Empowering multicultural teams and employee mobility through comprehensive cross-cultural and language training Wendell Lewis Willkie, an American lawyer, and the 1940 Republican nominee for President of the United States once said that: “There are no distant places any longer: the world is small, and the world is one.” More than eighty years later and the […]
language
Diverse Identities Within Borders
We often think of a country’s border as a defined albeit arbitrary demarcation of culture, language, traditions, mores, and values. A germane question to ask, considering the recent unrest in Catalonia surrounding an independence referendum from Spain is: what exactly is national identity? How do we define and understand it? What are the parameters and […]
History and Culture Tango in a Cup of Yerba Mate
Yerba mate tea is much more than the latest craze touted by health aficionados, which there are many. Conveniently packaged in tea bags, cans, and bottles, and now commonly sold in a variety of shops, mate has hit the mainstream. Nevertheless, what exactly is yerba mate? Moreover, what cultural meaning does it have? Like coffee […]
Idioms: A linguistic Journey Across Cultures
Idiomatic expressions are curious in their function within language as they mean more than what each word denotes. Even if idioms are metaphorical and figurative, once understood they serve as a palpable and distinct feature of any language. They allow the speaker to express themselves, articulating certain sentiments without explicitly saying so. Furthermore, they offer […]
The Quandary of International Schools for Expats and Locals Alike
International schools are an attractive option for both foreign residents and wealthy locals. The schools boast about giving children a multi-cultural experience that will prepare their children to compete on a global scale. The end goal for many local parents is to have their children attend world-class universities and attract multinational companies afterward. For expatriates […]
Tricks for Mastering a Foreign Language
Most people would agree that one of the most visible elements of culture is language. Language barriers can be a major hurdle for expats taking on new assignments and for companies working with overseas partners and customers. In either of these situations, mastery of a common language is often the first thing people notice. For expats, […]
