings as well, but not quite so dramatically. Depending on the type of meeting it is, it might not start right on the hour like your meetings in the US. The start time and the meeting outline might be a little blurred, and there will probably be some small talk and chit chat to get the meeting going.

Everything has a Little Spice in Mexico

Get ready for a little bit of spice in everything, even the candy. We all know that Mexican food is known for its addition of chiles. There are 64 chiles grown in Mexico, the most known being poblano, habanero, jalapeno, serrano and ancho. Although many Americans think they’re eating Mexican food when they’re eating Cali-Mex or TexMex, there are few similarities in the flavors and the dishes. Typical dishes in Mexico vary greatly by region. For example, the north produces the famous queso fresco that is lightly crumbled over dishes. On the Pacific coast, they make pozole and menudo. The central region called Bajio produces the yummy bunuelos, and the south pacific region boasts 7 types of mole (the chocolatey-chili peppery sauce). The one thing most of these dishes have in common is some element of some kind of chile. Even the candy, eaten by children starting at a young age, has quite the kick to it. I was surprised to twatch the children lick the sucker, freak out from the spice, then go back for more. I guess this is how they build up their abilities!

Indirectness in Mexico

They’re not avoiding the question, they’re just being polite. If you want a direct answer, don’t hold your breath. Generally, Mexicans are not big on confrontation, even if you’re just asking a question or requesting something directly at work. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Many find it awkward to disappoint or go against what you want, so you may even get a mild ‘yes’ or ‘ok’, but then it never happens or materializes. If you didn’t get a direct ‘no’, but you definitely didn’t get a ‘yes’, then you might want to ask more questions in order to figure out why. Expat tip: Engage in more small talk than you might be used to. Asking about your colleagues’ weekends, family or even talking about the weather is an expected pleasantry before getting down to business.

Formality in Mexico

Along with avoiding confrontation comes a level of formality. In families, you might still hear the use of Usted when the younger generation is speaking to their elders. This third person form of ‘you’ shows respect for the older generation. You will likely hear this if you’re a client, and you should use it with your clients. Even at a convenience store, or bumping into a stranger in the street, you will often hear this used, since you are not familiar with each other. Also, you might hear the words ‘Don’ or ‘Doña’ as a generic honorific name for mature peoples, as in Don Miguel or Doña Silvia. My brother calls his wife’s mother ‘Doña Stella’. She is over 60 and he wants to respect her.

Catholicism in Mexico

Yes, of course we have Catholicism in The United States, but Mexico is much more saturated in the religion and so you’ll see most of the country participating in or observing Catholic holidays. It’s the second largest Catholic population in the world after Brazil, with a whopping 91% of the country identifying as Catholic (compared with 23% in the US – for some perspective). While in the US we might believe that everyone makes their own fate, in Mexico you could hear ‘if God wills it’ ideology. I wouldn’t suggest getting into any theological debates with the older generation about faith or big questions like, ‘Is there a God?’. Accept it and enjoy the optimism and faith.

Sensitivity in Mexico

In the US, we might be told bluntly that our idea wasn’t good or that we need to start from scratch. In Mexico, I do not believe this would go over as well. We should probably put an extra layer of diplomacy on our words and be sensitive to the way negative messages are relayed. While in the US, this sensitivity could be seen as a weakness, this is not so in Mexican culture. I’m not saying that people will start crying at work if you criticize them, but this will not likely be the way to run a team if you want them to be successful. Guiding them through the way that it could be better and applauding the good parts will get you to the goal faster (and with more followers). You can catch more flies with honey, right?

Micah Bellieu is CEO and Founder of Fluency Corp, a corporate language class provider, servicing expats, employees and their families, all over the globe. Our private lessons are about so much more than language. She worked in Mexico for a year and a half, teaching English to kids and adults. After that, she moved to Dallas to start Fluency Corp. If interested in learning more, contact us here.

How to Help your Employees Assimilate

After moving to Mexico for a job in 2008, I believe that assimilating to the culture is critical. Moving to a new place can be exhilarating, but also devastatingly lonely, confusing and isolating. But it doesn’t have to be. And you can ensure your employees get the support they need.

