Entry #5 - Cultural Encounters

In your fifth blog entry:

You have now been in your internship for at least 12 hours. Use your journal and think back on all the time you've spent at your host organization so far. 

Make cultural observations and ask the people in your internship about anglophone culture. Then compare the anglophone experience with Quebecois culture.

• What cultural objects are displayed in the host organization? (Religious symbols? Flags? Paintings? Posters? Sculptures? Advertisements?)

• Do you hear music played during your internship? If so, what kind? Do people listen to radio? Ask them which stations they listen to.

• Do you see newspapers, flyers or pamphlets lying around? Ask the people in your internship what newspapers, books and magazines they read? 

• Ask people how they feel about different holidays: St. Jean Baptiste vs. Canada Day, Do they celebrate Thanksgiving, Easter, etc? Or other holidays? What do they do to celebrate?

• For those who celebrate Christmas (don't assume that everyone does) ask about their celebration. Do they go to midnight mass? Do they open presents on the 24th or 25th? What special dishes do they prepare? What is the connection to religion for them? 

• Describe other cultures you have been exposed to in your internship. What have you learned? What has surprised you?

Describe the types of English you have been exposed to

• Have you heard any slang, expressions or informal language?

• Have you done any reading or writing in your internship?

• Have you had the opportunity to use your 5 idioms from our class notes?

Rewards and challenges

• What has been the most difficult aspect of the internship for you so far?

• What has been the best part about the internship?

If you are in English 100/101, you should write 150 - 200 words

If you are in English 102/103, you should write 300 words