Flp Rdg Culture

Formal Lesson Plan: Reading Culture Bruce Lawrence

Objectives: Students will learn inductively about customs and cross cultural communication. They will learn various, intermediate vocabulary, perhaps not so intellectual, but very, truly cultural. Prerequisites: Students need to be intermediate level readers as the readings are short, but the topics and vocabulary may seem a little bizarre at first. Level: Intermediate Duration: 2 hours Materials: Ugly Koreans Ugly Americans cut and match Culture Quiz Set up: matching mill, then pair work role plays, then large group work while reporting Anticipated problems: Some students will finish earlier than others. In that case have them help others, or write down some things about their own culture that foreigners might find strange.

Warm up: T: When did you come to Canada? Ss: Various answers T: How did you feel? Ss: various answers <Specific Qs> T: Did you find anything strange about Canadian culture? Ss: Y/N/ various answers T: How about tipping? Is that strange? How about shaking hands, or drinking laws? Yeah, when I was learning Hapkido, by instructor shook my hand one time, and he shook it. It was normal at first, then suddenly he pulled and he didn’t let go! I freaked out! I thought I had done something wrong! But he was just following Korean style of hand shaking: not too tight but very long, with some pulling. Teaching: T: So, today we’re gong to learn about different customs within different cultures. We’re going to learn how some things are OK in some cultures, but are rather rude in other cultures. For example in some cultures it is normal to ask “How old are you?” But in Canadian culture, can you ask that? Ss: various answers, <maybe ask individually if they think it’s OK or not> T: For example, what do you think the problem is here? <show picture of shaking hands> Ss: shaking hands T: Right, the problem is with how they are shaking hands. What is he thinking? <point to fish> Ss: fishy, smelly T: Close. Do you know this saying: “It feels like a dead fish.” Does that feel strong or weak? Ss: weak T: So what’s the problem? Ss: weak handshake! T: Right.

choose various difficult words and elicit definitions limp sniffle slosh slurp smack disgust unbuckle discretely unsanitary offensive custom slap impolite scolded hissing interpret hesitation posture disrespectful wave bow egalitarian hierarchical stereotype ethnocentrism <Sayings> It feels like a dead fish. Blow your nose. Runny nose. Stuffy head. Put your feet up and stay a while Were you born in a barn? He’s got a pickle up his bum When in Rome, do as the Romans do. <eliciting definitions> For example: T: Who knows what “limply” means? Any guesses? Ss: various guesses/unnerving silence T: Well, break it down. What’s the root? Ss: Limp T: And what is limp? Ss: ???. T: What animal is in the picture? Ss: fish T: Right and is it alive? Ss: No. Dead. T: Right. So is it strong? Ss: No. Weak. T: Right, so if I say, “He has a limp handshake” what do I mean? Ss: He is weak. Main Activities: I Find the match: Ugly Koreans; Ugly Americans T: You are going to choose a paragraph and a picture. The paragraph has a description of a cross cultural problem. You have to read it, understand it, and find the picture that matches it.

For example I have the dead fish picture and I have to find the paragraph that says “shake hands too long or too limply. I don’t know who has it, so maybe it will take me a long time, but I will find it. T: So Tinny, what are we supposed to do? Tinny: find the match T: Right! Choose <pass out paragraphs and pictures> T: OK, finished? Did you find your match? Ss: Yes T: OK, Lilly can you read your paragraph nice and loud so that we can hear, while I show them the picture? <each S reads and T shows, elicits and explains> II Writing your own Ugly Chinese; Ugly Canadians T: OK, now I want you to write one about your experience. You are going to write down something that you think is strange about Canadian culture. <write “something strange about Canada”> You don’t have to draw a picture. For example “Canadians always give a tip after a meal.” T: When you are finished I want you to try something a little more difficult. I want you to write down something that Canadians think is strange about your culture. <write “something strange about my culture”> It’s difficult, right? Maybe you don’t know what Canadians think, but maybe you have heard something. T: OK, finished? Jiin Song, what did you write? Jiin Song: Canadians always say “thanks” <each S reads and T, elicits and explains> III Culture Quiz T: OK, now we did Canadian culture and your culture, now I’m going to test your knowledge of social customs around the world. This is a simple multiple choice quiz, only ten Qs, on different cultures around the world. Get together with a partner and try to answer this quiz. For example: Q number one, <write on whiteboard>

“In Germany, when do you shake hands? A when you meet B when you leave C when you meet and when you leave How many think it’s A? How many think it’s B? How many think it’s C? I’ll tell you when we’re done! Ha ha! Go! T: OK, So question one reads “If you’re doing business with a German, you have to shake hands A when you meet B when you leave C when you meet and when you leave And what did you put for the answer? <point around the room> And the answer is C, you have to shake hands when you’re coming and going. In Britain, you usually only shake hands when you meet for the first time. How about in Canada? Wrap up (T chooses a few difficult words and asks review Qs) What does … mean? Can you use it in a sentence? What’s the difference between a “culture” and “custom”? What’s the difference between “Germany” and “German”? What’s the difference between “ales” and “ails”? Contingency plan Have students make a short skit to illustrate their custom. Homework Easy: Use five words from our vocabulary list in a sentence. Difficult: Write a paragraph explaining a custom from Canada or your country.

Strange Koreans: Strange Americans Americans find it strange when Koreans… Don’t hold the door for the person behind them. Slap people when talking to them. Don’t use much eye contact during conversation Suck air between their teeth. Shake hands too long or too limply. Sniffle continually instead of blowing their noses. Slurp loudly while eating noodles or soup. Men unbuckle their belts during meals. Ask personal questions Offer drinks using the same glass the person has bee drinking from. Koreans find it strange when Americans… Beckon someone using the index finger. Shake hands too firmly. Use one had to give things to and receive things from elders. Put their feet up on a desk or chair in an office. Don’t stand up when a superior enters the office. Wave instead of bow when they encounter a person of higher status. Keep hands in pockets while speaking. Sit on a table or desk when lecturing. Chew gum in social situations: while conversing, playing sports, or even teaching. Wear shoes inside the home.