Culture

Day 5

September 24th is National Punctuation Day

An English professor wrote the words, “Woman without her man is nothing” on the blackboard and directed his students to punctuate it correctly.

The men wrote: “Woman, without her man, is nothing.”

The women wrote: “Woman: Without her, man is nothing.”

Why should you understand cultural differences living in America?

People have a natural discomfort with the unfamiliar and different. (Look at the racial discord in our country in the news right now.)

Learning about differences leads to understanding.

Understanding someone is the key to friendship and peace.

Culture

What are the elements of any culture? What cross-cultural experiences have

you enjoyed (or endured)?What cross-cultural experiences have

you heard about from other people, seen in movies, read about in books, etc?

Culture

How do you define culture?Big “C” culture: the three F’s--folk dances,

festivals, and food. Little “c” culture: also known as BBV-

beliefs, behavior, and values. Examples: how people greet one another.

Cultural Differences

What cultural differences were at work in the cultural experiences you shared?

How would you describe these differences? Amusing? Interesting? Annoying? Confusing? Disturbing? Offensive?

Cultural Differences

Have you experienced any real conflict over cultural differences? If not, what cultural differences might cause that conflict?

When does different become wrong? Or could anything justify such a distinction?

Popular Theory on Cross Cultural ComunicationFons Trompenaars

Critical Incident #1: Fast Food

Place: Drive-through fast food window Time: Around 10pm on a Wednesday Who was involved: Fast food clerk and

customer (me) in car. Gender & age: Clerk was a man probably in

his 30s. I am a woman, aged 29. Relationship: Customer/ Service worker. We

had never met before. Other relevant characteristics: The man

came from Ghana. I am biracial (African American and German).

Description

I waited in line in my car, then ordered a cheeseburger and a coke. The clerk spoke very softly, his right hand was on the cash register, his left on the window.

When he handed me my order, he looked away briefly, then said to me “Very sorry. In my country, Ghana, it is very rude to do this.” I must have looked blank, because he then added, “…handing a customer food with this hand.” I sensed that he felt bad, and I said in a bright smile, “Oh, whatever,” and gave a wave of my hand. Then, I drove away.

Interpretation

Only after I drove away did I realize that he was talking about the left hand being unclean. My mind was frankly on getting food and getting home quickly.

I think he was probably talking to me as another black person about something that made him really ashamed.

At the time, I reacted in a very American mode: I was friendly, but in a hurry. To me, the left hand is not a big deal to me so I didn’t realize how ashamed he felt.

Trompenaars: Rules vs. RelationshipsRules: Everyone should abide by the

same rules.Relationships: people are more

complex.

Trompenaars: Individualism vs. Collectivismhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW7

aWKXB5J4&feature=related

Trompenaars: Display of Emotionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwD

Db_h2i0A&feature=related

Trompenaars: Achieved vs. Ascribed Statushttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkmS-

jTGN1A&feature=related

Trompenaars: Obliged vs. Not Obliged

Discussion

How would you describe your home culture in terms of these dimensions?

How would you guess different cultures might stand in relation to these dimensions?

What conflicts might arise between cultures that occupy different positions within these dimensions?

How might these conflicts arise in the classroom?

Group 1: Rules vs. Relationships

You are riding in a car driven by a close friend. He hits a pedestrian. You know that he was going at least 35 miles per hour in an area of the city where the maximum allowed speed is 20 miles per hour. There are no witnesses. His lawyer says that if you testify under oath that he was only driving 20 miles per hour it may save him from serious consequences. What right has your friend to expect you to protect him?

1a. My friend has a definite right as a friend to expect me to testify to a lower figure.

1b. He has some right as a friend to expect me to testify to a lower figure.

1c. He has no right as a friend to expect me to testify to a lower figure.

What do you think you would do in view of the obligations of a sworn witness and the obligation to your friend?

1d. Testify that he was going 20 miles per hour.

1e. Not testify that he was going 20 miles per hour.

Group 2: Individual vs. Group

Two people are discussing ways in which individuals can improve quality of life.

A: “It is obvious that if individuals have as much freedom as possible and the maximum opportunity to develop themselves, the quality of their life will improve as a result.”

B: “If individuals are continuously taking care of their fellow human beings the quality of life will improve for everyone, even if it obstructs individual freedom and individual development.”

Which of these two ways of reasoning do you think is usually best? A or B? Why?

Group 3: Expressive vs. ReservedIn a lesson you feel very insulted because your students tell you that you are a bad teacher.

What is your response?

1. I will not show that they have hurt/insulted me, because thatwould be seen as a sign of weakness and make me morevulnerable in the future.

2. I will not show that I’m hurt because that would spoil ourrelationship. This will allow me to later tell my students howmuch I was hurt by their comment so they might learn from it. Irather show my emotions when we have more chance toimprove our teacher student relationship.

3. I will show clearly that I’m insulted so that my students get themessage. I believe the clarity of my message will allow me to beable to control even greater emotional upset in the future.

4. I will show clearly that I’m insulted so that my students get themessage. If students cannot behave themselves properly, theyhave to bear the consequences.

Indicate 1 for your first choice and 2 for your second. Give reasons why you made these choices.

Group 4: Not Obliged vs. Obliged A boss asks a subordinate to help him paint his house. The subordinate, who doesn’t feel like doing it, asks advice from a colleague.

A: The colleague argues: “You don’t have to paint if you don’t feel like it.” He’s your boss at work, but outside he has little authority.

B: The subordinate argues: “Despite the fact that I don’t feel like it, I will paint it. He is my boss and I can’t ignore that outside work either”.

1 = Strongly agree

Give reasons why

5 = Strongly disagree

Group 5: Status Earned vs. Status AccordedA. The most important thing in life is to think

and act in the ways that best suit the way you really are, even if you do not get things done.

B. The respect a person gets is highly dependent on their family background.

1 = Strongly agree 5=Strongly disagree

Give reasons why.

Culture Shock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkZyvDZFC8Q

Seoul, South Korea