ExPat Positive
All sessions are conducted virtually, via Zoom (see Client Services Contract for rates and other details).
I am available to meet in person or virtually with any professionals with whom you may have already established a relationship.
The services outlined below have been developed to enhance cultural competency skills for those of you who want to explore and thrive in new cultural contexts.
ExPat Positive services have been designed for individuals in the following situations:
1) Expatriating to the USA or another English-speaking destination - and whose native language is not English (see ESL/EFL PRONUNCIATION services below under “English-speaking destinations”);
2) Expatriating from the USA to another country – wanting to explore living and working in a new country, either for a long-term, undecided period - or just for a brief experience as a so-called Digital Nomad (DN) worker.
DN communities are sprouting up all over the world and they represent a “work anywhere” movement where individuals have a range of job options that do not require an office or traditional 9-5 context. These new nomad communities are particularly open-minded and appreciative of diversity.
Background Information
Perhaps my most gratifying work to date has been as high-school liaison for AFS, an international organization whose 75-year mission has been to facilitate global citizenship. As AFS liaison, I assisted students with their transitioning to the country and culture that was markedly different from the one they decided to live and study in for a short time. My decades of experience in this liaison role informed the services outlined below.
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Pre-departure considerations
Non-English-speaking Destinations
1) How can I connect to the local population in meaningful ways? (for mother tongue English speaking individuals)
2) How can I gain survival skills in a language other than English without spending a lot of money taking language classes?
3) How can I gain sufficient foundational knowledge of the culture in which I will be living, e.g., habits surrounding work, play, food, etc.?
English-speaking Destinations:
1) If I am monolingual in a language other than English, how can I improve my basic English skills to help me connect to my English-speaking local population?
2) ESL/EFL Pronunciation Exercises
To succeed personally and professionally, people need to appreciate who you are and what you are saying.
If you are new to the USA or another English-language host country – I can assist with creating personalized exercises that make you feel more at ease with English pronunciation and facilitate understanding.
Examples:
Rhythm exercises that help you practice the musicality of your newly adopted language
Pronunciation exercises that help you articulate better and speak more clearly
Breathing exercises and other techniques that can help you adopt a more expressive vocal tone
Don’t let your self-consciousness about your accent keep you from feeling confident about meeting new people. Call today for free Zoom encounter.
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Post-arrival
1) How can I connect with locals and minimize isolation?
2) How can I contribute positively to the local culture?
3) How can I improve my conversational language skills to enable me to connect with the local population?
4) How can I find social activities?
5) How do I set reasonable productivity goals, especially if I have attentional and executive function challenges?
6) How do I find social activities?