UNIT 7 8

Social life

Topic 5
A world guide to good manners. How not to behave badly abroad.

1. Study the vocabulary how to make generalizations. Write 10 sentences of your

own with these phrases and underline the phrases you have used.

It is (not) important to do smth

It is (not) usual to do smth
It is (not) acceptable to do smth
It is (not) acceptable for smb to
It is a rule to do smth
It is (not) okay
It is (not) respectful It's not respectful, and it's not very clever to think
that way.
It is rude / polite
It is (perfectly) normal
It is quite common
To be avoided
Smb tend to When I'm tired, I tend to make mistakes.
Smb tend not to
To have a tendency to I have a tendency to get distracted, and I put that note up to
remind myself not to get distracted.
Generally speaking Generally speaking, what she says is right.
In most cases
In some cases In some cases, that responsibility may be shared.
In a large number of cases
Mostly, often, sometimes
"I've often found that…" I've often found that the best solution is the simplest.
To prefer I would prefer it if you didn't tell anyone.
Smb should do smth
Smb shouldn't do smth
Smb might have
To consider smth to be / to be considered
You must
You mustn’t
You must never
You can’t
You have to
They normally do Why not zap him back in time, like they normally do?
It’s essential It's essential that you play along and do exactly what she says.
To be different from She was expecting you to be different from them.
 Are these statements true (/) or false (X) for people in your country?
1. When we meet someone for the first time, we shake hands.
2. Friends kiss on both cheeks when they meet or when they say goodbye.
3. We often invite people to our home for a meal.
4. If you have arranged to do something with friends, it's OK to be a little late.
5. You shouldn't yawn in public.
6. We call most people by their first names.
true

3. Read the text A World Guide to Good Manners. These lines have been taken out of
the text. Where do they go?
a) many people prefer not to discuss business while eating
b) some businesses close in the early afternoon for a couple of hours
c) for greeting, eating, or drinking
d) the deeper you should bow
e) should wear long-sleeved blouses and skirts below the knee

Work with the words in bold (explain and translate).

Travelling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We live in a global
village, but this doesn't mean that we all behave in the same way.
• Greetings
How should you behave when you meet someone for the first time? An American or
Canadian shakes your hand firmly while looking you straight in the eyes. In many parts
of Asia, there is no physical contact at all. In Japan, you should bow, and the more respect
you want to show, (1)__________. In Thailand, the greeting is made by pressing both
hands together at the chest, as if you are praying, and bowing your head slightly. In both
countries, eye contact is avoided as a sign of respect.
• Clothes
Many countries have rules about what you should and shouldn't wear. In Asian and
Muslim countries, you shouldn't reveal the body, especially women, who (2) ________.
In Japan, you should take off your shoes when entering a house or a restaurant. Remember
to place them neatly together facing the door you came in. This is also true in China,
Korea, Thailand, and Iran.
• Food and drink
In Italy, Spain, and Latin America, lunch is often the biggest meal of the day, and can last
two or three hours. For this reason many people eat a light breakfast and a late dinner. In
Britain, you might have a business lunch and do business as you eat. In Mexico and Japan,
(3) ______________. Lunch is a time to relax and socialize, and the Japanese rarely drink
alcohol at lunchtime, In Britain and the United States, it's not unusual to have a business
meeting over breakfast, and in China it's common to have business banquets, but you
shouldn't discuss business during the meal.
• Doing business
In most countries, an exchange of business cards is essential for all introductions. You
should include your company name and your position. If you are going to a country where
your language is not widely spoken, you can get the reverse side of your card printed in
the local language. In Japan, you must present your card with both hands, with the writing
facing the person you are giving it to. In many countries, business hours are from 9.00 or
10,00 to 5.00 or 6.00. However in some countries, such as Greece, Italy, and Spain, (4)
_________ then remain open until the evening. Japanese business people consider it their
professional duty to go out after work with colleagues to restaurants, bars, or nightclubs. If
you are invited, you shouldn't refuse, even if you don't feel like staying out late.

EXTRA TIPS
HERE ARE SOME EXTRA TIPS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL:
1 In many Asian cultures, it is acceptable to smack your lips when you eat. It means
that the food is good.
1 In France, you shouldn't sit down in a café until you've shaken hands with everyone
you know.
2 In India and the Middle East, you must never use the left hand (5) ________.
4 In China, your host will keep refilling your dish unless you lay your chopsticks
across your bowl.
5 Most South Americans and Mexicans like to stand very close to the person they're
talking to. You shouldn't back away.
6 In Russia, you must match your hosts drink for drink or they will think you
unfriendly.
7 In Ireland, social events sometimes end with singing and dancing. You may be asked
to sing.
8 In America, you should eat your hamburger with both hands and as quickly as
possible. You shouldn't try to have a conversation until it is eaten.

