How to Help Expats Master U.S. Culture

How to Help Expats Master U.S. Culture

nnYour company is bringing employees from abroad to the U.S. And you’re the HR leader who’s coordinating the relocations. You have a lot on your mind. You’re helping employees with travel plans, English language training, finding a place to live and getting their kids in school.nnWe’ve got one more thing to add to your list: Teaching your international employees about U.S. culture. And we want to help you accomplish this without adding more work to your day.nn

What’s Different in U.S. Culture?

It’s easy to forget that the culture you’ve probably been immersed in your whole life isn’t universal. Our U.S. culture is the way we do things here. It’s not the way that people do things everywhere. Here are just a few examples of cultural differences between the U.S. and other countries:

  • Employees coming to the U.S. from Spain might be baffled as to why we eat dinner so early.
  • South Korean expats will notice lots of differences in gift-giving etiquette, both in business and personal contexts.
  • Expats from Germany (and other countries) might get sticker shock at the cost of medical care in the U.S.
  • Employees from Japan will likely encounter different tipping practices than what they’re used to back home.

The Benefits of Culture Education

Why is it worth your to time to educate expat employees about U.S. culture? First, it simply helps them do their job better and collaborate more smoothly with their U.S. colleagues.nnBut, just as importantly, culture knowledge helps your expat employees and their families feel at home more quickly in their new country. When they’re comfortable with shopping, socializing and other facets of daily life here, it’s less likely that “expat depression” will send them packing to go back home. And that saves your company the significant cost of a failed international relocation. Brookfield Global Mobility surveyed companies with hundreds of relocations per year, and the results are in: 54% of relocations fail, and why they fail is 71% due to failure to culturally assimilate and adjust. WHOA!nn

Language and Culture Resources for Expats

You’re not on your own when it comes to helping your expat employees understand U.S. culture. These resources can make your job easier:

  • CultureWizard. Your international employees can draw from a vast trove of CultureWizard’s interactive resources to learn about other cultures. Or you can opt for instructor-led courses, either in person or online. To sample CultureWizard’s offerings, download the company’s free guide to working in the U.S.
  • Apto. Apto’s videos demonstrate real-life scenarios in U.S. life, such as going to the doctor, going to a co-worker’s housewarming party or signing up for car insurance. Relocating employees can start getting a feel for U.S. life — and English as it’s really used here — before they even arrive. After they relocate, they can rewatch videos to prepare for a meeting in English, get ready to talk on the phone in English and even go to the car mechanic. Not to mention you can choose the accent you want to hear depending on the region of the US you’re living in: Southern versus New Yorker, for example.
  • Fluency Corp. That’s us! We believe that language and cultural fluency go hand in hand. Our English lessons, focusing on relevant conversations and real-life situations, are essential to have with a live instructor at the office. We also motivate language learners by cultivating their interest in English books, movies and other aspects of U.S. culture. Our English instructors are more than language trainers. They also serve as your employees’ guide to U.S. culture. They can talk them through situations they have questions about — like where to mail a package or how to find a tutor for their kids — and share information about their community.

Need more advice for helping your relocating employees succeed in a new culture? Give us a call for a free consultation.nn

San Antonio English Classes & More Expat Resources

San Antonio English Classes & More Expat Resources

nnIf you’re relocating employees from your company to San Antonio, Texas, from overseas, their knowledge of the city might be limited to the Alamo. While history and heritage are very much a part of life in San Antonio, there’s also a lot more to this vibrant city, which Texas Monthly magazine says just might be “the most interesting place in America right now.”nnWhile your employees probably feel excited about their move to San Antonio, we’re betting that they’re also wondering a few things. What are the best places to improve your English skills in San Antonio? What’s it really like to live there? How can you form a new network of friends?nnLet us help. Fluency Corp has collected some useful resources for both HR professionals who are relocating employees to San Antonio and international expats who are moving there themselves.nn

