Case 1 (Unit2) Identify the problems occurring in these cross-cultural encounters. Yang Yang has invited a Canadian friend.Julia,to her home for a meal.Unfortunately. the occasion gets off to a rather bumpy start. Yang Yang:Hi Julia,welcome!Come in,come in Julia:Thank you for inviting me.This is a lovely room. Yang Yang My room is very small and untidy.Please sit down and have a cup of tea. You must be tired on such a hot day. Julia:Oh,your room is perfectly clean and tidy!And as for the walk,I'm very strong,you know.I usually walk for at least an hour every day.Don't you think walking is a good way to keep fit? Yang Yang:Yes,I do.Dinner is ready.Please sit at the table. Julia:Wow!So many dishes-four!They all look delicious. Yang Yang I'm sorry I'm not a very good cook.These are all cold dishes.Later on in the meal,just before they finish the cold dishes,four hot dishes are placed on the table. Julia:Another four!There's only two of us eating. Yang Yang:Never mind,please try more.I am sorry I have prepared so little,if there were more people,there would be eight cold dishes and eight hot dishes. because you are my distinguished guest. Julia:No,it's not too little.It's more than enough,"Gou le,Gou le".I'm gonna explode. Questions: 1.What's wrong with their conversation?Why was Julia surprised? 2.How can Yang Yang be a better host to her Canadian guest so she can help her leam about the Chinese culture?
1 Case 1 （Unit 2） Identify the problems occurring in these cross-cultural encounters. Yang Yang has invited a Canadian friend, Julia, to her home for a meal. Unfortunately, the occasion gets off to a rather bumpy start. Yang Yang: Hi Julia, welcome! Come in, come in. Julia: Thank you for inviting me. This is a lovely room. Yang Yang: My room is very small and untidy. Please sit down and have a cup of tea. You must be tired on such a hot day. Julia: Oh, your room is perfectly clean and tidy! And as for the walk, I'm very strong, you know. I usually walk for at least an hour every day. Don't you think walking is a good way to keep fit? Yang Yang: Yes, I do. Dinner is ready. Please sit at the table. Julia: Wow! So many dishes -- four! They all look delicious. Yang Yang: I'm sorry I'm not a very good cook. These are all cold dishes. Later on in the meal, just before they finish the cold dishes, four hot dishes are placed on the table. Julia: Another four! There's only two of us eating. Yang Yang: Never mind, please try more. I am sorry I have prepared so little, if there were more people, there would be eight cold dishes and eight hot dishes, because you are my distinguished guest. Julia: No, it's not too little. It's more than enough, "Gou le, Gou le". I'm gonna explode. Questions: 1. What's wrong with their conversation? Why was Julia surprised? 2. How can Yang Yang be a better host to her Canadian guest so she can help her learn about the Chinese culture?
Reference Julia was surprised by Yang Yang's remarks denigrating her flat.Yang Yang was probably just being politely modest and the flat was not really untidy -Julia certainly seems to think it odd that she should say so.In the West,compliments are accepted and appreciated.whereas in China,people often negate compliments in order to show modesty and politeness. Julia also seemed surprised by her remark about being tired from the walk.Yang Yang was undoubtedly just trying to be polite by showing concem for her guest.We often show our concem by saying something like:'You must be tired.Have a good rest. Westemers are sometimes sensitive about such comments,they feel it implies a lack of stamina.Julia wasn't offended,she just wanted Yang Yang to know the walk over to the flat wasn't a problem for her. The proper conversation would be as follows: Yang Yang:Hi Julia,welcome!Come in,please. Julia:Thanks for inviting me.This is a lovely room. Yang Yang:Thank you.Please have a seat.Would you like a cup of tea? Julia:Yes.I would. Yang Yang::Was it difficult to find my place? Julia:No,your directions were very helpful. Yang Yang:It's only May,but it's quite hot outside today.How long did it take you to come here? Julia:It only took 30 minutes to get here.You're right,it is hot,but I don't mind the hot sun. Yang Yang:Julia,dinner is ready. Julia:Wow!So many dishes-four of them!They all look wonderful. Julia:Thank you.I prepared them myself.I hope you like them.Please help yourself Julia:They're delicious.I do enjoy Chinese food
2 Reference Julia was surprised by Yang Yang's remarks denigrating her flat. Yang Yang was probably just being politely modest and the flat was not really untidy - Julia certainly seems to think it odd that she should say so. In the West, compliments are accepted and appreciated, whereas in China, people often negate compliments in order to show modesty and politeness. Julia also seemed surprised by her remark about being tired from the walk. Yang Yang was undoubtedly just trying to be polite by showing concern for her guest. We often show our concern by saying something like: 'You must be tired. Have a good rest. Westerners are sometimes sensitive about such comments, they feel it implies a lack of stamina. Julia wasn't offended, she just wanted Yang Yang to know the walk over to the flat wasn't a problem for her. The proper conversation would be as follows: Yang Yang: Hi Julia, welcome! Come in, please. Julia : Thanks for inviting me. This is a lovely room. Yang Yang: Thank you. Please have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea? Julia: Yes, I would. Yang Yang:: Was it difficult to find my place? Julia: No, your directions were very helpful. Yang Yang: It's only May, but it's quite hot outside today. How long did it take you to come here? Julia: It only took 30 minutes to get here. You're right, it is hot, but I don't mind the hot sun. Yang Yang: Julia, dinner is ready. Julia: Wow! So many dishes -- four of them! They all look wonderful. Julia: Thank you. I prepared them myself. I hope you like them. Please help yourself. Julia: They're delicious. I do enjoy Chinese food