Expectations and excitement can be high for your employees, in those months and weeks leading up to an international move. They don’t know what to expect and they’re dreaming of a foreign land with exciting new foods, cultures and traditions. They worry a little bit, as do you, but mostly you’re all thrilled about this new job post and the growth of your company. Maybe you’re sending a single person, or maybe you’re sending a couple with two kids. But managing expectations is the key component in relocating any employee to a new country.

Be aware from the start that it will be hard for them, very hard, a lot of the time. And they’ll likely even go through a phase of really despising the new location (this happens even when we move locally), but knowing what they’re getting into, and how to support them, will help the most. Preparation in managing those expectations is the key.

Make sure the Global Mobility team or HR team help to prepare them. Keep reading to discover how you can support your expats and their families through these simple, easy suggestions.

Understand the Needs of Your Expats (and Their Families!)

Culturally assimilating if you are an internationally relocated assignee (or family member):

Makes your employee feel less alone and more a part of the new community (less isolation)
A coaching session before moving helps keep expectations under control. This should be with the whole family, not just with the employee.
Many times, it can make or break the assignment
Can help ensure the assignment is completed
Can help an assignee’s family feel at home (if the family isn’t happy, the assignee’s work can suffer)
Allows the assignee to be more productive, because he or she understands the ‘why’ behind what people are saying and doing
Will allow your assignee to pick up on nuances that will build bridges rather than push employees and clients apart

For me personally, during my year and a half in Mexico, I never stopped culturally assimilating. Since I did not have a guide or someone who could help me at the beginning, I had to figure out a lot of things on my own. Although I was able to adapt, it was challenging and the transition was harsh, much harsher than I thought it would be. I was quite angry, confused, and frustrated at the beginning. I found myself wishing I had not made this decision, and I almost ended the contract after just a few weeks at my new post. I decided to stay in the end, but if I had had a guide or support person, I do not believe this risk would have happened.

10 Secrets to Managing your Multilingual Global Workforce

Cultural Isolation and Misunderstandings – Don’t Assume

To understand a little about culturally assimilating in ways you might not think about, read about a few examples below:

For example, I arrived at meetings about 15 minutes late, and my coworkers would arrive about 30 minutes after the chosen start time, which means I was often waiting 45 minutes for the meetings to start. But of course, no one knew that I would arrive early, so no one knew that I didn’t know that they would all be arriving “late”, which was not considered late to them.

Other examples would prove more challenging. A Swiss woman who was relocated to the USA with her husband and children struggled daily for over 6 months due to the differences in the school systems. One of her children pushed back against all the changes very hard, refusing to go to school. They felt that someone should have been there to help them understand the differences, and they were confused why the school did not set up a meeting to discuss the differences with them. I remember explaining to her that the school did not know what the differences were, just as my coworkers in Mexico did not know that I would arrive 15 minutes early to meetings.

Of course, at work, if many of your team members or coworkers come from 1 country continuously throughout the year, or if your relocation assignments are rotating, then your company can learn through experience how to prepare team members for the changes. Companies should set up an assimilation meeting (or meetings over 6 months) to assist newly relocated employees and families.

Solutions to help Employees and their Families Assimilate

Previously relocated families can take newly relocated families under their wing with monthly get togethers or brown bag lunches to learn about the new city
You can hire a professional language and assimilation coach (because if they can’t communicate, then how can they progress?)
Set up a Buddy System with employees that have moved abroad before to be support for the newly relocated employee
A monthly happy hour or weekly lunches one on one with other employees to create bonds. One on one is better than groups. Groups are overwhelming and often hard for the newly relocated person to understand (if they have a different first language)

But no guide or support at all is a recipe for a failed relocation. If the family at home is in tatters, then it will be very challenging for the employee to work at peak performance. And if the employee is left to his or her own devices (ie. allowing him or her to show up 45 minutes early to meetings), then a sense of isolation and ‘figure it out yourself’ mentality could cause serious productivity loss, engagement loss and collaboration loss. It’s too big a risk not to help the new employee adapt. And it’s too easy to set up support to let it slide.

