Why do we react to things the way we do? Why do people from other countries react differently to the same thing? How can a gesture or word be interpreted positively by people from one place and negatively by those from another? The answer lies in human culture.

Culture is the values, perceptions, and beliefs we learn from our parents and society as we grow up. As we accept them they become second nature. Like wearing glasses, they become a part of us we rarely notice. Most people will spend their lifetimes unaware of their cultural lenses, yet we automatically filter everything through them. We measure what we see and hear against the values, perceptions, and beliefs we have been taught. This is how we judge others' actions and how we come about our reactions. This is human nature.

English League teaches Working Across Cultures to improve teamwork, communication, and harmony among employees from different parts of the world. Our training will, for a period, remove participants' cultural lenses and help them see the world and others more objectively. This builds self-awareness, understanding, and empathy, leading to a smoother workflow.

Our culture largely dictates how we behave, how we dress, what we eat, and how we interpret other people's words and actions. What is funny, offensive, sacred, justifiable, valuable, or even edible in one culture can be very different in another.

As with an iceberg, there are two levels of culture: the visible and invisible. All we see of a culture is the obvious tip of the iceberg - the do's and don'ts, the fashion, gestures, customs, and behavior that can be puzzling, comical, or inappropriate to us.

However, what is most important is the invisible level of culture, everything that holds up the tip of the iceberg. This invisible part is called deep culture. It contains the values, perceptions, and beliefs that dictate our actions. It is our cultural filter. Becoming aware of it and understanding its powerful effects leads to greater empathy towards and harmony among those of different cultures.

Contact us today for a tailored cross-cultural training proposal at your work site.