How to Work Well in Canada

Key Point Focus

• Business culture
• Being open to new ideas
• Workplace values

First things first

The Oxford ESL Dictionary defines culture as "the customs, ideas, and civilization, etc. of a particular society or group of people."

Understanding business culture and communication patterns in the Canadian workplace can involve a steep learning curve for many new immigrants. Canada covers a large geographical area, and you may observe regional differences in some culture practices as you travel from place to place. Although there are federal and provincial regulations that provide laws and guidelines for working Canadians, each company will also have some of its own customs, practices, and workplace values. And just like Canada does, each workplace contains a mix of cultural practices.

Trying to observe and understand culture is like trying to observe and understand an iceberg. There are things that are easy to see on the surface. However, it is not so easy to understand and predict what is under the surface. Values are sets of beliefs about the way people should behave with one another. Sometimes these values are easy to see and other times they seem to be very challenging to understand.

Anyone who is either looking for a job or starting out in a new job will require some time to figure out the expectations, culture, and customs of any new or prospective workplace. Meeting new people and learning about a new workplace culture can be difficult.

The Snooze News

CONNIE: Good morning!This is Connie Sung, bring you "Here's to Your Health," a program about modern health issues. Today we've invited Dr. Ray Thorpe to talk to us about insomnia. Dr. Thorpe is the director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic. Welcome to the show!

DR. THORPE:Thanks, Connie. It's great to be here.

CONNIE: Your book Night Shift will be coming out soon. In it, you tell people to pay more attention to sleep disorders. What's the big deal about losing a little sleep?

DR. THORPE: I always tell people to think of the biggest industrial disaster that they've ever heard about. Usually it was caused at least in part by sleep deprivation. Then I ask them to think about what can happen if they drive when they're tired. Every year, up to 200,000 automobile accidents are caused by drowsy drivers.

CONNIE: Wow! That is a big problem.

DR. THORPE:And a costly one. We figure that fatigue costs businesses about $70 million a year.

CONNIE: That's astounding! But getting back to the personal level, if I come to your clinic, what would you advise to do?

DR. THORPE: First, I would find out about some of your habits. If you smoked or drink, I would tell you to stop.

CONNIE: Really? A lot of people have a drink to relax.

DR. THORPE: Bad idea. Both habits are not only bad for your general health, but they interfere with sleep.

CONNIE: What about the old-fashioned remedies like warm milk?


DR. THORPE: Actually, a lot of home remedies do make sense. We tell patients to have a high-carbohydrate snack like a banana before they go to bed. Warm milk helps, too. But I'd advise you not to eat a heavy meal before bed.CONNIE: My doctor told me to get more exercise, but when I run at night, I can't get to sleep.


DR. THORPE: It's true that if you exercise regularly, you'll sleep better. But we always tell patients not to exercise within three hours of bedtime.

CONNIE: My mother always said to get up and scrub the floor when I couldn't sleep.



DR. THORPE: That works. I advised one patient to balance his checkbook. He went right to sleep, just to escape from the task.

CONNIE: Suppose I try these remedies, and they don't help?


DR. THORPE: We often ask patients to spend a night at our sleep clinic. We have electronic equipment that permits us to monitor the patient through the night. In fact, if you're interested, we can invite you to come to the clinic for a night.

CONNIE: Maybe I should do that.

The Different Workplace Culture

       The different culture of workplace between China and Canada is very clear to observe. Although I have no Canada's work experience, I have collected some information from my friends or searching in Internet. In my idea, Canadian workplace emphasize personal ability. If you have good education, abundantly knowledge and enough experience, you could get a good job with an important position and would have a good future. But in China. the more important thing is weather some one's parents are high officer. Home background is more powerful than working hard.
        In Canadian workplace, You should do the right things. If you are right, you can insist on it. In China workplace, you should do things right. What is right? What can make leader to be satisfied is the best right.
        In Canadian workplace, It's forbidden to ask colleagues' salary. In China, The first talking topic after collecting the wage is "How much you got last month?"
        In Canadian workplace, Staffs and workers worked hard. When they finish their daily job, they usually go home. In China, the government officers are very relax. Many female officers play the game of "stealing vegetable" in morning, go shopping in lunch time and go to hotel to meet metres in afternoon. Many males officers go to restaurants directly after work closed time. They drink with bragging, complaining somebody or spreading gossips
       



ow.ly/3gZes;
ow.ly/3h11F

Writting in English --- Business Letter --- Practice

(You are going to to write a business letter to a decorating that recently painted your living room. You pick a light yellow colour, but the painters painted it a dark shade.
The company is ABC Decorating Inc, 126 Broadway, Toronto, M4C 3W2. You looked it up on the Internet and discovered that the president is John Collins.)



Business Letter


August 5th, 2010                                                                                             2022 Don mill
The ABC Decorating Inc, MR. John Collins, President,                Toronto, ON M3A 3Rd
126 Broadway.
Toronto ON M4C 3W2

RE: Incorrect Painting Colour


Dear Mr./Mrs. John Collins:


      I have painted my living room recently with your decorating company. I picked a light yellow colour but the painters painted it a darker shade.

      I bought the paint from Storm Derk on May 30th, 2010. The store was on Midland Ave. I chose the paint colour #345. The seller, named Peter said it was the right color as I wanted.

