This unit will help you to:
➢ Learn words and expressions about different cultures
➢ Review the usage of “it” as formal subject and active and passive voice
➢ Be able to express differences and similarities among cultural groups
➢ Be able to make an event schedule effectively and properly
➢ Develop cross-cultural understanding in the workplace
Warm-up
Ⅰ.Draw a line to connect each country with its cultural features and facts.
Ⅱ.What are the customs and cultures of other countries you know? Work with your partner to complete the table below.
| Countries | Customs and Cultures |
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
Listening
Four people are sharing their experiences of working with their colleagues.Listen to the recording and mark the true statements according to the speaker.
| Speaker 1 | A. I can understand my foreign colleagues because they are straightforward. |
| B. My foreign colleagues just nod and agree with me when we have a discussion. | |
| Speaker 2 | A. My foreign boss closely oversees our work and criticizes us for our mistakes. |
| B. My foreign boss is very hands-off and gives us a lot freedom to do things. | |
| Speaker 3 | A. My Chinese colleagues always stay late in the ofice or bring work home. |
| B. My Chinese colleagues manage to get their work done during working hours. | |
| Speaker 4 | A. My Chinese colleagues deal with issues more objectively |
| B. My Chinese colleagues are likely to take things personally |
Reading
1.Culture shock is a normal part of the life when moving somewhere new,such as travelling abroad,or studying abroad.So,what’s the definition of culture shock?
答案：Culture shock is a normal process of adapting to a new culture" ltis a time when a person becomes aware of the differences orconflicts in values and customs between their home culture andthe new culture they are in,Common feelings may be anxiety,confusion, homesickness or anger.
2.Can you offer some examples of culture shock in regard to different languages,different table manners or different food customs?
答案：(1)In Japanese culture, using the wrong levelDolitene5saddress1ng5omeone can beenconsidered rude or disrespectful (2)German tends to be a more direct language, while English speakers often use indirectlanguage for opinions. For instance, in German, one might say "Close the window", whereas inEnglish, it could be "could you please close the window?" The directness in German mightcome across as rude to some English speakers. (3)Mandarin Chinese has four different tones, and the meaning of a word can change entirelydepending on the tone used, Mispronouncing tones can lead to misunderstanding
Challenges of Working Across Cultures
It is not a secret that a company’s success is heavily based on its people.An employee is defined by his/her talents,knowledge and abilities.This is the “visible” side of an employee.The “hidden”side,which is also important,is the cultural identity.The culture of an employee impacts his/her views on life,work,business relationships and how they handle challenges.There are some issues that may arise when working in a cross-cultural environment.
When your colleagues speak different languages,it is easy to misunderstand each other.When I applied for the position at an international trade company,during the interview,my interviewer,who is from Egypt,was saying “quote”,but to me,it sounded like “court”.It took me a while to
understand what he meant,and I still remember how confused I felt when I had to reply without knowing what he was asking about.You may feel uncomfortable to ask your conversation partner to repeat the sentence.However,it will save you from making mistakes and show your partner that you are really trying your best to understand him.
Things that are normal or routine in one culture can be totally unacceptable in another culture.In my home country of Latvia,it is a normal practice not to expect replies by email after normal working hours and I will only disturb a colleague if the matter is very serious.However,in other countries,like Russia and Egypt,the tendency is to work 24/7 in response to the industry needs.Get familiar with the behavior patterns accepted in your colleagues’ countries,and learn about their traditions,you will finally find the best way to respectfully communicate.
Language and cultural barriers can cause frustration.Don’t let emotions take over.Think about the objective you want to reach,make an effort to understand the other person and use the most appropriate means for it.For example,email does not convey the speaker’s emotions and limits the possibility to ask questions.Calling someone on the phone and hearing his/her tone can make the communication more smooth,and you will be surprised by the level of understanding you will receive in return.
Working with colleagues from other countries or cultures can at times be challenging,but it is so rewarding when you can learn from each other and open your eyes to other ways of life.