Yang Yang:I'm glad you like them.But leave some room for another four hot dishes. Julia:Really?Another four!This is a real feast! Yang Yang:You're right.You know in China.numbers have significance.even the number of food dishes we serve a guest.We prefer even numbers but not the singular ones.The figure 'eight'is a lucky number in Chinese,and two sets of eight dishes would be prepared for distinguished guests.I am sorry I didnit prepare that many for you--my distinguished guest,but I thought it would really be too much food.When there are only two people eating.four hot dishes plus four cold dishes is considered a feast. Julia:I feel honored indeed.How sweet you are! Case 2 Ma Pin works in a joint-venture company as an executive in China.His boss is an American named Steve.They are good friends Once,at a meeting with mostly Chinese participants including Ma Pin,Steve didn't hear much disagreement when asking for any suggestions on his new project.So he took it for granted that his new project would be quite satisfactory to everyone present at the meeting But to his great surprise and puzzlement,after the meeting.Ma Pin came to his office and tol him that the project might not work properly.This time.to Ma,Pin's surprise.Steve didn't seem happy but even annoyed with this. Questions: 1.What would Steve expect from the participants on his new project at the meeting? 2.What proper explanation could you give for Ma.Pin's behavior? 3.Suppose you are the person who knows both of them quite well. 4.Could you please give some advice to both of them so that they could understand each other well? Reference 1.In America,which scores high in individualism,people leam to be unique.They
3 Yang Yang: I'm glad you like them. But leave some room for another four hot dishes. Julia: Really? Another four! This is a real feast! Yang Yang: You're right. You know in China, numbers have significance, even the number of food dishes we serve a guest. We prefer even numbers but not the singular ones. The figure 'eight' is a lucky number in Chinese, and two sets of eight dishes would be prepared for distinguished guests. I am sorry I didn't prepare that many for you -- my distinguished guest, but I thought it would really be too much food. When there are only two people eating, four hot dishes plus four cold dishes is considered a feast. Julia: I feel honored indeed. How sweet you are! Case 2 Ma Pin works in a joint-venture company as an executive in China. His boss is an American named Steve. They are good friends. Once, at a meeting with mostly Chinese participants including Ma Pin, Steve didn’t hear much disagreement when asking for any suggestions on his new project. So he took it for granted that his new project would be quite satisfactory to everyone present at the meeting. But to his great surprise and puzzlement, after the meeting, Ma Pin came to his office and told him that the project might not work properly. This time, to Ma, Pin’s surprise, Steve didn’t seem happy but even annoyed with this. Questions: 1. What would Steve expect from the participants on his new project at the meeting? 2. What proper explanation could you give for Ma, Pin’s behavior? 3. Suppose you are the person who knows both of them quite well. 4. Could you please give some advice to both of them so that they could understand each other well? Reference 1. In America, which scores high in individualism, people learn to be unique. They
prefer to express their personal thoughts and feelings in public.which is they like to debate issues openly.Thus disagreements are always welcome in the discussion.As an American,Steve would expect from the participants to express their independent ideas freely about the new project,especially when he openly asked them to do so. 2.In China,great value is placed on collectivism and group identity,uniformity and conformity are stressed.Uniqueness and Self-assertive behaviors are not favored within the group,for they tend to be viewed undignified or embarrassing.So people are not used to expressing their contrary opinions openly in order not to disgrace those involved,even if they disagree. As a participant in the meeting,he should be aware of the status of group members and behave according to his position in the hierarchy.As a Chinese,Ma,Pin didn't express his disagreement at the meeting because he thought it might embarrass Steve--his boss,causing him to lose face.But as a friend,he had to tell him about his difference of opinion.So that's why he went to Steve's office to express his ideas about the project. However.from the point view of Steve.Ma.Pin was not a reliable and responsible person because he was not able to air his views openly. 3.As a group leader in China,Steve should try to understand the Chinese way of group identity.He might accept Ma.Pin's advice and needs to convince him that he really expects his independent opinion and encourage him to more openly express himself. 4.Ma,Pin should also try to get to understand American individualism.He should leam that Steve,as an American manager,really wants to receive suggestions during the meeting rather than placid agreement. Steve,as an American manager,believes that open and free exchange of ideas will create the most productive and successful end result that helps to benefit everyone
