How Intercultural Are You?

1. British people have a reputation for not being able to speak foreign languages. What are your thoughts on this?

Everyone speaks English – there’s no need to speak anything else

Ideally, we should all be able to speak English and at least one other language

English is important, but we should probably make more of an effort to learn other languages

2.

Do you enjoy eating food from other cultures?

That’s easy for me – I love all kinds of national cuisine

I’m a fish and chips, meat and two veg sort of person

It depends on the food

3. In Japanese culture, 'Shinto' is:

The Japanese name for a ‘god’

An ancient religion

A popular food

4.

You move with your family to France for six months. Would you send your two young children to:

A local school, in order to immerse them in the local culture and language?

A nearby international school, where they could carry on their education in English?

A boarding school in England?

5. 'People in Norfolk do things different' goes an old Norfolk saying. Is this because:

Norfolk is quite close to Holland?

Norfolk is out of the way and has developed its own ways of doing things?

Norwich and the region have a centuries-old tradition of welcoming strangers and learning new ways from them?

6. The England football team manager's job has just come up. Who is your ideal candidate?

A native English-speaking manager with no track record

An Italian manager with limited English and a very good track record

A Dutch manager with good English and moderate success

7. You are on holiday in a foreign country. Do you:

Try to integrate yourself with local people by following their daily customs and speaking their language if you know it

Get a room in a nice hotel and enjoy the weather and the pool. Aren’t holidays meant to be relaxing?

Try and visit most of the tourist places. You love to discover new sights.

8. You have just been promoted to a new job in the Chinese branch of the company you work for. What is the first thing you would do to prepare for your new role?

Get a guide book to China

Learn how to conduct yourself in a Chinese business environment

Find out if you get a company flat

9. You have been invited to an Indian friend's Hindu wedding, and you have been asked to wear traditional Indian dress. Do you feel:

A little apprehensive, but you would do as requested?

Uncomfortable, and ask to choose your own traditional wedding clothes?

Excited by the opportunity to fully embrace your friend’s cultural traditions?

10. You have won the Norwich City of Interculture prize draw of a 3-month language course at the UEA. What is your reaction?

Not bothered; is there a cash voucher?

Thrilled to bits! What an opportunity to brush up my language skills!

I hadn’t been planning to learn a language, but now that you mention it...