Lesson 9: Observations and Judgments

Practice: Quick Conversations Groups of 4 people 6 “stations”, each station has a red envelope and 1 type of question Types of questions: future tense, polite question with present perfect (“Have you ever eaten Peking duck?”), present tense, describe something, conditional (“If you had a million dollars, what would you do?”), past tense Each group starts at one station, asks and answers questions for about 2 minutes Change stations when teacher says “Change!”

“One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish” Black fish, blue fish Old fish, new fish This one has a little star This one has a little car. Say! What a lot of fish there are. Yes. Some are red. And some are blue. Some are old. And some are new. Some are sad. And some are glad. And some are very, very bad. Why are they sad and glad and bad? I do not know. Go ask your dad. Some are thin. And some are fat. The fat one has a yellow hat. From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.

“Green Eggs and Ham” Written by “Dr. Seuss”, pen name for Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) Popular children’s books for beginning readers – artwork, humorous rhymes, often a moral teaching

Last Week’s Homework Write 3 paragraphs about a conflict in your life (or in the world) that might possibly be explained by different points of view. Suggested format (1 paragraph each): (1) describe the conflict, (2) explain your point of view, (3) explain the other’s point of view Activity: In groups of 4, each person reads aloud their 3 paragraphs. Read slowly and clearly. The person next to you (on your left side) will then summarize (explain simply) in his or her own words the different points of view. When everyone in your group is done, hand in your assignment to me.

Review: Cultural Observations and Judgments What we can see or hear (or smell, taste or feel) Example: “She stood about 2 metres away when talking to me.” Judgments: What we feel or think about our observations Example: “She doesn’t like me because she stood far away when talking to me.” When asking questions about or discussing another culture, it is important that we try not to put in judgments so that we don’t hurt others’ feelings or our relationship with them.

In pairs, read the following two statements. Which one makes a judgment? Which one tries to ask without making a judgment? “Why do Americans put their elderly parents in nursing homes instead of taking care of them in their own homes? Don’t they love their parents?” “I’ve heard that Americans put their elderly parents in nursing homes rather than taking care of them in their own homes. Can you help me understand the reason for this?”

Mubarak decides to talk to his American classmate, Jack, about Mrs Mubarak decides to talk to his American classmate, Jack, about Mrs. McCarthy’s behavior. Mubarak: Jack, something happened the other day that I don’t understand. I’d like to ask you about it. Jack: Sure, Mubarak. What happened? Mubarak: Well, Amir and I were coming out of the building and we saw Mrs. McCarthy hugging an American man. Jack: Was it her husband? Mubarak: That’s what I thought, but Amir said he knows her husband. He said that man was someone else. Jack: Oh. Well it must have been an old friend, or maybe her brother. Mubarek: Oh. Jack: Yeah, or maybe he was just a good friend that she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Jack: Well, yes. Sometimes. Mubarak: Is it okay for an American woman to hug a man who is not a relative? In public? Jack: Well, yes. Sometimes. Mubarak: If she did that in my culture, she would have looked very bad. Lots of people were watching her! Jack: Well, maybe she should be more careful around foreign students, but what she did is okay in the U.S. Mubarak: I see. Thanks for telling me. Jack: Sure. Anytime. What words did Mubarak use to ask Jack about his observations? From this dialogue, what can we learn about when it is appropriate to hug someone in American culture? What would you tell a visitor to China about when it is appropriate in Chinese culture to hug someone?

Some useful phrases: “Something happened…that I don’t understand.” “I’d like to ask you about something.” “Can/could you explain it to me?” “How do I understand this?” “What are some possible reasons that (people do this)?” “Is it okay for (people to behave this way)?” “Is it considered polite for (people to behave this way)?

In pairs, read the following situations, and explain: (1) What did you observe? (2) What possible judgments could you make about these observations from your cultural point of view? (3) What is one question you could ask to try to understand the situation better? Situation #1 On the first day of class, your new North American university teacher sits on one of the desks while she introduces herself. She also tells students to call her by her first name.

In pairs, read the following situations, and explain: (1) What did you observe? (2) What possible judgments could you make about these observations from your cultural point of view? (3) What is one question you could ask to try to understand the situation better? Situation #2 You notice that your North American teacher often says “thank you” to people in everyday conversation.

In pairs, read the following situations, and explain: (1) What did you observe? (2) What possible judgments could you make about these observations from your cultural point of view? (3) What is one question you could ask to try to understand the situation better? Situation #3 You want to attend a course that is being taught by a North American teacher just to improve your English listening ability. One day you find her after class, give her a very small gift, and ask her permission. She gives you permission to attend her class, but refuses to accept the gift.

Song: Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan) How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man? Yes, ‘n’ how many seas must a white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand? Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly, before they’re forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind How many times must a man look up, before he can see the sky? Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have, before he can hear people cry? Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows, that too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

Song: Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan) How many years can a mountain exist, before it’s washed to the sea? Yes, ‘n’, how many years can some people exist, before they’re allowed to be free? Yes, ‘n, how many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn’t see? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind. What sentences or phrases do you find interesting, or find difficult to understand? What do you think “blowin’ in the wind” means? What do you think this song might be about?

This Week’s Homework 1. You will be given 3 to 4 idioms or figures of speech about food (on the next page). Write down the meaning and an example sentence for each idiom. Example idiom: “Easy as pie” Meaning: something that is very easy to do Sentence: “Don’t worry about the exam, it’s as easy as pie.” 2. Practice reading “Green Eggs and Ham” (on website)

Idioms and Figures of Speech about Food “my cup of tea” “cry over spilt milk” “with a grain of salt” “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” “gravy train” “eat your words” “pig out” “couch potato” “piece of cake” “hand (it) on a silver platter” “spill the beans” “spoon feeding (someone)” “put all your eggs in one basket” “apple of one’s eye” “bread and butter” “eating you” “out to lunch” “egg on” “bring home the bacon” “eat humble pie” “you are what you eat” “have a beef about something” “have a finger in every pie”