Anan Ameri: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Miguelina Quiñones: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Raúl Alvarez: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Nadia El-Zein Tonova: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

David Alicea: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
2:23 a runaway (... in the ghetto) a person (usually young) who runs away from home (and lands in a dangerous or undesirable neighborhood of the city
3:00 hacking it out getting by, surviving but not living well
4:25 foster homes family homes that offer to take in children who have no home; paid money by the government
4:55 rebelious not cooperating, acting out, behaving in a difficult way
11:27 a traunt a child who is absent from school
13:12 off my back stop bothering me
14:30 United Church of Christ a progressive U.S. Protestant Christian denomination
14:40 not God-forsaken (...but warmth-forsaken) not totally unwelcoming but not very warm
15:00 Nueva Vida Spanish name for “new life”
15:05 innovative doing things in creative and new ways
15:15 LGBT lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender
16:38 come out (of the closet) become public about one’s (LGBT) sexuality
17:10 shunned by their religion avoided (or thrown out) by their church or other religious group
20:00 charismatic lively, active form of Christian worship practice (often including dancing, loud singing, many hand/arm gestures)
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Graci Harkema: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:06 almost didn't make it almost died
1:12 biological mother birth mother, natural mother (as opposed to adoptive mother)
1:42 given 12-24 hours to live medically assessed would die in 12-24 hours
2:11 take up a crib occupy a crib (that could be used for a healthy baby)
3:24 had a peace about him was very calm
7:51 racial slurs rude remarks based on a person’s race
8:20 rude awakening very difficult realization
10:27 BL2END Business Leaders Linked to Encourage New Directions
13:42 off the dole no longer receiving free food and housing
14:59 come full circle having the story come back around to where it begins
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Yuki Takahashi: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
3:00 a rocket scientist a general expression for any kind of very smart person
5:12 cosmology study of the origin and development of the universe
6:12 NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
9:43 National Honor Society student organization for very good students (membership by invitation only)
9:50 black hole place in space with a gravitational pull so strong that neither matter nor radiation can escape it
11:20 cosmonaut Russian version of astronaut
12:09 Atacama Desert desert plateau of the Andes Mts. (across parts of Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina)
13:20 Palmer Station U.S. research station in Antarctica
14:39 surreal strange, bizarre, weird, unreal
14:59 misconception misunderstanding
15:22 capoeira Brazilian martial art form
16:35 EMS emergency medical service
16:56 Midway Atoll U.S. islands halfway between Hawaii and Japan
17:15 displaced habitats places to live that were lost or removed
17:40 eradicating predators getting rid of animals that kill [the ducks]
18:45 McMurdo Station U.S. research center based in Antarctica
19:47 SpaceX space travel company started by Elon Musk
20:17 Virgin Galactic commercial spaceflight company started by Richard Branson
22:35 Mahalo Hawaiian for "thank you"
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Mariano Ávila and Michael Walenta: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:39 Aztec and Zapotec blood persons of central and southern Mexican descent
1:48 Catalan, Basque, Castilian, Galician blood persons of Iberian descent (Spain)
1:56 Mestizos persons of mixed European and Amerindian descent
2:20 Th.M. Degree master’s degree in theology
2:49 boots on the ground actual people in the area who do the job
4:28 top, middle, or third teir top, middle, or third level
5:21 panhandling asking other people on the street for money
5:56 ergo therefore
7:11 cracks to fall through places where gaps in the system don’t protect people
8:03 disparities inequalities, different levels of outcomes
8:37 sex trafficking forcing people to earn money by performing sex acts
8:53 infant mortality the death of children under the age of one year
9:25 systematic racism unequal outcomes caused by racial discrimination across a whole system (not just by an individual)
10:12 gonorrhea and chlamydia two sexually transmitted diseases
10:31 an STD sexually transmitted disease
10:39 abstinence avoiding sexual activity
14:54 trajectory arc, pathway to travel
15:19 wonky strange, unusual
15:39 H-1B Visa special “high-skill” visa to enter the U.S.
