跨文化交际练习题

the dormitory, she found a small apartment to share with a friend. Her college friends, knowing of her situation, offered to round up some of the necessary items for apartment living. Keiko politely declined, saying she could manage. Wanting to help out her friends found some old but still usable household appliances and furniture. Mary had an old desk that was in her garage. Ed had some chairs from his uncle, and Joe and Marion had a few extra dishes. They cheerfully brought them over one day. Keiko seemed very embarrassed, but gracefully accepted them, sincerely and profusely thanked them.

The following week they were each presented with a gift from Keiko. Mary got an ornate jewelry box, Ed a volume of woodcuts by a famous Japanese artist, and Joe and Marion a beautiful Japanese case, all of which were of considerable worth and value, much more than the old things they had donated to her. They all protested that she could not afford to give such elaborate gifts; they really expected nothing as the household items were not really being used and they would rather have her use them. Keiko, however, insisted that they take the gifts. In the end, they accepted the gifts, although they all felt uncomfortable as they knew she was really sacrificing to give them.

1) What do you think of Keiko insisting on giving valuable gifts to her college friends?

2) How would you feel if Keiko presented you with a gift for your help?

5.Environments significantly influence one’s cognition, effect, and behavior. One feels the impact of the different culture especially when one comes into a foreign country. Shen-Lan, who is from Taiwan, was satisfied for her first twenty-five years of life because she was surrounded by the people who have loved her and whom she has loved. Her friends used to ask her why she looked very happy all time. Even though her parents limited her behavior or activities because of social bias, she accepted those controls because she understood her parents really loved her. Also, her parents did everything for her, such as taking care of her, cooking for her and making decisions for her. She complied with what her parents expected. She had never left home before she came to America. When she came to America, culture shock obviously influenced her self-concept, self-esteem, and self-presentation.

In Chinese culture, she was taught to be interdependent. She had to care not only about herself but also about the people who were around her, for example parents, siblings, and friends, even neighbors. However, in American society, she noticed that everyone was very independent, and minded his or her own business, and nobody cared about one another. Because she did not want to get hurt, she knew that she had to make some changes. In her self-concept, she changed her interdependent view to an independent

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view.

Using a different language, the major reason for culture shock, really injured her self-esteem. Shen-Lan graduated from a well-known university in Taiwan, and she felt proud of that. When she came to America, she was supposed to be good at English, but she was not. After this realization, she tried to study hard in English to match her standards. However, she had studied English for one year, yet she did not improve greatly. She lacked self-confidence to speak English, so her self-esteem decreased.

The change in self-concept and self-esteem was reflected in her self-presentation. Because Shen-Lan wanted to become independent, and she was afraid that she disturbed others with her personal problems, so she began to isolate herself. For English, she did not give up because of her high goal to meet her own and the expectations of others. She tried to avoid talking to her friends who speak the same language though she felt lonesome. She recognized and learned the new cultural rules and expressed it through a different self-presentation.

The three social self-components of Shen-Lan: self-concept, self-esteem, and self-presentation were influenced by culture shock. Shen-Lan tried to be independent, became aware of her self-esteem, and learned American behavior. Right now, she starts to think about having a pet. Can she become an American woman?

(Source://www.umaine.edu/iei/student_life/1995_web_projects/shu-min_liu/essayshu-min.html)

6. Jose and Jim worked together in a restaurant. They had become friendly because both of them were also studying. Jim was studying business, and Jose was taking English classes and planned to study engineering.

One day, as they were leaving work, Jim asked Jose, ?Jose, I need a favor. I have to go over to school, and I’m out of money. Could you lend me a dollar so I can take the bus over there and then get home? I’ll pay you back tomorrow.?

?Sure, Jim. No problem. You don’t have to pay me back,? said Jose, as he handed Jim a dollar.

As soon as he got out to work the next day, Jim went over to Jose and handed him a dollar, saying, ? Thanks, Jose. I really appreciated this last night. It sure was too cold to walk.?

?Forget it,? said Jose, as he handed Jim back his dollar.

?Oh, no, I insist. I don’t want to take advantage of a friend. What if I need to borrow money again sometime? If I didn’t pay you back now, I would feel wrong asking to borrow money again,? said Jim, as he put the dollar into Jose’s shirt pocket.

Jose answered, ?But that’s what friends are for. In Spanish, We have a saying, ‘today for you, tomorrow for me.’ If you pay me back, I will feel that I won’t be able to ask you for money when I need it. I will

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feel like you are closing the door on me, that there is no trust between us. I thought we were friends. How can I take the money?? Jose handed back the dollar.

?But I won’t feel right if you don’t take it!? said Jim. 1）Why did Jim insist on returning the dollar to Jose? 2）Why did Jose not want to take it?

3）Do you think that their attitudes are cultural? 7． Rosa (Mexican--American) and Annie (American) shared a small dormitory room at a university. They liked each other very much and got along well until a problem came up

One day, Rosa told Annie, ?My second cousin wants to come and see the university. She might want to go to school here next year. Do you mind if she stays with us while she visits??

?Gee, it’s pretty crowded with just the two of us. Where’s she going to sleep??

?Oh, that’s no problem. She can sleep in my bed, with me.? ?Well, okay, ?said Annie. ?It’s up to you.?

