不同文化背景对同一事物的不同反映

Unit 2 Warm up What is culture? Culture involves knowledge, belief, religion, art, law, customs, language, way of living, way of thinking and so on. Language is part of culture: green: inexperienced ,extremely envious e.g. You must be green to believe that. I was very green when I saw his splendid new car. He thought he‟d be discovered and become famous overnight. „That‟s how green I was‟. (p.258) If you are a red, you are a communist, socialist. blue: pornographic, indecent e.g. blue film/joke/book customs “tea” can show different culture meanings. Green tea in China, black tea in Turkey, and a boiled tea-drink made from tea, sugar, milk and possibly cardamom (a spice) in India and in Japan we have Catao. Example of culture 1. Cupid goes hi-tech Every February 14, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones around the world, all in the name of St.Valentine. This year, the holiday is going hi-tech. A Japanese biotech firm is introducing ways to let young couples exchange samples of each other‟s DNA as gifts on St.Valentine‟s Day. Valentine‟s Day One story is about a Christian man whose name sounded something like “Valentine”. He lived around 250 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius refused to allow any Roman soldiers to get married for any reason whatsoever. Christian couples came to Valentine to be married. He was discovered and put in prison by the Emperor. It‟s said that Valentine‟s Day commemorates him. 2. Dutch Ok Mercy killings A 71-year-old woman in the Netherlands died euthanasia, or doctor-assisted suicide, after a priest said the final prayers for her. This was the day after the Netherlands took a decisive step toward being the first country in the world to legalize voluntary euthanasia, or mercy killing. It allows doctors to help patients die under strict conditions. The bill caused a stir around the world. Germany said they would not introduce it. Switzerland, Colombia and Belgium tolerate it. Some fear the proposed law could be abused. Some drew parallels with Nazis 3.People from different nationalities have different responses for the phrase “hot day”. People from cold climates appreciated “ hot day”, they think the temperatures don‟t exceed 30s C. People from hot climates responded negatively, saying that “ a hot day” meant “hotter than usual with temperatures rising into the 40s C. Warm up: Key points 1. He‟s a very cultured man. He is well mannered, well educated and knowledgeable about arts. He behaves and talks very politely. He has refined manner. 2. All the students in my class were from different cultural backgrounds. The classmates have different ideas, customs, educational background and values, family background. 3. She‟s only 15 but she is already a culture vulture. She is keen on art. She shows strong interests in arts/ vulture: greedy 4. I experience serious culture shock when I first arrived in American. Chock which is caused by different value of life, different way of life, different customs. (不同文化背景对同一事物的不同反映。) 5. I am fascinated by the great cultures of China and America. Here cultures involve mainly to art, laws, civilizations, customs, societies, and science technology. Activity 1 Culture shock Example 1 If you go to foreign country, its culture is quite different from your native culture, the culture shock occurs. For example, food is strange, timing is different, life pace is faster. Language is different; Gestures and body language are different. Social customs will be different. People who suffer from culture shock will feel depressed, disappointed, worried, even loss of appetite. Example 2 “The weather is terrible!” says You Xiaobai, an 18-year-old business studies student. “You can get four seasons all in one afternoon.” Talking about the weather is a very British thing to do. Is it a sign that these young men and women are getting used to life in the UK? The group agrees that at first it came as a big shock. Everything was different from home. Example 3 Richard is an international admission officer in British. His job is to look after Chinese students who study in British. The following is what he said. That‟s the time when people feel overwhelmed by the newness of it all—the weather, the strange food, the difference in culture. overwhelmed: deeply affected mentally or emotionally, especially by new circumstances. Example 4 Back in the United States after a long absence, I had forgotten the American custom. One day in the town of Lakewood, New Jersey, I went to the post office. Seeing only one person standing in front of the window I went straight to line up behind him, not noticing that there were a few others waiting behind the railing. My old friend accompanying me stood at the gate and frowned at me. I did not know what was annoying her. What culture shock occurs? She later reminded me that in all public places, from the post office, the bank, to the washrooms at busy airports, the same unwritten rule must be observed. It may seem trivial (a small thing), but I find the American habit of keeping public order worth emulating(仿效). “Civic virtues” are deeply rooted in Americans. Americans have formed habits of keeping public order. Americans have a strong sense of space, it means a particular space belongs to them. In China some people take it for granted to cut in the