4. Answer the questions.

1 What are the two differences between the American and the Japanese greeting?
2 List some of the clothes you think women shouldn't wear in Asian and Muslim
countries.
3 Is your main meal of the day the same as in Italy or Spain?
4 In which countries do they prefer not to discuss business during meals?
5 What are some of the rules about business cards?
6 Why is it not a good idea to say to your Japanese business colleagues, 'I don't feel like
staying out late tonight.'?
7 Which Extra Tips are about food and drink? Which ones are about general behaviour?
5. Read the article “Culture clash” to find more information about problems that
happen when people do business in other countries. Write down three things that you
think could be a problem for British or American people doing business in your
country. Think about such things as:
dress calling people by
time-keeping their first names
translation problems business
getting to know entertaining
people personally giving gifts
advertising and
marketing a product

Point out interesting clashes you can meet doing business abroad.
Work with the words in bold (explain and translate).
CULTURE CLASH
In Africa a famous food company tried to sell its baby food by advertising it with
the picture of a baby on the label. They did not know that this particular country used
labels only to show a picture of the food inside! When Pepsico used the slogan “Come
Alive With Pepsi” in Taiwan, they had no idea that it would be translated into Chinese as
“Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead”.
Misunderstandings such as these about language or about culture are sometimes
comical but can also cause genuine hurt or anger. Business styles and customs vary
widely in different countries and what is normal in one culture can be completely
unacceptable in another. How well is your company prepared? Try this short test. Look at
the following situations. What mistakes have been made?
1 You are in Paris on business. In a meeting it is very hot and you suggest to everyone
that they take off their ties and roll up their sleeves.
2 A Japanese businessman asks, “When do you want the report?” “Yesterday!”
answers the American businesswoman.
3 In an Arabic country, a group from a British company are invited to a dinner party.
They all bring gifts and during the evening they continue to talk about their work.
4 A sales manager in Hong Kong is angry because his workers are always fifteen
minutes late for work. He makes a new rule that they all must come on time.
5 A Spanish secretary receives an urgent request to e-mail a report to the New York
office before 2/3. She sends it on 1st March.
6 You are having a meal with Chinese colleagues in Nanjing. After the meal you use
the hot towel to wipe your hands and your face.
How did you do? Did you spot the “cultural clashes”? Well, in the first situation,
French businessmen rarely take off their ties even if the weather is very hot. The idea of
the American “casual Friday” where the boss is called by his or her first name and people
can wear jeans and trainers is a complete mystery to many other nationalities, in Germany
for example, colleagues often call each other by their titles and surnames, (e.g. Herr
Doktor) in the workplace.
For many western countries, “time is money” and good business equals fast
business. However, in some cultures people consider that building good relationships with
business partners is more important. They think in months and years and not days and
hours and find western executives impatient.
 Socialising in different countries can be tricky. In Arabic countries, for example,
people do not discuss business over meals. Giving gifts is another potential problem: in the
UK most people fake presents to a dinner party, but in many countries this is not polite
because it suggests you think the host is poor. The Hong Kong story is true. The workers
started coming on time but they also stopped exactly on time instead of working into the
night as they used to do and left a great deal of work unfinished. The Spanish secretary
was a month late. She didn't realize that in America the month is written before the day
whereas in Europe the day comes first.
Finally, in the Chinese restaurant it is bad manners to wipe your face with a towel.
Chinese people use it only for their hands. So how did you do? Are you culturally aware
or do you need a course in cross-cultural relationships? Whatever you do, remember that
your way is not the only way and it is important to respect other people’s customs.
6. Discuss these questions.
1. There is a saying in English 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' What does it
mean? Do you agree? Do you have a similar saying in your language?
o when you are visiting another place, you should follow the customs of
the people in that place
o When visiting a foreign land, follow the customs of those who live in it. It
can also mean that when you are in an unfamiliar situation, you should
follow the lead of those who know the ropes.
o This idiom means that when you are visiting a different place or culture,
you should try to follow their customs and practices.
o This means that you should adapt to the customs of societies when you visit
them, or behave in an appropriate manner according to how people around
you behave. It is often shortened to "When in Rome"
Перевод: в чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят
Эквивалент в русском языке: с волками жить - по-волчьи выть
2. Think of one or two examples of bad manners in your country. For example, in
Britain it is considered impolite to ask people how much they earn.
 It is impolite to point with your finger. But if you must point, it's better to use
your entire hand instead of your finger
 Do not begin eating until the host invites you to start. Always keep your
hands visible when eating. Keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table.
Try everything. Refusing a dish is considered very rude.
 DON'T be offended if a person asks how much you earn. Don't complain
about having no money to pay your bills, though, - it's considered to be rude
3. Is it important to be culturally aware? Do you need a course in cross-cultural
relationships?
I believe that is is very important to be aware of your culture when communicating