Companies should prepare for these changes by coaching the family beforehand. Not only about what the differences will be in a work setting, but also how it will be at the school, with the healthcare system, in social settings, and more.

Micah Bellieu is CEO and Founder of Fluency Corp, a global company providing language instructors and assimilation coaching. If interested in learning more about supporting your internationally relocated employees (expats), go to www.fluencycorp.com to learn more, and click on Contact Us to set up an initial free consult to go over what you might need.

Most Difficult Cultural Differences Americans Experience in Japan

If you’re American and your company has asked you to relocate to Japan for your job, you’ll likely want to try to prepare yourself for the culture shock. If you already work with Japanese in your current office in the US, then maybe living in Japan won’t be as much as a shock. But if most of your exposure to the Japanese has been mainly on conference calls, then you’ll want to learn a bit about the culture before going to live there.

In this article we will be discussing some of the more startling, and challenging, differences between the 2 cultures. We hope to prepare you for your new life in Japan by discussing some of the more difficult aspects of the culture (for an American).

Finding it Hard to Connect with Japanese

One woman we learned about went to Japan to serve on a religious mission. According to her, the most difficult thing was making connections with the other members of the church. As Americans, we are generally quite expressive, and it can be offputting not to see emotion from people. She knew that it was a form of respect, and that the culture was more private, but she wasn’t quite prepared for how dramatic the difference would be. Although it took her some time to make deeper connections, when she looks back on her time there, she says that the people were her favorite part. She also admits that not knowing the language made it incredibly hard to connect to others, as no one there knew English in the town where she was living.

As I always say, just because people express themselves differently than you do, does not mean they do not feel it. Take the time to get to know the different nuances in expression. Americans’ range might be from -2 up to 12 on a scale of 0 to 10. The French might be from -2 up to 6. The Japanese might be from 3 up to 4; they are not expressing extreme happiness or extreme displeasure to you (in the way that you express it! For example, jumping up and down, screaming, etc). It doesn’t mean the French do not feel great excitement since they do not go up to a 12, but they might not show it the exact same way you do, if you are from the USA. And of course, there are many variations of people and personalities in the USA as well. We can never completely generalize.

Being Illiterate in Japan

This doesn’t have to do with culture, but everyone I spoke to felt completely illiterate in Japan. No one anticipates just how little English is used in Japan, especially for getting around, street signs, maps, stores, and menus. To go from being able to read everything, to being in a sea of confusion, can really get you down. And it’s not as if you can quickly learn the 2000 most common kanji very quickly.

What we can suggest, if you’re going to be there for a month or more, is learning at least 50 vital ones, like restroom, man, woman, various stores (bread, meat, pharmacy, bank, etc), map words, the train system, and important places for you. If you know that you’ll want a massage once a week, make sure to learn that kanji. If you’re a serial expat, and you move to a new country every few years, then you’re likely used to figuring out words in a language you don’t know, but typically they’re using the alphabet, and so it’s much easier to figure out, or at least look up in the dictionary, words that you do not know. But how do you look up a kanji? It’s not impossible, but harder.

Eating in Japan

It’s not that eating in Japan is a challenge. Absolutely not. No one is going to be upset with the foreigner for NOT knowing all the rules about chopsticks, but not know what you’re eating, now THAT’S a problem for me. Chopsticks, noisy eaters, and questionable foods is why we found it challenging there.

My mother always told me to close my mouth when I eat, and do not ever make noise. It’s considered gross, disrespectful, and rude to others eating around you. But to each his own when you have relocated to Japan.

When eating noodles, you are welcome to slurp away. It’s no big deal at all. And if this bothers you, well, then get used to it, because you will most definitely hear it at restaurants. If most definitely bothered me, and well, I just had to get used to it, or steer clear of noodle restaurants.

Having trouble with those chopsticks? Eat sushi at a sushi bar and you can use your hands! If you’re tired of the roll falling apart in the soy sauce, just lay the sticks down and go at it with your fingers. This is okay to do.

