Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Imagine that you’ve moved to another country. You feel very excited to be out of your comfort zone. There’s a new language to learn, new things to see, and a new culture to embrace. It’s intense, but it’s great! Or is it? Maybe, you feel really homesick. Perhaps, you think that you don’t have an ear for languages. Would you go home? Would you tough it out? Or would you live in the expat bubble?
An expat is a person who is working or living in a foreign country. Some expats get over their culture shock. Then, they happily immerse themselves in the local language and culture. Other expats can’t get over their culture shock. It’s just too difficult to adjust to a new language and culture. Often, these expats live in the expat bubble. To live in the expat bubble means to spend time only with other expats, only speaking your native language, only eating foods from home.
Andy’s friend is living in the expat bubble. Listen to this English lesson to get some good advice on how to leave the expat bubble.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Andy_H: So, I have this one friend, she got an awesome job in Malaysia…
Marni: Oh, wow!
Andy_H: And I feel a little bit bad for her. She’s been talking about relocating. I really hope that she can adjust.
Marni: Is she homesick?
Andy_H: She is very homesick, and also, she doesn’t have an ear for the language. The culture shock is pretty intense. She said that she couldn’t get over the fact that all the food that she’s eating has a face on it. For two weeks, she only ate vegetarian.
Marni: Well, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I think it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and to travel abroad… expands your horizons.
Andy_H: She’s gotten herself caught in the expat bubble.
Marni: There’s different stages. I think if she can tough it out, she might get past the culture shock and just embrace the unknown… try new things and new experiences.
Andy_H: Expat bubbles are not necessarily the way to go. If you want to be a part of the culture, immerse yourself in it. You have something to learn every corner of this Earth.
Marni: I agree. Well, good luck to your friend.
Andy_H: Thank you. I’ll tell her that.
Grammar Point
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Discussion
Andy’s friend is a homesick expat. She moved to Malaysia for work, but she’s feeling very unhappy there. Living in Malaysia is way out of her comfort zone. The food is strange, the language is different, and the culture shock is intense. She wants to immerse herself in her old culture and language. She told Andy that she might move back home soon.
Andy tells Marni about his friend’s problems. Marni thinks his friend should stay in Malaysia a little longer. Sometimes, it’s good to tough it out. After a while, his friend will probably get over her culture shock and adjust to life in a new country. Andy agrees. If his friend leaves her expat bubble, she will find many wonderful things to embrace about Malaysia.
Have you ever been out of your comfort zone? Did you tough it out, or was it impossible to adjust?