Saturday English Club
Session 2: Cultural Codes & Cross-Cultural Communication
Cultural Confusion
Share a moment when cultural differences surprised you
YOUR OPENING MOVE
We all carry invisible cultural codes - unspoken rules about time, personal space, directness, formality, and communication styles. These codes work perfectly... until we encounter someone from a different culture. Think of a moment when you experienced cultural confusion or when you realized your "normal" wasn't universal.
Meeting scheduled for 3pm. Some arrive at 2:55, others at 3:15. Both think they're "on time." Different cultures have drastically different relationships with punctuality and scheduling.
"We need to talk about this" vs "Perhaps we could consider discussing..." Same message, completely different approaches. Some cultures value direct communication, others prefer subtle hints.
Standing distance during conversation varies wildly. What feels friendly in one culture feels invasive in another. What feels respectful in one culture feels cold in another.
Call the boss by their first name? Use "tú" or "usted"? Challenge senior colleagues openly or stay silent? Different workplaces have radically different rules about authority and respect.
Pause in conversation: awkward gap that must be filled? Or comfortable thinking space? Some cultures see silence as agreement, others as disagreement, others as simply... silence.
Individual decision vs group consensus. "Just tell me what you think" might be normal in some cultures but extremely uncomfortable in others where decisions are collective processes.
Read the Clues
You're in a video call with international colleagues. Based on these behavioral clues, make deductions about what they might be thinking or feeling. Select the clues that match situations you've experienced.
LONG SILENCE
After your proposal, your Japanese colleague stays silent for 20 seconds. They must be / might be / can't be thinking carefully?
TOO POSITIVE
Your American colleague says "That's interesting!" about your idea. They must love it / might be politely disagreeing / can't be serious?
TIME PRESSURE
Your German colleague looks stressed because the meeting started 3 minutes late. They must be / might be frustrated with "unprofessional" behavior?
NO QUESTIONS
After a complex explanation, nobody asks questions. Everyone must understand perfectly / might be confused but uncomfortable asking / can't have been paying attention?
TALKING OVER
Your Brazilian colleague starts talking before you finish. They must be rude / might be showing enthusiasm and engagement / can't be interested?
FORMAL EMAIL
Your British colleague writes very formally even after months of working together. They must dislike you / might just be maintaining professional distance / can't be comfortable yet?
Grammar for Cultural Speculation
MUST (Strong Deduction)
Use when you're almost certain:
"She keeps checking her watch. She must have another meeting."
"He's avoided three calls. He must be angry about something."
✓ Based on strong evidence
✓ Logical conclusion
MIGHT/COULD (Possibility)
Use when something is possible but uncertain:
"They might be uncomfortable with direct feedback."
"She could be waiting for the senior person to speak first."
✓ Several explanations possible
✓ No strong evidence
CAN'T (Impossibility)
Use when something seems impossible:
"He can't be serious about that deadline."
"They can't have understood the cultural context."
✓ Strong evidence against
✓ Contradicts logic
Used To vs Be Used To
Used to + infinitive: Past habits that don't happen anymore
"I used to think silence meant agreement, but now I know better."
Be used to + -ing: Familiar with something (comfortable)
"After two years abroad, I'm used to working with multicultural teams."
Cultural Moment Example
"I've been collaborating with a Norwegian team for about six months now. At first, I thought they must be upset with my ideas because they would go completely silent after I presented them. In Argentina, we're used to giving immediate feedback - if we like something, we show it right away! The silence felt uncomfortable, almost hostile.
One day, my Norwegian colleague finally explained that they weren't being cold - they were just thinking carefully before responding. In their culture, a thoughtful pause shows respect for the idea. They can't imagine giving feedback without proper consideration first.
Now I'm getting used to those pauses. I used to fill every silence with nervous talking, but I've learned that different cultures might be communicating even when they're quiet. It must have been exhausting for them at first, trying to think while I kept talking!"
Grammar in Action:
- → Present Perfect Continuous: "I've been collaborating" (started in past, still continues)
- → Modal of deduction: "they must be upset" (strong belief based on evidence)
- → Be used to: "we're used to giving" (familiar habit/comfortable with)
- → Used to: "I used to fill" (past habit that changed)
- → Present Continuous for change: "I'm getting used to" (process happening now)
Professional Cross-Cultural Skills
From cultural awareness to workplace communication
Cross-Cultural Communication in the Workplace
Watch Dr. Deborah Shallow's talk about the cultural parameters that affect how we work together. She explains how different cultures perceive time, communication directness, and rule-following - and why understanding these differences matters for productivity.
Grammar Focus:
Notice how the speaker uses modal verbs of deduction ("This might explain..."), Present Perfect for experiences ("I've worked in..."), and conditionals for cultural scenarios ("If you come from a culture where...").
Comprehension Check
Group Discussion: Which statement best captures Dr. Shallow's main point about cross-cultural workplace communication?
Workplace Scenario Practice
In pairs, discuss how you would handle this situation using Dr. Shallow's cultural parameters:
You're leading a project with team members from Germany, Brazil, and Japan. The German colleague is frustrated because meetings start 5-10 minutes late. The Brazilian team member keeps having informal conversations during work time. The Japanese colleague never directly disagrees in meetings, but you sense something is wrong.
Consider: Which cultural parameters are at play here? How would you address each situation without "denigrating any culture"?
Dr. Shallow's Key Parameters:
- → Perception of Time: Fixed vs fluid - punctuality as respect or as flexibility
- → Direct vs Indirect Communication: Content-focused vs relationship-focused
- → Rules Adherence: Strict following vs situational bending
- → Remember: "Language is what we hear; culture is how we understand"
Group Challenge
Where does Argentine workplace culture sit on these three parameters? Discuss as a group: Are we more direct or indirect? How do we perceive time and punctuality? Do we strictly follow rules or adapt them? Then share your conclusions with the class.
Personal Reflection
- → Which cultural parameter causes you the most "multi-culture shock" at your desk?
- → Have you ever experienced a "there is no bus" moment - where indirect communication confused you?
- → How can you bridge these cultural differences without losing your own cultural identity?
Reflection & Integration
Process what you've learned about cultural communication
Closing Reflection
Which of Dr. Shallow's cultural parameters surprised you most?
Think about time perception, direct/indirect communication, or rules adherence. What made you realize something about your own cultural assumptions or those of others?
Can you think of a "multi-culture shock" moment you've experienced?
Share a time when cultural differences created confusion or conflict in your workplace or studies. What cultural parameter was involved? How did you resolve it (or not)?
How will you apply this cultural awareness moving forward?
Dr. Shallow says we should "help people understand the relationship between their own culture and the dominant culture." What's one specific action you'll take in your next cross-cultural interaction?
Next Session Preview
Session 3 will explore Future Plans & Career Goals - from personal aspirations to professional development strategies. We'll work with future forms, conditionals, and goal-setting language. See you next month!