www.anglophonie.fr Log on our website to check out our previous reports! :) page 1/5 New Lands, New Customs (Learning English, Voice of America, 2016) http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/daily-life-in-a-new-country-causes-problems/3188778.html As refugees and migrants flood Europe, Finland is teaching its new arrivals about appropriate behavior. Over 1 million migrants arrived in Europe in 2015. Most were fleeing struggling economies and war in places like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and East Africa. Many of these people arrive in new countries like Germany, Sweden or Finland and expect life to become easier almost immediately, a recent news story by the BBC explained. After all, they just traveled months by foot and by boat just to get to a new country and start fresh. But when they arrive, the migrants face a world that can be confusing in many ways. Melissa Fogg is the program manager for the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative (PRMHC). The PRMHC is an organization that helps refugees entering the U.S. build their lives in their new country. The PRMHC teaches the refugees skills and helps them adjust to living in a different environment. Fogg told VOA that weather, language and safety issues are only some of the things that can cause problems. "A lot of immigrants and refugees when they come, they have a very idealized version of the United States from movies, magazines, the media And a lot of that is just not true. Generally, our country is very welcoming and very accepting of immigrants. But it can be a tough environment to come into, with a lot of barriers." What seems normal in one country might be illegal in another country. For example, men and woman have equal rights under the law in Finland and the U.S. One male student from Mali told the BBC, "It's quite amazing. In my country a woman should not go out without her husband or brother." There are laws about gender equality in many countries. These laws can be hard for new arrivals to understand. But that is not the only confusing thing about being in a different country. Some laws and rules are written down. You can learn about them before you arrive. But there are lots of "unwritten rules," too. Unwritten rules are behaviors that no one talks about, but that most people understand. People in a host country might think their behavior is normal, while newcomers might find it offensive or inappropriate. Fogg said that these differences can make becoming part of a new culture seem impossible. "When people come to a new country, at first they re very excited... Shortly after that, there is reality that sets in. America s not a perfect country." But, after some time and a lot of work, most new arrivals begin to feel like they belong, Fogg said. Also, it is important to know that not all differences are major. Often there can be small differences between places that share a border and a language. A person from Canada might find people in the United States are less polite. Likewise, Americans might find Canadians too reserved. Fogg and VOA worked together to create a list of five important issues any new arrival to the U.S. should know about.
page 2/5 Be "on time." In some cultures, time is not a big issue. If you tell your friend to meet you at 2 p.m. and you arrive at 2:45 p.m., there is no problem. In the U.S., people feel that being on time is a sign of respect. If you are late by more than a few minutes, people will think you do not care. They will feel you are wasting their time. They will take your lateness as an insult. Being on time is even more important in a professional or formal situation, such as a job interview or when you plan to see a doctor. Be sure you always "tip." In many countries, after you eat at a restaurant, you only pay the amount shown on the bill. But, in the U.S., people who work in restaurants and bars often earn a low hourly wage. So, they try to provide excellent service, hoping the customer will give them a tip, meaning a little extra. Tips are extra money you pay above the cost of the meal. People in the U.S. tip between 15 percent and 20 percent of the bill. You also give tips to taxi drivers, hotel employees and the people who cut your hair. Be careful what you say. Any place you go there will be some things that are appropriate to talk about and some things that are not. Would you talk about how good you feel with a person who is very sick? Probably not. In addition, many people in the U.S. can feel strongly about some topics that people in other cultures have no problem discussing. Assuming that people have the same beliefs as you is a bad idea. In the past decade, people in the U.S. have become more open about discussing strong political and religious views. But it is still best to listen to people share their opinions first and then decide about sharing your own. Also, there are several topics you should avoid asking questions about: how much money a person makes and if they are married. But if a person offers this information, then there is no problem. Be aware of "personal space." Physical contact is the best way to show someone they are your friend or loved one in some cultures. Other cultures feel that showing affection in public is highly inappropriate. People in the U.S. fall somewhere in the middle on this issue. Two people usually do not kiss when saying Hello, unless they are family members or very close friends. Shaking hands is the most common thing to do when meeting someone. Also, people in the U.S. dislike it when strangers stand very near to them. Be polite for the situation. People in the U.S. define being polite in very special ways. For example, waiting in line involves a strong set of rules in this country. You must wait until the people in front of you have done what they are waiting to do. When going through a door, the person behind you expects you to hold the door for them. Also, it is common for people you do not know to say some form of hello to you when passing you. But this does not always mean they are inviting you to stop and talk for a long time! Many times the person is just being friendly. If you don t say hello back to them they may think you are being unfriendly. You should examine the situation and think about what you want to do next. I m Dan Friedell. And I m Pete Musto. Vocabulary 00. To flood inonder 01. Struggling economies des économies en difficulté / to struggle = «lutter» 02. They just traveled months ils viennent de voyager pendant des mois 03. They expect life ils s attendent que la vie..