4 prefer to express their personal thoughts and feelings in public, which is they like to debate issues openly. Thus disagreements are always welcome in the discussion. As an American, Steve would expect from the participants to express their independent ideas freely about the new project, especially when he openly asked them to do so. 2. In China, great value is placed on collectivism and group identity, uniformity and conformity are stressed. Uniqueness and Self-assertive behaviors are not favored within the group, for they tend to be viewed undignified or embarrassing. So people are not used to expressing their contrary opinions openly in order not to disgrace those involved, even if they disagree. As a participant in the meeting, he should be aware of the status of group members and behave according to his position in the hierarchy. As a Chinese, Ma, Pin didn’t express his disagreement at the meeting because he thought it might embarrass Steve-- his boss, causing him to lose face. But as a friend, he had to tell him about his difference of opinion. So that’s why he went to Steve's office to express his ideas about the project. However, from the point view of Steve, Ma, Pin was not a reliable and responsible person because he was not able to air his views openly. 3. As a group leader in China, Steve should try to understand the Chinese way of group identity. He might accept Ma, Pin’s advice and needs to convince him that he really expects his independent opinion and encourage him to more openly express himself. 4. Ma, Pin should also try to get to understand American individualism. He should learn that Steve, as an American manager, really wants to receive suggestions during the meeting rather than placid agreement. Steve, as an American manager, believes that open and free exchange of ideas will create the most productive and successful end result that helps to benefit everyone
Case3 Jane,an American teacher,had just started teaching English to a group of Japanese students in the US.She wanted to get to know the students more informally.so she invited them to her house for a party.The studerts arrved together at exactly 8:00 pm. They seemed to enjoy the party:they danced.sang.and ate most of the food.At about 10:00 pm,one of the students said to the teacher,"I think it's time for me to leave. Thank you very much for the party."Then all the students stood up and left at the same time.Jane decided she would never invite them again. Why did all the students leave together?Why did Jane decide never to invite these students to her house again? Reference 1.Young people in Japan and many other countries in Asia often arrive in a group at social events and leave in a group.This is a sign of collective culture. 2.Jane felt insulted,because they all left at once.In the US and other English-speaking countries,10 00 pm is relatively early to leave a party. Case 4 Shi Hai is an excellent engineer in a big company in Hangzhou.Joe is his new Australian friend who came to China to leam Chinese Taiji only two months ago. They got to know each other in the English comer near the West Lake. Last month,Shi Hai was promoted as deputy director of the company.Hearing the good news one day,Joe suggested going out for a drink.But to his great surprise,Shi Hai told him that he had declined the promotion.When asked why.Shi Hai took two Chinese say ings like“人怕出名，猪的壮”and“树大招凤”in broken English as the response which made Joe even more puzzled
5 Case 3 Jane, an American teacher, had just started teaching English to a group of Japanese students in the US. She wanted to get to know the students more informally, so she invited them to her house for a party. The students arrived together at exactly 8:00 pm. They seemed to enjoy the party: they danced, sang, and ate most of the food. At about 10:00 pm, one of the students said to the teacher, “I think it’s time for me to leave. Thank you very much for the party.” Then all the students stood up and left at the same time. Jane decided she would never invite them again. Why did all the students leave together? Why did Jane decide never to invite these students to her house again? Reference 1. Young people in Japan and many other countries in Asia often arrive in a group at social events and leave in a group. This is a sign of collective culture. 2. Jane felt insulted, because they all left at once. In the US and other English-speaking countries, 10:00 pm is relatively early to leave a party. Case 4 Shi Hai is an excellent engineer in a big company in Hangzhou. Joe is his new Australian friend who came to China to learn Chinese Taiji only two months ago. They got to know each other in the English corner near the West Lake. Last month, Shi Hai was promoted as deputy director of the company. Hearing the good news one day, Joe suggested going out for a drink. But to his great surprise, Shi Hai told him that he had declined the promotion. When asked why, Shi Hai took two Chinese sayings like “人怕出名，猪怕壮” and "“树大招风” in broken English as the response which made Joe even more puzzled
