Displaying items by tag: English communication in a foreign country

Tuesday, 12 November 2013 05:24

Tips to make a first good impression on foreign coworkers

It takes barely a glance, maybe 5 seconds or less to evaluate a person when you meet him/her for the first time.

Needless to say, you being a foreigner in their country is bound to attract some opinions as and when you do your first handshake or share an eye contact.

What would their opinion be based on? Well, let's get factual- your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms and your English communication skills. With every individual you meet, a new opinion is formed about you and goes without saying that you cannot reverse or undo a first impression. And hence, here are some tips that you could make use of while entering a new company in a foreign country.

Be professional: From the moment you walk into those corporate doors, carry yourself with utter professionalism. Greet people with a firm handshake and maintain a confident smile throughout. Nothing wins a person over as much as a confident streak. Remain courteous and respectful; however, avoid getting too over friendly as that would come across as if you were trying too hard to fit in. While introducing yourself, do it with panache and make sure to keep your English communication skills at its ace best!

Look, Listen, Learn: Carefully and tactfully observe your co-workers, as for a fact you're in a new surrounding with people who belong to another cultural background. You need to be attentive and observe the office culture followed by them as a whole. You could make mental notes about what could be considered as offensive. Follow the workers' cues about lunch hours, the cubicle chit chat and office timings. Observe their communication skills and speak in English fluently. Do not ape them per se but make obvious efforts toward being one of them to fit in.

Get to work: Be professional in all aspects of your job. Show up on time and put in earnest efforts toward meeting your targets and specific deadlines. Use your English communication skills in your favor and contribute as and when asked to. Make sure to not speak gibberish and have substance in your speech. Begin learning your job duties and responsibilities right away to get into the professional conduct as soon as possible. Prove to be a good team player and offer to assist in the ongoing projects and other assignments. A proactive employee is always a blessing for any company.

Be yourself: You need to fit in but that does not require you to go all out and lose your essence completely. You could be adored for the person you are as well. It is a new surrounding with foreign people around you but that should not throw you off your game. Do not feel uncomfortable and ill at ease. Instead, be calm and confident, show them that you are a thorough professional. You could also face an adrenaline rush that could make you go hyper, so focus on calming yourself down and reaching that secure position where you can be your true self without much hesitance.

Understand the importance of making a good impression as it matters the most! Give each new encounter a special touch of yourself and hone your style at its optimum. Positivity will take you beyond bounds and would result in a successful career in the near future. And last but not the least, add a polish and finesse to your spoken English skills as every company whether local or abroad longs for a well- spoken employee to say the least.

About eAgeTutor:

eAgeTutor.com is a premier online English learning institute. eAge's world class faculty and ace communication experts, from around the globe, help you to improve in an all-round manner. Assignments and tasks based on a well-researched content developed by subject matter and industry experts can certainly fetch the most desired results for improving spoken English skills. In this age of effective and advance communication technology, online spoken English programs are the most effective and convenient way to learn English.

For further information on our online English speaking courses or to experience the wonders of the virtual classroom, fix a demonstration session with our tutor.

- By Monika Agarwal

Related Topics:

1. How to speak professionally? – Conversation examples
2. How to Answer Phone Calls Smartly in English?
3. How to Face an Interview with Confidence?
4. How to participate in a Group Discussion
5. How to Respond to a Job Offer Letter?

Published in Business English

How to navigate and buy essentials in a supermarket in a foreign country?

You are on your first shopping trip in New South Wales, Australia, and you plan to visit the Safeway supermarket store. The shopping experience at your home country was fun, but the new setting and location is making you nervous. You are not very familiar with the English accent that is used by the local people and this is making you even more worried about how to communicate. You want your first shopping experience to be great without any hassles. Fret not, enjoy and make the outing a fun filled experience by sticking to a fluent use of basic English.

Supermarkets in foreign countries especially in western ones are very organized and user friendly. They have lots of goodies and essential items, which are organized in a proper manner, section-wise. Shopping through them should be a breeze and very easy. Follow the below tips to navigate and buy essentials in a supermarket in a foreign country.

1. Follow the signs

Supermarkets abroad are clearly demarcated and marked. Every section has signs that show which articles are stored where. The fresh produce section, housing fresh vegetables and fruits, is clearly labeled and highlighted. It's the similar case with other categories also. Drink sections and essential items are similarly marked and written in signs. Use your English vocabulary skills to identify the items clearly.

2. Ask for assistance

It is perfectly okay to ask for help from store assistants. They are there to guide you. Ask them specific questions and they will give you accurate answers. Your English speaking skills should be very strong and fluent. In case you don't understand them because of their accent, ask them to slow down politely. In case the store assistants are busy, you can turn to other customers. People who are regular to the supermarket will know where the sections are located. In case someone asks you for directions and you don't know, politely answer them.

Example:

1. 'Can you tell me where the washroom accessories are located?'
2. 'Can you guide me to the dairy products section?'
3. 'I am sorry but I cannot understand you. Can you go a little slow please?'
4. 'I am sorry, I don't know which section it is."

3. Product details

Although almost all the products will have product information listed on them, there are cases where in house products will have less information on their packaging. In such instances, ask for clarification from the store assistants. You can ask questions in proper English like:

Example:

1. 'Is this milk freshly packaged?'
2. 'When was this spinach procured?'

4. Payment details

After doing all the shopping, it's time for payment. In foreign countries, most purchase and payment are done by credit cards. In case of doubt, you can ask the cashier what options are available. They will gladly assist you. You can ask them in the following manner:

Example:

1. 'Do you take credit card?'
2.'Is paying by cash okay?'

Take note of the above four tips to take advantage of the great amenities available in a foreign supermarket. Let your experience be a breeze. Communicate with individuals inside the supermarket for assistance in fluent English in case of any clarifications. You can also take the help of an online English teacher for further English speaking improvement.

About eAgeTutor:

eAgeTutor.com is a premier online English learning institute. eAge's world class faculty and ace communication experts, from around the globe, help you to improve in an all-round manner. Assignments and tasks based on a well-researched content developed by subject matter and industry experts can certainly fetch the most desired results for improving spoken English skills. In this age of effective and advance communication technology, online spoken English programs are the most effective and convenient way to learn English.

For further information on our online English speaking courses or to experience the wonders of the virtual classroom, fix a demonstration session with our tutor.

- By Monika Agarwal

Related Topics:

1. How to make requests for special meals on a flight?
2. The art of handling unhappy customers on a call.
3. How to take care of inbound calls?
4. How to ask an air hostess about cabin luggage compartment?
5. How To Invite Somebody For a Birthday Party?

Published in Situational Conversation

Tips to make a first good impression on foreign coworkers

About eAgeTutor:

How to navigate and buy essentials in a supermarket in a foreign country?

About eAgeTutor:

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