New Environment, New Personality
When I decided to go on my not so epic adventure, I had implanted the idea of improving my facilitation skills. The main purpose of facilitation is to guide and direct key parts to improve organizations ability to move through agendas and meet their goals effectively. What better way to improve that skill than to be English as a Second Language instructor in a foreign country.
My idea was if I could help the students reach their goal of seeing increased improvement in their grasp of the English language then I am well on my way to improving that facilitation skill. I drew some parallels of teaching English in a foreign country with international development work. Often times when people go into development work, they believe that they are going to make an immediate impact on the lives of everyone in the area they are going to. This is often the same case when it comes to people that are going to a foreign country where English is not the native language; people believe they will get everyone to speak English right away. Eureka! I have found a connection with teaching English and international development.
There are other connections as well; this opportunity would help me to learn more about how people interact within a different culture. Being in a new country provides the opportunity to learn about the different cultural relations within that society. Based on my observations, young adults in a new environment look to change their personality or to show a new personality that is different from their previous environment. Some look to be more assertive in front of their new peers in order to establish a sense of outward confidence. Some actively seek to be included into groups in order to feel a sense of inclusion with their new environment. Others actively seek to go out of their comfort zone. They want to be different, a different or improved version of their current self. There’s also a change in their style of speaking, perhaps as a way to convey that change.
When it comes to young adults interacting in a new work environment and in a different country, there is a significant change in their personality. The initial change in their personality and the way they interact in the work environment is for them to either to be viewed as a serious work oriented individual or as a laid back personality. The laid back personality is often used to connect into social settings out of work environment. This could be viewed as trying to be engaged with coworkers or the community. This allows for the opportunity to experience the local lifestyle and to engage actively to learn about one’s own ability to cope with cultural differences.
The reason why I mention the change in personalities in a different environment or in a different country is because when adversity hits, they tend to go revert to their old personalities. Based on observations, often time’s people try to show their new personalities right away in a new environment instead of taking the time to learn and observe their new environment. Gradually adding a new perspective of their new personality would allow for improved engagement throughout their environment. This will be viewed as a sign of growth and maturity. My role as a facilitator is to allow the young adults to feel comfortable in order for them to effectively reach their goals of learning more about their environment and how they interact within it.
Some fully embrace the new cultural environment they are in and make it part of their personality. They gravitate towards that culture; pick up certain habits that allow them to feel they can have a connection with the local population. Some fully reject having any connection with their new environment and are perfectly content on just being there. There has to be a balance and a willingness to engage with a new environment especially in a different country.