CULTURE SHOCK

Culture (the total way of life of a group or society)

“Modern man is educated to understand foreign languages and misunderstand foreigners” G.K.Chesterton

What is your Job? I’m a (1) _______________. We’re professionals. Why did you come here? Because we hope to get (2) _________________ asylum. Are you going to make Ireland your home? No, we’re not. We all want to move on. Where do you want to go? I’d like to live in (3) ___________________. Did you find life difficult here when you arrived? Yes, we couldn’t understand the Irish accent. And it wasn’t easy getting used to the weather – it rains all the time! Were the people friendly? Yes, most of them. Some people thought we were taking their jobs and houses. But generally people were very friendly. How long have you been here? I arrived about a (4) ________________ ago. Is Ireland very different from Cuba? Yes, the food’s totally different! And people’s attitudes. People here are less relaxed than in Cuba. They’re in more of a hurry. But I like their sense of humour! Has the town changed since you arrived? Well, now there’s “merengue” music in the (5) __________________ at the weekend as well as Irish jigs. And they now serve spicy Cuban food! Do you miss Cuba? Yes, of course. That will always be my real home. Do you think you will ever go back? One day, maybe. I hope so.

Question Reported question “What is your job?” She asked me what my job was. “Why did you come here?” “Are you going to make Ireland your home?” “Were the people friendly?” “Where do you want to go?” “Is Ireland very different from Cuba?” “Has the town changed since you arrived?” “Do you miss Cuba?” “Do you think you will ever go back?”

Look at the scale of “degrees of affectiveness” and decide where to put the people from Italy, Britain, Japan and the USA

Typical behaviour ItaliansBritishJapaneseAmericans show anger in formal situations YNNY use a lot of gestures look directly at people interrupt/speak at the same time say “please” and “thank you” a lot

Discuss the following questions: If you were to live in a foreign country where would you choose to settle down? Why? If you were to live in a foreign country where would you choose to settle down? Why? If you were to marry a foreigner what nationality would you choose? Why? If you were to marry a foreigner what nationality would you choose? Why? Have you ever had a shocking cultural experience while traveling abroad? What happened? Have you ever had a shocking cultural experience while traveling abroad? What happened? Have you ever done anything inappropriate in a foreign country? What was it? What did it result in? Have you ever done anything inappropriate in a foreign country? What was it? What did it result in?