Words & Expressions
define /dɪˈfaɪn/ v. 给……下定义
to state precisely the meaning of sth.
visible /ˈvɪzəbl/ adj. 可见的；明显的
that can be seen or obvious enough to be noticed
identity /aɪˈdentəti/ n. 特性；身份
the characteristics,feelings or beliefs that make people different from others
handle /ˈhændl/ v. 处理；应对
to deal with a situation,a person,an area of work or a strong emotion
arise /əˈraɪz/ v. 出现；产生
(esp.of a problem or a difficult situation) to happen
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
quote /kwəʊt/ v. 报（价）
to name (an amount) as the price of sth.
confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ adj. 糊涂的
unable to think clearly
routine /ruːˈtiːn/ adj. 平常的
usual
unacceptable /ˌʌnəkˈseptəbl/ adj. 不能接受的
so bad that you think it should not be allowed
disturb /dɪˈstɜːb/ v. 打扰；妨碍
to interrupt sb.when they are trying to work,sleep,etc.
tendency/ˈtendənsi/ n. （人或物呈现的） 倾向；趋势
the way a person or thing tends to be or behave
tradition /trəˈdɪʃn/ n. 惯例；传统
a belief,custom or way of doing sth.that has existed for a long time
barrier /ˈbærɪə(r) / n. 障碍；壁垒
a problem,rule or situation that prevents sb.from doing sth.,or that makes sth.impossible; hindrance
frustration /frʌˈstreɪʃn/ n. （受） 挫；沮丧
the feeling of being frustrated
appropriate /əˈprəʊprɪət/ adj. 适当的；合适的
suitable,right and proper
tone /təʊn/ n. 语气；腔调
the quality of sb.’s voice,esp.expressing a particular emotion
rewarding /rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ/ adj. 值得做的；令人满意的
worth doing; satisfying
apply for 申请
get familiar with 熟悉
make an effort 努力
at times 有时；偶尔
in response to 响应；反应
take over 控制；管理
Notes:
Latvia：拉脱维亚共和国，简称拉脱维亚。位于东欧平原西部、波罗的海东岸，同爱沙尼亚、俄罗斯、白俄罗斯和立陶宛接壤。国土面积64 589平方千米。
Ⅰ.Reading comprehension.
A.Read the passage and complete the following mind map.
B.Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
() 1.An employee is usually defined by his/her talents and abilities.
() 2.During the interview,I didn’t have difficulty in understanding my interviewer.
() 3.In Latvia,it is normal to expect replies by email after normal working hours.
() 4.Learning about your colleagues’ traditions can help you move forward.
() 5.Email can make the communication more smooth because it conveys the emotions.
() 6.We can learn a lot from each other when working in a cross-cultural environment.
答案： 1.F 2.F 3.F 4.T 5.F 6.T
Ⅱ.Language focus.
A.Fill in the blanks with the proper form of the words given below.
reward disturb tradition accept colleague arise
1.Working with photographers is one of the most parts of my job.
2.All families must have that they regularly follow.
3.Being late is in any working environment.
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
4.Sarah’s Li Lin made her feel welcome on her first day at work.
5.Problems will from communication between people from different cultures.
6.I’m sorry to you,but can I talk to you for a moment?
答案： 1.rewarding 2.traditions 3.unacceptable 4.colleague 5.arise 6.disturb
B.Underline the following expressions in the passage and make sentences with them.
1.apply for
2.in response to
3.get familiar with
4.take over
5.make an effort
1、I would like to apply for the position of sales assistant in your company.
2、The product was developed in response to customer demand.
3、It is important to get familiar with the company’s missions and values.
4、As employees, we shouldn’t let negative thoughts take over.
5、The company is making an effort to improve its services for local markets.
C.Translate the following sentences into Chinese.
1.When working in a cross-cultural setting,there can be some language barriers among employees.
2.You could go for a walk or jog to manage your frustration at work.
3.They gave us some advice on how to correctly handle cultural differences in the workplace.
4.Wearing appropriate clothes in the office will make you feel comfortable and confident.
1、在跨文化环境中工作，员工之间可能会存在语言障碍。
2、你可以通过散步或慢跑来调节工作中的沮丧情绪。
3、他们就如何在工作中正确处理文化差异给了我们一些建议。
4、在办公室穿着合适的衣服会让你感到舒适和自信。
Ⅲ.Grammar focus:“it” as formal subject.
A.Read the example and underline the real subject that “it” represents in the following sentences.
Example:
1.It is not a secret that a company’s success is heavily based on its people.