English Language Training in San Antonio

Anyone moving to San Antonio from overseas should make it a priority to sign up for some English classes. Even employees who have used English on the job before could find that working alongside native speakers is a big challenge. They might struggle to understand their new Texas co-workers — and find that others have a hard time understanding them as well.nnLanguage classes aren’t just helpful for work, though. Being able to easily talk with new neighbors and fellow parents at school will help expats adjust to and enjoy life in San Antonio.nnThe benefits of working with an English tutor in San Antonio go beyond improving language skills, though. A local English instructor can also be a guide to the essentials of daily life in San Antonio. A great language trainer can help with everything from getting to know the city’s beloved Spurs basketball team to explaining why tacos are a breakfast food to attending Fiesta San Antonio.nnSan Antonio has plenty of options for English classes. As part of relocation packages, your company may even connect employees with a language trainer in San Antonio that suits their needs. If not, ask your employer to consider providing English training and accent reduction lessons at your office. This is a great investment in helping make relocations successful.nnHow can you find the English classes in San Antonio that are the perfect fit? Of course, we suggest that you start by learning everything we offer at Fluency Corp. We’re based in Dallas, but we also provide customized, private or small-group corporate English lessons in the San Antonio area. Our students can study with us at the office, at home or even online.nnOur approach is to act as your fluency partners. Our English language training is live, not recorded, and all Fluency Corp instructors are native speakers. Students’ classes will be tailored to their needs — there are no “cookie cutter” lessons. As a result, they’ll speak confidently, clearly and with ease.nnWe’re also happy to recommend some fellow language trainers in San Antonio:

  • ILCSA (International Language Center at San Antonio). ILCSA is an extension of Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico. Offerings include English classes for both adults and kids, as well as corporate language courses.
  • SEFLA Languages. Here’s another option for studying English in San Antonio. Language learners can join one of SEFLA’s morning or evening English classes, or opt for private or semi-private tutoring. Corporate language training is also available.

Services for San Antonio Relocations

We know there’s a lot more on your to-do list than just finding English classes in San Antonio, though. These companies can help.

  • TIS Worldwide. Based in El Paso, this family-owned moving company has been in business since 1976. The TIS team can help you with relocations from Mexico to San Antonio (and vice versa), as well as other international moves.
  • Place2Place. If your company needs a trustworthy partner to help with relocations to San Antonio, explore what Place2Place offers. Founder Clivia Bettelli Baskin and her team provide spousal support, culture training, language training and more services that ease employees’ transition to new environments. Be sure to check out the resources list for expats.
  • Cornerstone Relocation Group. Are you in charge of a major relocation project that’s sending lots of employees to San Antonio? This company handles big jobs with an innovative, high-tech approach.

Tips for Making Friends in San Antonio

San Antonio is known for its friendliness. Getting to know some local residents will help expats get the most out of San Antonio life and strengthen their English skills. Here are some ideas for meeting people in San Antonio.

At any point in your relocation project, we’re happy to advise on English classes for expats in San Antonio. To learn more, please contact us for a free consultation.nn

English Classes in Dallas for Expats – Plus More Resources

English Classes in Dallas for Expats

nnSo your company has just set up an international headquarters in Dallas, Texas. As head of HR, you’re both hiring local employees and bringing in tons of expats from abroad. Your head is spinning thinking about how to make it all work.nnFluency Corp is based in Dallas, so we have lots of recommendations for you — and not just about helping your employees from overseas attend English classes in Dallas. (Although we’re pretty great at doing that!) Read on for some of our favorite resources for international expats coming to the Dallas area.nn

