2. Робота з текстом Business Communication

Basics of Intercultural Business Communication

As Bill Davila knows, the first step in learning to communicate with people from other cultures is to become aware of what culture means. Our awareness of intercultural differences is both useful and necessary in today's world of business.

Understanding Culture

Person may not realize it, but he belongs to several cultures. The most obvious is the culture he shares with all other people who live in the same country. But this person also belongs to other cultural groups, such as an ethnic group, a religious group, a fraternity or sorority, or perhaps a profession that has its own special language and customs. So what exactly is culture? It is useful to define culture as a system of shared symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations, and norms for behavior. Thus all members of a culture have, and tend to act on, similar assumptions about how people should think, behave, and communicate. Distinct groups that exist within a major culture are more properly referred to as subcultures. Among groups that might be considered subcultures are Mexican Americans in East Los Angeles, Mormons in Salt Lake City, and longshoremen in Montreal. Subcultures without geographic boundaries can be found as well, such as wrestling fans, Russian immigrants, and Harvard M.B.A.s. Cultures and subcultures vary in several ways that affect intercultural communication:

• Stability. Conditions in the culture may be stable or may be changing slowly or rapidly. • Complexity. Cultures vary in the accessibility of information. In North America information is contained in explicit codes, including words, whereas in Japan a great deal of information is conveyed implicitly, through body language, physical context, and the like.• Composition. Some cultures are made up of many diverse and disparate subcultures; others tend to be more homogeneous. • Acceptance. Cultures vary in their attitudes toward outsiders. Some are openly hostile or maintain a detached aloofness. Others are friendly and co- operative toward strangers. As you can see, cultures vary widely. It's no wonder that most of us need special training before we can become comfortable with a culture other than our own.

Difficulties of Intercultural Business Communication

The more differences there are between the people who are communicating, the more difficult it is to communicate effectively. The major problems in inter-cultural business communication are language barriers, cultural differences, and ethnocentric reactions.

Language barriers Cultural differences Religion and values Roles and status, Concepts of personal space Body language Social behavior and manners

LET'S HAVE A CHAT

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions.

1. Why is it important to understand cultural differences when you do business with people in other countries?

2. How can businessmen develop understanding doing business with people from other countries?

3. It is necessary to learn the principles of international communi­cation and apply them globally. However, we face cultural dif­ferences in different countries.

Ex. 2. True or False.

Cultural differences influence business strategies and operations. Understanding them is difficult to overestimate.

Many of these cultures are complex and different from ours. To be successful in international business means to be good citizens of international community.

We should learn to honour and respect our own cultures and to develop tolerance and respect for other cultures.

No one can learn all there is to know about a foreign culture. But to show an interest means to create a climate of understanding and respect. The mere willingness to accept differences is of great impor­tance.

Робота над текстом за професійним спрямуванням.

John Lennon

John Winston Ono Lennon was best known as a singer, songwriter, poet and guitarist for the British rock band The Beatles. His creative career also included the roles of solo musician, political activist, artist, actor and author.

As half of the legendary Lennon-McCartney songwriting team, he heavily influenced the development of rock music.

Many of his songs such as "Imagine" and «Strawberry Fields Forever «are often ranked among the best songs in popular music history. In 2002, the BBC conducted a vote to discover the 100 Greatest Britons of all time, and the British public voted Lennon into 8th place.

Lennon was born in Liverpool on 9 October, 1940. Both of his parents had musical backgrounds. After his parents' divorce Lennon lived with his aunt and her husband throughout the rest of his childhood and adolescence.

John Lennon was accepted into the Liverpool College of Art. He didn't enjoy studying there and ultimately dropped out. He instead devoted himself to music, inspired by American Rock 'n' Roll and singers like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. Lennon started playing rock 'n' roll in a band, which was later called The Beatles.

Lennon had a profound influence on rock and roll and in expanding the genre's boundaries during the 1960s. He is widely considered, along with songwriting partner Paul McCartney, as one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians of the 20th century.

John Lennon decided to quit the Beatles in 1970. Of the four former Beatles, Lennon had perhaps the most varied recording career.

