Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by nomadiccoder 1322 days ago
I felt this way at some point when I worked at LANL. I specifically remember a training module that said it was not inclusive or respectful to require or insist that coworkers speak a specific language unless it impacted your job function. After all, they dont 'owe' you anything to make you feel comfortable in social settings. And even if they are talking about your project that doesnt mean they need your input..

On the other hand, when I worked at a small German startup our CEO would constantly remind our team to 'speak English for nc!' -- but usually only when he wanted to make sure I was aware, bolster their own skills to continue to expand internationally or when he thought I might be able to contribute. I appreciated that it did also make me feel awkward when I could tell that speaking English made it more challenging for them to convey ideas effectively.

I recommend Pimsleur language classes to get started and meet them in the middle.

1 comments

How long ago was that?