Unit 4 Cultural Encounters Teaching plan综合教程二

Unit 4 Cultural EncountersTeaching PointsBy the end of this unit, students are supposed to1) grasp the idea revealed in the writing and make clear the structure of the whole passage through an intensive reading of Cultural Encounters.2) comprehend the deductive approach of argumentation development.3) get a list of new words and structures and use them freely in conversation and writing.4) be aware of the importance and significance of intercultural understanding and empathy. Topics for discussion1) In what language are you usually surfing at Internet websites?2) What fun do you find on Internet?3) Have you ever encounter any intercultural misunderstanding? If have, can you list the reasons that account for the misunderstandings? Cultural information1. QuotesHuman beings draw close to one another by their common nature, but habits and customs keep them apart. Confucius2. Cross-cultural Communication StrategiesThe key to effective cross-cultural communication is knowledge. First, it is essential that people understand the potential problems of cross-cultural communication, and make a conscious effort to overcome these problems. Second, it is important to assume that ones efforts will not always be successful, and adjust ones behavior appropriately.Suggestions for heated conflicts is to stop, listen, and think. This helps in cross-cultural communication as well. When things seem to be going badly, stop or slow down and think. Active listening can sometimes be used to check this out by repeating what one thinks he or she heard, one can confirm that one understands the communication accurately. Often intermediaries who are familiar with both cultures can be helpful in cross-cultural communication situations. They can translate both the substance and the manner of what is said. They may explain the problem, and make appropriate procedural adjustments. Text ICultural EncountersSusan BassnettGlobal ReadingI. Text analysis1. Which sentence is the thesis statement?The last sentence of the 3rd paragraph: “Most fundamental is the profound relationship between language and culture that lies at the heart of society and one that we overlook at our peril.”2. Compromising, in the authors view, is a key notion in translation and thus also in intercultural communication. Numerous examples are used to explain this notion. Try to find these examples.Paragraph 4: The lack of an exact counterpart of the English word “homesickness” in other languages such as Italian, Portuguese, and German.Paragraph 5: The problem of untranslatability which the early Bible translators encountered.Paragraph 6: English and Welsh speakers make adjustments regarding the color spectrum in the grey / green / blue / brown range; the flat breads of Central Asia are a long way away from Mothers Pride white sliced toasties, yet the word “bread” has to serve for both.II. Structural analysis1. What type of writing is this essay? And whats the main strategy the author adopt to develop the body of the essay?It is a piece of argumentation. Abundant examples are provided to support her argument in the body of the essay.2. Divide the text into parts by completing the table. ParagraphsMain ideas1-3It describes the communications revolution taking place worldwide and the widespread use of the English language, and then points out that there are indeed problems with the communications revolution.4-7It exemplifies that language and culture are so closely interrelated that often we find that what we can say in one language cannot be conveyed at all in another, and that confronted with insurmountable linguistic problems, translators negotiate the boundaries between languages and come up with a compromise. 8It briefly points out the immense significance of intercultural understanding.Detailed ReadingParagraphs 1-3Questions:1. What do cheap flights and the Internet mean to people today? (Paragraph 1)Cheap flights mean that millions of people can afford to visit places their parents could only dream about, while the Internet means that numerous people are able to communicate with the remotest places with great ease.2. Exemplify and explain that English has become the most important international language. (Paragraph 2)Conferences and business meetings around the globe are held in English, regardless of whether anyone present is a native English speaker. English has simply become the language that facilitates communication, and for many people learning English is an essential stepping stone on the road to success.Paragraphs 4-7Questions:1. Supply specific examples to prove that language and culture are closely related to each other. (Paragraph 4)Numerous examples show that language and culture are interrelated. Take a look at some English idioms and see how different their Chinese counterparts are: a drop in the ocean 沧海一粟to laugh ones head off 笑掉大牙to shed crocodile tears 猫哭老鼠to spend money like water 挥金如土to be born with a silver spoon in ones mouth 生长在富贵人家2. Explain and illustrate what “compromising” and “the spread of English” mean. (Paragraph 7)For “compromising,” refer to Paragraph 6 of the text. As to “the spread of English,” a typical example is the spread of English in China. Compared with other nations, China boasts the largest number of people who have learned or are learning English. Chinese learners of English are learning how to overcome cultural and linguistic differences. In todays China, the mastery of English has become an important skill which is of great use and value in all walks of life.Paragraph 8Questions:1. According to the writer, what is the great function of intercultural understanding? (Paragraph 8)The writer says, “World peace in the future depends on intercultural understanding.” In other words, intercultural