12.1 Crossing cultures
VOCABULARY
Globalisation
1 Why do you think kofi Annan said this?
‘…arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.’
Kofi Annan, United Nations
2 Complete the table(sometimes more than one adjective is possible).
Noun | Adjective(s) |
1 _______________ | social |
2 economy | _______________ |
3 competition | _______________ |
4 _______________ | growing |
5 influence | _______________ |
6 _______________ | Integrated |
7 corporation | _______________ |
8 development | _______________ |
| |
3 What does the term globalization mean to you?
4 Mark the following aspects of globalization positive (+), negative (-) or don’t know (?).Compare and discuss with your partner.
1 free trade (abolition of trade barriers)
2 opening of markets
3 social integration and merging of cultures (the global village)
4 incread competition in the world market
5 free movement of labour (migration of workers)
6 free movement of capital
7 development of advanced communications
8 reduction in the cost of goods
9 growing influence of multinational corporations
5 Which of the effects can you e particularly in your country?
READING
Cross-culture communication
6 Why is culture important to business people? Discuss with a partner.
7 Read this opening passage from a book by Neil Bromford on cross-cultural communication. Choo the best‘blurb’to go on the back of the book.
CHAPTERE ONE One feature of the global economy and the mobile workforce is that people are coming into contact with other cultures more and more. It’s not uncommon for a Spanish manager to be working for an American bank in Shanghai or English customer to phone a call centre in India that belongs to a German company. In business, awareness of cultural differences doesn’t just mean knowing about the habits of different countries: that Japane people hate to lo face, that Saudis like to chat and are rarely presd for time, that Norwegians dislike the u of political influence in business. Cultual differences may exist between one country and another, but unfamiliar behaviour can just as easily be found between two companies, or two departments, or two social groups, or two generations, or between men and women. A lack of awareness of this fact can riously undermine your effectiveness in business. This book attempts to … |
|
1
A great insight into the ways that different nationalities like to conduct business. Indispensable reading for all international managers. |
|
2
In this new guide to cross-cultural communication, Neil Bromford highlights the effects of globalization and its implications for the way we interact with each other. |
|
3
A refreshing look at cross-cultural communication that takes into account the differences that exist not only between national groups but also within companies and society itlf. |
|
8 Think of a title for Neil Bromford’s book.
9 Look at the words (1-8) from the text above and find a synonym (A-I) for each.
0 feature A unusual
1 uncommon B aspect
2 awareness C strange
3 to lo face D knowledge
4 to chat E to feel humiliated
5 presd for time F to weaken
6 influence G to make conversation
7 unfamiliar H in a hurry
READING
1 Make a list of three dos and three don’ts for people who have to do business in a different culture.
2 Dr A J Schuler gives advice on improving cross-cultural communication in organization. Read the text and choo the best word (A, B, C or D) to fill each gap.
UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Direct experience
The best way to learn about another culture is to be thrown in at the deep end. In other words, get (0) _______ experience. Try to listen to the radio or watch TV programmes from that country or go to special clubs for that specific nationality or group-discussion groups, religious groups, dance groups, etc. In any kind of contact (1) ________ the time to listen and to learn.
Don’t be afraid of difference
Even if others’ behaviour ems strange of foreign, remember that differences are less (2) ________ than the things we all have in common. We are all made of the same DNA, and as human beings, we share many of the same (3)_______ and basic interests. Enjoy the things we share and at the same time, try to ‘enjoy’ the differences.
Understand your own culture
By thinking about your own cultural behaviour and habits, you will open your mind(4)________the behaviour of others. Also this will help you-when you are interpreting the behaviour of an unfamiliar culture-to avoid applying your own cultural (5)________ .
Avoid stereotypes
We find stereotypes uful becau they help us to order our world and to categori the different people and experiences in it. They also help to (6)_______ us when we feel uncertain. On the whole though, stereotypes are very superficial and don’t take account o
f individual differences. Also, becau they can be defensive and made to protect us from uncertainty, they often (7)_______ negative wiews of a different culture.
