So far in this unit you have learnt how to find a job, apply for it and perform at interview. In this lesson you will explore relocating to another country and the language required to overcome the difficulties and enjoy the experience.
Predict and list the situations you will encounter if your company asks you to relocate to the UK. Use the headings to help you.
personal / family
finance
work
other

 

 

 

 

 

      

hunting (n)

open (v)

social dos and don’ts (n)

register(v)

induction programme (n)

complete (v)

get to know(v)   

working environment (n) 

currency(n)

your way around (n)

 

 
Yes, I’ve relocated because of work six times to three different continents. Every time it’s been exciting but also pretty stressful. First there are the practical things such as: __________ 2.01 a bank account, __________ 2.02 tax forms, having a medical test, changing __________ 2.03, house or flat __________ 2.04 and __________ 2.05 with a doctor or dentist.

Then there are the work issues: __________ 2.06 new colleagues and new bosses, learning about and understanding the new __________ 2.07 and of course trying to remember everything from my __________ 2.08.

But it’s the personal side of things that takes longest and is usually the most difficult: making new friends, learning at least a little of the new language, finding __________ 2.09 and finally but this is very important - learning the __________ 2.10. In any case, I’ve enjoyed it every time!
For questions 1-3 find a word or words in the text in Activity 2 that mean the same as those below. For questions 3.04 & 3.05 decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F).

 

 

word / expression

3.01

How an office operates – systems and rules as well as how people behave.

 

3.02

Learning the streets and transport routes in a new town or city.

 

3.03

The training you get when you start a new job either with the same company or a new one.

 

3.04

The person learns each new language fluently.

T / F

3.05

The social dos and don’ts are the last thing the person starts to learn.

T / F
Read two typical conversations that happen when someone relocates to the UK. Then match the underlined words with the definitions after the texts.
Conversation 1
Sanjeev: I’m looking for a flat that’s got at least two double bedrooms, gas central heating, double glazing, TV and phone connections and a kitchen with all the mod cons. It’s also got to have good transport connections into the centre of town and of course be close to the local shops.
Estate agent: Are you interested in renting or buying and what’s your budget?
Sanjeev: Renting and my budget’s 600 a week, max.
Conversation 2
Bank clerk: To open an account sir, we’ll need proof of your identity, for example a passport, also proof of your address, for example a utility bill, and of course a deposit. Do you know what kind of account you’d like to open? A savings account? A current account?
Sanjeev: A current account.
Bank clerk: Fine sir, with that you’ll get a cash and debit card, a cheque book and quarterly statements, but of course you can access your account details online at anytime.”
Sanjeev: That’s good.
Bank clerk: Would you like to set up any direct debits or standing orders?
Sanjeev: Yes, direct debits to pay the gas and electricity bills and a standing order to pay the rent.

 

Definition

Words from conversations 1 & 2

4.01

special windows which stop the cold and noise

 

4.02

types of payment which come out of your bank account automatically every month after you set them up

 

4.03

evidence that you use to show something is true

 

4.04

a first payment of money which you use to set up a bank account or before you but something

 

4.05

a type of bank account for everyday use

 

4.06

a bank card which you can use to get money from an ATM / cash machine and when you buy something the money goes from your account automatically

 

4.07

modern appliances which make life easier e.g. washing machine, microwave

 

4.08

a written record of your bank account details every three months

 
Read the conversations again and answer these questions. Decide if the answers are true (T) or false (F).

 

 

T / F

4.09

Sanjeev is looking for accommodation in the city centre.

 

4.10

He wants to be near the shops.

 

4.11

He is looking for a flat.

 

4.12

He wants to open an account for everyday use.

 

4.13

He doesn’t want to set up any standing orders.

 
Below are some of the issues people face when they relocate. Match the advice to the issue.

shopping

finding somewhere to live

finding a doctor and dentist

settling in at work

making friends / meeting new people  

 

 

Advice

Issue

5.01

 

Why don’t you try joining a sports club, or taking up a hobby, or perhaps contacting your Embassy for information about communities. The most important things is always to accept an invitation.

 

5.02

 

The quickest way is to look them up on the Internet and find the nearest one to where you live.”

 

5.03

 

“I suggest you chose an area you like and look in the local property paper and visit the local estate agents.

 

5.04

 

The big supermarkets are best value for money but some are more expensive than others. Most of them offer an online service. Local shops are convenient but usually expensive.

 

5.05

 

The best thing is to watch how people behave and what they talk about. And always be careful of the office politics and gossip and don’t get involved.

 
Culture shock is the emotion you feel when you begin living in new country, especially a country which has a very different culture to yours.
Read the statements below about culture shock. Put a tick in the correct column according to whether you think they are true or false for you. If some of the situations do not apply to you (e.g. if you have no relatives there or you don’t have an IELTS score of 7), imagine these situations are true for you before you answer.

 

Statement

True

False

6.01

Culture shock only affects a few people who easily get homesick.

 

 

6.02

I’ve travelled abroad before, so culture shock won’t affect me.

 

 

6.03

Culture shock’s a myth – there’s no medical evidence to prove it exists.

 

 

6.04

Culture shock’s only about language difficulties.

 

 

6.05

Living in a foreign country is the same as going there on holiday.

 

 

6.06

My company will look after all my needs, so culture shock won’t be a problem.

 

 

6.07

I’ve got relatives in the UK, so culture shock won’t be a problem.

 

 

6.08

If I do suffer from culture shock, I can cure it by spending all my time with people from my country.

 

 

6.09

I’m going to the UK to work – I’m not interested in the culture there, so I’ll be alright.

 

 

6.10

Culture shock affects everyone.

 

 

6.11

With an IELTS score of 7, I’ll have no problems with the language.

 

 

6.12

 

I know some things’ll be different, but only things like the climate, the language and the food. I’ll soon get used to them.

 

 
Medical research suggests there are five stages to culture shock. However, the journey through these five stages may not be easy. It is possible to get to stage three, only to drift back into stage two again!
Read the text then match the title to the paragraph.
A. On arrival in your new environment, everything is new and exciting. There is a lot to do: settling into your new job, meeting new people, seeing new sights and experiencing the unusual. There is also a lot of support from the company at this time, and many people are ‘on a high’.

B. After a while, however, the support is less, the routine of everyday life sets in, and problems start to arise. Left more on your own, the excitement disappears, and the symptoms above may begin to show themselves. Many people become anxious, begin to miss the familiar things of home and feel definitely not part of the society into which they have moved.

C. Being aware of the symptoms and causes of culture shock, people in this stage begin to evaluate their new culture and their reaction to it. They accept the things they find difficult, and try to work them out.

D. By this stage, many people have come to terms with the new culture, and accepted their place within it, having worked out their own strategy for survival, and developed a more positive attitude to their surroundings.

E. You have grown in confidence and have fully adapted (as far as you ever will!) to the new culture. Differences and similarities between the home culture and the new one are understood and respected. You have the ability to make choices based on your own values and preferences.

Paragraph titles:

The autonomy stage

The disintegration period

The re-integration stage

The incubation or ‘honeymoon’ period

The independence stage

 

Paragraph

Title

7.01

A

 

7.02

B

 

7.03

C

 

7.04

D

 

7.05

E

 
Imagine you are going to relocate soon to the UK. In the space below prepare your action plan - a plan that will ensure you move successfully through all five stages of culture shock.

 

 

 

 

 

 
In this lesson you have:
explored relocations situations
learnt specific language used in some relocation situations
learnt about culture shock and prepared an action plan to help move you through all five stages
The next e-m@il lesson looks at the important area of cultural awareness.