READING

Exercise 1. Read and listen to Part 12of the series about culture using the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/tae_whoonearth_archive.shtml

We’ve learnt about some of the ways that we can explore cultural differences, we’ve come closer to understanding the nature of ‘culture’ - and found ways that can help us communicate better with people from different cultural backgrounds.

First and foremost the biggest barrier to adjusting to a new culture could well be assuming that it will be easy and that you will be OK. If it is - obviously that's fantastic - if it isn't - which it is much more likely to be - then do not panic - this is normal, you are normal. Focus on the idea of cultural relativism. We should not use our own standards to judge other cultures with. Begin the process of asking questions about how and why different cultures do things differently.

Prepare

Arm yourself with the facts before you go - find out about the geography and the history, the food and the customs. Learn the language - this will give you control in your new culture - it will also give you an opportunity to meet people and socialize and a window on the way the culture works as you come to understand how the language is used.

When you get there

When you get there, try and make friends as soon as you can. A good way of making real friends in a culture is by joining local cookery courses or music or drama courses or sports clubs. Whatever your local neighbourhood has to offer.

Work on yourself

This is probably the most important thing of all. Raise your self-awareness and remember that culture is not only about what we believe - it's about the way that we behave - so be observant - watch what's going on around you and notice behavioural differences. Even when you get frustrated, try not to lose your temper; be restrained, reserve judgement, wait until you've really made an effort to find out the reasons for your frustrations.

Be sensitive

When situations are difficult consider that it may in fact be you that is doing something wrong. Be introspective - learn to ask yourself questions especially if you can't understand why it is that things are happening differently around you. Be open and tolerant - try not to dismiss things you don't know about. Criticizing or rejecting the culture's favourite food or their favourite pastime or their favourite sport might turn out to be offensive. Don't be judgemental. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the other culture and imagine why their world is as it is.

Be sociable and extrovert

Nobody knows you in this culture - you don't have your old reputation to live up to. So even if you're a shy person back home, adopt a new identity – be the person that you've always secretly wanted to be. Be wary of stereotypes - remember you can be so busy looking for stereotypes that you blind yourself to all the other characteristics that are also there.

Situations to avoid

A common reaction to difference is to seek what you know in the company of other expatriates in the place where you go. This can end up really slowing down your learning process and worse it can turn into super ethno-centric moaning situations where everyone sits around idealizing the home country and downgrades the benefits of the host culture. Along the same lines - if all you're going to do when you go abroad is to try to replicate your home country as closely as you can by eating the same food and dressing the same and doing the same activities - then why did you bother to go at all?

As soon as you make the decision to change your external behaviour and your habits a little bit to match the culture you're in you'll be simply amazed by how much doors open for you, how people will admire the effort you're making to fit in and how they respond to this by taking you into their inner circles and confiding in you.

Above all try to maintain a sense of humour through thick and thin. See the positive side. Nothing is ever all bad or all difficult. If you make a real effort to acculturate in the time that you have then living in a foreign culture will doubtlessly remain with you as one of the best experiences that you'll ever have in your life.

Learning about other people's cultures is one of the most fantastically rewarding things that any of us will ever do and in asking ourselves questions about how other cultures operate we'll inevitably have to compare and contrast them with our own cultures so that an unexpected by-product of studying other cultures will be learning more about the way that our own cultures operate.

Exercise 2. Choose the best answer to the questions.

1. What is the biggest barrier to adjusting to a new culture?

a) not knowing the language

b) assuming that it will be difficult

c) using our own standards to judge other cultures

2. What will learning the language give you?

a) self-confidence

b) an opportunity to meet people and socialize

c) good education

3. According to the text, which is a good way of making friends in a new culture?

a) visiting different exhibitions and cultural events

b) going to the cinemas, theatres and night clubs

c) joining local courses or sports clubs

4. What might be offensive for people from other cultures?

a) criticizing their favourite food or sport

b) not knowing their history

c) not being open

5. What shouldn’t you do when you go abroad?

a) follow their customs

b) replicate your home country customs as closely as you can

c) eat their food

6. How can living in a foreign culture remain with you as one of the best experiences?

a) if you make many friends

b) if you visit a lot of places of interest

c) if you make a real effort to acculturate

7. What is an unexpected by-product of studying other cultures?

a) learning more about your own culture

b) socializing

c) broadening your mind

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