Inter-cultural Miscommunication

Culture is a collection of symbols that represent a certain community. Language is one of the cultural symbols. When I first came to Singapore, I had difficulties understanding what the locals said. The following experience is quite unique to me.

One day I was out in the street alone and looking for the bus No. 3 to get back home. While being lost and knowing barely anything about my whereabouts, I asked a man who just walked pass by. He said, “Oh, tree ah. Okie, you just go straight from here, and you will see tree lah. ” While being befuddled, I tried to visualize based on what I heard. Trees! That was all I could think of. What did the bus stop do with trees? “Oh maybe the bus stop is beside a tree. How humourous Singaporeans are!” I thought. So for the following one hour under the sun, I was frantically looking for a tree. I indeed found every single visibly tall tree in the area. However out of dismay, I didn’t see the bus no. 3 near any trees that I found. In the end, I was fortunate enough to be sent back home by a passenger.

Not until I shared my experience with my school teachers did my confusion over the “tree” event disappeared. I began to realise that besides British English, American English and Chinglish, there is one more type of English; that is the Singlish. Then I finally understood why miscommunication arose that day. “Three” and “tree” are pronounced in the same way in Singlish. The man who helped me that day actually meant “three” by saying “tree”.

From my own personal experience, I have learnt that we should never make assumptions when we are on a foreign land. Just like “tree” carries two different meanings in Singapore, things may be said or done in an entirely different manner in places that we are unfamiliar with. It is always helpful if we have done sufficient research on cultural difference besides geographical information before visiting a foreign country. This will definitely aid in our understanding of a new culture greatly. And miscommunication due to cultural difference could be curtailed as well.

Application Letter Draft 2

Internships at Shell Singapore

The most successful problem solvers look at things differently and see solutions no one else can. Who would have thought to use fish protein to stop gas freezing in subsea pipes? One of our people did. And right now we’re looking for more people who can bring a fresh perspective to the energy challenge. We’ll provide training, support and career choices to develop your potential. We’ll get you working with some of our most accomplished problem solvers. And together we can help build a responsible energy future. Think further.

Shell Internships are a win-win opportunity: you develop your skills and discover what we offer as an employer while we get the chance to see if you’ve got what it takes to be part of Shell.

Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd will be offering assessed internships, which will be conducted from January to June 2011 and July and December 2011 for students with Engineering backgrounds currently in their penultimate year. An internship will give you first-hand experience of Shell as an employer – and exposure to a range of real-life business projects. The projects provide well defined, business relevant and challenging deliverables, allowing students to independently manage their own area of responsibility whilst receiving management support and giving them sufficient exposure to the Shell environment.

My Application Letter

Long Xiaoxing

37 Prince George’s Park

Singapore 118430

H/P: 81877303

1 September 2010

Mr. Tan Been Soon

Human Resource Manager

Shell Singapore

56 Buona Vista Drive

Singapore 546783

Dear Mr. Tan,

Undergraduate Student Internship at Shell Singapore

I am currently a second year Chemical Engineering student at National University of Singapore. I am very interested in the student internship programme at Shell Singapore, a premier energy provision company. The internship programmes was advertised on the school career centre notice board on 26 August 2010.

With more than ten years of rigorous training in sciences and mathematics, I can offer your company a broad skill set with an emphasis on analytical thinking and problem solving. As you will see from the enclosed resume, my active involvement in numerous academic and co-curriculum activities has helped to further sharpen my critical and analytical thinking skills, which, I believe, will be great assets to Shell Singapore.

I understand that one of Shell’s strategic initiatives is to solve the current energy crisis. My interest and understanding of the current energy use can provide valuable insight in pursuing this initiative. Being highly responsible and committed, I am very adaptable to various working environments.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to explore how I may bring added value to Shell’s effort in solving the energy crisis. I am available for interview scheduled at your convenience on any day from 10 September 2010 onwards. Please feel free to contact me at 81877303 should there is anything to clarify. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Long Xiaoxing