?Great! ? answered Rosa. ?She’s coming tomorrow.?

Two weeks later, the cousin was still with them. Since she did not bring enough money, Rosa paid for her meal. Rosa missed many of her classes so that she could help her cousin find her way around.

Rosa never complained about any of this to Annie, but Annie decided to speak to her friend.

?Rosa,? she said. ?I know it’s none of my business. But I don’t like to see you being treated this way. It’s not fair of your cousin to take advantage of you, using your time and your money like this. And how do you ever get any sleep, anyway? I think you should tell her you have your own life to live. After all, she’s only your second cousin.?

Rosa was surprised. She answered, ?Oh, the bed doesn’t bother me! It reminds me of sleeping with my sister as a child. You’re right, though, about my schoolwork. I know I’m missing too many classes. But family comes first. I just couldn’t leave my cousin here by herself. ?

Even after their conversation, Annie still could not understand her friend. Before her cousin arrived, Rosa had always seemed like such an independent, responsible person, who never missed a class. Annie just could not understand why she had changed. 1）Why was Annie confused?

2）Why did Rosa continue to help her cousin?

3）Do you think Rosa’s and Annie’s ideas are typical of their culture?

8.Kevin was leaving work one Friday, when he stopped to talk t Blanca, a new worker. On Wednesday, they had talked at lunch. She had told him that she had just come from the Dominican Republic two months before. Kevin

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liked her.

?So, Blanca, what are your plans for the weekend?? asked Kevin. ?Oh, hi. Kevin,? Blanca smiled. ?I have to go shopping with my cousin for a winter coat.?

?Tonight some of us from work are going out to a place called ‘The Blue Hat’ for beers and something to eat. Would you like to come? I could pick you up at eight if you tell me where you live.?

?Okay, Kevin. That sounds nice. I hope it’s O.K. if I bring my little sister along.?

?As your chaperone ? ? laughed Kevin, making a joke.

?That’s right,? said Blanca. ?I guess you know something about the Dominican culture. It’s the only way my parents will let me go.?

?Are you serious?? Kevin stared at her. ?Well, I’ll be there at eight.?

When Kevin, Blanca, and her sister arrived at ?The Blue Hat ?, they sat down with Kevin’s friends, who were already eating. A waiter came and asked, ?What would you like to have? And shall I put this all on one check or will you all pay separately??

?Separate checks, please,? answered Kevin. ?I’ll have a hamburger and French fries and a beer, please. Blanca??

Blanca opened her purse under the table. Then she whispered something to her sister in Spanish. She looked at the waiter and said, ?My sister and I aren’t hungry. A coke and a beer, please.? 1）Why did Blanca bring along her little sister? 2）Why was Kevin surprised?

3）Why did Kevin say, ?Separate checks, please??

9. Katherine came to Beijing in 1998 and found a job as an English teacher in a foreign language institute. Soon after her classes began, she found that her students showed no interest in her teaching and quite a few of them avoided to ask the Director, Prof. Wang, for help. One day, she came to the Director and told him that she would like to talk to him about her problem. The director looked at his timetable and asked if they could meet at ten o’clock on Thursday morning and she agreed.

On Thursday she arrived at the Director’s office at the exact time of their appointment when she found that Prof. Wang was talking with another teacher in Chinese. Seeing that she had come, Prof. Wang smiled to gesture a seat and asked her to sit down. She got herself seated, and the professor excused himself and carried on the talk with the teacher. About five minutes later, he concluded his talk and made a profound apology before he began to talk with Katherine. The Director showed great concern and asked her what the problems was. Just as she was specifying her problem, another Chinese teacher came in, with a form that apparently needed signature of the Director. The Director smiled an apology to Katherine

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again and turned to talk with that teacher, also in Chinese. Katherine became impatient, wondering why their talk should be interrupted since they had already made an appointment. She was so upset and got choked by their talking in Chinese in front of her that she became quite angry. Although their talk continued, she was apparently unhappy about what had happened.

1). How can you explain the Director’s behavior to Katherine?

2). According to Katherine, what kind of rules did the Director violate in their communication?

10. Read the following passage and think about the questions.

A Canadian colleague and I traveled to Guilin with our admirable guide Heping Liu in very hot weather. Sight-seeing is thirsty business, we did not trust the water, and delighted in the excellent beer which we politely offered Heping. Heping refused, we said nothing and drank our beer, while poor Heping watched. One day Heping must have been desperate because he accepted the first offer. Only when I saw that Heping in fact liked beer very much did it then occur to me to ask him whether maybe in Chinese it was not polite to accept a first offer.

Indeed, it is not and Heping was being modest, polite and well behaved and had every intention of accepting the beer at the second or third offer. But Heping had not figured on North American rules which firmly say that you do not push alcoholic beverages on anyone. A person may not drink for religious reasons, he may be a reformed alcoholic, he may be allergic. Whatever the reason behind the rule, you do not insist on offering alcohol. So unconscious and so strong are our communication rules that we equally politely never made a second offer of beer to Heping who probably thought North Americans most uncouth.

1) To avoid intercultural misunderstanding, do you think the Chinese guide should not have refused the first offer? And why or why not? 2) If you were to offer or be offered something, how would you behave? Would you behave in the Chinese way or the American way? And why?

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