2.It is obvious to all that we should be aware of our body language.
3.It can be very different to have a greeting or handshake.
4.It’s hard to say how long your team meeting should last.
5.It is abnormal to expect replies by email after normal working hours.
B.Read the example and rewrite the following sentences by using formal subject “it”.
Example:
To misunderstand each other is easy when you speak different languages.
—It is easy to misunderstand each other when you speak different languages.
1.To share new ideas with others makes us feel good.
.
2.To get along well with colleagues is really important.
.
3.To have an open mind towards a new culture is necessary in the workplace.
.
4.To think twice before acting is always necessary for everyone.
.
5.You are very kind to help me with my sales report.
.
1、It makes us feel good to share new ideas with others.
2、It is really important to get along well with colleagues.
3、It is necessary to have an open mind towards a new culture in the workplace.
4、It is always necessary for everyone to think twice before acting.
5、It’s very kind of you to help me with my sales report.
Mini-project
Most foreigners in China have a hard time keeping up with Chinese traditions and culture.In order to get along well with Chinese counterparts,it is important for foreign employees to learn something about Chinese etiquette.Work in pairs and list the “dos” and “don’ts” in Chinese culture.
| Items | Dos | Don’ts |
| Greeting | Start by addressing the senior frst. | Don't try to reach for a hug when you meetsomeone for the first time. |
| Eye Contact | ||
| Gift Exchange | ||
| Table Manners |
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
continued
| Items | Dos | Don’ts |
| Gift Exchange | ||
| Table Manners |
direct formal respect privacy hand-shaking touch comfortable toast chopsticks seating arrangement
Warm-up
Appreciate the theme song of the Beijing2022 Winter Olympics Together for a Shared Future and fill in the blanks.
Together for a Shared Future
There’s a twinkle in your eye
Reflects the snow that gently covers the tiles
Fly to the 1.
See the world’s new coat of crystal white
This feeling you just can’t 2.
Feels as snow as pure as that azure ice
Fly to the sky
Ride the 3.watch your fears roll by
When everyone needs 4.
Let’s go hand in hand and rise above
Together for a shared future
You and I
We can 5.the sky
We all know how to love
Open up your 6.and that’s enough
Together for a shared future
You and I
Together
We can touch the sky
答案：(1)sky (2)deny (3)rainbow (4)love (5)touch (6)heart
Reading
1.Have you watched the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics? What did you think of the opening ceremony?
2.What impressed you most during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics?
From 2008 to 2022:The Road of My Country and My Growth
For an individual or a country,a period of 14 years is long enough to become calm,confident and mature.On the road from 2008 to 2022,I learned to grow up with my country and the Olympics.
In 2008,hosting the Olympics was new to China and I was then new in covering the Olympics as a journalist.Seven years later when we won the right to host the Winter Games,I did not think that Beijing would be the world’s first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.Now it was real and I was simply enjoying the moment.
Turning up as simple but impressive,the opening ceremony lasted for about two hours with less performing artists but more audio-visual technologies to tell the story of “togetherness” rather than introducing “myself” 14 years ago at the same sports field.The snowflake-shaped Olympic cauldron,formed by the smaller snowflakes with names of the participating countries and regions on them,was lit by two young Chinese athletes.
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
As the chief director of the opening ceremony said,2022 would not repeat 2008 though the latter was “exceptional”,not only because of the pandemic situation but also a different China now —more confident in its culture.
In the summer 14 years ago,I was like a festivalgoer full of energy rushing for work but also making errors.I,like many Chinese fellows,cried after Liu Xiang moved away from the track due to injury.In the winter of 2022,I shared my passion in the Olympics in another way —more serious at work,fitter self —thanks to regular exercise and a positive view of sports competition.
It was like getting over my schoolgirl crush and focusing on learning to love.
I could not agree more with what a gold medal winner said during an interview.“In 2008 we impressed the world while in 2022 we became people-centered —for athletes and the people.”
I failed to control myself the moments when the Chinese national anthem was played and when images of people from all walks of life were displayed during the scene of “Paying Tribute to the People”.It is this country and its people that made the Olympics happen.I’m as tearful as usual for now I’m deeply in love.
