Task: Scan the text for key words

This title How to teach multicultural communication can help you realise that key words must concern intercultural communication which cannot be learned without intercultural understanding. E.g., in paragraph 3 it is possible to point out the following key words: learning languages, understanding cultures, cultural perspective. Follow the three-step strategy to make finding key words easier.

Step 1. Make sureyou know what you are looking for.

Step 2. Scan each paragraph for 5-10 key words. Do not read every word.

Step 3. Select5-10 key words for the whole text.

Task:

· Basing on paragraph 1 give a definition of intercultural understanding.

· Basing on paragraph 1 explain why the “overt culture” is easily observable in the “iceberg model of culture”.

· Basing on paragraph 1 explain why the “covert culture” is below the waterline in the “iceberg model of culture”.

· Basing on paragraph 2 explain why Socrates’ maxim: “Know Thyself.” is true for intercultural understanding.

Answer the following questions:

· What is the main topic of the passage?

(A) Different meanings of cultures.

(B) Intercultural learning involves developing an understanding of one’s own language and culture in relation to an additional language and culture.

(D) A better understanding of cultures.

· What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) New approach to intercultural understanding.

(B) Intercultural understanding, which is based on the knowledge of culture.

(D) Lack of opportunity to use the language for communication.

· What is the author's attitude toward the opinion that it is practically impossible to find out the perceptions a person has about her or his own culture?

(A) He shares this position.

(B) He strongly disagrees.

(D) He doesn’t care.

· Where in the four sentences does the author discuss culture as ways of thinking: modes of perception, beliefs and values?

(A) When asked to describe one’s culture, a person might have very vague answers or often provide certain social generalizations which are stereotypes about one’s culture.

(B) Cultures are not static, they change constantly.

(C) Even if a person loses the active and even the passive knowledge of a second language, the learning of this language is a very enriching and beneficial process.

(D) Nations are not culturally homogeneous, individuals in a nation might have different ideas about their culture.

Collect specific informationby pointing out groups of synonyms, semantic and thematic groups. Keep it in mind that vocabulary in context includes both single words (usually nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs) and two- or three-word phrases.

Read the passage: “Perceptions about one’s culture are mostly unconscious. When asked to describe one’s culture, a person might have very vague answers or often provide certain social generalizations which are stereotypes about one’s culture. There are two important facts concerning perceptions of one’s culture:

First, nations are not culturally homogeneous, individuals in a nation might have different perceptions about their culture. These perceptions will vary according to social class, age, education, gender, experiences in life and many other factors.

Second, cultures are not static, they change constantly.

These two facts are true for all cultures. Does this mean that it is practically impossible to find out the perceptions a person has about her or his own culture or the perceptions a person of a different culture holds about her or his own culture?

No, it is quite possible through questioning, debates, discussions, reflective writing about one single cultural aspect, thus allowing the person to reflect about her or his own perception about one cultural aspect, often linked to other aspects of the culture. Thus, the door to one’s perception of one’s culture has been opened..”

This passage is marked for semantically coupled expressionsn characterising perceptions:

Unconscious – vague; generalizations – stereotypes; not homogeneous – different (they vary); are not static – change; it is practically impossible – it is quite possible.

Читайте також:

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Culture as Language: The Close Link Between Language and Culture	\|	How do these expressions illustrate the author’s idea that the door the perception of culture has been opened?

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