      I don't know why your company's painters painted my living room a darker shade? It wasn't the colour that we wanted. We all didn't like it at all.

      Here are the copies of the Merchandise's receipts. Picture 1 is paint model number of light yellow; Picture 2 is paint of colour  #345, and picture 3 is my living room's wall which your painters painted. I also enclosed of the copies of contract about decorating. In the contract, we made it clear what color we wanted. It was light yellow, eh?

       I want your company to have the painters to repaint my living room with the light yellow free, and pay for paint colour  #345. Or, you can make it in light yellow by someway yourself. Otherwise, I'd like to make compensation for it. I expect compensation on inconvenience.

        I look forward to your reply and solving my problem. I'll wait until August 30th, 2010. before asking for help from the BBB or SCC.

        Please contact me at the address above.



Yours Sincerely

Cherokee Liu
416-854-7466

Declining an Invitation to a Field Trip -- History Buffs

Connoisseurs
A: What's up?
B: Nothing much,what's going on?
A: I'm going on a field trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario this Thursday.
B: Oh,really? That's nice.
A: I wanted to see if you wanted to come.
B: This Thursday? Sorry, I already have plans.
A: Doing what?
B: I've been called up by the Canada Revenue Agency with my family.
A: I really wanted you to come, but I understand.
B: Yeah, maybe next time.
A: I'll hold you to that.
B: Sounds like a plan.

Skiers
A: Hey, what's good with you?
B: Not a lot. What about you?
A: I am getting a lesson at Earl Bales Ski and snowboard Centre on Thursday.
B: That sounds like fun.
A: Do you thank you can come?
B: I am sorry. I am already doing something this Thursday.
A: What are you going to be doing?
B: My family and I are going to our dental hygienist.
A: I was hoping you would come.
B: I'll definitely try to make it the next time.
A: I'd better see you there.
B: All right. I'll see you next time.

History Buffs
A: What's going on?
B: Nothing really. How about you?
A: A lot, like the visit to a Remembrance Day Service I'm attending on Thursday.
B: Well, that's cool.
A: Will you be able to make it?
B: I'm busy this Thursday. I'm sorry.
A: What do you have to do?
B: I'm having my first colonoscopy, and I need to bid my family farewell.
A: Maybe you can come next time.
B: Hope so! I'll make sure and come to your next field trip.
A: I'll look for you at my next field trip
B: I'll be there.

Discussing Test Results

1.
A: Hi, I was wondering if I could get my test result from the other day.
B: Yes, I would like to schedule an appointment for you to come in and talk with me.
A: Is something wrong with me?
B: No, sometimes the test results aren't clear and we need to do more to get a clearer picture.
A: Can we talk about it now?
B: I would if I knew anything for sure, but I want to take a second look.
A: When can I come and see you?
B: You can come in this afternoon. If you would feel better, bring your husband with you.
A: Now I know that something bad is up!
B: Just relax, we will talk about it this afternoon.

2.
A: Hello, the nurse said that you might have my test results in from the other day.
B: I would like for you to come in and talk about a few more tests that I would like to run.
A: Does this mean that you have bad news for me?
B: I just want to talk to you about the tests that I want to run.
A: Can't you just tell me now?
B: I don't know anything for certain. We always do a double check if there is a question.

A: I want to see you right away.
B: You can come in this afternoon. If you are feeling too stressed, feel free to bring a friend along.
A: Uh oh, I know for sure that something is wrong!
B: Don't worry about a thing; we are just taking a second look and talking.

3.
A: Hi, the lab said that you would be getting my test results in today.
B: I want you to come in and discuss some further tests that I would like to run.
A: I think that this is a bad sign.
B: For now, I would like to run a few more test to look into some of the problems that you mentioned.
A: Why wouldn't you tell me over the phone?
B: If there is any question about test results, we always do a recheck.
A: I need to come in right away.
B: I would be happy to see you this afternoon. If you're feeling upset, please bring a friend or relative along.
A: O no, you're scaring me!
B: Come on in this afternoon and we will talk. It will be fine!A:B:







A:B:A:B:A:B:A:B:A:B:A:B:A:B:A:B:
 
cancerous: go to cancer
malignant: bad,worst
benign: good, nice
carcinogenic: mental led to cancer
chemotherapy: ray cure
geneany pig: object which was done experiment

Cover Letter

Sept. 28, 2010
Mr./Mrs. Hiring Manager
Wire Incorpaseted
123 Finch Ave W. Toronto
ON M3A 3R6

Dear Mr./Ms. Hiring Manager.

Please, accept my application for the position of client service representative at your company. I was excited to learn of this opportunity and would very much like to be considered for the position.

This position will give me the opportunity to use my experience gained as an assistant manager, and later as manager in two different retail settings. In these position, I was responsible for all areas of customer relations. Including staff scheduling, training and supervision as well as sales generation and reporting. My additional experience includes working in supermarket management.

I respond to client-initiated contacts, delivering fast and efficient service, assisting with financial translations. It is very easy for me to resolve the problem at first point to contact where possible.

Other skills that make me uniquely qualified for this job include excellent strong organizational skills, team-player, friendly, out going personality, relationship-building skills, retain knowledge about the feature and benefits of wide range and information seeking skills. My references from previous positions speak to these qualities.

I am confident my skills and experience would be an asset to your organization. For your convenience, I have attached a resume to this applications. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely
Leo