1. M6U3
Reading I
Cultural Differences

2. Long time no see!
Have you had your meal?
Nice to meet you!

3. Guessing Thailand South America and bowing hugging each other
Where do they come from?
Thailand
South America
putting their hands together
and bowing
hugging each other

4. Guessing The United States The Middle East shaking hands
Where do they come from?
The United States
The Middle East
shaking hands
touching noses

5. kissing each other on one cheek and then the other
Guessing
Where do they come from?
Japan
The Netherlands
kissing each other on one
cheek and then the other
bowing to each other

6. If we are not familiar with greetings from other countries, maybe we would feel e__________; we might be involved in a________ situations, even we may be m__________ by others .
mbarrassed
wkward
isunderstood
What causes these differences?

7. Cultural differences? interview
Ma Li: an exchange student now in Japan
interview

8. INTERVIEW Task 1 Skimming EXAMPLES Interviewer: _______ from China
Interviewee: _______ from ______
_______ from ______
Topic: _________________
Ma Li
Waled
Brunei
Peter
the UK
cultural differences
EXAMPLES

9. Task 2 Scanning 1. Ways of greeting 2. 3. Religions (宗教)
Spot the examples mentioned in the conversation.
1. Ways of greeting 2.
3. Religions (宗教)
4. Wedding ceremonies
5. Colors
6. Pointing gestures
7. Taking off shoes before entering a house
8. Bonfire Night
Receiving presents

10. Receiving presents (line5-13)
Task 3 Careful Reading
Receiving presents (line5-13) 1
Example
What will a westerner do when he receives a present?
Why?
He will open the present as soon as he receives it,
because the westerners would like to see the person’s reactions.
People in the West believe that it’s _____ and _____ not to open it.
strange
rude

11. Receiving presents (line5-13)
Example
Why do people react differently?
Because the ways people show their feelings are different. Westerners don’t hide them while people in China tend to be reserved （含蓄的，保守的）.

12. Receiving presents Wedding ceremonies 6. Pointing gestures
Examples mentioned in the conversation.
Receiving presents
6. Pointing gestures
7. Taking off shoes before entering a house
8. Bonfire Night
Wedding ceremonies

13. Task 3 Careful Reading in Korea in Brunei Example 2
Wedding ceremonies (L13-32)
in Korea
in Brunei

14. drive ensure very lucky
Wedding ceremonies in Korea
Example 2
be supposed to
______ bad spirits away;
drive
be thought to
______ good luck;
ensure
be considered to
be __________.
very lucky

15. bridegroom
bride

16. in hopes of the marriage lasting forever desserts
a fertile marriage
two red dots
never been married
pine trees S Y M B O L I Z E
in hopes of the marriage lasting forever
desserts
red beans
be sweet to each other

17. in hopes of the marriage lasting forever desserts
a fertile marriage
two red dots
never been married
pine trees S Y M B O L I Z E
in hopes of the marriage lasting forever
desserts
red beans
be sweet to each other

18. at the wedding reception.
T or F
Wedding receptions in Brunei
Example 2
In Brunei the bridegroom and the bride sit
together at the wedding reception. F
in separate areas
at the wedding reception.
2. People can drink alcohol at the wedding reception. F
not permitted
3. You wouldn’t get much sleep where a wedding reception was being held. T
(play drums throughout the night)

19. Receiving presents Wedding ceremonies
Examples mentioned in the conversation.
Receiving presents
7. Taking off shoes before entering a house
8. Bonfire Night
Wedding ceremonies
Pointing gestures

20. Task 3 Careful Reading How should we point in Brunei? A. B. C. D. 3
Example
Pointing gestures (L33-37)
How should we point in Brunei?
A B.
C D.

21. Sharing time OK money right making a circle with one’s zero thumb and3
Example
Pointing gestures (L33-37)
Sharing time
gesture
country
meaning
the USA
the UK
Japan
Korea
India
France
Thailand
Brazil
Germany OK
money
right
making a circle
with one’s
thumb and
first finger
zero
no problem
offence

22. Receiving presents Wedding ceremonies Pointing gestures
Examples mentioned in the conversation.
1. Ways of greeting
3. Eye contact
5. Colors
8. Bonfire Night
Receiving presents
Wedding ceremonies
Pointing gestures
Taking off shoes before entering a house

23. Task 3 Careful Reading taken off entering trouble/difficulty4
Example
shoes (line39- 41)
we should get our shoes ______ ____ before ________ someone’s house, which is the same in most cities in China. Therefore, we have no _________________ getting __________________ to it while it is difficult for many foreigners.
taken off
entering
trouble/difficulty
accustomed/used

24. Receiving presents Wedding ceremonies Pointing gestures
Examples mentioned in the conversation.
1. Ways of greeting
3. Eye contact
5. Colors
Bonfire Night
Receiving presents
Wedding ceremonies
Pointing gestures
Taking off shoes

25. hot dogs and food cooked over the fire
Task 3 Careful Reading 5
Example
Bonfire Night (L46-52)
Nov. 5th
Date
Events
Typical food
Popularity
light large fires outside
gather around
hold a party
set off fireworks
hot dogs and food cooked over the fire
In Britain
popular
In America
unpopular

26. avoid rudeness tolerate/respect avoid offence/ misunderstanding
Cultural differences
Present (1)_________
In the west it’s (2)________ for a person to open the present (3)___________ receiving it, because people like to see the (4)__________ of the receiver.
Wedding ceremony
In Korea, a live hen and a rooster are used during the ceremony. A hen is considered (5)_______ and a rooster is believed to drive away bad (6)_________.
In Brunei, men and women don’t sit (7)__________. Alcohol is (8)___________. People celebrate the wedding through drum playing.
Other aspects
In many countries, people use their first finger to point, which is considered a kind of (9)________ in Brunei. So people in Brunei use their thumb instead.
Brits and Americans have different accents and (10) ________, although they speak the same language.
polite
avoid rudeness
opening
upon/on
reaction
lucky
tolerate/respect
spirits
together
prohibited
avoid offence/ misunderstanding
offence
customs

27. Task 4 Pair Work Learning about cultural differences is a good way to
discussion
Benefits of learning about cultural differences:
Learning about cultural differences is a good way to
understand more about each other.
communicate effectively and freely.
strengthen relationships with others.
avoid embarrassment, misunderstanding or offence.
be polite and show respect for others
broaden our horizons.
know what is appropriate behavior. …

28. Retell cause offence open take off bad spirits/good luck November 5th
light
gather
eat
sit /throughout
the night

29. Nowadays, cultural difference is becoming a hot topic, as more and more people are interested in it. Here I’ll give you some examples.
In the west, it is rude…
In Korea,… In Brunei,… In the UK,…
If we know all these differences, we can...

30. If you had an opportunity to go abroad,
Discussion
If you had an opportunity to go abroad,
how would you get information about the cultural differences?
—Take a course or read a book on crosscultural communication.
—Make friends with the local people and ask questions about social customs.
...

31. Respect, tolerate and understand cultural differences.
Conclusion
Respect, tolerate and understand cultural differences.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

32. Homework
1 Read the passage
2 Finish the exercise on EW.