Cross-cultural Encounters

1. Cross-cultural Encounters Scenarios We need to be able to interact effectively with people from other cultures. These exercises are designed to improve inter-cultural communication skills.

2. Culture Shared knowledge Shared values Shared perspectives Shared beliefs Shared behaviour Generalisations and stereotypes Stereotypes are dangerous!

3. Culture Ethnocentrism We tend to use the norms of our own culture as standards when we judge the behaviour of people from other cultures. We need to try to understand the world from other cultural perspectives. We are often not even aware of the cultural assumptions that we make.

4. English Culture An Individualist culture The need for personal space/privacy Independence/self reliance High achievement/career Take credit and responsibilty for what we have achieved

5. English Culture Reluctance to accept compliments Reluctance to answer personal questions A clear and firm distinction between your private and your public life Westerners tend to speak directly-plainly and openly- We ‘get to the point’ Tolerant of behaviour that does not conform to cultural norms-accept a wide range of views and values Family relationships-care of elderly/independence of the young.

6. Chinese Culture A Collectivist culture-view themselves as members of a group-family/work unit/-consider the needs of the group to be more important than the needs of the individual Obligation to help others in their group Generosity The host culture Modesty Tend to communicate in a way that is more indirect and subtle High degree of conformity is expected-a clear consensus as to what is/is not acceptable behaviour. Pressure to conform Self respect, dignity and ‘face’ are perhaps more important in Chinese culture.

7. Understanding other cultures

8. Intercultural communication Rule 1: Be careful, and don't jump to conclusions too quickly. Rule 2: Try to see things from the foreigner's perspective. Is it possible that this foreigner means something different? If so, what could it be? Rule 3: Always keep trying to learn more and understand better.

9. Encounters 1.Why didn’t she want my help? 2.The shopper 3.Reading Alone 4.Not Eating 5..The taxi 6.Getting to Know You 7.The Gift 8.Out of the Nest 9.Grandma 10.The Compliment 11.Who should pay for the meal? 12.The Banquets 13.The Kiss 14.The English Teacher 15.Grades 16.The Interview

10. The Encounters-short stories Critical incident exercises start with a presentation of a short story describing a problematic encounter between two different cultures-an encounter in which there is some kind of misunderstanding. There are different possible explanations for what may have gone wrong. A broad range of possibilities are considered when considering the behaviour of people from other cultures. There is no ‘right ‘explanation of the situation.

11. Encounters Encounters builds students awareness of how they go about interpreting the behaviour of foreigners. They encourage the habit of pausing to consider alternative possible explanations of puzzling or problematic behaviour on the part of foreigners, rather than jumping to often ethnocentric and wrong conclusions.

12. 1.Why didn’t she want my help? This summer at your school there is a short term English Training Course being offered by several western Teachers and you have been assigned as one of the assistants for the programme. The western teachers have not been in China before, and don’t speak Chinese, so your duty is to help them with daily life issues and to generally serve as a host while they are in China. It is also your duty to make sure that they remain safe while they are in China. During a break between classes, you overhear Jane, one of the older western teachers, say that she needs to buy some T-shirts. You offer to go out shopping with her this afternoon, but Jane says, ”No thank you” and then rushes off to class. The next day you overhear the students talking about how Jane got lost yesterday when she went off alone to a market on the other side of the city to shop for the T-shirts.

13. 1.Why didn’t she want my help? 1. First, decide how you would feel when you heard the students talking about Jane. 2. Think of several possible explanations for why Jane turned down your offer of help to take her shopping. (There is no single right answer but there are a number of likely possibilities.) 3. Then as a group try to decide which of the explanations you have written may be the most likely.

14. 1.Why didn’t she want my help? Discussion questions Why do you think westerners think it is impolite to ask how much money someone makes or how much they spend on an item? Why do you think westerners feel privacy is so important? Why do you think westerners place so much importance on independence?