Words & Expressions
individual /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒʊəl/ n. 个人；个体
a person considered separately rather than as part of a group
mature /məˈtʃʊə/ adj. 成熟的；理智的
(of a child or young person) behaving in a sensible way,like an adult
journalist /ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst/ n. 新闻记者；报纸撰稿人
a person whose job is to collect and write news stories for newspapers,magazines,radio,television or online news sites
impressive /ɪmˈpresɪv/ adj. （事物或人） 令人赞叹的；令人敬佩的
(of things or people) making you feel admiration,because they are very large,good,skillful,etc.
ceremony /ˈserəməni/ n. 仪式；典礼
a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or traditional actions
audio-visual adj. 视听的
involving both hearing and seeing
snowflake /ˈsnəʊfleɪk/ n. 雪花
a small soft piece of frozen water that falls from the sky as snow
cauldron /ˈkɔːldrən/ n. 大锅
a large deep pot for boiling liquids or cooking food over a fire
participate /pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ v. 参加；参与
to take part in or become involved in an activity
exceptional /ɪkˈsepʃənl/ adj. 非凡的；卓越的
unusually good; outstanding
pandemic /pænˈdemɪk/ adj./n. 全国或全世界流行的（疾病）
a disease that spreads over a whole country or the whole world
festivalgoer /ˈfestəvlˌɡəʊə/ n. 参加节日活动者
an attender of a festival
track /træk/ n. 跑道
a piece of ground that is used for races involving running
competition /ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃn/ n. 竞赛；竞争
an event in which people compete with each other to find out who is the best at sth.
impress /ɪmˈpres/ v. 给予某人深刻印象
to have a favourable effect on sb.
anthem /ˈænθəm/ n.国歌
a song that has a special importance for a country
move away 移开
focus on ...聚焦于……
pay tribute to ...向……致敬
due to 由于
fail to do ...未能做……
Ⅰ.Reading comprehension.
A.Read the passage and answer the following questions.
1.What was the theme of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics?
.
2.What made the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics “exceptional”?
.
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
3.How does the author feel about China holding two Olympic Games?
.
B.Read the author’s opinions of the two Olympics,and put the number of the sentence into the right column.
1.I was full of energy rushing for work but also making errors.
2.I was more serious at work and my body became fitter.
3.I cried after Liu Xiang moved away off the track due to injury.
4.I couldn’t control myself when the Chinese anthem was played.
5.More audio-visual technologies were used in the opening ceremony.
6.It focused more on introducing “myself” instead of telling the story of “togetherness”.
| 2008 Olympics | 2022 Olympics |
Ⅱ.Language focus.
A.Replace the words or expressions in italics with the exact words in the passage and change the form if necessary.
1.Each person has a particular job within the company.
2.Lin Wei showed excellent mechanic skills as an auto technician.
3.As a team member,I always take part in the discussions as much as possible.
4.She was the winner of the business plan contest in my company.
5.He is a good reporter who is curious about new information every time.
答案：(1) individual (2) exceptional (3)participate (4)competition (5) journalist
B.Fill in the blanks with the proper form of the expressions given below.
fail to focus on due to move away pay tribute to
1.The delivery man was praised by us his positive attitude.
2.The manager basically cost reduction and quality improvement.
3.Li Ming control his emotions when he saw the Chinese flag flying at the Olympic Stadium.
4.The boss what she had done for the company.
5.To be creative,we’d better from traditional ideas at work.
答案：(1) due to (2) focuses on (3)failed to (4)paid tribute to (5) move away
Ⅲ.Grammar focus:Active and passive voice.
Complete the passage using the correct form of the verbs in the brackets.
Fashion designer Vivienne Tam 1. (name) “Yin Yok” when she was born.She was given her English name when she started studying in Hong Kong.Her teacher 2. (teach) English at school but she spoke Chinese at home.Her parents 3. (tell) her to remember Chinese culture.At the same time,Western ideas 4. (introduce) to her since people from many cultures were living in Hong Kong.This mix of East and West in her life 5. (see) in her designs even now.Vivienne 6. (move) to New York when she was twenty-five.Her new and interesting designs were liked by important shops there,so a lot of orders for her clothing 7 (place).Today she 8. (sell) East-meets-West clothes not only in New York,but also in cities around the world.
