Page 36 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

Chapter 4

Avoid Saying

“In My Country, We . . .”

Americans have become curious about and interested in people from
other countries and their customs. Therefore, in conversations you
have, they will ask you about what you do and how you do it in your
country. Those conversations will be enlightening for them and for
you.
However, when you are learning about how to perform your work
and time is of the essence; observe, listen, and learn rather than say,
“In my country, we . . .” or “This is how we do it in my country . . .” First,
concentrate on what you are being told, shown, and taught; then ask
all the questions you may have. Do not presume to correct the sys-
tems or processes before you learn them. You may have done things
differently and, perhaps, even better in your country. Nevertheless,
now, you are in the United States, and although your past experience
may be most helpful and you certainly will use it, your first step is to
learn the current method. Then, you might want to share suggestions
based on your experience.
Your coworkers, no doubt, will benefit from your ideas and your
example and may incorporate how you perform a task into their
thinking with great success. They may find your outside-the-box

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