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Theresa Tran: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:43 made it here arrived here
3:07 French Colonialists France imposed colonial cominion over Vietnam from 1887-1954
4:40 Asian and Pacific Islander American the larger grouping of Americans whose roots are from either the Asian continent or the Pacific Island
5:24 racial demographics populations categorized by race
6:30 vote absentee receive a ballot in the mail, fill it out at home, and mail it back
7:01 jurisdiction official area of legal control
7:11 poll workers volunteers who stagg the voting places on election day
7:42 burgeoning growing rapidly, flourishing
7:47 threshold minimum limit
8:58 ballot initiatives yes-or-no ballot proposals about issues (rather than candidates) like school funding, taxation, zoning, etc.
10:07 become naturalized become American citizens
10:47 intimidation efforts to scare people
12:20 campus liaisons people who serve as connections at colleges
15:25 spoiled ballots ballots that are marked improperly and will not be counted
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Jake Beniflah: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
0:20 squishy being soft, yielding, not form or fixed
0:50 How his family came to the United States The unusual story of pursuing
1:34 The origin of "Beniflah" What Jake's last name means
2:19 the Inquisition The church court of the Inquisition, as established in Spain in the late fifteenth century
2:24 Sephardic Spanish Jews (who fled Spain to Morocco)
3:01 acculturative stress A reduction in health status of individuals who are undergoing acculturation, coming into a new culture
3:36 put 2 and 2 together to understand something by using the information you already have
4:16 price disparity where goods have higher costs in a foreign market than in the domestic market due to transportation and exporting costs
4:37 DMV department of motor vehicles (DMV) is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing
4:52 from ground zero the central point in an area of fast change or intense activity
6:12 idioms a groupd of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of individual words
8:18 Creating the Center for Multicultrual Science The mission for the center
8:40 dissertation chair A champion of the doctoral student's cause
9:20 think tank a body of experts providing advice and ideas on specific political or economic problems
9:44 depict accurately representation in image form
9:59 research paradigm a "worldview" or set of assumptions about how things work
10:34 connecting the dots a form of puzzle containing a sequence of events or numbered dots
10:51 academia is snooty showing disapproval or contempt toward others, especially those considered to belong to a lower social class
11:10 Looking into research findings the vision of challenging the paradigm
11:23 challenging the paradigm example, pattern, especially an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.
13:17 oversimplifications simplify something so much that a distorted impression
14:49 Touching Story Jake's father and his culture
15:08 pancreatic cancer a disease in which cancerous cells form in the tissues of the pancreas
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Sara Proaño: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:10 Many backgrouds Moving around with her family
2:15 Getting to the Hispanic Center of West Michigan The mission of volunteering and getting involved
3:04 domestic violence violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner
3:09 What the Hispanic Center is The range of services and workings of the center
5:16 Sara's department Language Services: What it is and what it does
5:30 Interpretation vs Translation What the difference is between them
7:21 freelancer working for different companies at different times rather than being permanently employed by one company
8:04 The three levels What they are and what they do
8:35 code of ethics a document that may outline the mission and values of the business or organization
8:52 job shadowing a temporary, unpaid exposure to the workplace in an occupational area of interest to the student
10:03 Impact on worker's personal lives How professional development changes lives
10:46 egg packer packages eggs to ship out
11:45 A good place to start What to understand and how to help the population
12:34 humility a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness
13:12 how to get involved website and volunteer work
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Maksim Kabachenko: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
0:57 Maksim's family left Ukraine The reasons why his family had to leave Ukraine
1:30 under wraps concealed or secret
2:16 surreal having the qualities of surrealism; bizzare
2:43 put 2 and 2 together to understand something by using the information you already have
3:05 perestroika to rebuild; to reconstruct (in Russian terms)
3:26 persecuted subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their race or political or religious beliefs
