Job Discussion Forums

[Starglass1]

Hi there. My first post. I thought this was a great topic and tried to reply but found that the topic was locked. Perhaps if we stick to the topic and lose the flames and counters, we can keep this forum open to those who want to share their cross cultural faux pas. I found it light, humorous and informative.

So here goes.

After teaching English for several years in different countries, I�ve made a few gaffes when it comes to cross-cultural customs. Here are some:

If you�re in the Middle East be careful if you rub your chin with index finger and thumb. In the West it�s usually a subconscious gesture that we do when pondering an answer to a question. I used to sit on my desk, hand on chin formulating the perfect response to a student�s question. After awhile I noticed the shaking knees of my students who at one point shared with me that the same gesture in Egypt was used to show that I had vengeance on my mind directed at the person I was looking at!

Another more embarrassing one happened when I was teaching the word for zipper or zip (British English). Here miming will get you into trouble. I pointed to my �fly� and said loudly �Zip!� I later learned that it was the exact word for *beep*, which my gesturing seemed to emphasize. Blush!

Also be careful with �nickname�. It has a completely different meaning in Arabic and is all the worse when trying to teach on your first day.

In Italy, if you want a laugh, see what happens when you teach:

It�s mine, It�s yours, It�s his, It�s hers, It�s its.

It�s its = something like boobs/*beep* in Italian. My class were in stitches; half of them trying to explain it to me, while the other half were trying to get the first half to shut up.

Anyway I enjoyed reading this thread and hope that others will share their experiences and refrain from the tedious flames and counters, which have almost ruined it.

Ciao!

Live & Learn

[Lynn]

Those were some good ones, Starglass!

Most of my stories are all language related which sometimes loses humor in translation, so I'll just give you a plain old embarassing story.

In Japan, hot springs are all around and are a way of life. When I was 22 my Japanese co-worker (23) invited me to a very famous hot spring with her family. I was totally getting into it! So much that I didn't want to leave. When it finally came time to leave I got out of the bath rinsed off and walked to the changing room. (Jpes hot spring are enjoyed in the nude)

As soon as I stepped into the cool changing room, the difference in temperature suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. It was like someone was turning the lights off and then turning them back on. I saw black and then could see again. This was happening while at the same time I thought for sure I was going to vomit.

I couldn't even stand anymore. I thought for sure I was going to die. I fell to the floor and just lay there while all the ladies stepped over me to get dressed. Here I was bare ass naked white (pink) girl just lying there panting and dying.

Apparently, foreign folk must often do this in Japanese hot springs because no one even blinked an eye. Or maybe there were just in too much shock to say anything.

[Deconstructor]

This thread is back! Alright!

I'm gonna repost my story, but maybe later.

I gotta go to sleep.