15. Group analysis/discussion of one of the Encounters

16. Working together-one person writes-but all share ideas

17. 2.The shopper Xiao Wang is out shopping and in a store he sees a middle aged western woman who is trying to ask the storekeeper how much an item costs. The woman looks frustrated and is using lots of sign language but the storekeeper still does not understand what she wants. Xiao Wang decides that this would be a good chance to practice his English, so he goes over, explains to the clerk what the tourist wants and then tells the tourist how much the item costs. The tourist says thank you, and then begins looking at other items in the store. Encouraged by his success, Xiao Wang asks the tourist if she would like him to acts as interpreter as she shops. The tourist however says “no, thank you” and then walks off to another part of the store.

18. 2.The Shopper How do you think Xiao Wang might have felt when the shopper refused his offer of help? What do you think Xiao Wang expected? Why do you think the shopper refused his offer of help? List several possible explanations and then decide which seems to be the most likely.

19. 2.The shopper Some possible interpretations: The woman is tired of Chinese people who want to practice English. The woman wants to do it herself. The woman doesn't want to be obliged to XW, especially when she doesn't understand the Chinese rules for reciprocating. The woman is trying to learn a little bit of Chinese, so doesn't want an interpreter. The woman doesn't fully trust XW, perhaps because of previous unpleasant experiences in the China or simply because XW is a stranger.

20. 2.The shopper Follow-up discussion questions: 1) In China, when is it alright to accept help from others, or to ask for help from others? 2) In many Western cultures, doing things for oneself rather than relying on help from others is thought to be the best thing.

21. 3.Reading Alone At Xiao Lee’s school there is a western teacher called Mrs. Coates who Xiao Lee often sees and chats with in the cafeteria. Several times Mrs. Coates has told Xiao Lee that she would be welcome to come over and visit her some time and so one evening, after dinner, Xiao Lee decides to go to visit her. Xiao Lee arrives at Mrs. Coates apartment, knocks, and Mrs. Coates opens the door. When Mrs. Coates sees Xiao Lee she smiles and says, “It was nice of you to come over, but I just want to spend an evening by myself reading. Could I ask you to come back at another time?” Why do you think that Mrs. Coates says she wants to read rather than inviting Xiao Lee in? List several possible explanations and then choose those that seem to be the most likely.

22. 3.Reading Alone Some possible interpretations: Mrs Coates values her time alone, and feels that sometimes it is more important than hosting guests. Mrs Coates plans her time carefully and does not like to change plans at the last minute. Mrs. Coates doesn't want to talk with XW very much, and doesn't feel obligated to invite XW in because XW didn't call first. Mrs. Coates likes talking with XW, but doesn't feel obligated to invite her in tonight.

23. 3.Reading Alone Mrs. Coates thinks it is perfectly normal and polite to ask her to come over some other time. Mrs. Coates is reading something important. Mrs. Coates's invitations to XW were only meant to be polite; she didn't really expect XW to visit. Mrs. Coates's invitations to XW were only meant to be polite; she didn't really expect XW to visit.

24. 3.Reading Alone Many westerners feel that it is a good thing to have some ‘personal time’, i.e. to spend some time alone doing whatever they would like to do. ‘Alone’ does not necessarily mean ‘lonely.’ In China do people feel that they need ‘personal time’ or time when they are alone? Among westerners some invitations are ‘polite’ and others are ‘real.’ In China, do you have both polite invitations and ‘solid invitations?’ If so, how can you tell the difference between them?

25. 3.Reading Alone In China, when guests visit, what are your obligations? Are there occasions when you can turn them away?

26. 4.Not Eating Xiao Wang has invited an American friend named Nancy home for dinner and Xiao Wang’s family has prepared a large meal in honour of the guest with lots of local specialities. However soon after the meal begins it is obvious that Nancy is not eating much. Several times Xiao Wang and his family encourage Nancy to eat more, and each time she is urged to do so Nancy eats a little bit more, but still not very much. However, each time the family urges Nancy to eat more, she comments on how wonderful the food is. Why do you think that Nancy is eating so little? List several possible explanations and then choose those that seem to be the most likely.

27. 4.Not Eating Some possible interpretations: Nancy really doesn't like the food, but says it is good to be polite. The foods are strange to Nancy and she is afraid to try them. Nancy doesn't feel well. Nancy is on a diet and is trying not to eat too much so she will lose weight. Nancy has some kind of health problem (allergies, high cholesterol, etc.) which would be aggravated by many of the foods being served. A number of the foods served are things Nancy can't or won't eat because of a religious or moral conviction.

