International Employee Orientation

As the number of international workers has increased in Hampton Roads, so has the need to quickly and economically orient these workers to American expectations.
To meet this need, PEI has designed a special course for international employees who have little experience living and working in the U.S. By completing the course, employees will gain the insights needed to work successfully with American customers and colleagues.
The length and content of the course is customized to meet the specific needs of the organization and employees. Common topics include:

American Culture:

• Basic values and beliefs (why Americans think and act as they do)
• Survival skills (driving, shopping, emergency situations, etc.)
• Social norms (when visiting a home, going to a restaurant, etc.)
• Inappropriate statements and conversation topics
• Business expectations (for greetings, meetings, supervisor/employee relations, etc.)
• Americans' understanding of other countries
• Comparing American social and business customs to other countries' customs

American Communication:

• Body language (conscious and subconscious physical signals)
• Vocal quality insights (use of silence, volume and intonation changes, and pacing)
• Idiomatic expressions and slang
• Email and letter writing norms
• Content and organization of presentations
• Formal vs. informal styles (including the use of humor)
• Direct vs. indirect communication (and politeness issues)
• American dialects (pronunciation and vocabulary differences)

Professional English also provides individual and small group coaching to improve the following English skills: pronunciation, listening, grammar, writing, reading, vocabulary development, and presentation skills. This focused English coaching allows individuals to increase the proficiency of their work-related speaking and writing skills.