答案：(1)was named (2) taught (3)told (4)were introduced (5) is seen (6) moved (7) were placed (8) sells
Mini-project
China has a history of over 5,000 years with rich cultural heritage and great achievements that have drawn admiration from around the world.There are plenty of good reasons to be proud of her.List the things you love about China and explain your reasons.
| Items | Reasons |
| Chinses Music | I am fond of Chinese folk songs. They are inspired by everyday life of Chinese peopleand are passed down from generation to generation. |
| Chinses Art | |
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
continued
| Items | Reasons |
Listening
Ⅰ.Listen to the introduction to Cultural Diversity Day and fill in the following blanks.
| Cultural Diversity Day | |
| When is it? | 1.On21st |
| Why do we celebrate it? | Recognizing cultural 2. Understanding the concept of culture. Getting to know each other through the differences in language,3.race, religion and other elements. Giving people a sense of 4.in their own culture. .Leading to community 5.and personal growth. |
答案：(1) May (2) differences (3)values (4)pride (5) progress
Ⅱ.Listen to the conversation and mark the activities when mentioned.
Lecture on Ancient Chinese History
Calligraphy & Painting Demonstration
Traditional Chinese Music
Sichuan Opera
Chinese Cuisine
Tea Ceremony
Tai Chi
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Crafts
答案：(1) Lecture on Ancient Chinese History (2)Calligraphy & Painting Demonstration (3)Traditional Chinese Music (4)Tea Ceremony (5) Tai Chi (6) Traditional Chinese Crafts
Practical Writing
Work with your partner to discuss the following questions.
1.Why is a schedule important for everyone attending the event?
答案：(1)Save time and stress (2)Organize all detail (3) Meet your objectives (4)Manage time for extra tasks
2.What are the elements of a schedule?
答案：It includes dates, locations, programming start and end time.
Ⅰ.Read the following tips for making a schedule of an event and find out how you can improve your schedule.
An event schedule is a document that organizers provide for the attendees and participants.It usually includes the general direction and landmarks of the event venue,which helps people figure out where and when they are going.
◆ Use a table for your schedule to keep your content organized.
◆ Make it short and specific.
◆ Be realistic about how much you want to accomplish in one day.
◆ Add a time allowance to your plans for unexpected events.
Ⅱ.Read the schedule of Chinese Culture Week2023 and fill in the blanks by translating the Chinese in the brackets.
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
Ⅲ.Malaysian student Andy writes an email to his Chinese friend Wang Hua about his trip to China.Complete the schedule of his visit to Chengdu with the information from the email.
| Day | Events/Activities | Place |
| 1 | Attend the festival activities | The International Intangible Cultural Heritage Park |
| Wednesday | Climb the mountain | 2. |
| Thursday | Visit attractions in the downtown 3. | Wuhou Temple & Jinsha Site MuseumShunxing Tea House |
| Friday | 4.Buy souvenirs | Panda Base 5. |
| Saturday | 6. | Shuangliu International Airport |
Ⅳ.A delegation from Chiang Mai University is going to visit your college from December 10-12 to promote Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange in Thailand.Arrange a three-day schedule for the delegation including the activities below.
l Visit the college history museum
l Have a meeting with the director of International Exchange and Cooperation Department
l Sign an agreement on the student-exchange program
l Attend a welcome party
| Schedule for Chiang Mai UniversityDelegation's Visit | |||
| Date | Time | Activities | Place |
- MODULE 2 GOING GLOBAL
Unit Project
International Sister City Week will be celebrated in your hometown.Participants of sister cities from other countries will join the event to promote exchange and expand communication with your hometown.Arrange a three-day event schedule for your guests.
Step 1: Work in groups of five.
Step 2: Discuss what activities will be held during the event. (For reference: welcome banquet, round-table meeting, cultural forum, performances, photo shows,etc.)
Step 3: Make an event schedule for the participants.
Step 4: Present your arrangement to the class.
| Schedule | |||
| Date | Time | Activities | Place |
Useful Expressions for Making Arrangements
Activities: welcome banquet,round-table meeting,cultural forum,folk culture performances,city photos show …
Local highlights:(take Beijing for example) climbing the Great Wall,visiting the Forbidden City,tasting Beijing roast duck,enjoying Peking opera,exploring the old alleys …