line. So it is important to promote the “civic virtues”. Example 5: I saw in downtown Boston a young white woman wearing sweater with the big Chinese ideograph (商标) “love” in the center of a heart pattern on her chest. And on her short right sleeve was another Chinese character: “mei” ,in Chinese means “妹” . My friend was with me and I explained to her what those characters mean. She smiled and told me: “the woman might be gay”---since she openly proclaims love for women. gay : cheerful, merry, happy, homosexuality Americans are much more “liberated” “freed” than our Chinese. They feel freer to pick and choose their own personal styles. They can be as fancy, or even odd as they like. The Americans enjoy oddity. Americans are very sensitive to ages, especially the old people. It is very impolite to ask sb‟s age, especially old. The old people don‟t like to be called “old”, they like to be called “senior citizen, or “the aging”. Activity 3 Warm up exercise: Which do you consider the most important forms of culture expression? literature, history, science, arts, law, language , religion, food, belief, clothing Which type of education do you consider most appropriate for the modern world Formal school education, distance education, self-study by media Which are the best channels of knowledge? Books, media, schooling, chatting, social practice, travel Which arts do you value most? Film, popular music, painting, architecture, sculpture, music, handicraft, opera Which forms a representative sample of China‟s culture? Beijing opera(京剧), Chinese medicine , ancient Chinese poems, Which Country do you find the most attractive? America, Japan, British, France, Italy, Germany What‟s your impression for these countries? What national characteristics do you think people from these countries have? When we mention Japan, what does it remind you of? What are the national stereotypes (a fixed image) for France, Japan, and America in your mind? Which festivals represent American‟s culture? Christmas Days, Thanksgiving Day, April Fools‟ Day, Easter Which festivals represent Chinese culture? Chinese Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-autumn Festival New words: opinion poll: survey of public opinion by putting questions conduct: direct, control, manage,指挥、主持、操纵 ascertain: discover so that one is certain, make sure e.g. you must ascertain that report is accurate. define: state precisely the meaning of sth, state clearly distinct: different kind components: part set out :begin a job or a task with a particular aim e.g. she set out to break the world record. deem: consider, regard, think e.g. He deemed that it was his duty to help. indicate: show appropriate: suitable, right and proper priority: right to have or do before others. e.g. The old has the priority to get on the bus first. have a slight edge: have a slight\little advantage over sth, a bit more important than e.g. His French has a slight edge over English. vary: differ from provoke: arouse a feeling illuminate: make clear, help to explain in view of: take sth into counter e.g. In view of the weather, we‟ll cancel the outing. inculcate: fixed in mind preference: liking for sth more than other thing. classify: arrange in class or group e.g. You can put the stamps into different classification. Key points: The result of the poll suggest that… The result of the poll show that though all the people agree that culture involves different part of life, such as literature, history, science, arts, law, economics and so on, different European nations have different views about different forms of culture. For example, French people consider literature as the most important forms of culture. The view of education … Although Italy, France give priority to literature, they among five countries, all think that schooling should first consider scientific and technical education because they are more important than literary and artistic culture. Group work 1. Which is considered as the most important forms of culture expression for your country? 2. Which national stereotypes do your country have? 3. Which country are you interested in? 4. Which type of education do you consider most appropriate for the modern world? 5. Which are the best channels of knowledge? Activity: make a survey and write a report Group work: design questionnaire You are divided into three age groups—the old, the middle and the young. Survey at least 5 students in each group 1. Which of the followings do you consider the most favorable form of entertainment? Watching film or T.V. or VCD\ reading books\doing sports\ listening to radio \dancing\ going to concert\playing poker or mahjong\ needlework or knitting\ DIY 2. Which do you think are the best channels of knowledge? film, T.V., VCD, books, radio, travel, Internet 3. What‟s your favorite sport in free time? Taking a walk\ riding a bike\ climbing mountains\ play football or ping-pong, table tennis, basketball\ 4. Which program do you like best on TV or radio? News \entertainment\ film \ series of stories\ operas\ music\ educational programs\ culture \ sports \ scientific technology\ economics Example: An opinion poll was conducted in August 2001 to ascertain what people do in their spare time in Hongzhou. Thirty people, forming a representative sample of the young, the middle, the old were interviewed. The results of the poll show that there are clear different preferences for forms of entertainment among the different age group. Activity 4 New words: sway: influence they wouldn't give up he …: “would” here implies persistence e.g. He would always ask questions.