5. Making cross-cultural comparison

Reading tasks:

1. Think of the associations you have with the word ‘stress’.

2. Do the following statements reflect the author’s attitude to gender differences in stress response:

YES if it reflects the author’s attitude;

NO if does not reflect the author’s attitude;

NOT GIVEN if the information is missing.

a) There is little evidence to confirm relationship between stress and heart disease

b) Stress levels have the lowest risk with women.

c) Men are reported to have higher mental stress.

d) The ways women cope with stress may be more heart protective..

3. Make cross-cultural connections:

a) What are men/women apt to do in response to stress, in your culture?

b) The attitudes to stress are controversial, aren’t they?

c) Is there any cultural stereotype of the way how stress is seen in your culture?

d) How easy is it to cope with stress in your community?

Key phrases to make cross-cultural comparison:

The text aims at a psychological influence on the reader to convince him of the reality and authenticity of the described topic\subject;

The author holds unmistakable generalizations of social realities…;

The excerpt makes us familiarize ourselves with popular images and values;

… focuses on the lifestyles;

… culturally-appropriate behaviour…;

We become exposed to …;

Familiarity with…;

It makes it possible to identify oneself with …;

This passage deals with ways of approaching culture …;

.. symbols associated with one’s own culture…;

By observing and describing the realia…;

It provokes to reveal images related to another culture…;

Focusing on the subject matter of …, the reader can draw up visible aspects…;

The passage exhibits distinct patterns associated with areas…;

… to become aware of the lifestyles…;

… what people do in the common situations;

… is intended to reveal information about …;

… to encourage comparison of how these options and patterns may be similar to\different from those in the reader’s culture;

… arrive at a deeper understanding of both English-speaking cultures and one’s own;

… say and do in specific social situations;

It presents facts about…;

… subtleties of cultural behaviour;

… to make implicit cultural assumptions;

… to share values and attitudes;

… adhere to systems of…;

Values are taken for granted…;

The author places strong emphasis on…

6. Vocabulary development

Reading tasks:

1. Complete these notes about the passage; use the appropriate words and phrases:

a) At present we need to develop the stress response as………

b) Depression or anxiety might be caused by...............

c) Level of hormones critical for feelings of well-being is disrupted by …………

d) In spite of controversy in the effects of mental stress on heart disease,………..

e) Varying effects on eating disorder are observed in ………..

f) What may be intensified by stress is ……………

2. Pick up proper words that

a) refer to pain;

b) relate to gender;

c) describe eating problems;

d) have to do with psychological effect.

3. For each of there words find at least one unrelated meaning different from the meaning they have in the text:

a) performance;

b) asset;

c) critical;

d) persistent;

e) acute;

f) subject;

h) account.

4. Organize groups of words into three different families related to

a) diagnosis of stress;

b) causes of stress;

c) effects of stress;

5. Scan the text for the words and phrases which contribute to understanding of

a) theme;

b) gist;

c) author’s tone;

d) cultural expectations.

7. Activate activities

Reading tasks:

1. Express yourself in your answers to the following questions:

a) How much does your understanding of stress change by the end of the text?

b) If it were possible, how would you present the problem of stress to the audience?

c) In your opinion, do we need to learn to diagnose stress?

d) Do you think it is possible to develop personal response to stress?

e) Have you worked out any stress management techniques so far?

2. Debate on the author’s statements:

a) Certainly, on a more obvious level, stress diminishes the quality of life by reducing feelings of pleasure and accomplishment, and relationships are often threatened.

b) Some studies have clearly linked job dissatisfaction and depression to pain, although it is still unclear if stress is a direct reason.

c) Some studies, however, have not found any strong link between stress and eating problems.

d) Different stress factors may affect differently.

Key phrases to share personal views:

Giving reason:

Owing to, due to the fact that, inasmuch as, since, because of, on account of;

Accordingly, hence, consequently, as a consequence of, on the grounds that, resulting in, therefore, thus, in view of, now that, seeing that, for this reason; on the whole, in general; that’s why I feel that…; I think there are (two/several reasons for that.

Comparing and contrasting:

As … as, not as\so … as, as much of …, more of\less of, the more … the less, is similar to; similarly, likewise, of equal importance is…, equally, in the same way, correspondingly; while, whereas, in contrast to, contrary to, rather than, conversely; at the same time

Exemplifying:

An example of this is when\the way …, for example\instance, for a star, for one thing, if you look at, one more thing, take … for instance, namely, particularly, specifically, to exemplify this, especially

Giving chronological events:

Initially, first, at first, to start\begin with, first of all;

Secondly, after this\that, second, afterwards, then, next;

Finally, at last, in the end, eventually, lastly

Making reference:

Considering, concerning, regarding, with respect\regard\reference to, in respect\regard\reference to this or to the fact that, according to, with reference to

Making concession:

Even so, however, still, yet, nevertheless, on the other hand, although, despite\in spite of, regardless of, admittedly, considering, whereas\while, nonetheless

Placing emphasis:

Besides, not only this but…also; as well, what is more, in fact, as a matter of fact, actually, indeed, let alone, clearly, obviously, the fact of the matter is, in practice, apparently