to others. Every society has a norm(s) to follow, and if they are broken, then a person is
likely to get shunned in society. When a person makes a mishap like this, he or she may
never live it down depending on the country. I would suggest that before anyone goes to
another country, so is studying social skills with their own continent, they would definitely
need to stay-up-to-date with what is right and wrong, and study what that culture has to
offer before going there. This will help in preventing any social flubs from happening to
anyone, and make an individual more culturally aware of himself or herself.
7. Choose one country and prepare short information (short reports or
video, or presentation) about interesting and unusual rules of behaviour
and good manners in different countries using the vocabulary from Ex.1:
 Great Britain
 France
 Italy
 Spain
 Germany
 China
 USA
 Arabic countries
 Your choice
 India:
1. If you do try to eat using your fingers, make sure you only use your right hand and
not your left, even if you are left-handed, as the left-hand is considered to be
‘unclean’.
2. Contrary to in Western society, it is considered bad manners in India to arrive on
time, and good manners would be to arrive 15 to 30 minutes late. It is also
acceptable for invited guests to bring other guests with them such as friends or
business colleagues.
3. It would also be a good idea to telephone all of your intended guests the day before
an event, as this is considered polite, even where written invitations have been sent
out before-hand.
4. White women traveling in India may feel very vulnerable and exposed to some of
the Indian men that they might encounter.
It is not saying that every other Indian guy you meet will be a pervert, but street
sexual harassment is a phenomenon that is unfortunately widespread in the country.
5. If meeting with a group of people, be sure to greet each person individually rather
than addressing them as a group.
6. When talking to Indian people, make sure to be aware of your body language, as
much significance will be attached to it. Avoid “aggressive” postures, such as folded
arms or hands on hips, and also avoid putting your feet up on furniture or pointing
them at another person, as, like the left hand, the feet are considered unclean.
7. Only use someone’s given name if they have expressly given you permission to do
so.
8. During your India trip, if you are visiting friends or you’d like to thank your hosts, a
box of sweets might be a good idea. Avoid wine and flowers though. Alcohol is
generally frowned upon as a gift choice, and flowers are considered unusual for a
gift.
9. The use of "please" and "thank you" are essential for good manners in western
culture. However, in India, they can create unnecessary formality and, surprisingly,
can even be insulting! If you thank them, they may see it as a violation of intimacy
and the creation of distance that shouldn't exist.
10.There's a joke that it's okay to "piss in public but not kiss in public" in India.
Unfortunately, there is truth to it! While you may think nothing of holding your
partner's hand in public, or even hugging or kissing them, it's not appropriate in
India.
8. Write a composition about how not to behave badly abroad using the information
from the texts and all discussions, including the following: what the concept of good
manners is, differences in social behaviour in different countries, what culture clash
is, some examples, importance to be culturally aware.
Travelling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We live in a global
village, but how well do we know and understand each other? Here is a simple test.
Imagine you have arranged a meeting at four o'clock. What time should you expect your
foreign business colleagues to arrive? If they're German, they'll be bang on time. If they're
American, they'll probably be 15 minutes early. If they're British, they'll be 15 minutes
late, and you should allow up to an hour for the Italians
When the European Economic Community began to increase, several guidebooks
appeared giving advice on international etiquette. At first many people thought this was a
joke, especially the British, who seemed to assume that the widespread understanding of
their language meant a corresponding understanding of English customs. Very soon they
had to change their ideas, as they realized that they had a lot to learn about how to behave
with their foreign business partners.
Taking off your jacket and rolling up your sleeves is a sign of getting down to work
in Britain and Holland, but in Germany people regard it as taking it easy.
American executives sometimes signal their feelings of ease and importance in their
offices by putting their feet on the desk whilst on the telephone. In Japan people would be
shocked. Showing the soles of your feet is the height of bad manners. It is a social insult
only exceeded by blowing your nose in public.
The Japanese have perhaps the strictest rules of social and business behaviour.
Seniority is very important, and a younger man should never be sent to complete a
business deal with an older Japanese man. The Japanese business card almost needs a
rulebook of its own. You must exchange business cards immediately on meeting because it
is essential to establish everyone's status and position. When the business card is handed to
a person in a superior position, it must be given and received with both hands, and you
must take time to read it carefully and not just put it in your pocket! Also the bow is a very
important part of greeting someone. You should not expect the Japanese to shake hands
with you. Bowing the head is a mark of respect, and the first bow of the day should be
lower than when you meet thereafter.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Here are some final tips for travellers.
 In France you shouldn't sit down in a cafe until you've shaken hands with
everyone you know.
 In Afghanistan you should spend at least five minutes saying hello.
 In Pakistan you mustn't wink. It is offensive.
 In Russia you must match your hosts drink for drink or they will think you are
unfriendly.
 In America you should eat your hamburger with both hands and as quickly as
possible. You shouldn't try to have a conversation until it is eaten.