To avoid cultural misunderstandings it is important to CONSIDER the impact
your behavior will have on others and sensitivity to other’s behavior.
Body Language: Consider…. The role of the handshake The importance of eye contact Communication through stance and body posture The impact of facial expression The degree of animation and gesture Personal space: relative proximity The level of physical contact such as kissing and touching
Formality: Consider…. The use of tiles and names How directness is interpreted Dress codes The exchange of business cards Seniority: age and place in the hierarchy The danger of humor
Language and conversation: Consider…. Small talk: bonding or a lack of professionalism What is silence-agreement, disagreement, interest, lack of interest Which topics are taboo? Is work a conversation topic? Is directness interpreted as honesty or rudeness The complexity of your language
Invitations: Consider…. The appropriate level of hospitality What to wear/ When to arrive/ Gifts to bring Who pays implicit or make it explicit Appropriate places for entertainment Are invitations genuine or just polite
Time: Consider…. What is the working day? When are meal times? What is the attitude to waiting? Is punctuality important? Are deadlines respected? What is work time and what is personal time?
Society: Consider…. Your knowledge: how much do you know about the country? The relative roles of men and women The danger of responding to stereotypes The importance of personal connections: who you know
Dialogue
Fill in the blanks. Listen and check.
hierarchy behavior stereotype sensitivity
Sam: Welcome home, honey! How was your trip? Linda: It was very good. It gave me a new perspective on the _________of managers. Sam: What do you mean? Linda: Mr. Miller has a very interesting attitude regarding his position. The office____________ is the same, but he seems to have a much closer personal bond with his employees. And he has a genuine ___________ and respect for how employees divide their work time and personal time. Sam: Sounds like he really doesn’t fit the manager _____________ at all.
Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks with the correct word.
dress code eye contact facial expressions personal space small talk 1. Polite discussion between strangers or acquaintances is called _____________. 2. Rules limiting what people can or cannot wear are called a ________________. 3. Smiling and frowning are two examples of __________. 4. The distance a person likes to keep from other people is called ______________. 5. When you look in someone’s eyes, you make ______________ with the people.
Practice
Find a noun in the Vocabulary list to match each definition. The first letter is a hint.
1. P ___________- acting in a responsible and businesslike way 2. H ___________- always telling the truth 3. P ___________- being on time 4. D ___________- getting straight to the point 5. H ___________- making guests feel at home
