中西跨文化知识

1、.Western students enjoy a seemingly relaxed educational experience. This, however, is not the case for students in Asia, who face crushing workloads and are often very disciplined. In the first part of her Globalist. China has a long history of standardized tests, beginning with the ancient imperial

2、 exams initiated during the Sui Dynasty.Shelly Chen is at the top of the class at the Shanghai foreign language school, one of the citys best middle schools. Already near fluent in English, she is studying German and ranks among the highest in her grade in physics. Her goal is to get a full scholars

3、hip to Harvard to study biochemistry. It is not only Western expatriates that grow anxious when hearing about students like Shelly. Throughout England, politicians, parents and pundits worry that the industriousness and discipline of kids in the East are leaving relatively relaxed Westerners trailin

4、g behind. Though there is some debate surrounding the statistics, it is widely believed that North America is failing to produce sufficient graduates in sciences and engineering.Chinese students are taught that all questions have but one right answer and there is little room for debate.North America

5、n education needs to move away from an emphasis on fun, flexibility and individual learning styles.Instead, it has to shift towards a more strict, disciplined teaching environment that math and science, in particular, seem to demand.This shift can be discerned even in Canada, where there are no coll

6、ege entrance exams, and where, standardized testing, memorization and rote learning have long been frowned upon.2一，文化差异(CultureDifference):种族NationalraceThewholequestionofthechangingroleofBlacksinAmericansocietyasbeenthesubjectofnews*articlesaroundtheworldsofrequentlythatvisitorstotheUnitedStatesdon

7、otknowwhattoexpectwhentheyarrive.TheymaybesurprisedwhentheyseethatBlacksandWhitesworksidebysideinoffices,factories,andschoolsacrossthecountry.ThemajorityofBlacksintheUnitedStates,however,liveinandaroundonlyasmallnumberofAmericancities.Manydark-skinnedvisitorsarriveintheUnitedStatesfearingpersonalatt

8、ackorexpectingvariousdegreesofracialprejudice.Someformsofdiscrimination1stillexist,unfortunately,especiallyintheareasofthehousing,schools,andjobs.Theschoolequalityisstillmoreadreamthanareality.TherearestilltoomanyareasofthecountrywhereBlackAmericansdonotenjoythesamefullopportunitiesasWhiteAmericans.

9、However,thevastmajorityofAmericansareworking,studying,andsharingpublicplacestogether.Thiswasnottrueevenafewyearsagoinsomepartsofthecountry,butprogressissteadilybeingmade.Youwillbeabletoobservetheimprovementinracerelationsassoonasyourplanelands.Youwillseeitintheairport,inpublicbusesandtrains,intheate

10、rs,restaurants,restroom,insopsandlibraries,inofficesandfactories.ClosepersonalfriendshipsbetweenBlacksandWhites,fulltrustandsocialrelationshipsarestillnotcommon,exceptincertainareas,However,eveninthis-theslowestareaofprogress-therehasbeenchange,especiallyamongyoungpeople.1discriminationn.辨别,区别,识别力,辨

11、别力,歧视二，文化差异(CultureDifference):个人的进步PersonalProgressInmanypartsoftheworld,personalinfluenceisessentialinachievingsuccess.ThisisnottrueintheUnitedStates,wheresuccessusuallyresultsfromhardwork,education,skill,andpersonalinitiative,Americaistrulyado-it-yourselfsociety;successisnotdependentonfamilyorigi

12、nsorthehelpofaninfluentialperson.Personalprogressistheresultofindividualeffort.BecauseeffortandinitiativearesoimportantinAmerica,therearemanycustomsthatmaybedifferentfromthosepracticedinothercountries.Forexample,itisnotconsidereddishonorabletoquitajob,evenifyouhavehaditforonlyashorttime.Movingfromjo

13、b-to-job,orjob-hopping,asitiscalled,isquiteacceptableintheUnitedStates.Frequently,theopportunitytochangejobsoffersworkersachancetomoveuptoabetterposition.Americansliketomovefromplacetoplacetryingnewjobs,meetingnewpeopleandlivingindifferentpartsofthecountry.Job-hoppingalsogivesemployersachancetobenef

14、itfromthenewideasandskillsthatdifferentpeoplebringtotheirjobsevenifsuchpeopleareemployedforonlyashorttime.三，文化差异(CultureDifference):真实还是礼貌？TruthorCourtesy?Justasthedegreeofindividual*thatexistsinAmericaseemslooseandthereforeuncomfortabletomanyvisitors.Inmanycountries,peoplewilltellyouwhattheythinkyo

15、uwanttohere,whetherornotitistrue.Tothem,thisisthepolitethingtodo.ToAmericansitisconsideredconfusing-evendishonest-toavoidtellingthetruefacts.evenifavoidingthetruthisdoneonlytobepolite.Itishelpfultorememberthatdifferentculturesconsidersomemattersmoreimportantthanothers.WitAmericans,however,trustandtr

