Outline of chapters
After learning this chapter you should learn to
Chapter 1
I. terms:
culture, iceberg, culture shock, low context culture/ high context culture, collectivism/ individualism, relationship-oriented/ task-oriented, multicultural person, monocultural person, multilingual person, the characteristics of culture
II. Questions:
1. List some cultural differences between the west and east. at least 5.
2. What is cultural stereotype and its influence on cultural learning?
3. What kind of attitude shall we take towards cultural learning and cultural generalizations?
Chapter 2
I. Terms: value, individualism, collectivism, individual-oriented society, group-oriented society
II. Questions：
1. The core value of the U.S.: individualism, privacy, equality, informality,
directness and assertiveness.
2. The core value of Britain: class system, British food, socializing, understatement
and so on.
3. Different value in American and British daily life.
4. Cultural reasons of cheating.
5. The child-parent relationship in different culture.
6. The difference of American dream and Chinese dream.
Chapter 3:
I. Terms：
Western-style conversation, Japanese-style conversation, low-context communication, high-context communication
II. Questions:
1.Can you use different ballgames to explain western-style conversation and
Japanese-style conversation?
2.What are the differences between low-context and high-context communication?
3.How should students organize their expository writing in English?
4.What are the unspoken rules for a language?
5.Can you give a specific example of directness in verbal interaction between
Americans?
Chapter 4
1.Illustrate the importance of nonverbal communication.
2.Know at least 5 aspects of silent language.
3.Explain the functions of nonverbal cues.
4.Explain Americans’ perception of time and their time concept.
5.Know cultural space and 4 different zones of distance in social space.
6.Know two basic American patterns about space.
Chapter 5
1. what are the five general ideas Americans hold towards politics in life?
2. why are Americans proud of their political system?
Chapter 6
1. The characteristics of the methods of the western education and the eastern
education.
2. The ideals of American education.
3. The advantages and disadvantages of the American education.
4. Assumptions underlying the higher education system.
5. Student-Student Relationships in American schools.
6. Student-Professor Relationships.
7. The American’s attitud e to plagiarism.
8. The reasons why the Asian students excel in American universities.。