Lesson 8

Across cultures

Aims and objectives:

• developing socio-cultural competence

• developing basic skills

Equipment: writing paper, handouts

Sequence

I. Warming-up

Celebrity interview

Preparation: Copy the handout — one copy for each student. One student is invited in front of the class. He / she should think of a famous celebrity — someone everyone in the class will know. The teacher tells the class this is a mystery guest and they each have to ask him / her a question about his / her life and then guess who that is. The questions should be answered in character trying to get a question from everyone before any guesses.

Celebrity interview

You will ask questions to that celebrity — but never ask about the name! Start by saying:

I n t e r v i e w e r. Welcome to today’s celebrity interview. May I ask you a few questions?

C e l e b r i t y. ...Thank you. It’s lovely to be here and I’m happy to answer all your questions.

So who is the celebrity? Do you know? Finish the interview by saying:

I n t e r v i e w e r. Thank you for answering my questions... (say the name)

C e l e b r i t y. ...It’s been a pleasure. Good-bye.

II. Main part

1. Checking on Homework

The students tell about the unusual hobbies to the class, the latter deciding which one was the funniest and most unusual.

2. Conversation T–Cl

What is a "culture shock”? Have you ever experienced it in your life? What was it about?

What makes a nation’s culture?

Why is it important to know another nation’s culture?

What do you think brings misunderstanding between people of different nations? Is it the lack of the language or not knowing the culture?

After the discussion is over, the teacher provides an example of misunderstanding cultures. It may be as follows.

Somewhere in the 1970s a new Soviet diplomat in Britain invited his colleague from the Foreign Office for dinner. The dinner was very important for him, so his wife did her best to please the VIP guest and cooked a nice chicken. However, the guest seemed to be displeased with the dinner and left rather coldly.

The diplomat and his wife could not understand the reason for that. Some time later the diplomat found out that chicken was not the food to have at a VIP dinner while in the Soviet Union it was considered a nice dish for receiving guests.

The British diplomat being offered a chicken regarded it as lack of respect to him and so took it coldly.

It took the Russian much time and effort to make good relationship with that person again — all because of not knowing some basic cultural aspects.

Another example may be like this.

In the 1990s the USA started a wide range of exchange programs with Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former USSR.

Every American leaving for those countries was given a booklet with instructions what to do and what not to do.

One of them read, "Never put on white tennis shoes when going out — that will definitely indicate that you’re an American”.

You may imagine the Americans’ surprise when they arrived in Kyiv and saw 5 out of 10 Ukrainians dressed in white tennis shoes.

The students read and discuss the information, if possible, providing their own examples.

3. Reading

Read the following passage and complete the table noting down the things that are different in the two cultures.

In America there is a strongly developed feeling of "privacy”. It means that every person has the right for "personal space’ or ‘personal bubble’, which must not be invaded. normally, it’s a circle of 60–70 cm around a person. During a conversation you shouldn’t try to get closer to your counterpart as this may be regarded as violating ‘personal space”, and cause the American to backup for keeping the distance.

Therefore, those who love tapping people on the shoulders, grasping their buttons, etc. must realize this won’t be understood and accepted and, most probably, will cause nothing but annoyance. sometimes it even may be regarded as an attempt of sexual harassment.

The right to ‘privacy is fundamental to Americans, and it extends into your personal space in the house. in response, it is expected that you will treat personal rooms of all the family members with the same respect independently on their ages. It goes without saying that it is your duty to keep your room (and your bathroom if you have a separate one) neat and clean.

Never ask questions concerning the financial state of americans as well as the cost of things — this is regarded as a brutal violation of ‘privacy’.

American children are generally much more self-reliant and independent than kids in the former Soviet Union. Most of them start working and earning their pocket money at 14–15. Be sure, the notion of "privacy’ regarded to children is kept as solidly as regarded to any adult inhabitant of america.

Addressing people may seem strange for a Ukrainian. it’s quite normal for kids to call adults by their first name (at school, however, it’s common to say "sir” or "ma’am”).

After the table is completed and discussed, it is not a bad idea to role-play some typical situations, in which some students stand for Ukrainians, and some — for Americans. It normally brings much fun and allows the class to revise necessary vocabulary and structures.

III. Summary

IV. Homework

Getting ready for the home reading lesson.

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