16、utharemostimportant.OneoftheworsttingsthatcanbesaidaboutsomeoneinAmericaisthatyoucannottrusthimConsideringsuchdifferencesinvaluesamongthemanyculturesoftheworld,itisnaturalthatmisunderstandings1willoccur.Howfarisittothenexttown?anAmericanasksamanstandingbytheedgeofaroad.Insomecountries,becausethemanr

17、ealizesthetraveleristiredandeagertoreachthenextvillage,hewillpolitelysay,Justdowntheroad.ethinksthisismoreencouraging.,gentler,andthereforetheanswerthetravelerwantstohear.SotheAmericandrivesaloneformanymorehoursbeforehecomestothevillage.Thetravelerisangry,feelingtricked.Hethinksthatthemanhaspurposel

18、yliedtohimbecausehemusthaveknowquitewillwellwhatthedistancewas.IfavisitortotheUnitedStatesaskedanAmericanstandingattheedgeofaroadhowfarthenexttownwas,theAmericanwouldthinkitdishonestifhesaiditwasnearwhenheknewitwasreally24milesaway.Althoughhe,too,wouldbesympatheticwiththetiredtraveler,hewouldsay,You

19、havealongwaytogoyet;itisatleast24milesmore.Thetravelermightbedisappointed,buthewouldknowwhattoexpect,andtherewouldbenomisunderstanding.1misunderstandingn.误会,误解四，文化差异(CultureDifference):权威AuthorityInmanycountries,authorityisseldom,ifever,questioned,eitherbecauseitishighlyrespected,orbecauseitisfeared

20、.Sometimes,too,Becauserankhasbeenimportantincertainsocietiesforalongtime,peoplehavebeentrainednevertoquestionthoseinauthority.Forexample,childrenarenotexpectedtoquestiontheirteachersinschool.Itmaybeconsideredimproperforyoungbusinessmentosuggestideasthatdifferfromthoseofolder,moreexperiencedmembersof

21、thebusiness.Inothercountries,includingAmerica,childrenaretrainedtoquestionandsearchforanswers.Whenachildasksaquestion,hewilloftenbetoldtogotothelibraryandfindtheanswerforhimself.Bythetimestudentsreachtheageof14or15,theymaybedevelopingexcitingnewideasinallfieldsofscienceandthearts.Toencouragesuchcrea

22、tivity1,therearemanynationalprizesofferedtostudents,everyyearfortheirscientificdiscoveriesandartisticaccomplishments.Thisinterestinquestioningandsearchingmaybeconsideredbysomepeopleasbadforyoungpeoplesmanners,thatyoungpeoplelackrespectforauthority.ThisimpressionmaybecreatedwhenvisitorsnoticeyoungAme

23、ricansaskingquestionsandarguingwitholderpeople.However,thisisbecausemanyAmericanshaveadifferentattitudetowardauthoritythanmayexistinotherareasoftheworld.Inaworkorbusinesssituation,ideasarefreelyandopenlydiscussedandargued.Itisimportanttoremembertatitisthepersonsideasthatarebeingquestioned,nottheindi

24、vidualhimself.Thetwoarequiteseparate.Thepurposeofthesearching,questioning,andarguingistofindthefactsinaparticularsituation,andthereforeasolution,sothattheworkofthebusinesscanprogressinthemosteffectivemannerpossible.Aswasmentionedearlier,youmaynoticethesomequestioninginsocialconversations.Althoughsom

25、eindividualsmaythinkthatAmericansarerudebecauseoftheirdirectmannerwithpeople,theyaremerelytryingtolearnmoreaboutyourideas.1creativityn.创造力,创造五，文化差异(CultureDifference):美国社会正在该变AmericanSocietyisChangingInmanynations,everydayactivitiesaredoneinaplanned,orderlymanner.Forexample,formalrelationshipsamongp

26、eoplemaybedeterminedaccordingtocustomsandhabitsthathaveexistedforalongtime.Peoplevisitinganinformalcountry,suchastheUnitedStates,mayfindthattheAmericanbeliefinpersonalinitiativeor*(includingthe*todisagreewiththoseinauthority),andthewholeeconomicsystemisquitsconfusinganduncontrolled.Tosomevisitorssuc

27、h*saretoolooseandtoodisorganizedtobecomfortable.TodaytheUnitedStatesi*periencinggreatchangeineverypartofsociety;thereforelifeinAmericamayindeedseemconfused.SocialattitudesarebeingquestionedAmericansarewondering:Isthereanymorality?Whyhasthenationnevergivenallofitscitizensfullopportunity?Whatcoursessh

28、ouldbetaughtinschool?Whatistheroleofwomeninsociety?Asvisitors,youwillnoticethatsomeAmericansarebeginningtoleavethecitiesandmaketheirhomesinsmallcitiesandtownswherelifeisquieterandslower.Politicalbeliefsarechanging.Thekindsofskillsneededbyworkerstodaydifferfromthoseindemandseveralyearsago.3cultural d

29、ifference between West and EastEverything is relative, cultural difference being no exception. Culture, as the total pattern of human behavior and its products, oversteps geographical limits and historical conditions in many ways, and it is characterized by its strong penetrativeness and fusibility.