28. 4.Not Eating Follow-up discussion questions: Sometimes at banquets in China it seems to foreign guests that the dishes were chosen to test how brave the guest is about putting strange things in his/her mouth. If a foreigner doesn't want to try some food at a banquet, how much should you try to persuade him/her? In China, does anyone ever diet in order to lose weight? Some Westerners are vegetarian. Other Westerners have religious restrictions on what they can eat or drink. Are there certain foods that certain kinds of people in China won't eat?

30. 5.The taxi - Xiao Lee Scholarship - study in UK Arrives by plane at Heathrow Waits in the queue - takes a taxi Luggage in back Shows address to driver On arrival - taxi meter reads £32.50 Driver asks for £50! Why? In groups discuss and think of as many possible reasons -good /bad, likely/unlikely

31. 5.The taxi Situation: Xiao Lee was given a scholarship to study English for a year abroad [in England, Canada, the US, Sweden, etc.], so she is taking a plane to the city where she will study. After a long flight she finally arrives and, after waiting in line for some time, finally gets a taxi. She puts her luggage in the back, gets in, and shows the driver the address of her university, which is in the northern suburbs of the city. After riding in the taxi for some time they finally arrive at the school. Lee looks at the meter and it reads £32.50, but then the taxi driver turns around and says Lee should give him £50. Why do you think the driver is asking Xiao Lee for £32.50 instead of £50? List several possible reasons and choose several which seem most likely.

32. 5.The taxi The taxi driver is trying to cheat Xiao Lee. There are extra charges that Xiao Lee doesn't know about for luggage or tolls (bridge, tunnel, or road). There is an honest misunderstanding. Maybe there is something wrong with the meter. Fares have recently gone up and the meter hasn't been adjusted yet. Perhaps Lee misunderstood what the driver said, or didn't hear what he said clearly. The driver has included a generous tip for himself, but not an entirely unreasonable one, perhaps because he knows Xiao Lee is a foreigner. He thinks she doesn't know about tipping, or because in the past other foreigners have given him very stingy tips.

33. 5.The Taxi-Solutions and counsequences? What could she do? What should she do? What would you do and why? What could be the consequences?

34. 5.The Taxi Is tipping a good custom or a bad custom? Are their situations in China where it is appropriate to tip? If so, how much? How and when do you present the tip? What kinds of extra charges might surprise a western tourist in China?

35. 6.Getting to Know You Xiao Lee has recently arrived in a western country to study English and moves into a dormitory with western graduate students. Xiao Lee is the only international student in her Hall. On the first day there is a party for all the people in Xiao Lee’s Hall of Residence. First they have a planning meeting where they all sit in a circle and introduce themselves, and when Xiao Lee says where she is from, one of the other women say, “You will have to tell us all about your country,” and the other people all agree. Xiao Lee is pleased because she wants to tell them about China. Later, when the party starts, Xiao Lee waits for people to come and talk to her about China, but instead all of the western students talk to each other, and nobody comes over to talk to Xiao Lee.

37. 6.Getting to Know You How do you think Xiao Lee might have felt? What do you think she expected? Why do you think that no-one went over to talk to Xiao Lee about China? List several possible explanations and then choose those that seem to be the most likely.

38. 6.Getting to Know You Some possible interpretations: If XL's English isn't very good, students may have preferred to talk with other Westerners simply because it is easier. The Westerners all actively sought out others to talk to; XL was left out because she was passive. Some of the Westerners were interested in XL and China, but didn't go to talk to her because they didn't know much about China so they didn't know what to ask her about. Some of the Westerners weren't very interested in XL or China, and preferred to talk to other Westerners, with whom they had more in common.

39. 6.Getting to Know You Follow-up discussion questions: 1) In China, how and where do people go about striking up conversations with strangers? 2) What kinds of things do you think might most interest foreigners about China?

40. 6.Getting to Know You Culture note -- Striking up conversations: At Western parties it is generally acceptable to start a conversation with a stranger. Normally Westerners start conversations with one or more of these strategies: Saying something about the situation that you share (the party, the class, even the weather). E.g.: "Nice party, isn't it?" "It's pretty cold today." Simply introducing yourself and then asking the stranger to introduce him/herself. Asking the stranger a general question. Westerners often ask each other about what they do or where they are from.

