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Hans Havelaar
Switzerland
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Problems with Communication in Other Language
Hi there, I'm in a team of 4 with one manager. 3 out of the 4 members plus the manager are French speaking guys. I am the only one non-French speaking, so I use only English. My team members always talk in French, which makes me feel isolated. We communicate in English in 2 situations: during meetings or when they interact with me (low verbal interaction). Also they send me emails in English.
The company official languages are English and French.
Now my questions: did anyone face a similar issue? Any tips on how I can deal with this?
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Johan Bergstroem
HR Consultant, Sweden
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Language Problems in Communications It sounds far from an ideal situation. We recently had a Polish man here (in Sweden) that spoke slightly below average Swedish. It's far from same situation, but I really tried to make him feel at home, by explaining most of the quaint jokes and odd bits and things in Swedish, that always comes up during regular coffee breaks and whatnot, so he could relate.
In your situation it is harder though. As I imagine that you speak no French at all. I can also think that because you are one and they are many, it is on their responsibility to make you feel welcome, and not the other way around.
Also in a situation like this, nonverbal communications and gestures becomes more important, care and consideration, asking if you want to join for lunch or coffee.
With unwelcome feelings (brought from language-exclusion) they cannot expect very high results from you, I gather? Also, they really miss out when they let the chance slip them by to meet someone from another country, I learned very much from my now polish friend.
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Herschtal Maurice
Consultant, France
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Problems in Communication: the Language Barrier @Johan Bergstroem: I had a similar experience when I was working for a Swiss company. Most of my colleagues could speak French quite well. All meetings were in English, which was OK for all of us; but there were times when the discussion slipped into Swiss-German and I felt totally excluded; also during informal breaks, or dinners they would start talking between them, forgetting that I could not follow...
Very frustrating, indeed!
I would add that it is not only a matter of language, it relates also to differences in culture. see Wikipedia: Anglo-Saxon cuture vs Latin culture...
And I must say that for me, as a French guy, it was not always easy to cope with the rigidity, seriousness and lack of humor of some Finnish guy as far as I remember.
I would suggest that you start learning some French (Dutch people are gifted for foreign languages) and try using it when confronted to such situation; it will show your goodwill, and willingness to better integrate the group.
Also try talk informally to the boss..
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Hans Havelaar
Switzerland
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Language Barrier--within a Team @Herschtal Maurice: Thanks for your answer. The bad thing is that even the boss is French. In the beginning, when we were 2 employees (1 French guy and me) and our boss (French guy), things were by far better. But now, when the team started to grow and the newcomers were always French nationals, things got worse.
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marco alfieri
Italy
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Language Barriers: my Experience and Opinion During my 40 years of professional life, I always worked in teams composed of people of various nationalities. I am convinced that the imprint is given by education of the team coordinator.
The team can only work well if the experiences of all members is put together.
We must make sure that all team members can understand the experiences of othersbr>
The main task of managers is to convert the numerous into one.
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Bergen, Netherlands
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The Language Barrier - my Experiences Hi All, I work in a Taiwanese company. We use English as our main language, which works. But my colleagues mostly speak Chinese, which make me feel isolated. I always speak in English to avoid excluding anyone.
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Adri Albertyn, South Africa
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The Language Barrier - my Experiences I work in a multi-lingual environment and usually observe body language and tone in interactions if I don't understand the language used. In many general and informal situations you don't need to understand word for word and it is quite easy to get the gist of what is going on if you are observant. You can also learn a bit of a new language and that is always appreciated. Fortunately in my situation, many interactions and all meetings and other formal conversations are conducted in English.
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Brita Singh
Professor, India
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Multi-cultural Language Barriers I think that it is very important that you try to communicate with your colleagues in French!
They will certainly respect the fact that your French is perhaps weak or nonexistent (but you are trying!) so they are definitely doing their best by conducting meetings and by emailing you in English. You have to now reciprocate by trying to understand French.
Learning a language definitely adds to your skill sets and therefore your employability. What better way to learn the language than by taking advantage of the situation that you are in.
Best of luck.
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Abbas Bilgrami
Management Consultant, Saudi Arabia
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Language Barriers in Communication are High @Brita Singh: I don't think that will work, because I have tried this already.. I am in KSA and though the official language is English, but none of them are using it, they always speak in Arabic.
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shahid imran
Student (University), Pakistan
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Barriers in Communication @Hans Havelaar: it is a common barrier in an effective communication. The only solution is to learn French language. I will hardly take 6 months to be fluent if you pay full attention / concentration.
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Abraham Lagarde
Student (MBA), Philippines
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Language Barrier in a Team @ Hans.....I'm not sure what your situation is in your company when you said "... The newcomers were always French nationals, things got worse." But as a suggestion, try to adapt by learning French, in this way the negative situation becomes favorably positive for you. I was in the Navy and we had lots of service members that have English as their second language. So imagine some people grouped separately according to their speaking language during R&R. It wouldn't be right if we were at war. However, I learned that to tear down the barrier, I mingled with them and tried to learn their language by picking simple words like good morning or ugly or good food. Every now and then conversational words or phrase and it worked, I gained their friendship which was great.
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Tettevi
Student (University), Ghana
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Opportunity to Learn a Second Language You can also view this as an opportunity to learn another language for a future task or challenge. Who knows, one day you will be asked to head the same organization...
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Herschtal Maurice
Consultant, France
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Communication in Other Language: don't Forget Culture! Hans, I need to add another point: language is important, but it is only a tool; cultural awareness is as important, if not more.
Knowing the cultural codes will be critical for efficient communicati...
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pinar Basaran
Turkey
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Professional Recommendation :) My recommendation is not so professionally but I guess it might work. Try to look like a cool guy who doesn't need them and watch them how they are trying to talk with you.
If they are not profession...
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ADEOYE BABATUNDE
Career Consultant, Nigeria
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Communication in Other Languages Hmm this is so serious and also such a challenge.
I work with a telecommunication company as a front desk customer care representative. I remember a colleague that spent time learning Hausa language ...
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Jozelle Steenkamp
Director, South Africa
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Communication with a Difference I have been in teaching and training for most of my adult life and being in a country with 11 official languages, I have learnt three phrases (in 6 six languages) "Hello", "Thank you" and "I do not un...
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