30、 The advancement of the globalized economy and the rapidity and ease of modern communication, transportation, and mass media have resulted in an ever increasing exchange between cultures, unprecedented in scale, scope, and speed. Consequently, an increase in universality and a reduction in differenc

31、e between cultures is an inevitable trend. It is no surprise to see phenomena characteristic of one culture existing in another. As a result, some people even fear that the world will become a dull place when all the different nationalities behave exactly alike. Nevertheless, the “cultural sediment”

32、 formed through long-range accumulation is not to be easily removed, and the cultural tradition handed down from generation to generation shows great consistency and continuity. The cultures of different regions and nations still have their own distinctive peculiarities, and therefore significance s

33、till needs to be attached to the study of the individualities of different cultures against the background of their universality.4(一） What are the major differences between chinese and western culture? Ill list down a few differences: West: 1. Western culture is based on individualism rather than on

34、 mass (collectivism). For instance, in the US, you always talk about individual rights, instead of placing the whole society above your own self. This is clearly different in China where a country, society or family are placed above your own self. 2. Western culture is adventurous and exploration ba

35、sed. Westerners like to discover new things, invention and expand outwards. For instance, bungee jumping is considered adventurous and common in western culture, but you will probably find no-one doing such a thing in China. 3. Western culture is based on science, which attempts to resolve people an

36、d natures relationship. 4. West uses law to resolve people and peoples relationship. You can never find law well-established in China. For 2000 years, China is a land thats based on human relationship rather than law. 5. West uses god and religion to resolve human and spiritualism relationship. In c

37、ase of problems with your own self, you just pray to god. 6. A culture that expands and develop outwards. Chinese Culture: 1. A culture based on masses (collectivism). People placed country and family above your own self. 2. A culture that is based on humanism and people 3. To resolve the relationsh

38、ip betwen man and nature, the chinese attempts to fuse the human and heaven as one. (天人和一) 4. To resolve people and peoples relationship, chinese uses ethics and tolerance (中恕之道) 5. To resolve human and spiritualism, chinese emphasizes internal cultivation (修身养性) 6. A focus on balance and mean. By m

39、ean, it means middle way. You dont go into extremism. Peace is always honoured. 7. Pay homage to heaven and earth, as well as bearing a remembrance to the homeland. (敬仰天地,思乡怀土) This was accorded to the fact that chinese had been a farming civilization and therefore will be more prone to remember the

40、ir land. 8. A culture that expands internally rather than outwards. Some of the disadvantage of old chinese culture: 1. Debase women and chauvanistic 2. An over-emphasis on past history instead of present (lacks pragmatism) Can you list some more differences? Any comments and contributions are appre

41、ciated. （二） The difference between west and east I wonder how many things do you know about the difference between west and east? I can tell you some. East and west , they are different in many ways. Today, I want to talk about it in the following three parts. They are food, dressing and living styl

42、es. First , food. In China, we prefer noodles, rice , jiaozi as the main course. We like cooking a lot of delicious dishes, then we set up the tables, put the dishes on the tables, sit together, and taste the dishes together, we dont eat with individual plates, when we eating ,we like chatting and l

43、aughing, we think its warm and happy to eat this way; But in England or other west countries, people like eating hamburgers, chips, pizza, pasta as their main course, they eat them with vegetable salad, they eat with drinking (water or juice),and they eat with separate plates. In China, we become fu

44、ll up when we finish all the food, then we dont eat anything, but in west countries, people eat desserts after they finish their meals. Second, dressing. In China, we prefer colorful clothes, we dress them in different places, some time many people dont mind the places we will go, and dress more for

45、mal or less formal, and some people just wearing beautiful clothes, dont make up; But in west countries, people dress according their visiting places, in daily times, they often wear casual clothes, but if they go to a formal places ,they often wear suits, ladies wearing beautiful dresses, pretty ha

46、ts. No matter how old the ladies are, they always make up. Third, living styles. Chinese prefer getting up early and go to bed early too. We usually go home early and cook meals, then we eat and watch TV, then we go to bed. We often work during the holidays , children often go to different spare sch

47、ools to study. We like save money and when we have enough money, we then go and buy what we want, in my opinion, Chinese are so tired and busy; But in most west countries, people live in a easy and happy lives. They get up late and go to work late too, they go to pubs, bars to have a rest after they

48、 finish their work, they enjoy their holidays, they seldom go to work during the weekend. if you go to west countries, you can take part in their joyful night life. Thats the differences I found during the days I stayed in England. They are not all of them, but I think they can give my friends some

49、information. Though west countries have more advantages in living, I still believe that “East or west , home is best”, I still think China will always be my deeply loved mother.5The main difference between Chinese and Western eating habits is that unlike the West, where everyone has their own plate

50、of food, in China the dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares. If you are being treated by a Chinese host, be prepared for a ton of food. Chinese are very proud of their culture of food and will do their best to give you a taste of many different types of cuisine. Among friends, they will just order enough for the people there. If they are taking somebody out for dinner and the