1. Prestige
As being informed in mass media or some opinion that working with expatriates would be a new prestige. I am not sure with that opinion, first, but when we share with people on the street, they would think it's more precious if have opportunity join in big company and could use English as our daily conversation. I do not agree completely with above idea but having opportunity improving our capabilities in any task would be a challenging than speak up in English.
2. Capability
By working with them, my capabilities in English becomes increase incrementally, that's a consequence only. As matter of fact, I do not have background in English literature. But I remind one sentence - take it or leave it. Thus, we take opportunity with any impact inside. First one, I have to learn about our self in learning process. Why ? I have to compete with another who has English background. This is my action, we offering directly to the expatriates in typing his MOM. What is that ? it's minutes of meeting which is issued per week. Even though easier to type the MOM, but reading expatriates handwritten need effort too. (ha..3x gedubrax). Hard enough to read it as the handwritten truly badly and make me mad. But after conquering this case, my capabilities would arise, apparently.
3. Mix cultures
Using English as our tool of communication day by day make me have a wider perspective. Why ? finally we gotta know that not only language which is influenced to me but also some cultures. Ehm, usually we have a negative point of view due this case. Really, Yeah, when we type some comment do this case in this blog, get a response such like that. We gotta laugh and just think that the writer has no experience yet with expatriates, thus having opinion like that. Love to distinguish but never face it by herself/himself, it seem improper manner.
One thing, what we learn from above experience, we try to appreciate and respect to another due different tribes, language and education. We love it coz finally we really knew another culture from other region and countries and try to not count anything with our values. But we realized that there's any differences and we love it all. As comparative, a book written by Berit Renzer - Kamu Indonesia Banget Kalau ...., could be a reference in understanding our mindset as being viewed by expatriates. Indonesian habits. She's Estonian close to Finland, and luckily we ever worked with them as their name seem funny enough for my ears. Sorjonen, Karkinen, and others. And, we get influence by speaking word....berkele....it is use for something wrong with it.
4. Never being taught
When we learn English, we think that somebody would have helped us in facing obstacles. I am not sure with this. But having known better due our self (emotion and others) would be a benefit in learning this language. Why ? when we have communication with expatriates and get stag due forgetting one word to expose our idea, the expats never help to correct it. As you see, we have different culture and habits, thus they only give a code by gesture or expression for changing the topics.
I though have some knowledge due psychology would be a nice point. This is what I mean, not learning psychology but have known the application ones. Thus learning English would have better if we know the reason and what's our target. Having passion is not enough yet but having a target would be a guideline for us to achieved it. Thus we will recognize any obstacles, mistakes, difficulties, discrepancies - feel happily facing it as these only a test only. We keep on mind with the target we need to achieved. Cheers. Hmm ....similar with Lenka song ... give us a spirit.
Mochtar Bungkus
Regards,
