CultureDifferencesinDailyCommunicationandEnglishteachinginmiddleschools.doc

Abstract Language is greatly affected by culture . English teachers should teach culture knowledge conscientiously to foster the students sensitivity and adaptability to culture differences , in order that the students can preliminarily communicate with English-speaking people accurately, properly, and gracefully .Key words Culture differences English teachingOutline. The culture-factor is an important part in English teaching in middle schools . Culture differences reflected in language communication. 1. Forms of address 2. Greetings 3. Praise 4. Apologies and responses 5. Thanks and responses 6. Introductions 7. Taboos. How to foster the students sensitivity to culture differences in English teaching . 1.To lay stress on the teaching of essential culture knowledge 2.To strengthen the teaching of culture differences 3. To tell the students to avoid misunderstanding 4. To recommend simple materials or reading materials about English and American culture 5. To make good use of audio-visual aidsCulture Differences in Daily Communication and English teaching in middle schools Zhao Weitao Every social group has its own customs and this causes culture differences from each other . Culture differences have obvious effect on language using . At present , English learners in Chinese middle schools are good at rudimentary knowledge but weak in daily communication . This is mainly because we teachers only attach the importance to the teaching of pronunciation 、vocabulary and grammar , but ignore the culture background of this language , which is more important. The new textbook regards daily expressions in communication as its guiding principle to arrange teaching contents . Thirty daily expressions are picked out from peoples daily languang functional items . They are suitable to the middle school students . From greetings , introductions , say goodbye to somebody , make telephone calls , thanks and responses to weather discussions and suggestions , mostly they belong to a kind of humans culture - communication culture . Hence , the teaching of the culture -factor is an important and indispensable part of English teaching in middle schools . English teachers should instruct culture knowledge conscientiously to enrich and improve their teaching quality , so that their students can preliminarily communicate with English-speaking people accurately , properly and gracefully . Therefore , teachers are responsible to foster the students sensi-tivity and adaptability to general culture differences and further , make it develop into a kind of culture ability. In daily communication , some students often make mistakes , such as , Who are you ? Are you Mr Wang ? Im Kate . when they make telephones. You are too fat . You are too heavy . How old are you ? Whats your age ? when they talk from each other . A student may call a senior professor old professor because he doesnt know old means old and useless . When a teacher says to a student . Oh, what beautiful handwriting ! , the student may say , No, not at all , you are joking! There are some obvious culture differences on which we should emphasize in English teaching : 1 . Forms of address In Britain or the USA people usually put their first names or given names before their last names or family names or sur-names . e.g. Robot Brown , John Smith . etc. Sometimes between the first name and the last name there is a middle name . Generally they only write the first letter of the middle name . e.g. Robert T . Brown . They use their full names in very formal occasions. Besides , we can call a person as follows : (1) The first name e.g. Robert (short form : Bob ; pet name : Bobby ); James (short form : Jim ; pet name : Jimmy) (2) The family name (3) The title followed by the sur-name . e.g. Dr. Brown , Bishop Gray , etc. Such forms of address as Teacheer Li are not practiced in the USA . (4) In English adult men are often called Mr plus the last name . Also a woman often changes her family name when she marries . Married woman are called Mrs plus the family name . 2 . Greetings In English-speaking countries , people usually greet each other when they meet . If a Chinese greet a foreigner by asking him/her , Have you eaten ?/Where are you going ?/Are you going to work?, The foreigner may be puzzled , for they are all real guestions needing to be answered in his /her opinion , not greetings . 3.Praise When youre praised by an Englishman or American , dont show your modesty as a real Chinese . If he says , You speak very good English . and your answer is : No , not at all./My English is not good . /No, you speak better than I . , he will be unhappy . You just need to accept it by saying Thank you. 4.Apologies and responses In Chinese when someone says Sorry . to us , we often say It doesn t matter.But in English this sentence isnt the only response to an apology . They say Thatsall right . / Thats OK . / No problem . more often . 5.Thanks and responses In western countries people often go along with the others thanks to show their affirming and respect , while in China we usually deny the truth or disparate ourselves to show our politeness and modesty. So when someone says Thank you for helping me . We should say , Not at all/ Youe welcome . If we say Dont thank me . /Im glad to do it . or Its my duty . The other will feel uncomfortable and unhappy . 6.Introductions In formal introductions , the title is usually followed by the family name , while in informal introductions , the title is omitted . The one who is introduced must use greetings properly . e.g. This is Mr Green and this is Mr Brown .After this introduction , Mr Green and Mr Brown should say How do you do ?/Nice to meet you . to each other , while How are you? is used between familiar people , yet Hi , how are you getting on ? hints the speaker has already known what the other is doing , he is asking about its progress . When making telephone calls , in English one says ,This is Joyce . and not Im Joyce., because Im . is a direct translation from Chinese to English isnt possible . 