Yes, of course! All the students in my classes work for multinational companies and are in constant contact with people from other countries. The cultural component is always present in my Spanish classes. Let me share an anecdote: a student from Brazil, in one of her first classes, mentioned that she didn’t understand why her boss from Argentina scheduled meetings during lunchtime. Immediately, I asked her what time her boss scheduled these meetings. The answer was clear: “Between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.” Did you know that in Argentina, lunch generally starts at 1 p.m.? People usually don’t have lunch, with some exceptions, before that time, whereas in Brazil, lunch is around noon. So, the boss wasn’t inconsiderate; there was just an unfamiliar cultural difference. Not only is our language different, but our customs are as well. Language classes are much more than just grammar lessons; they help us break down barriers and achieve effective communication. Organizations working in multicultural environments must strive to integrate their teams. Defining a corporate language strategy, tailored to the reality of each organization, is crucial for this integration, for promoting successful mobility, avoiding failures, and ensuring effective communication. Language classes should be a tool that fosters intercultural sensitivity and ensures effective internal communication in multicultural organizations.
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