41. 7.The Gift Xiao Wang has been granted a special scholarship to an American University, and his English Teacher, Mrs. Coates, wrote a recommendation for him that was instrumental in his getting the scholarship. Xiao Wang feels very grateful to Mrs. Coates, and so decides to buy her an expensive gift, a landscape painting, as a way of saying thank you to her. One day after his class has ended and the other students have left, Xiao Wang presents the gift to Mrs. Coates. Looking surprised, Mrs. Coates says thank you, but says that she can’t accept it. Xiao Wang offers the gift several more times but Mrs. Coates insists on refusing it.

42. 7.The Gift Why do you think that Mrs. Coates will not accept the gift? List several possible reasons and then decide which seems to be the most likely.

43. 7.The Gift Some possible interpretations: Mrs. Coates feels that teachers should not accept gifts, especially valuable ones, from students. Mrs. Coates thinks if she accepted the gift it would look to others as though she had been bribed. Mrs. Coates wrote the letter because it was the right thing to do. Accepting a gift now would make the nice thing she did for Xiao Wang seem cheap. Mrs. Coates feels that she has done nothing to deserve such a special gift. Mrs. Coates feels uncomfortable because she assumes XW cannot afford to give expensive gifts. Mrs. Coates feels that accepting the gift would put her under obligation to XW.

44. 7.The Gift What are the customs for gift giving and receiving in China? In China, what are some appropriate ways to express thanks to someone who has helped you? Is there a clear difference between a gift and a bribe?

45. 8.Out of the Nest When Xiao Lee is getting on the bus, she drops one of her packages. A young man picks it up for her, and as the bus starts Xiao Lee begins to chat with him. He says that he is 18 years old and has always lived in this town. Although his family laso live in the same town, he lives alone in a small apartment. He has just graduated from High School this year and is now a student at the local university. Xiao Lee asks him where he is going and he says that he is going to work-he has an evening job at a restaurant to make money to pay for university. He says that although his family is not poor, he doesn’t want to live with them or ask them for money. Why do you think that this young man does not live with his family or get any money from them? List several possible explanations and then choose those that seem to be the most likely.

46. 8.Out of the Nest Most western cultures place great stress on self-reliance and independence, and young people normally leave home at around 18 years of age. In China, do students take part-time jobs?

47. 9.Grandma Xiao Wang is visiting a western teacher he knows and looking at pictures of her family. He sees a picture of her grandmother and asks the teacher about her. The teacher says that her grandmother is 83 years old and lives in a small town. Xiao Lee asks if the grandmother lives with any of the other family members, but the teacher says that she lives alone-all the other family members have moved away. Why do you think that the grandmother lives alone, instead of with the other family members? List several possible explanations and then choose those that seem to be the most likely.

48. 9.Grandma Some possible interpretations: Grandma has lived in her home and her town for many years. All of her friends and memories are there, so she has no desire to go anywhere else. Grandma feels that if she moves in with one of her children, she will lose her independence and self-reliance. Grandma thinks her children really don't want her to live with them, and she doesn't want to be a burden to them. (In fact, they would be willing to have her.) Grandma knows that her children really don't want her to live with them -- and she may be right.

49. 10.The Compliment Xiao Wang is visiting a local museum, and there he meets an older western man. Unfortunately the explanations of the exhibits are not translated into English and the man can’t read them, so Xiao Wang offers to explain all the exhibits to him. However, as he begins he soon finds that it is very difficult to explain about all the ancient artefacts in English because there are many words that it is very difficult to explain in English. He makes a lot of mistakes, and often has to admit that he doesn’t know how to say what he wants to say in English. By the time they reach the end of the museum, Xiao Wang feels very tired and discouraged because there are so many things that he can’t say in English. However, the man smiles and thanks Xiao Wang for his help, and then says “Your English is very good.” Xiao Wang says, “I’m sorry. My English is very poor.”

50. 10.The Compliment What do you think the American really thought about Xiao Wang’s English, and why did he compliment him? List several possible reasons and then decide which seems to be the most likely.