A MIX OF CULTURES AT THE ASLLC
B y G a r e t h S i u C H E C K O U T W H A T I T I S T H A T M A K E S T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L T U T O R S S O S P E C I A L . G A R E T H O R I G I N A L L Y W R O T E T H E F O L L O W I N G A R T I C L E F O R T H E F H M N E W S L E T T E R .
Here at the ASLLC we celebrate cultural diversity every day . We have a team of International Tutors whose role is to improve the English of the students and increase their exposure to overseas cultures . There are eight of us from six different countries , namely the UK , the USA , Ukraine , Colombia , France , and Canada . Between all of us , we can speak English , French , Ukrainian , Russian , Portuguese , and Spanish , as well as a smattering of Cantonese and Mandarin . For some of us , this is also not our first time to live abroad ; we ’ ve also lived in Portugal , Australia , Taiwan , France , Canada , and Costa Rica . Additionally , there are also many local staff that we work with .
Despite our varied backgrounds and languages , we all have the same goals and are able to work together effectively as global citizens . I feel that the expression ‘ strength in diversity ’ sums up pretty well the way in which we work . As a team we bring together a plethora of ideas , which can form a strong foundation for how we approach our work . We also have various ways of expressing ourselves and yet seamlessly cooperate in harmony . We certainly learn a lot about each other ’ s countries along the way . To help to build the sense of bonding across cultures , we celebrate birthdays together and we have even had a teambuilding day at a trampoline park .
We offer workshops which are both academic and cultural . These are great opportunities for us to share our cultures with students . Workshop titles have included ‘ The British ’, ‘ Intro to South American Music ’, ‘ French Art and Fashion ’,
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