7.Taboos Taboos in different language usually reflect distinctive national features in culture . In China , people can casually talk about their ages、incomes、marriage status 、weights 、religions and so on . But in Britain or America , these questions need to be avoided as far as possible . It seems impolite to inquire about these things . In Western cultures it is considered rude to tell someone that they are fat or heavy . Even husbands wont tell their wives that they are heavy in order to keep harmony in the relationship . This is a topic that isnt discussed . Only a doctor is allowed to tell his /her patients that they are overweight and they should lose weight in order to improve their health. From the above we can draw a conclusion : Language and culture are closely related , language without certain background dont exist at all . So teachers should teach their students the certain culture on which English is based so as to improve their sensitivity to the culture differences existing in daily expressions. How can teachers foster students sensitivity to culture differences ? Nowdays theres still no systematic and practical suggestions . I think we should do the following work: 1. To lay stress on the teaching of essential culture knowledge , such as culture background in Britain and the USA, customs and habits and so on . Here are some examples : In daily life , many topics for a casual talk in the Eastern countries are almost forbidden in England . It is extremely impolite to ask an Englshman , especially a woman the age . Americans will feel unhappy if you ask about their ages , especially ladies , young or old . They hate to find they are getting old . Sometimes an American lady will tell you about her age , then you may say like this ,Oh, dear me ! You dont expert that I believe you. Questions about ones income , employment , family , marriage and everything concerning ones private life should not be asked . The top secret is ones income. People at the same office have no diea of how much each person earns , except the boss . It is considered impolite to inquire about ones property . If some American friend shows you something he has just bought , you can say ,What a nice ! or something like that , but never inquire about the price. The British people do not expect or welcome bargaining when shopping . Sometimes they consider it losing face . They just buy what they want at what they think a reasonable price , and take such a practice for granted . If it is a question of some expensive art work or a large quantity of antique furniture or siler , they might try to work out a sensible overall price with the saleman. And in the United States , after introductions are made between two persons , they may shake hands , but it is formal . Usually , the two persons would just smile and say Hi !or Hello ! rather than use a more formal handshake . If they do shake hands , and one of the two sides is a lady , it is preferable for her to reach out her hand first . Otherwise , the gentleman will just keep his hand behind him . As a rule , the senior reaches his hand to his junior and the host reaches his hand to the guest . When shaking hands , men have to take off the gloves , but ladies needn t . Often when an American leaves a party or a business meeting , he doesnt usually give a special handshake to the whole group or perhaps say , Well , see you later . 2 .To strengthen the teaching of culture differences. In class , teachers should try their best to help the students make situational dialogues , let them put what they ve learnt into practice . By contrasting the two kinds of culture, students can understand English more thoroughly . For example , in class , teachers can tell the students that it is customary for a younger person to help an older person , or at least offer to in both Western and Chinese cultures. However, the way to offer help is different . For example , in the dialogue in JB 2B , page 97 , Ex. 3 , the Chinese girl says,Let me carry your bag for you . In Wesern culturs this sounds demanding . It is more polite to ask ,May I help you carry your bag? Future in the dialogue the Chinese girl is showing concern for the elderly man in saying , Be careful . Walk slower . Let me help you . However , again , this is a Chinese way of showing concern . From a Western point of view , it sounds like the girl thinks the man is too old and weak to walk up the stairs by himself . In English , the Chinese girl simply wouldnt have said anything because the man already turned down her offer of help . Instead , she could walk up the stairs with him , talking with him as if with any other adult , regardless of age . 3. To tell the students to avoid misunderstanding . Owing to different customs and habits , people from different countries may sometimes misunderstand each other . In America , overdoing apology is awkward behavior , even if it is done only to be polite . For example , some American has spent time offering help to you , you can just say , Thank you for your help . If you repeatedly express your thanks to him as in China , he will be unhappy and unwilling to help you again . Sometimes he might even tell you to stay away from him if he become annoyed. In Europe, such questions as Where do you work?, How many children do you have? , How large is your house ?or Have you had a holiday ? are considered very personal and should not be asked if two persons are not close friends . But Americans do ask a foreign visitor such questions. They just want to learn what they may have in common with the visitor or just in order to begin to talk with him , In this aspect , when a European and an American meet , misunderstanding might occur. And at a Chinese dinner party , the host is accustomed to pressing food again and again onto the guests plate . But it will make an American guest very awkward . He has to eat the food even though he doesnt feel like it . because it is bad manners to leave ones food on the plate in America . And it might also be considered good manners in China for the guest to refuse the offer of food or drink at a dinner party , though in fact he is still hungry or thirsty , saying , No , thanks . But Americans think it unacceptable , They are very direct . If they want something , they will ask for it . If not , they will say ,No, thanks . So if you are invited to an American dinner party and find the meal not square enough , you may ask the hostess for some more . She will be very glad to give you an extra portion . And remember never to say No, thanks. when an American offers you something you really want to