English Classes in Dallas

International employees who are relocating to Dallas need plenty of support to adjust to their new home. One important way you can help your expat employees succeed is by offering English classes in Dallas. Even if an employee from abroad has experience using English at work, speaking it all day, every day with native speakers is a whole new challenge. He might have trouble understanding colleagues, and, in turn, they might struggle to understand him. That damages both his morale and his productivity — which, with so much riding on a successful relocation, you just can’t afford.nnBut relocations don’t succeed or fail based just on what happens at the office. Your international employees will feel at home in Dallas faster if they can talk proficiently with their neighbors, the other parents at their kids’ schools and their local merchants. This is another reason language training is important — and a great reason to offer it to your employees’ families as well. Remember, an employee’s family can make or break the success of a relocation.nnWe recommend making English and accent reduction classes part of the relocation packages for your employees moving to Dallas. When they work with English language tutors in Dallas, they won’t just be getting language training. Their tutor can serve as a guide to the local culture. A savvy language trainer will help them understand the ins and outs of daily life in Dallas, as well as local etiquette, slang and customs (like what to expect during Texas-OU weekend).nnLooking for English language training in Dallas that fits the needs of your employees? Of course, we suggest that you start by checking out our offerings at Fluency Corp. I founded Fluency Corp in 2009 when I moved to Dallas after teaching English in Mexico. Today, we have hundreds of instructors across the U.S., but we still call Dallas home. We think of ourselves as our students’ fluency partners. We tailor all classes to their specific needs and focus on overall fluency, which allows our students to speak confidently, clearly and with ease. Fluency Corp’s English training is live, not recorded, and all instructors are native speakers. We offer customized, private or small-group corporate English lessons throughout the area. English lessons can take place in the office, at employees’ homes or even online.nnWe’re also happy to recommend some fellow language trainers in Dallas:

  • OneWorld Language Solutions – Gabriele Hayes, founder of OneWorld, came from Germany right after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1990, she founded her company in Dallas. OneWorld also does voice-over, interpretation, translation, subtitling and transcription. Gabriele understands what it’s like to work in your second language daily.
  • Dallas International School – The Dallas International School is an award-winning bilingual (English and French) elementary school and high school. But the school doesn’t just educate children in languages. It also offers Spanish, French and English language courses at the school or at your office. Students can even opt for intensive language courses that jump start learning by immersing them in their chosen language for several hours a day.
  • Excel English Institute – This school, located in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, has a variety of offerings that feature an interactive approach. The Intensive English Program (taught at three levels) is most popular. Excel also offers accent reduction training, TOEFL test prep and a two-month Business English Program for students with advanced proficiency.

More Tips for International Expats in Dallas

  • Place2Place – If you’re looking for a trustworthy partner to help with your Dallas relocations, Place2Place eases employees’ transition to new environments. Founder Clivia Bettelli Baskin and her team are a dependable resource throughout an employee’s transition in a new country and culture. Place2Place provides spousal support, culture training, language training and more. Based in Dallas, they operate in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
  • Internations.org – You’ll want to tell your relocating employees about this organization, which hosts events where they can get to know other expats in Dallas. Through Internations, expats might meet at a wine bar, go dancing, start a book club, volunteer at a Dallas homeless shelter or have a picnic in a park. Most people say they feel really comfortable walking into an Internations room, since everyone there has also transferred to a new country. It’s a chance to enjoy hearing accented English from dozens of countries while making new friends who have already walked down the same path.
  • Meetup.com – This is another great resource to share with international employees moving to Dallas. Whether they want to connect with other parents, soccer fans or hiking enthusiasts, they’ll easily find new friends at Meetup.com. Bonus: Their English will improve as they listen to the native speakers they meet, and they’ll learn all about their new city from locals.
  • The Wild Detectives – If your expat employees include Spanish speakers learning English, point them toward this cool spot in the hip neighborhood of Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts. This small wine and coffee bar has shelves lined with curated books in both Spanish and English. The Wild Detectives hosts writers and poets every month in its backyard, which has picnic tables and lights hanging from the trees. The semi-monthly book club in both English and Spanish is a great way to listen to native speakers talk, even if your expats are not quite ready to jump in with their own thoughts. Then, after the book club, they can hang out and make friends with locals, learning English in Dallas as they get to know a cool neighborhood and make friends.

nnWe hope that this info will help your relocating employees come to love Dallas just as much as we do here at Fluency Corp. To learn more about our English classes in Dallas, or if you have any other questions about international relocations to Dallas, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.nn

