Speaking

1. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give your reasons.

Use for agreement: That’s quite right. That’s true. I quite agree. Yes, I suppose so, but. I agree with you to a certain extent. I wouldn’t deny that, but... for disagreement: I don’t agree. I disagree (with you on this point). Nothing of the kind. I see things rather differently. That’s not the way I see it.

1. Culture is like an iceberg. 2. The real collision of cultures occurs at the unconscious, internal cultural level where there are basic cultural values. 3. It’s possible to communicate successfully without analysing and interpreting of person's behaviour. 4. Cultural challenges exist side by side with the problems of doing business .5. The more you know about the culture of the country you are dealing with, the less likely you are to get into difficulties. 6. The United States is a mixture of many different cultures without a dominant or mainstream culture. 7. Real “heroes of our time” are those who accomplish whatever they do in life through action. 8. Success in Japanese business depends on careful observation of the boundaries of status and hierarchy.

2. Work in small groups. Speak about any experience of visiting any foreign countries. Did you experience any sings of cultural shock? Was there any difference between your expectations and reality? Choose a spokesperson in the group to make a presentation to the whole class, summarizing the opinions in the group.

3. How much do you think international business is improved by knowing about foreign people's customs? What are the main differences between the Western and Japanese approaches to business? What would you advise to those who are going to do business in Belarus?

4. It might be rather hard to explain that the reason you lost the contract was not the product or the price, but the fact that you offended your hosts in a light-hearted comment over an aperitif. Think of several examples of bad manners. (For example, in Britain it is considered impolite to ask people how much they earn.) Give your arguments for and against the following generalization: “Manners can make or break the deal”.

5. Read the text from ex.13 once again. Think about the links between national cultural values and manner of conduct business meetings. Make your own dialog in two ways: 1) a traditional one when time must be allowed to socialise before discussing business; 2) in the way Americans conduct business meetings.

6. Find in this unit sentences which illustrate common stereotypes about national characters. For example:

– the Americans: the whole purpose of living is …

Say whether you agree or disagree with these statements. Give your reasoning.

7. Summarize the information of the Unit. Imagine you are to take part in an international conference. The theme of your report is “ International communication in the modern world.” Put down the key words and the plan of your report. To make your report interesting and informative, refer to additional sources.

Writing

1. Put down several statements one should or shouldn’t follow while visiting a foreign country or dealing with a foreigner.

2. Write down all the factors which help to avoid communication problems in Belarus. What are the things which a foreigner living in this country would find difficult?

3. Earned status, individualism, self-reliance and independence were all necessary values for those who wanted to survive and prosper in the American frontier society of the 1800s and 1900s. These values allowed them to succeed and were vital for the country to grow economically. But, will these values serve well in the new millennium. Write an essay “Cowboy as an ideal of American culture: past, present, future”.

4. Put down 5 arguments for or against the following opposite statements. Give examples from famous people’s biographies as well as from those of people you know personally.

1. – everyone is equal in status; status is given by one's birth.

2. – selfreliance and independence are necessary values for those who want to prosper; we have to depend and rely upon our family members to provide economical and psychological stability and support.