4:36 granted asylum protection or shelter granted by a country or embassy to refugees from another country, especially refugees escaping arrest or prosecution
4:44 arduous involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring
6:34 a rift a crack, split, or break in something
7:55 run interference move in such a way as to provide legal interference
8:31 inundated overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealth with
9:15 A judgment of others not learning English Not understanding how difficult it is to learn a second language
10:45 propensity an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way
10:56 Maksim in 2001 A particular thought in high school about becoming a United States Citizen and part of the military
13:20 sectarian violence a form of communal violence inspired by sectarianism, that is, between different sects of one particular mode of ideology or religion within a nation/community
14:16 put their lives on the line a situation involving exposure to danger
14:53 in close quarters a situation of being very uncomfortably close to someone or something
16:20 What message would Maksim like to leave? Understanding we live in an open country
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Nkechy Ezeh: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:11 From Southern Nigeria to Michigan How the weather is different
2:09 wrap your head around to comprehend something that one considers challenging, confusing, or a foreign concept
2:31 in your face directly at or against one: as one approaches
3:58 pop in to go, come, or appear suddenly
5:30 Does racism exist in Nigeria? Nkechy explains the different stereotypes around her culture
7:08 accorded respect give or grant someone (respect, power, staus, or recognition)
7:30 intermediary a person who acts as a link between people in order to try to bring about an agreement or reconciliation; a mediator
9:35 Nkechy's parental recognition The honor of her parents and what she has learned from them
11:04 nudging prod (someone) gently, typically with one's elbow, in order to draw their attention to something. Coax or gently encourage (someone) to do something.
11:24 not afforded to not provide or supply (an opportunity or facility)
11:37 Inspiration for starting the ELNC ELNC (Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative) and why she wanted to start it
12:43 blustering in blowing in violent and abrupt bursts affected or characterized by storms or communication
14:10 challening the status quo challenging or changing existing social structure and values
14:50 gets on your nerve to be irritated; annoyed by something
14:57 fidgeting to make small movements, especially of the hands and feet, through nervousness or impatience
15:03 gets in timeout time for rest or recreation away from one's usual work or time studies
15:13 not yourself not feel well
15:30 Children's brain development Children's brain development happens 90% before kindergarten
15:42 behind the 8-ball at a disadvantage
16:34 What she would like viewers to know Preschool does matter. Early childhood education does matter.
17:38 owe it to ourselves need to do something to protect one's own interests
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Jack Mangala: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
0:30 wine and dine treat someone at a nice restaurant, trying to impress
0:57 talent acquisition bringing in good workers
2:25 secular non-religious, worldly
4:25 mixed feelings having both positive and negative feelings about something
6:05 not uncommon it happens, it’s not rare
8:12 find an outlet find an activity that fits with a person’s need (creative, physical, cultural, spiritual, etc.)
8:40 yin and yang both sides: back and forth, light and dark, male and female, positive and negative
10:03 put that talent acquisition hat on take on the perspective of finding good talent
11:47 cracks to fall through gaps in any system where things can get missed, delayed, lost, or neglected
12:25 courting activities that encourage a person to become attracted
12:42 hot buttons very important issues
13:16 onboarding bringing someone into an organization: welcoming, teaching, creating a fit
13:53 affinity networks groups of people who are organized around common interests
15: 05 cultural nuances the small but important differences between cultures
15:33 unconscious bias having opinions for or against someone (or something) without knowing that you have these feelings; sometimes called “implicit bias”
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Kaushik Nag: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
0:30 wine and dine treat someone at a nice restaurant, trying to impress
0:57 talent acquisition bringing in good workers
2:25 secular non-religious, worldly
4:25 mixed feelings having both positive and negative feelings about something
6:05 not uncommon it happens, it’s not rare
8:12 find an outlet find an activity that fits with a person’s need (creative, physical, cultural, spiritual, etc.)
