HOW TO SPEAK IN CANADA
Speaking Quiz
Check your answers below.
1. Easy Question:
All topics are appropriate for conversations in Canada.
a) True b) False
2. Easy Question:
If you are shy, people in Canada will respect you.
a) True b) False
3. More Difficult:
Canadians are usually very tactful and will not tell you why they don’t want to speak to you.
a) True b) False
4. More Difficult:
‘Active Listening’ is an important part of speaking in Canadian culture.
a) True b) False
5. Difficult:
Preparing for important conversations (doctor’s appointments, visits to a bank, job interviews, etc.) is something even native speakers do.
a) True b) False
6. Difficult:
Most conversations follow a pattern.
a) True b) False
Check your answers below.
How to Speak English in Canada
To speak English in Canada, you need to know what topics are considered appropriate for conversation in Canada, how to speak politely and how to make use of conversation management techniques. It is also really important to know how to use Body Language acceptable in Canadian culture.
Take Initiative
People in Canada will respect you when you are active, when you take initiative, start conversations and express your opinions. In this culture, you need to have your opinion and know how to express it. However, you must know how to express your opinion politely. Some people are shy and so they speak very little. Shy is a bad thing in Canada! Humility – being humble – is not helpful in Canada. Shy is considered a problem. Self-confidence is a good quality. Confident people get good jobs.
Know when to Speak
When you start a conversation, you need to watch a person’s reaction. If they are smiling, looking you in the eye and giving longer answers, that means they want to continue the conversation. If they give short answers, look away or turn their body sideways, that means they don’t want to talk to you. Many people in Canada have very busy schedules and have little time to talk – respect their time. The best conversation partners are seniors because they are retired and have a lot of time.
Be Careful with Conversation Topics
In Canada, not all topics are good for conversation. There are many things that you cannot ask because they are considered too personal, for example you cannot ask a person’s age, if they are married or not, do they have children and why. Money and health are considered very personal topics and are only discussed with close friends. If you start asking those questions, people may not want to talk to you. To learn more about what questions not to ask and what topics not to discuss, learn about “What Canadians Talk about”.
Use Canadian Body Language
Body language is 70% of successful communication. In Canada, if you stand too close to a person – closer than 45 centimeters – you are in their intimate zone. Intimate zone is only for close friends and family members. Some people will not want to talk to you if you stand too close. Also, if you touch people, they may feel uncomfortable and try to end the conversation. Click the link to learn more about Body Language in Canada.
Most Canadians are very tactful and polite. Unfortunately, they will not tell you why they don’t want to talk to you. Be careful how close you stand to people, be careful not to touch them. Also, do not wear perfume – many people have allergies.
Speak Clearly
Learn to speak clearly. It is better to speak slowly. When you have accent and speak fast, nobody can understand you. Remember: highly educated English speakers actually speak slower. To improve your pronunciation, use a good dictionary (for example www.thefreedictionary.com) that allows you to listen to the sound of every new word. When you listen to the sound, repeat it several times. If people cannot understand your pronunciation, they will not want to talk to you. When speaking, open your mouthy and articulate. In some cultures it’s not polite to open your mouth, but in English in Canada it is perfectly okay. Move your lips and do not cover your mouth. Never chew gum when speaking.
To practice your speaking, find a video with subtitles that shows a good Canadian English speaker. Watch several times – notice how slow they speak, notice the pauses, notice the intonation. Watch again and read at the same time – you need to read out loud with the same speed, the same pauses, the same intonation. Copy their speech with your voice – mimic it as closely as possible.
Use Active Listening
‘Active Listening’ is an important part of speaking in Canadian culture. It is not polite to keep silent – you need to say small words like “Really, Yeah, Right, etc.” and ask appropriate questions. Also, remember that you must make eye contact when speaking and listening – Canadians listen with their eyes. If you are not looking, it means you are not listening.
Use Conversation Management Strategies
To be successful in a conversation, you need to learn conversation management techniques. You need to know how to repair breakdowns in a conversation. Do not keep silent. You need to repeat the words you understand (for example “Thursday, okay, yeah, yeah”). You also need to repeat the words that you don’t understand, but with a different voice – with the question intonation (for example “Supplement? Sorry, what does it mean?”)
Remember to smile, be friendly, polite and positive – when you are nice, people are usually nice to you in response. Begging or pushing (insisting) can make some people angry.
Prepare for your Conversations
Native speakers of English prepare for important conversations such as job interviews, for doctor’s appointments, for a conversation at the bank, for a conversation with the child’s school teacher, etc. When English is not your first language, you need to prepare more – sit down and write in English everything you want to say to your doctor (for example your symptoms). If there are some words you don’t know, you need to check them in the dictionary, including pronunciation.
English speakers talk in patterns – most conversations are typical and use the same sentences. When you learn a correct sentence for the situation, practice it and memorize it. Repeat it several times before you go for your appointment.
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