The Best English Classes in Houston for Expats

The Best English Classes in Houston for Expats

nnIf you’re relocating from overseas to Houston, Texas, you’re in good company. Houston is one of the most international cities in the U.S. With the oil and gas business driving the area’s economy — and a shortage of skilled STEM workers in the U.S. — Houston businesses are filling STEM jobs with workers from abroad. Additionally, the Houston metro area ranks No. 4 in the nation for the percentage of residents employed by foreign-owned companies. That’s according to a 2014 report by the Brookings Institution.nnHow can you start improving your English language skills and feeling at home fast in Houston? We put together a quick guide that can help.nn

English Classes in Houston

When you move to Houston, one of the first things you’ll want to look into is taking English classes. Even if you’ve spoken English at work before, you might discover that you’re struggling to understand your Texas co-workers — and that they’re also having a hard time understanding you. Outside of work, being able to communicate with your new neighbors and the parents at your kids’ schools will help you enjoy life in Houston more.nnWorking with an English tutor in Houston does more than improve your language skills. Your English instructor also becomes a guide to the local Houston culture. A great language trainer will help you understand the ins and outs of daily life in Houston — like how to navigate all those highways — as well as local etiquette, slang and customs.nnLuckily, you have lots of options for English classes in Houston. As part of your relocation package, your company may even find a language training company in Houston that fits your needs. If not, you can suggest that your employer provide English training and accent reduction lessons at your office.nnHow can you find the English classes in Houston that are right for you? Of course, we suggest that you start by checking out our offerings at Fluency Corp. We’re based in Dallas, but we also offer customized, private or small-group corporate English lessons throughout the Houston Metroplex. We think of ourselves as your fluency partners. We tailor all classes to your specific needs and focus on overall fluency, which allows you to speak confidently, clearly and with ease. Fluency Corp’s English training is live, not recorded, and all instructors are native speakers. Your English lessons can take place in your office, in your home or even online.nnWe can also recommend a couple of other local companies that offer private English lessons in Houston. Like Fluency Corp, these companies are woman-owned.nnWorldwide English. This company can come to your home or office for very specific lessons about IT English, TOEFL Prep, Safety English and Medical English. Worldwide English also offers pre-paid packages.nnBe Bilingual. This language training company has been in business since 1989 with many services. Be Bilingual offers private or small group lessons in Houston for Spanish, French, English and more. The company also offers accent reduction lessons for individuals who are already fluent but who want to communicate more clearly. Be Bilingual even has group Spanish lessons in the Memorial area of Houston for those wanting to save money and meet new people interested in learning Spanish and about the Spanish culture.nn

Become a Real Houstonian

Taking English classes in Houston will help you fully experience this vibrant city. Here are a few things to know about life in your new hometown.

  • Join the crowd. With an estimated 2.3 million people in 2017, Houston is the fourth-largest U.S. city by population. And the Houston metro area as a whole has about 6.5 million people.
  • Get ready to drive. Houston isn’t just big in terms of population. It’s also sprawling. According to visithoustontexas.com: “At 655 square miles, the City of Houston could contain the cities of New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis and Miami.”
  • Savor the diversity. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau reports that more than 145 languages are spoken in Houston. The Los Angeles Times called Houston” the American city of the future” because of its diversity.
  • Speak the local lingo. First, as a resident of Houston, you’re a Houstonian, not a Houstonite. And you should know the city’s nicknames, including H-Town and the Bayou City. It’s also fun to learn about Texas regionalisms, like “tump over.”
  • Eat well. Houston is one of the best food cities in the U.S. You may associate only barbecue and Tex-Mex food with Texas, but in Houston you can dine on cuisines from all over the world, from some of the country’s most innovative chefs.
  • Cheer the home teams. When you’re studying English in Houston, be sure to pick up some sports terms. In baseball, the Houston Astros are the reigning World Series champions. The Houston Rockets just missed the NBA Finals. And, of course, this being Texas, football is hugely popular. Besides cheering Houston’s NFL team, the Texans, you can also join the fan bases of the Texas A&M Aggies, the University of Houston Cougars or the University of Texas Longhorns.

nn

More Resources on Moving to Houston

You can find additional tips and information on relocating to Houston from abroad in expat guides by InterNations and Expat Arrivals. Meetup.com also lists many expat groups and gatherings. And to learn more about English language training in Houston, please contact us for a free consultation.nn