Teach English in Shizhuang Zhen - Jincheng Shi

The lack of cultural understanding and cultural assumptions have been the impetus behind many unintended offenses between various cultures throughout the ages. The lack of eye contact being judged as suspicious. The wimpy limp handshake promoting distrust in the agreement. Our personal space being invaded as a salesman moves in. These are all examples of cultural misunderstandings and their natural affect upon relationships. In business, every relationship is important. In a Business English classroom, there are people engaged in various businesses on a daily basis. As the global community becomes more accessible to even the smallest companies by means of the internet, it is imperative that cultural assumptions are taught. By addressing culture, one can quickly see that there are many English vocabulary words, role play activities, scenario making exercises that are intertwined with this topic. Notwithstanding, it is extremely interesting to students because of the compare and contrast elements. Our commitment to multicultural students’ growth causes us to invade the world of cross-cultural communication, cultural nuances and sociological ideas. We do this so they may be better equipped not only in their use of the English language but within the cultures of those nations who are native speakers. Teaching cultural awareness surveys a conglomeration of language, customs, behaviors, societal norms, traditions and a general alertness to similarities and differences within each context. Here are some examples that generally stimulate excitement in students when discussed. Smiles. Does a smile mean the same thing in every culture? Can you smile different ways? Here is an example. If you ask a co-worker if he understood the report you gave him and he smiles, you may interpret his reaction as an affirmative. However, in some cultures, this is a nonverbal signal that the listener does not understand, and that he needs it explained to him. Addressing people. Western cultures (America, New Zealand and Australia) are informal when addressing a business associate and will usually use his/her first name. Parts of Europe are more formal and use titles such as "Mr.," "Mrs." or "Dr.," along with a family name. It is considered disrespectful to use a first name without permission. When in doubt, start with a formal address and go from there. In academia, titles are used most everywhere. Eye Contact. In North America, eye contact in the workplace is an approved method of engaging interaction and shows confidence and authority. A person who does not make or return eye contact may be considered suspicious or insecure. Asian and Hispanic cultures (Japan, Africa, Latin America) show respect by usually avoiding too much eye contact. Personal Space - a businessperson from Turkey might stand closer to a client than someone from North America would. This may make the North American feel crowded and want to back away. Handshakes. Native English speakers like a firm handshake whereas other cultures may see it as too aggressive. Touching is another area to be culturally sensitive. A kind gesture in one culture may be offensive in another. Societal function. Most English-speaking countries are Low Context cultures where messages come with explicit words. The most direct, honest, straightforward, clear meaning possible. “No” means “no”. In contrast, High-context cultures expect the listener to pick up more meaning from the general situation. Time. Not all cultures think about time in the same way. Some see time in a linear fashion where punctuality and deadlines are important. Middle Eastern cultures put a higher value on relationships so they may ignore a deadline or be late to a meeting to make sure their friend is ok. Stereotypes and prejudices about people from other cultures can cause communication problems, offense and judging. Ethnocentrism is defined as a belief that your own culture is better than that of others. We can easily see how this type of attitude can cause problems. There are many more topics that could have been mentioned. In the Engage stage of the lesson the teacher could go around and shake hands with each student, commenting on different strengths, hand position, etc. allowing the students to comment in English. Vocabulary words in this topic are plentiful and extremely useful for people in the business world. Interpersonal words such as tactful, polite, perceptive, discreet, courteous, aware, considerate, diplomatic, sensitive, skilled are some of the more advanced vocabulary words but work well with this topic. For the Study portion of the lesson one could use Gap fill, vocabulary matching, or synonyms. For the Activate teaching part the students could role play, depicting scenarios from different cultures, or making up gestures to portray different emotions. Business English is an emerging niche in the global TEFL world. There can be a much broader scope than just English that is taught. By adding Cultural Assumptions into your curriculum you stay on topic with English acquisition as well as exploring ever changing cultural communication, nuances and training necessary for excellence within any cultural exchange. This gives students confidence and self-awareness.