The Berlitz Language & Culture Podcast

What does it take to build truly inclusive, high-performing teams in today's global workplace? In this episode of the Berlitz Language and Culture Podcast, host Louisa Ajami speaks with intercultural expert, author, and Open Minds Consulting Group co-founder David Walsh. Drawing on decades of experience in diversity, inclusion, policing, and intercultural leadership, David explores the role of ope...

In Episode 6 of the Berlitz Language & Culture Podcast, host Louisa Ajami sits down with intercultural experts Julia Gaspar Bates and Sylvie Day to explore how French and American professionals can collaborate effectively across borders.  Julia and Sylvie share stories from their joint book project, highlighting the nuances of teamwork, communication styles, and cultural norms.   Whether you w...

In Episode 5 of The Berlitz Language & Culture Podcast, host Louisa Ajami speaks with Donika Jones, a public health practitioner, business strategist, and stakeholder engagement specialist, about why cultural competence is essential in today’s global and diverse workplaces.  Donika shares practical insights on cross-cultural awareness, inclusive program design, and effective stakeholder engage...

What does it take to succeed in an international assignment when you're on your own from day one?   In the fourth episode of the Berlitz Language and Culture Podcast, global business and security expert Dan Bolger shares his experience relocating to Albania with minimal support and the essential lessons he learned along the way.  From overlooked onboarding gaps to the power of cultural awareness,...

Think German’s hard? Wait till you meet its vowels. In this episode, we break down the sounds that confuse learners, terrify tourists, and make German speakers silently judge you. From plain old vowels to those spicy little Umlauts (yes, the dots matter), plus diphthongs that twist your tongue and your dignity, we’re covering it all. You'll finally understand why “ie” and “ei” are basically lingui...

In this episode, we sit down with Jack Sinclair, a seasoned leader in international team management and language training, to explore the power of multilingual communication in business process outsourcing (BPO) and customer retention.  Jack shares why having language-skilled staff isn’t just a bonus—it’s a strategic asset, especially when employees shift roles or when cultural sensitivity becomes...

In this episode of The Berlitz Language and Culture Podcast, we explore the essential grammar behind negation in French.  You’ll learn:  The basic structure of French negation (ne...pas)  Common variations like ne...jamais, ne...plus, and ne...rien  When and how to use them in real-life situations  Tips to avoid common mistakes made by learners  Perfect for learners at any level looking to build s...

In Episode 2 of The Berlitz Language & Culture Podcast, hosted by Louisa Ajami, Dr. Naomi Olson shares how cultural skill-building goes beyond noticing differences—it's about developing strategies to navigate them and unlock the strength of diverse teams. 

Welcome to Berlitz Language and Culture Podcast, your go-to space for unlocking the secrets of any language!  In today’s episode, “El, La” we’re diving into one of the most puzzling and fascinating parts of Spanish grammar: gender.  Why is a table feminine and a book masculine?  How can you tell which article to use?  And what happens when gender goes beyond el and la?  Whether you're just startin...

Building stronger remote teams isn’t just about working from different locations—it requires intention, strategy, and cultural awareness! 🌎 In our very first episode, hosted by Louisa Ajami, Manager of Cultural Training Solutions, intercultural expert Maria Garaitonandia breaks down the 4 crucial stages every remote team must go through to succeed.