It’s not the first time subtitles in English have been used for English-language movies that feature strong regional accents. The movie Trainspotting was partially re-dubbed to make the Glaswegian accents more intelligible for American audiences. Ken Loach’s blue-collar comedy Riff-Raff was also subtitled because American studio chiefs feared the heavy accents of the British working-class would be impenetrable to stateside audiences. Same for the working-class drama Nil by Mouth – again, this time English subtitles were provided because the heavy South London accents were hard for some people to make out, even if their native tongue was English!

It should be a consolation for anybody trying to master the English language and who has been confounded by the bewildering array of different regional accents. From Glaswegian to Irish, Australian to the Texas drawl, the English language is not just about phrasal verbs and a set of grammar rules. Accents also help shape and colour the things we say, and even among us English-language natives, we sometimes have trouble understanding each other. So, next time you’re frustrated by someone’s accent, don’t lose hope, it may not be because your English is not up to par.

If you’re watching a DVD, you may be able to find subtitles. If you are trying to understand your new mate in a Scottish pub, you may have to ask him or her to repeat, because unfortunately we haven’t yet invented subtitles for real-life.

Even though Europe stands united behind the flag of the European Union, its citizens still speak their own languages, watch different television shows, and read different newspapers. Football, the world’s most popular game, is something that many Europeans share in common. People from different backgrounds come together to watch the game – even though they might wish for different results.

Perhaps an effortless and enjoyable way to practise your English is to follow the Champion’s League in English. Here are a few English language websites about football (‘soccer’ in American English) that you might find useful: soccernet.com, fourfourtwo.com, sportinglife.com, footballnewsblog.co.uk

VISCA BARÇA!

Nearly 40 years ago Earth Day started as a grassroots movement with the hippies. Now, four decades later, it has blossomed into a global cause. With issues such as global warming and renewable energy ever more present in our daily lives, Earth Day is an important moment to reflect on how we can help protect our unique planet.

We hope you will join us in making a commitment to a responsible lifestyle. Little things like recycling and moderate water consumption go a long way. Avoiding unnecessary trips in your car, installing energy efficient appliances in your home, and using solar and wind power not only save you money, they also put less of a strain on the environment.

Today, April 22nd, join billions of people in making a commitment to keeping our home beautiful and liveable.

Also, in a reception with Queen Elizabeth II, First Lady Michelle Obama briefly put her hand on the Queen’s back, which is a big no-no according to standard protocol. One never touches the Queen of England — as tradition holds it, she’s the protector of the faith, as holy as the Pope himself. This incident echoed former Australian Prime minister John Howard, who put his arm around the Queen to direct her through a crowd. Needless to say, the British tabloid press was loving it all.

The most infamous blunderer in terms of cultural awareness is former US president Bush, whose gaffes could probably fill an encyclopaedia. Among them are winking at Queen Elizabeth II, giving Angela Merkel a backrub, and talking with his mouthful at 2006’s G8 Summit.

Take the kiss incident above, and move that scenario to India. Back in 2007, Richard Gere embraced and kissed Indian actress Shilpa Shetty on the cheek several times at an AIDS awareness rally. In a country where displays of public affection are taboo, kissing in public pretty much tops the list of offensive behaviour. People burned effigies of Gere, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. While our actions might not fall under as much scrutiny as Gere’s, not knowing what kinds of public affection are acceptable in another culture might deeply offend a potential new business partner.

Anyone conducting business in today’s globalised economy should pay heed to the lessons offered above. What happens under on the world stage of international politics, also happens every day in the business world.

Probably the most common setting for meetings between globetrotting business people is the dining table. Did you know that pointing and waving chopsticks is considered rude in most Asian countries? In many Middle Eastern countries it is important to eat using the right hand, as the left hand is considered unclean.

Another important point to remember is that countries have different degrees of personal space. Americans are known to be very informal, while on the other end of the spectrum you find the French, who sometimes find the Americans’ straight forward behaviour to be overly-friendly, and rude. In this area, like all the others, it is probably best to ere on the side of caution.

Cross-cultural awareness is also a key factor when it comes to retaining an effective workforce. According to a recent survey about Cross-Cultural Development Conversations, over 90% of 45 surveyed companies said they expect the cultural diversity in their organisations to increase within the next 3-5 years – ‘with nearly 50% expecting “a significant increase”’.

Take the example of giving employee feedback in China. According to Career Innovations – the organisation that conducted the survey — what is perceived as positive and effective feedback in the United States is inappropriate to Chinese employees. That is because in the US feedback tends to be given on an individual level, in a more direct way – whereas Chinese employees are accustomed to receive feedback as a group. Companies had noticed employees leaving for no apparent reason until they were able to bridge this communication gap.

As much familiarisation as possible with your business partner’s country is imperative for effective inter-business communication and employee retention.

If there is a lesson to be learned, it is this: if you don’t know the etiquette of your business associate’s country, there is no harm in asking. Also, try to find out as much as possible about their country beforehand. Effective communication is not just about language. Being culturally aware can be just the advantage you need in today’s competitive global economy.

Penelope Cruz has just become the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar for her role in last year’s hit movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. A native of Madrid, she has been a rising star in Hollywood ever since her 1998 Hollywood debut in the movie Hi-Lo Country.

She admits that speaking English is “like torture sometimes”. Nevertheless, the sultry beauty from Alcobendas has come a long way, and has proven to her compatriots and the bigwigs in Hollywood that she is a true star.

It is not surprising that Ms. Cruz would have trouble with her initial forays into the red-carpeted glamour of Hollywood. Like many of the 34-year-old star’s generation, she didn’t grow up learning English, and only started learning the language late in life (in her case, at the age of 18). Due to Spain’s past language education policies, it is at the tail-end of foreign language abilities in a recent EU survey from 2005 – coming 24th place out the 27 EU countries, tied with Italy and Portugal.

One simple way this problem can be addressed is through more English language exposure – be it in on the internet, in the classroom, or watching undubbed English-language shows on television. And, in the case of moviegoers, to stop with the decades-old habit of watching foreign-language films dubbed. Spain has 4,300 theatres — the most per person of any country in Europe — yet only 4% of moviegoers opt to see a movie in original version.

Nine years into the new millennium, in a globalised world where English is indisputably the lingua franca, mastering English is a must for any business. Undoubtedly Spain’s comparatively poor foreign language ability has had a negative effect on business competitiveness.

To improve this situation, not only must Spain start emphasising English at an earlier age, it must also utilise the latest technology combined with innovative teaching strategies for language learning. And it wouldn’t hurt to check out Penelope’s Hollywood movies in original version either.