Speaking to Foreigners

Why is this important? China is quickly becoming a very international country. So is Changsha! Speaking to Chinese people is easy Speaking to foreigners is difficult You must change words so you do not offend ( 得罪 ) someone Just like in France, kissing your friend is okay, but it’s not okay in China

Do this, not that

It’s not okay to talk about money BadGood “What is your salary ( 工资 )?” “What do you do?” “Do you like your job?” “I like your phone.” “Thank you. It’s an iPhone. It’s very expensive.” “I like your phone.” “Thank you. It can do a lot, so it’s very useful ( 有用 ).”

It’s not okay to talk about age BadGood “How old are you?”“Did you just graduate college ( 毕业 ) ?” “Do you have any children?”

Be very careful when talking about how someone looks BadGood “You look fat. You should exercise.” *I know 胖 is okay in China, but not in many other countries “Are you very busy?” “Do you want to exercise with me?”

Be very careful when talking about how someone looks BadGood “You don’t look American.” *Americans are from all over the world “Where is your family from?”

Commonly misused words 通常误用的词

“Play” with someone When you are a child, it’s okay to “play” with your friends When you are older, play means something else: Say: “Hang out” or “play (activity) with someone”

Fun and Funny Fun and funny are not the same Fun is about something you are doing Funny is about something you are reading, listening to or watching (TV, books, people) RightWrong “The park is fun.” “The movie is funny.” “The movie is fun.” “The park is funny.”

Fashion and Fashionable Fashion is a noun (n.) – “Her fashion is very good.” Fashionable is an adjective (adj.) – “She is very fashionable.”

Change these sentences Are you getting fatter? You should exercise more. very busy? Do you want to exercise with me?

Change these sentences Your watch looks expensive. How much did you pay? I like your watch. Where did you buy it?

Change these sentences The zoo is so funny. David Beckham is always so fashion. fun. fashionable.

Change these sentences I think you make a lot of money. Do you want to play with me? are very cool. hang out?

Your turn! Get into groups of four or five people I will give you some conversations ( 对话 ) Change the sentences so they don’t offend ( 得 罪 ) foreigners