Questions: 1.Would you please help Shi Hai by interpreting the two Chinese sayings he mentioned and do the suitable explanations for his declining the promotion so that Joe would understand him? Reference L.“人怕出名，猪怕壮”means that people are afraid of being popular or famed jus过as the pig is afraid of being fat.As a fat pig is readily to be killed by the man,a popular person is easily to be criticized by the public.“树大招风"means a big tree is easily destroyed by the wind.Just like the big tree,a famous person or a well-known person will be easily exposed to the public criticism. 2.Joe comes from Australia.which tends to be defined as a more individualist culture. In his culture,people value independence and have pride in being unique rather than similar to others.As a result,they do not fear the actions that call attention to the self, in fact they often seek the notice of others While in collectivist culture,great importance is attached to a person's conformity instead of their uniqueness.Consequently,people are not likely to socialie in ways that draw attention to the self.Standing out on one's own is not favored and would even arouse criticism from the others.They are afraid of being different from the others. Since Shi Hai is a Chinese.whose culture could be regarded as collectivist-oriented. he is also afraid of being independent and unique.To be promoted to the position of deputy director means not only responsibility but also uniqueness and fame.Although he is an excellent engineer,probably he doesn't want to be more famous by being deputy director with the fear that a famous person tends to be the target of criticism and can easily be found fault with,just as the fat pig and big tree would first take the risk of losing their lives 6
6 Questions: 1. Would you please help Shi Hai by interpreting the two Chinese sayings he mentioned and do the suitable explanations for his declining the promotion so that Joe would understand him? Reference 1. “人怕出名，猪怕壮”means that people are afraid of being popular or famed just as the pig is afraid of being fat. As a fat pig is readily to be killed by the man, a popular person is easily to be criticized by the public.“树大招风”means a big tree is easily destroyed by the wind. Just like the big tree, a famous person or a well-known person will be easily exposed to the public criticism. 2. Joe comes from Australia, which tends to be defined as a more individualist culture. In his culture, people value independence and have pride in being unique rather than similar to others. As a result, they do not fear the actions that call attention to the self, in fact they often seek the notice of others. While in collectivist culture, great importance is attached to a person's conformity instead of their uniqueness. Consequently, people are not likely to socialize in ways that draw attention to the self. Standing out on one’s own is not favored and would even arouse criticism from the others. They are afraid of being different from the others. Since Shi Hai is a Chinese, whose culture could be regarded as collectivist-oriented, he is also afraid of being independent and unique. To be promoted to the position of deputy director means not only responsibility but also uniqueness and fame. Although he is an excellent engineer, probably he doesn’t want to be more famous by being deputy director with the fear that a famous person tends to be the target of criticism and can easily be found fault with, just as the fat pig and big tree would first take the risk of losing their lives
Case 5 Politeness:Please analyze the case in Page 63 showing the different way of western politeness: A westerner invited a Chinese girl to have lunch and take a tour around the British Parliament.In fact,the girl didn't have the lunch just because when the westerner asked her "Are you hungry?"The girl answered no. Then they didn't have lunch together.The mistake is that the westerner used his question as an invitation.The girl understood it only as a question.According to the Chinese tradition,the man should have invited her to lunch since their appointment was to have lunch first
7 Case 5 Politeness: Please analyze the case in Page 63 showing the different way of western politeness: A westerner invited a Chinese girl to have lunch and take a tour around the British Parliament. In fact, the girl didn't have the lunch just because when the westerner asked her "Are you hungry?" The girl answered no. Then they didn't have lunch together. The mistake is that the westerner used his question as an invitation. The girl understood it only as a question. According to the Chinese tradition, the man should have invited her to lunch since their appointment was to have lunch first