Reading 6/ page 109 Cross-Cultural Conversation

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Reading 6/ page 109Cross-Cultural Conversation

• 1. Look at the two groups of people in the
  photo.
• 2. Where do you think they are from? How are they
  different?
• 3. What is your definition of culture?
• 4. Other than language, why do you think people
  from different cultures sometimes have
  misunderstandings?

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Reading 6/ Cross Cultural Conversation

• A. You want to talk about culture? Alain
  began the conversation in a proud voice. The
  United States is only a few hundred years old .
  Americans dont really have nay culture . I mean,
  Americans are interesting, but they have zero
  culture. He made the sign for nothing with his
  hand.
• B. I agree with you, said Werner. He was
  pointing at Alain with his finger. Old Europe of
  the last thousand years- now thats where the
  great culture was! The age of architecture- the
  magnificent historical castles are beautiful .
  Its essential to see the works of world- famous
  painters from previous centuries in our excellent
  museums. And everyone should experience our
  classical literature and music n the best
  theatres and concerts halls. Excuse me for
  interrupting, Alain, Werner apologized, but I
  just gave a perfect example of a long and
  significant cultural history!

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Cross- Cultural Conversation

• C. Kamil spoke up. You know, we dont call a
  short millennium a cultural history. The real
  beginning of culture- I mean, significant
  civilization was the Middle East and Africa
  over five thousand years ago. He continued,
  waving both hands in the air, Ancient
  communities not only knew how to create
  magnificent architecture and art they also made
  amazing scientific and technological discoveries.
  They even had medicine the ancient religions
  came from that area, too. Their achievements made
  world civilizations that gave humanity the most
  meaningful cultural legacy!

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• D. Mei agreed with Kamil. In a soft but
  knowing voice, she added, But the really
  important science and technology began to develop
  in Asia and the Americas. While the ancient
  Chinese were building walled cities, they
  organized the first governments. They invented
  tools for work and weapons for protection. And
  the native peoples of the Americas had very, very
  old civilizations and societies. That was ancient
  traditional culture.
• E. Ancient culture? Thats a contradiction in
  definitions. Grinning, Karen objected in an
  enthusiastic, friendly way. She gave a
  contrasting opinion. Its impossible for culture
  tobe old or traditional, she argued. The
  opposite is true! Culture isnt dead- its alive.
  Culture is modern! Culture is now!

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• F. Kenji was starting to fall asleep, but
  suddenly he was fully awake. I agree! he said,
  interrupting Karen enthusiastically.
• G. You tell them! said Karen appreciating the
  support for her point of view . For emphasis, she
  nodded vigorously .
• H. Culture is worldwide- its universal! Kenji
  went on his clear speaking style. He had a wide a
  smile on his face. I mean, like take todays
  food culture. With our global fast food, I have
  to say, everyone eats the same. And because of
  the worldwide media-movies, TV, CDS ( compact
  discs), the Internet-everybody knows the same
  information, plays the same music, enjoys the
  same stories- even the jokes! And I mean, its
  like people everywhere want to buy the same
  clothes- all because of advertising. A beautiful
  young couple in jeans and bright Hawaiian shirts
  anywhere in the world, eating burgers and French
  fries with their friends from many countries-
  finally we have a global culture! And tradition
  has nothing to do with it.

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After World War 11

• E. During the next decade the situation changed
  in many places. There were fewer divorces, and
  people married at a younger age and had more
  children than in the previous generation. Men
  made enough money to support the family, so a
  mother seldom worked outside the home when her
  children were small. Children began living at
  home longer that is, until an older age,
  usually after high school or even college. The
  traditional family was returning in the United
  States, it seemed as in many other countries.

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The End of the 20th Century

• F. In the years between 1960 or so and the end
  of the 20th century, however, there were many new
  changes in the structure of the family around
  the globe. From the 1960s to the 1990s , the
  divorce rate in the Western world greatly
  increased and the birthrate fell by half. At the
  end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st
  centuries, young adults of some economic classes
  started staying with their parents longer,
  marrying later, and having kids at an older age,
  if at all.

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• I Nadia, however, was of another opinion. You
  want to call modern movies, music, food, and
  clothes culture? she said, sweetly but
  convincingly . Those things dont describe
  culture. Culture isnt about the sameness of
  people in communities around the world its
  about their differences. Like its important
  for people to greet one another in various ways,
  and they need to use different titles and follow
  a variety of social rules in their relationships.
  Some societies are formal, while others are
  informal, or casual. Some groups are friendly,
  and others arent. And another example is the
  diverse use of language- is it direct or
  indirect? How do communications styles include
  motions, gestures, facial expressions, and other
  body language? And customs are so interesting!
  Theyre what people of different national groups
  do in their everyday lives and on special
  occasions like holidays or celebrations. Culture
  means cultural diversity . What makes life
  amusing?

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• Its the variety of cultures around the world,
  its contradictions and opposites!
• J. yeah, maybe so," contributed Alain as
  politely as possible. On the other hand,-- he
  started to say.
• L. And if you also include ancient
  civilizations and traditions, added Kamil with a
  pleasant expression on his face. He didnt like
  to contradict Nadia or any of his friends.
• M. Well, we can certainly have opposing
  viewpoints, concluded Karen, and yet we still
  enjoy exchanging ideas. Everyone was smiling,
  and they wanted to talk a lot more.

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Previewing Vocabulary /p.109

• Nouns
• architecture the study of building
• civilization becoming modern
• contradiction with opposition
• discoveries to find something new
• legacy heritage/ customs of the past
• literature reading material
• Media like TV, newspaper
• medicine
• societies gathering with people
• weapons instruments used for fighting or defense
  

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• Verbs
• to agree to say yes
• To contradict to say the opposite
• To contribute to be a part of
• To describe
• To develop to become better
• To experience to try
• To grin to smile
• To interrupt to stop
• To invent to create

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E

• Adjectives
• Amazing surprising
• Ancient very old
• Clear
• Cultural having to do with customs and
  traditions
• Enthusiastic very excited
• Excellent
• Knowing
• Opposing contradicting
• Pleasant very happy
• Proud happy about something or someone
• Scientific having to do with science
• Social people
• Soft not hard
• Adverbs convincingly - politely