The Business Council of British Columbia did a survey of their members to find out what employers are looking for when they hire new employees. The results were as follows: 1. Communication skills a. Speak, read, write, listen (hear what is said) b. Use appropriate body language c. Good team work and interpersonal skills 2. Positive attitude a. Give support and constructive feedback 3. Flexible and adaptable 4. High performance standards 5. Good work ethic a Works hard and produces useful outcomes 6. Sense of responsibility a. Accepts responsibility for assigned work and actions 7. Productive-quality and quantity 8. Honest and reliable 9. Willing to keep on learning 10. Ability to analyze and evaluate 11. Common sense 12. Creativity 13. Intelligence 14. Education 15. High energy It is obvious that to do well at work it is important to understand the local culture. Cultural factors are more important than qualities like intelligence or education. Therefore the question "Do you have Canadian experience?" really means can you communicate well, will you understand what people expect of you, can you get your meaning and ideas across in a positive way, can you interact with others to find solutions, can you persuade others? How do you acquire this cultural ability?
Many people put their effort into studying for English tests like TOEFL and TOEIC. This is not the best way to learn a language. It is not possible to learn a language by studying the techniques of a test. You can not learn a language by studying the techniques of the language. You must learn the whole context. You must hear and read the phrases over and over again. You must understand the background of the language and the culture and learn to use the language in real life.
By following TheLinguist program you will: Improve your English language skills Gain an understanding of how Canadian society works Gain confidence in dealing with Canadians or other English speakers, since you understand them better Become a better communicator and team player in English So what is Canadian culture? Culture is a term used to describe how people live with each other in a certain place and time.
