Guided Practice: Culture and Communication

READING/SPEAKING

 

Exercise 1. Read and listen to Part 4 of the series about culture using the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/tae_whoonearth_archive.shtml Answer the questions:

 

1. What is important in business communication for westerners?

2. Is the attitude to business communication different in the Middle East? Illustrate your answer with an example from the text.

3. What do the numbers 55%, 38% and 7% refer to?

4. What do “verbal cultures” value?

5. What is important in “non-verbal” cultures?

6. How do people communicate in Namibia?

7. How do Americans deal with problems? Do Japanese talk about problems?

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences from the text. Translate the sentences.

1. Communication seems such a normal thing to do that ______________________________________________________________.

2. A westerner would definitely__________________________________.

3. In the Middle East, people would look at communication as ______________________________________________________________.

4. Successful communication isn’t just a question of getting the language right, it’s also a question of _______________________________________ .

5. We need to be careful when __________________________________.

6. Many academic studies of culture make a distinction between ______________________________________________________________.

7. If you come from a culture in which social harmony is valued then ______________________________________________________________.

8. If you come from a verbal culture then __________________________.

9. The distinction between verbal and non-verbal cultures affects ______________________________________________________________.

10. If we are aware of different communication styles, it can help us ______________________________________________________________.

 

Exercise 3. Prepare a 3-minute talk about the distinction between verbal and non-verbal cultures.

GRAMMAR

Grammar Revision: Articles

 

Exercise 4. Using online grammar reference resources (for example, www.catchenglish.ru) revise how to use articles. You can use the following link: http://catchenglish.ru/uroki-po-temam/tablitsa-upotrebleniya-anglijskikh-artiklej.html

Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps with articles where necessary. Translate the sentences.

1. How should __________ “normal” business meeting be run?

2. __________ Eilidh Hamilton has recently been living in __________ Syria in __________ Middle East.

3. __________ westerner would go in with things they want to talk about, __________ Arab would look at it from a very different perspective.

4. In __________ Middle East you’d always be served __________ glass of __________ water followed by __________ cup of __________ coffee.

5. We use __________ body language, we vary __________ sound of our voices to express emotions like __________ surprise or __________ anger.

6. In 1967 __________ researchers conducted __________ experiment on everyday communication situations.

7. Verbal cultures value and enjoy __________ talk, __________ argument, __________ explanation, non-verbal cultures respect __________ listening, __________ silence, __________ social harmony.

8. If you come from __________ verbal culture you’ll need to think about __________ effect you’ll have if you talk a lot in __________ non-verbal culture.

 

Independent Practice: Culture and Etiquette

READING

Exercise 1. Read an article about etiquette in Japan using the following link: http://www.traveletiquette.co.uk/EtiquetteJapan.html

 

Exercise 2. Summarise the information from the article in the table.

 

Japan
1. The most important aspects of Japanese culture:
2. Greetings:
3. Personal space:
4. Verbal communication:
5. Saving face:
6. Home visit:
7. Table manners:

 

Exercise 3. Read an article about etiquette in Russia using the following link: http://www.traveletiquette.co.uk/travel-etiquette-when-travelling-russia.html

 

Exercise 4. Summarise the information from the article in the table.

 

Russia
1. Eye contact:
2. Greetings:
3. Dressing etiquette:
4. Gestures:

 

Exercise 5. Read an article about etiquette in England using the following link:

http://www.ehow.com/about_6637551_social-etiquette-england.html

Are the statements true or false? Correct the false ones.

1. Safe topics of small talk conversation in England include politics and private issues.

2. In a conversation with your acquaintance from England you can also discuss films, books, music, television and the arts.

3. Jobs and cars are not appropriate topics for discussion.

4. In England you should refrain from asking about personal topics.

5. British people find it funny if you criticize their food.

6. A typical tip for waiters in restaurants is about 5 percent of the bill.

7. Some restaurants add the tip to the bill.

8. English business professionals typically dress conservatively.

9. In England people rarely keep eye contact during conversations.

10. British businessmen typically make decisions quickly.

Exercise 6. Complete the table with the key words and phrases from the article. Summarise the information from the article with the help of the key words and phrases in the table.

England
1. Small Talk:
2. Tipping etiquette:
3. Dressing etiquette:
4. Privacy:
5. Negotiations:

 

VOCABULARY

 

Exercise 7. Use a dictionary to translate the words. Choose an appropriate word from the box to fill in the gaps.

 

invasive tackle problems verbal content maintaining eye contact

privacy community particularly make an effort

get into arguments polite acculturation refrain from

 

1. If you come from a culture in which social harmony is valued then you'll probably be less verbal and you'll be less willing to ____________ with other people because that would destroy the harmony.

2. ___________ is important to English people.

3. They consider staring to be __________.

4. __________- the words that you use in a conversation are not as important as you might think.

5. Many British people, ___________ men, like holding conversations about soccer.

 

Exercise 8. Using the Internet resource http://www.amazon.com find a book Culture Shock! Britain: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette by Terry Tan. Do the Culture Quiz (pp. 286-289). Read the comments to check your answers.

 

Exercise 9. In the same book read about the do's and don'ts of the etiquette in Britain (pp. 292-295). Are the statements true or false?

1. You must help handicapped people without asking and being asked.

2. You should inform your neighbours if you are going to have a party with dance and music.

3. You can ask personal questions when meeting someone for the first time.

4. You can ask the price of the things in someone else's home. It shows that you appreciate the item.

5. It is OK to engage bus drivers in conversation.

6. It is inappropriate to speak loudly on your mobile, especially on trains and buses.

7. The British burn garden rubbish before 7 pm.

Vocabulary to learn

1. acquaintance

2. adjust / adjustment

3. adapt to sth

4. acculturation

5. appreciate

6. be aware of

7. community

8. conduct an experiment

9. depend on

10. degree

11. distinction between

12. experience sth

13. expect

14. feel homesick

15. get into arguments

16. handicapped

17. honeymoon period/stage

18. invasive

19. make an effort

20. outsider

21. particular / particularly

22. privacy

23. realise

24. refrain from

25. reject/rejection

26. remain

27. reverse culture shock

28. tackle problems

29. vary

30. verbal content

 

UNIT 4

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