page 3/5 04. On foot and by boat à pied et par bateau 05. To start fresh refaireleur vie 06. Skills des compétences 07. Safety issues des questions de sécurité 08. A toughenvironment dûr 09. It squiteamazing c est très étonnant 10. Written down écrit 11. Behaviors des comportements 12. Newcomers des nouveaux arrivants 13. Can makebecoming part peut faire que devenir partie de.. 14. Reality sets in la réalité s installe 15. To feelliketheybelong avoir le sentiment qu ils appartiennent, sont acceptés 16. To share a border partagerunefrontière 17. Likewise de la mêmemanière 18. Be on time être à l heure 19. A big issue un grand problème 20. You do not care vous vous en fichez 21. You are wastingtheir time vous leur faites perdre leur temps 22. Your lateness votre retard 23. Be sure youalways tip être sûr (n oublie pas) de laisser un pourboire 24. The bill l addition 25. A low hourly wage un tarifhoraire bas 26. Be careful about what you say faites attention à ce que vous dites 27. In addition de plus 28. Can feel strongly about some topics peut avoir des sentiments forts sur certainssujets 29. Be aware soiyez conscient 30. Shaking hands serrer la main 31. Strangers des inconnus 32. Waiting in line faire la queue 33. Involves a strong set of rules implique un jeu de règlesstricte 34. If you don t say hello to them si vous ne leur dites pas bonjour Exercise: fill in the blanks with the correct words New Lands, New Customs (Learning English, Voice of America, 2016) As refugees and migrants flood Europe, Finland is teaching its new arrivals about appropriate behavior. Over 1 million migrants arrived in Europe in 2015. Most were fleeing s economies and war in places like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and East Africa. (en difficulté)
page 4/5 Many of these people arrive in new countries like Germany, Sweden or Finland and e life to become (s attendent à) easier almost immediately, a recent news story by the BBC explained. After all, they just traveled months b f and by boat just to get to a new country and s f. (à pied) (refaire leur vie) But when they arrive, the migrants face a world that can be confusing in many ways. Melissa Fogg is the program manager for the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative (PRMHC). The PRMHC is an organization that helps refugees entering the U.S. build their lives in their new country. The PRMHC teaches the refugees s and helps them adjust to living in a different environment. (compétences) Fogg told VOA that weather, language and s i are only some of the things that can cause problems. (questions de sécurité) "A lot of immigrants and refugees when they come, they have a very idealized version of the United States from movies, magazines, the media And a lot of that is just not true. Generally, our country is very welcoming and very accepting of immigrants. But it can be a t environment to come into, with a lot of barriers." dûr What seems normal in one country might be illegal in another country. For example, men and woman have equal rights under the law in Finland and the U.S. One male student from Mali told the BBC, "It's quite amazing. In my country a woman should not go out without her husband or brother." There are laws about gender equality in many countries. These laws can be hard for new arrivals to understand. But that is not the only confusing thing about being in a different country. Some laws and rules are w d. You can learn about them before you arrive. But there are lots of (écrits) "unwritten rules," too. Unwritten rules are b that no one talks about, but that most people understand. People in a host (comportements) country might think their behavior is normal, while n might find it offensive or inappropriate. (nouveaux arrivants) Fogg said that these differences can make becoming part of a new culture seem impossible. "When people come to a new country, at first they re very excited... Shortly after that, there is reality that s i. America s not a perfect country." (s installe) But, after some time and a lot of work, most new arrivals begin to feel like they b, Fogg said. Also, it is important to know that not all differences are major. (appartiennent) Often there can be small differences between places that s a b and a language. A person from (partager une frontière) Canada might find people in the United States are less polite. L, Americans might find Canadians too reserved. (de la même manière)
page 5/5 Fogg and VOA worked together to create a list of five important issues any new arrival to the U.S. should know about. Be "o t." In some cultures, time is not a big issue. If you tell your friend to meet you at 2 p.m. and you (à l heure) arrive at 2:45 p.m., there is no problem. In the U.S., people feel that being on time is a sign of respect. If you are late by more than a few minutes, people will think you do not care. They will feel you are w their (perdre) time. They will take your l as an insult. Being on time is even more important in a professional or formal (retard) situation, such as a job interview or when you plan to see a doctor. Be sure you always "t." In many countries, after you eat at a restaurant, you only pay the amount (laisser un pourboire) shown on the b. But, in the U.S., people who work in restaurants and bars often earn a low h w. (addition) (tarif horaire) So, they try to provide excellent service, hoping the customer will give them a tip, meaning a little extra. Tips are extra money you pay above the cost of the meal. People in the U.S. tip between 15 percent and 20 percent of the bill. You also give tips to taxi drivers, hotel employees and the people who cut your hair. Be careful what you say. Any place you go there will be some things that are appropriate to talk about and some things that are not. Would you talk about how good you feel with a person who is very sick? Probably not. I a, many people in the U.S. can feel strongly about some t that people in other cultures (de plus) (sujets) have no problem discussing. Assuming that people have the same beliefs as you is a bad idea. In the past decade, people in the U.S. have become more open about discussing strong political and religious views. But it is still best to listen to people share their opinions first and then decide about sharing your own. Also, there are several topics you should avoid asking questions about: how much money a person makes and if they are married. But if a person offers this information, then there is no problem. Be aware of "personal space." Physical contact is the best way to show someone they are your friend or loved one in some cultures. Other cultures feel that showing affection in public is highly inappropriate. People in the U.S. fall somewhere in the middle on this issue. Two people usually do not kiss when saying Hello, unless they are family members or very close friends. S hands is the most common thing to do when (serrer) meeting someone. Also, people in the U.S. dislike it when s stand very near to them. (inconnus) Be polite for the situation. People in the U.S. define being polite in very special ways. For example, w i l involves a strong set of rules in this country. You must wait until the people in (faire la queue) front of you have done what they are waiting to do. When going through a door, the person behind you expects you to hold the door for them. Also, it is common for people you do not know to say some form of hello to you when passing you. But this does not always mean they are inviting you to stop and talk for a long time! Many times the person is just being friendly. If you don t say hello back to them they may think you are being unfriendly. You should examine the situation and think about what you want to do next.