understanding will play a most important role in the promotion of world peace in the future.2. Who will probably be most able to help the process of world peace in the future? (Paragraph 8)Those who are most competent to contribute to the process of world peace probably are those who have acquired the skills to understand the literal, implied, figurative, or cultural meanings of the words spoken in many different languages.Text II Does Your Body Betray You?Lead-in Questions1. What is body language? What kinds of body language can you think of?2. Can you tell the meanings of some common facial expressions or gestures?Main ideas Does Your Body Betray you, the title indicates that changes in your body position and movements show what you are feeling or thinking. In fact, three-quarters of the social meaning of a typical two-person exchange is carried by nonverbal cues, though most of the time we are not aware that we are doing it. Nonverbal signals differ from culture to culture at least as much as one language differs from another, and so we need to realize that knowledge of a foreign language is incomplete unless it extends to the nonverbal signals. So, it is essential to get some knowledge about nonverbal communication. The passage provides us with some commonly-used body language cues and their interpretations through a list of examples. Notes1. body language (Paragraph 1): Body language is communication by means of facial expressions, gestures, postures, and other wordless signals. Body language also includes grooming habits, hair and clothing styles, and such practices as tattooing and body piercing. Body language communicates unspoken information about peoples identity, relationships, and thoughts, as well as moods, motivation, and attitudes. It plays an essential role in all interpersonal relationships, such as childcare, politics, teaching, and public speaking. The scientific study of body language is called kinesics.2. be telling the world a totally different story (Paragraph 1): be meaning entirely different things from what you are saying3. . however cool and contained you think youre being, there is a host of little telltale gestures and expressions that give you away . (Paragraph 2): however successfully you think you are managing to appear calm and self-controlled, a large number of slight changes in your body position and movements provide evidence about what you are feeling or thinking .4. . youre a bundle of nerves. (Paragraph 4): . you are feeling very nervous.5. invading your space (Paragraph 5): intruding into your air space Studies by experts suggest that man walks around inside a kind of private bubble, which represents the amount of air space he feels he must have between himself and other people. To invade is to affect someone in an unwanted and annoying way.e.g. Does that give you an excuse to invade my privacy?6. keep them at arms length (Paragraph 5): avoid developing a relationship with theme.g. If youre wise, youll keep Mrs. Jones at arms length. Shes the worst gossip in the village.7. You want to block out the speakers words (Paragraph 7): You want to stop yourself thinking about what the speaker says 8. in your heart of hearts (Paragraph 8): If you know, feel, or believe something in your heart ofhearts, you are sure about it although you may not admit it.e.g. Claire knew in her heart of hearts that she would never go back there.9. trying to shield her listener from what shes saying (Paragraph 9): trying to protect herlistener from being hurt by what shes saying e.g. Several officials are accused of trying to shield the General from US federal investigators.10. rather than (Paragraph 11): instead ofe.g. Rather than squeezing your own oranges, have you tried buying packs of orange juice?11. in a quandary (Paragraph 12): unable to decide what to do about a difficult problem or situatione.g. The city council is in a quandary over whether to raise taxes or not.Questions for discussion1. What does the title of the text mean?2. What does the author mean when he says “three-quarters of our knowledge about them comes via our eyes rather than our ears”?3. How can ones gestures and expressions give him / her away?4. What conclusion can we draw from such instinctive behaviour as fiddling and arm folding?5. What is the main idea of LOVE SIGNS?6. Why doesnt the author spell out a precise vocabulary of gestures?7. What implications does the study of body language have for learning a foreign language?8. Observe people near you for several days, looking for uses of body language. Try also to be conscious of your own use of body language. What conclusion can you draw?Key to questions for discussion1. Changes in your body position and movements show what you are feeling or thinking.2. Three-quarters of the social meaning of a typical two-person exchange is carried by nonverbal cues.3. All of us communicate with one another nonverbally, as well as with words. Most of the time we are not aware that we are doing it. Body language provides evidence about how the human mind processes information.4. People feel safer behind some kind of physical barrier. If a social situation is in any way threatening, then there is an immediate urge to set up such a barricade.5. When two people look searchingly into each others eyes, emotions are heightened and the relationship becomes more intimate. Therefore, we carefully avoid this, except in appropriate circumstances.6. The author looks for patterns in the context, not for an isolated meaningful gesture. Besides, there are several possible interpretations for a single gesture. For example, when a student in conversation with a professor holds the older mans eyes a little longer than is usual, it can be a sign of respect and affection rather than a sign of love.7.