1. ME AND MY CUSTOMERS
My name is Ana Paula Palma, I work in the treasury department
of the Town Council of Vila do Bispo. Customers need my services to
pay their water bills, to ask about their constructions license, to know
about subsidies such as those related to their children`s school
transport or lunch.
In my small town there are many foreigners whose language is
English. Most foreigners who live in the surroundings of my town are
well-integrated, but as they say, it is not easy for them to learn the
Portuguese language. At my work these people often require my
services for different needs such in the translation language. They
often expect us to know the basic English to be able to communicate
with them orally.
Actually I have had no training in English, besides what I have
learnt at school. I`m used to speaking English, because I feel I must
strive to understand these people and make myself understood. I
often work as a facilitator in the liaison between foreigner customers
and the services of town council, mainly in those services that have
to do with payment of fees and licenses. Such as water contracts…
As some of my colleagues do not how know to speak English,
they are of the opinion that people who live in Portugal, must know
how to speak the language. I don`t agree, because I find it a
prejudice and a hostile behaviour. Sometimes it seems that I`m the
only one who is willing to help these foreign citizens. That`s why I
believe, I need to improve my speaking and writing skills of English,
so that my qualifications for my job can be valued too.
In my opinion my town council should create a suitable
department where this kind of services for foreign inhabitants would
be made available.
Ana Paula Palma – G13 Página 1
2. ME AND MY CUSTOMERS
I love talking to people from other cultures, because I have the
chance to know about others world references, life experiences and
cultural traditions.
In general the customers I work with are friendly and open-
minded and they even apologize for not knowing how to speak
Portuguese.
Ana Paula Palma – G13 Página 2