8:40 yin and yang both sides: back and forth, light and dark, male and female, positive and negative
10:03 put that talent acquisition hat on take on the perspective of finding good talent
11:47 cracks to fall through gaps in any system where things can get missed, delayed, lost, or neglected
12:25 courting activities that encourage a person to become attracted
12:42 hot buttons very important issues
13:16 onboarding bringing someone into an organization: welcoming, teaching, creating a fit
13:53 affinity networks groups of people who are organized around common interests
15: 05 cultural nuances the small but important differences between cultures
15:33 unconscious bias having opinions for or against someone (or something) without knowing that you have these feelings; sometimes called “implicit bias”
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Gail Harrison: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
5:00 genesis birth, beginning
5:27 newbie new person, beginner
7:00 othering making someone feel different, outside, not belonging
7:34 people of color non-white people
7:49 intellectualizing only analyzing, not using emotions or experience
8:06 polarized being in exactly opposite positions
8:33 Die, n****r, die! The N-word is a very strong and historically offensive word used for black Americans. White people should not use it.
9:11 hate crime a crime against another person because of who they are (classes include race/ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation/identity, handicap, etc.)
10:47 anecdotal told in stories
11:15 grassroots work work done by everyday community members (from the ground up, not from the top down)
11:27 egalitarian principle of people being equal
11:43 overt racists people who discriminate by race in public, without hiding it
12:04 low-bias whites white people who work to minimize their natural prejudices
12:55 implicit bias unconscious ways that we are prejudiced against people of other races (or other characteristics)
13:52 dispel pervasive biases remove, get rid of widespread prejudices
14:33 Calling All Colors LEDA’s racial awareness workshops in local middle and high schools
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Khalid Karadsheh: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
0:47 delectables delicious things to eat
2:27 Madaba Khalid’s hometown in Jordan
2:38 got the hang of it learned how to do it, became used to it
2:46 Holland, MI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland,_Michigan
3:52 scarred permanently damaged, harmed (physical or emotional scars)
5:11 genesis origin, beginning
6:14 fire marshal safety official who sets occupancy limits for buildings
9:13 dietician person trained in food science and healthy eating
9:30 tabouli, baba ghannouj, hummus traditional Middle Eastern foods (all vegetarian)
10:26 stumped puzzled, unable to figure out
12:38 hospitable friendly, welcoming, being a good host
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Michel Pichot: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:09 dean the head of a grouping of academic departments (e.g., Dean of Arts, Dean of Nursing, Dean of Engineering)
1:12 provost the chief academic officer (the boss of all the deans)
4:46 heartening encouraging, promising
5:44 to shadow to follow a professional through his/her daily routine in order to learn about that person’s job (to be like a silent shadow)
7:39 F-1 visa visa from the U.S. Dept. of State for foreign students
9:39 your French “fix” your need for periodic exposure to French things like language or food; “fix” is a slang expression for daily dose of addictive drug
11:28 secular mind orientation to worldly thinking rather than religious (or sacred) mindset
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Murari and Sudip Suvedi: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
3:25 the lingo the language, the appropriate words
7:01 hierarchical having a strictly defined ranking of positions
12:42 indigenous native, born there
13:05 human capital the human element of projects and processes
14:00 flora and fauna plants and animals
14:42 CDC Center for Disease Control (national center in Atlanta, GA)
14:54 leap of faith taking action based more on trust than solid knowledge
18:24 broached the topic carefully introduced the (potentially difficult) subject
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Brigitte and Michael Merk: Slang and Cultural Expressions

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Approx. time Expression Explanation
1:02 expat life living outside one’s native country (usually on a work assignment)
1:21 pre-screening checking out suitability ahead of time
4:02 obstetrical related to pregnancy and childbirth
4:26 juggle to keep items moving quickly from one hand to the next
8:30 foodie person who really appreciates food, informal for “gourmet”
8:53 veggie nickname for “vegetable”
9:17 croissants light, crescent-shaped French pastry
9:27 baguette long, slender French white bread
10:26 ambient surrounding
11:14 idioms informal daily expressions (like “raining cats and dogs”)
14:27 black ice a thin coating of ice over paved roadways, dangerous because the driver can see the road surface and not be aware the road is icy
17:07 lake-effect snow extra snowfall caused by closeness to a large lake
17:59 put words in your mouth tell you what you should say
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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.