( he insisted on asking questions. She would lose the key. (She had the habit of losing the key). My response was the result of lifetime of Australian conditioning. Australian culture is inculcated in me since my childhood. I am so getting used to Australian culture that it is my natural response. Activity 5: Structure: Para 1 Topic: Western attitudes towards the societies of East Asia Western is unable to appreciate the economic achievements. Para 2,3,4, Successful aspects of Asian models of economic and political development Para 5 Western belief: western don‟t show interest in Asian models. They believe that their ideals and practices have universal authority. Para 6,7 Negative aspects of western societies. Serious social problems in western societies. Para 9,10 Author conclusion: Western should learn something good from Asian models, should be more tolerant of Asian models. Explanation: Para 1 impartial: fair, neutral, no favoring one person, thing e.g. The jury gave a impartial judge. What topic is discussed? What are western attitudes towards the East Asia? What does author mean by “a sad reflection”? What does the writer‟s attitudes? Answer: Western attitudes towards the societies of East Asia. The western are unable to appreciate the economic achievements of East Asia, deny Asian models‟ of economic and political development. Author thinks that western attitudes are sad because they refuse to recognize, ignore the success of East Asia. In contrast to Western, the author‟ s attitude is positive. He thinks that they are successful. Para 2 & 3 New words: impressive: having a strong effect on sb enviably: causing envy justifies: has enough reason to be example of be superior to: be much better than average (反义词:Inferior to) e.g. His works of art are superior to those of his brother‟s. invocation; invoke: use as a reason for one‟s action 引用为，引为行为依 据 The East Asian‟s success shows that they have enough reason to set up examples for other countries. potent: having great power, having strong effect dynamic: energetic and forceful flourish: very successful, active, prosperous elude: escape, avoid Key points: one which has elude Western societies: Western societies are unable to achieve success in combination of dynamic market institutions and the benefits of flourishing communities. Find out the facts for “success, achievements”. a. Standard of healthcare and education b. Communal harmony and social stability c. Enviably high levels of employment d. Low rates of crime. c. Dynamic market institutions e. Flourishing communities Para 4 New words: draw on : absorb, adopt indigenous: local, native e.g. indigenous language, culture candidly: frankly, honestly repudiate: refuse to accept adherence to: insist on deliver: achieve demonstrate: show sympathetic: showing favor, approval Question: According to the author, what do Asian models draw on? What attitudes should the West take Asian models? Para 5 New words premise: belief No such interest is apparent: The west doesn‟t seem to show such interest. Question: According to the author, what does the west believe? Para 6 & 7 overlook: disregard, fail to notice fore-grounding: the importance given to前景，突出 alter: change homicide : killing, murder incarceration: putting into the prison deterrent to: prevent, stop … from infringe: break (rule, agreement) Find out negative aspects The US government has put a lot of people into prison; the figures are higher than that of any other country The threat of imprisonment cannot prevent crime. American blames Japan and Singapore of breaking human rights. This criticism is not right when compared with the fact that these countries are very successful in protecting ordinary people form crime.( that protect their human rights). Para 8 Language points prevail: happen generally, spread widely reflect on: consider carefully, think carefully tolerant: allow dislikes, disagree without interfering Key points Though it is proved that Western models are not entirely satisfactory, cultural imperialism still widely spreads Para 9 New words harmonious: 和谐的，协调的 coexistence: exist together hegemony: dominance 霸权 hasten: cause happen earlier obligatory: required by law, compulsory必须的 inflict … on: force sb to accept 强加于 key points Harmonious coexistence of different cultures: tolerance of different cultures, allow different cultures to exist together American hegemony is now hastening a European cultural decline: American cultural imperialism causes European culture to decline it would seem that Europe is guilty of seeing one basic models as obligatory: It is unjustified for Europe to only accept American models European policy should certainly be more tolerant of Asian models European policy should certainly accept Asian models and learn something from it. Last sentence: Couldn‟t we Europeans learn something good from looking towards Asia and following their example and then at the same time we should have confidence in our own way of life and do not try to force our models on the other countries. Homework for Written work A culture misunderstanding