While eating with Japanese clients (English learners) from Hitachi, they told me to never set my chopsticks straight up in the rice. This is how a bowl of rice is offered to the spirit of a dead person, so you might not want to do this at dinner. Also, don’t leave chopsticks crossed on plate, bowl or table.

Do not use one chopstick at a time, like a weird fork. And do not pass food to your buddy with your chopstick. nnAnd the list of rules goes on and on…. But remember, you are a foreigner, so they do not expect you to know all of these rules. nnAnd the most challenging thing for me personally was not knowing what you were ordering. By the end of my 1-month stay, I was going to the same restaurants each weekend; the ones with menus with pictures! Before that, I was getting a lot of slimy food that my stomach just couldn’t handle. It’s not that the food was gross, but it’s just so different from the textures that I’m used to, that I just couldn’t eat it. nnSo ordering at restaurants can be very challenging. And the food can, sometimes, be very slimy. Or simply something that this Oklahoma/Boston girl simply isn’t used to. Natto, for one, is a slimy bean food that I cannot stomach. You may like it, but it’s definitely not for me.

How to Behave During Business Meetings in Japan

In the USA, we have formal business meetings… but not really super formal. Most times we come in, plop ourselves in any chair we see, grab some food from the buffet bar, eat, laugh with others about the weekend or a sports game, and then it’s a pretty free place to say your opinions and speak freely. Compared to most of the world’s cultures, ours is pretty, well, relaxed. We’re chill, yo!

Yet, if you’re doing business in Japan…

Watch, then do. This is how we always suggest to do things if you’re in a new country. And when you’re doing business with a new country, and you have money on the line, watch even more.

If you’re going to have a conference in person in Japan, make sure not to sit down right when you walk in the room. Allow the Japanese businessmen/women to show you were to sit and when to sit. There is a hierarchy in Japan when it comes to senior directors, junior directors, and employees, and you’ll want to make sure you do not sit down before the big boss. We recommend just watch, and then sit where you’re told.

Also, make sure to take great care of business cards. Whereas business cards might be declining with the youth of America, they are still important in doing business, and especially in Japan. It’s like holding someone’s name in your hands, not just paper. Make sure to use two hands when you exchange it, and don’t just stuff it in your back pocket. Take a look at it, read it, keep it flat on the table or put it in a carrying case specific for business cards.

We suggest taking notes during the meeting. Not only will it help you focus, but it will show how interested you are in doing business with them. Even in the US, if someone takes notes, I know that this meeting is important to them, and they do not want to miss a word.

Even though the Japanese company you’re meeting with may speak English well, there are nuances that will likely be lost. This is alright if you’re simply making friends with a Japanese person you met in the park, but you need to understand every ounce of meaning and syllable when it comes to a big business deal. Make sure you’ve hired an interpreter well in advance, no matter how fluent either side says they are. And please do not allow an employee to interpret. You need a third party and a professional. Just because you speak 2 languages, does not make you a professional interpreter.

Overall, I would say that the image of the Japanese in mainstream media is a bit more formal than they actually are. And every person and personality is completely different. I had one Japanese friend that I would not dare be touchy with. She just gave off that vibe. While another Japanese friend was touching me all the time while she spoke to me.

One thing we know is important, not to generalize a country or its people. On average, Japanese meetings are much more formal than American meetings. Correct. On average, Japanese people have a way of doing business that is more formal than in the USA. And it’s important to learn the above ideas and customs before going. But the main thing is to watch, listen, try to mimic what you see, and soak it all in. And remember, even your 1 trip is just a tiny glimpse into a country. I personally lived in Mexico for a year and a half, and I wouldn’t say that I know the Mexican people, still. I know a tiny aspect of them, but who am I to say I know more with so little time there?

If you would like language training (Japanese, Spanish, English, etc) in your office, or with a live instructor on Skype or Zoom, then reach out to us! Also, if you’re interested in a communication and culture consultation to bring together two groups at your company, we love to bring people together.