Lennon was tragically killed in 1980 by the obsessed fan named Chapman. He fired five bullets. One bullet missed, but four bullets entered Lennon's back and shoulder.

When asked once in the 1960s how he expected to die, Lennon's offhand answer was «I'll probably be popped off by some loony.» Although Lennon might have meant it as a joke and did not expect it to happen, the comment turned out to be chillingly accurate.

Questions:

1. What is John Lennon best known as?

2. What did his creative career also include?

3. What did Lennon heavily influence?

4. How are many of his songs ranked?

5. What did a vote conducted by the BBC discover?

6. Where did Lennon live after his parents' divorce?

7. Why did John Lennon drop out of the Liverpool College of Art?

8. What did he devote himself instead?

9. What was John Lennon's role in the development of music?

10. When did John Lennon decide to quit the Beatles?

11. What happened in 1980?

Vocabulary:

singer — співак

songwriter — композитор

rock band — рок-група

creative — творчий

to include — робити висновок, включати

author — автор; літератор, письменник; творець, творець

heavily — дуже великою мірою

to influence — впливати

development — розвиток, розширення, розгортання, ріст

to rank — цінувати, розцінювати, розташовувати за рангом; котируватися

vote — голосування, балотування

to discover — виявляти, розкривати, дізнаватися, знаходити

backgrounds — знання, основи

throughout — протягом

childhood — дитинство

adolescence — юність

to accept — приймати

ultimately — в решті решт

to drop out — кидати (роботу, навчання)

instead — замість; натомість

to devote — присвячувати

to inspire — надихати

profound — сильний, глибокий; непомірний, надзвичайний

to expand — розтягувати(ся), розширювати(ся); збільшувати(ся) в об'ємі, в розмірах

boundaries — межі

to consider — вважати, думати

to quit — залишати, покидати, йти, від'їжджати

obsessed — схиблений

fan — фанат; шанувальник, любитель, прихильник

to fire — стріляти

bullet — пуля

back — спина

shoulder — плече

to die — вмерти

offhand — імпровізований, зроблений спонтанно

to pop off — стріляти, палити

loony — божевільний, психічнохворий

joke — жарт

chillingly — жахливо

accurate — вірний, правильний, точний

Граматичний матеріал: Повторення вивченого матеріалу. Simple, Continuous Tenses.

Ex. 1. Complete the sentences using the following verbs:

cause(s)       connect(s)       drink(s)        live(s)       open(s)     speak(s)       take(s)

1.    Tanya  speaks  German very well. 2.    I don't often ____________ coffee. 3.    The swimming pool ____________ at 7.30 every morning. 4.    Bad driving ____________ many accidents. 5.    My parents ____________ in a very small flat. 6.    The Olympic Games ____________ place every four years. 7.    The Panama Canal ____________ the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Ex. 2.Read what Laura says about a typical working day: Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura. Write what she did or didn't do yesterday. 1. She got up at 7 o'clock.  2. She _______________ a big breakfast.  3. She _______________. 4. It _______________ to get to work. 5. _______________ at 8.45. 6. _______________ lunch. 7. _______________ at 5 o'clock. 8. _______________ tired when _______________ home. 9. _______________ a meal yesterday evening. 10. _______________ out yesterday evening. 11. _______________ at 11 o'clock. 12. _______________ well last night. 

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences with I'll + a suitable verb. 1. I"m too tired to walk home. I think   I'll take   a taxi. 2. 'It's cold in this room.'    'Is it? ______________ on the heating then.' 3. A: We haven't got any milk.     B: Oh, I forgot to buy some. ______________ and get some now. 4. 'Shall I do the washing-up?'    'No. it's all right. ______________ it later.' 5. I don't know how to use this computer.'    'OK, ______________ you.' 6. 'Would you like tea or coffee?'   '______________ coffee, please.' 7. 'Goodbye! Have a nice holiday.'    'Thanks. ______________ you a postcard.' 8.  Thanks for letting me borrow your camera. ______________ it back to you on Monday, OK? 9.  'Are you coming with us?'    'No, I think ______________ here.'

Домашнє завдання:

1. Опрацювати текст за професійним спрямуванням.

2. Опрацювати граматичний матеріал, виконати запропоновані вправи.