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Unit 11 Lesson 8
Some cross-cultural differences
Objectives: By the end ®f the lesson you will have
• talked about some cross-cultural differences
• read two passages on cultural differences
• done a short writing task
A Think for a while and note down some points on the importance of time in our lives. Then in pairs talk about our attitude towards punctuality.
B Now read the following text about attitudes to time and punctuality in different contexts. Then answer the questions that follow.
In many places in Latin America, being 45.minutes late for an appointment is not considered late at all. In this situation an apology would not be expected. If an hour late, a person might offer a mumbled apology.
In Britain and the USA, punctuality is considered very important. The British and Americans have-a reputation for punctuality and it is true that in business and academic life, keeping to time is an accepted cultural value. However, in their social life it is a bit relaxed. Whereas meeting to see a film at 8 p.m. means arriving at 8 p.m., arranging to visit someone's home for dinner at 8 p.m. probably means arriving at 8:10 or 8:20.
1 What do you come to know from the above passage about punctuality in Latin America, USA, and Britain?
2 Why would the British be more relaxed about visiting someone than meeting someone at the cinema?
C In pairs talk about your experience about how people maintain time in our society.
D Read the following text about different patterns of behaviour in different places, and discuss how they are different from ours.
In Latin America the handshake is thought of as an impersonal greeting or farewell. It is considered cold and unfriendly for two men only to shake hands if they are good friends. A somewhat more friendly gesture is the left hand placed on another man's shoulder during a handshake. An intimate and warm greeting is the double abrazo, in which two men embrace by placing their arms around each other's shoulders. During conversation a Latin American man will frequently hold the other person's arm with his hand.
In rural Appalachia when two men who are good friends meet, they hit each other on the shoulder. The happier they arc to see each other, the harder they hit.
E Here is a type of greeting in the US and UK. Read them and say whether these are formal or informal greetings.
USA :
A: Hi !
B:Hiya.
A; Warm enough for ya?
B: Yeah, Looks like ram, though.
A: We could use a little rain. Well, see ya.
B: Yeah. See ya later.
British:
A: Hi !
B: Hi!
A: How arc you?
B: Fine. Thanks. What about you?
A: Tm okay too.
F In pairs discuss how the two dialogues above are different from a formal dialogue on meeting, and then write a short formal dialogue on a similar situation.
Focus:
Skills.
Speaking, reading, writing.
Functions.
.Talking about
differences,
using formal/informal speech. Grammar/Structure.
'Will' to express habitual action.
Vocabulary.
apology, gesture, embrace, complicated.
This text will be replaced
Unit 11 Lesson 8
Some cross-cultural differences
Objectives: By the end ®f the lesson you will have
• talked about some cross-cultural differences
• read two passages on cultural differences
• done a short writing task
A Think for a while and note down some points on the importance of time in our lives. Then in pairs talk about our attitude towards punctuality.
B Now read the following text about attitudes to time and punctuality in different contexts. Then answer the questions that follow.
In many places in Latin America, being 45.minutes late for an appointment is not considered late at all. In this situation an apology would not be expected. If an hour late, a person might offer a mumbled apology.
In Britain and the USA, punctuality is considered very important. The British and Americans have-a reputation for punctuality and it is true that in business and academic life, keeping to time is an accepted cultural value. However, in their social life it is a bit relaxed. Whereas meeting to see a film at 8 p.m. means arriving at 8 p.m., arranging to visit someone's home for dinner at 8 p.m. probably means arriving at 8:10 or 8:20.
1 What do you come to know from the above passage about punctuality in Latin America, USA, and Britain?
2 Why would the British be more relaxed about visiting someone than meeting someone at the cinema?
C In pairs talk about your experience about how people maintain time in our society.
D Read the following text about different patterns of behaviour in different places, and discuss how they are different from ours.
In Latin America the handshake is thought of as an impersonal greeting or farewell. It is considered cold and unfriendly for two men only to shake hands if they are good friends. A somewhat more friendly gesture is the left hand placed on another man's shoulder during a handshake. An intimate and warm greeting is the double abrazo, in which two men embrace by placing their arms around each other's shoulders. During conversation a Latin American man will frequently hold the other person's arm with his hand.
In rural Appalachia when two men who are good friends meet, they hit each other on the shoulder. The happier they arc to see each other, the harder they hit.
E Here is a type of greeting in the US and UK. Read them and say whether these are formal or informal greetings.
USA :
A: Hi !
B:Hiya.
A; Warm enough for ya?
B: Yeah, Looks like ram, though.
A: We could use a little rain. Well, see ya.
B: Yeah. See ya later.
British:
A: Hi !
B: Hi!
A: How arc you?
B: Fine. Thanks. What about you?
A: Tm okay too.
F In pairs discuss how the two dialogues above are different from a formal dialogue on meeting, and then write a short formal dialogue on a similar situation.
Focus:
Skills.
Speaking, reading, writing.
Functions.
.Talking about
differences,
using formal/informal speech. Grammar/Structure.
'Will' to express habitual action.
Vocabulary.
apology, gesture, embrace, complicated.