- •Unit 1 mass culture
- •6. It is interesting to know that…
- •12. Role-Play
- •Unit 2 the concept of culture. Classifications of culture
- •Unit 3 cultural values
- •Values Vary!
- •3. It is interesting to know that …
- •Jogging Alone
- •Unit 4 nationality stereotypes Text 4 Stereotypes
- •Nationality stereotypes
- •Text 5. Present stereotypes in America and Russia
- •In my view here are the most realistic and essential stereotypes in America and Russia.
- •Этот поликультурный мир
- •Unit 5 national values of the east
3. It is interesting to know that …
some visitors from other countries have noticed that the following values are typical of many Russians: Family and Friends; Interindependence (I help you, you help me, we help each other); Fondness of Clear Directions (there are rules for almost everything!), Correct Answers & Singularity of Truth (no one disputes the truth!); Logic of the Heart (personal feeling is valued more than cold facts); Intellectualism (enjoying long philosophical conversations and writing long philosophical novels); Patience & Perseverance
some visitors from other cultures have noticed that the following values are common to many Americans: Informality (being casual and down-to-earth); Self-reliance (not looking for others to solve your problems); Efficiency (getting things done quickly and on time); Social equality (treating everyone the same); Assertiveness (saying what’s on your mind); Optimism.
DISCUSSION AND ACTIVITIES
4. Task: Putting the puzzle together
Cultures may seem like puzzles at first, but all the pieces do fit together in a pattern that makes sense. Russian students might ask, for example, “Why is that American teacher sitting on the desk?” The answer: to great relaxed, informal atmosphere – something Americans value. Below is a list of behaviors. Match them with cultural values.
1.Interindependence
2. Formality
3. Sharing
4. Informality
5. Independence
6. The Present
7. The Future
8. Egalitarianism
a) a friend refuses to help you on a competitive written test
b) wearing jeans everywhere – restaurants, the theatre, the symphony
c) dressing very nicely to go to work (teachers, professors, bank clerks)
d) friends are friends, they never refuse to help each other
e) inviting the cleaning woman into your office for tea
f) always offering food to friends who stop by
g) saving all your money for a rainy day
h) living well today because we don’t know what tomorrow may bring.
5. List the eight values from the task above in order of importance to you – number one being the most important and eight the least important.
6. Discuss the following questions.
Which values from the list above do you think are most typically
Russian / American?
Do cultural values sometimes depend on the situation?
Are Russian values changing? Do you find yourself “caught between” old and new, east and west? What Russian values are in danger of being lost?
7. Group-Work. An international group is creating a “World Heritage Human Values” project. People from every culture in the world have been asked to create a list of five human values held by most members of their culture that make the lives of their people beautiful and worthwhile. You are on a committee to create this list. Form a team and reach a consensus on five finest human values.
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FIVE FINEST HUMAN VALUES
8. Read a journal entry written by Roz – a young woman from the USA living in the Dominican Republic. Try to find answers to some questions about how to resolve a cross-cultural misunderstanding.