Directions: Read the following letter without using your dictionary. After reading, work in groups to discuss the following questions.
Dear David, At my university I met an American exchange student named Marie who has recently
Unit 1 Culture & Intercultural Communication
Lead-in Activities In-class Learning In-class Exchange After-class Reviewing
Lead-in Activities
Just Ask
Who Pays ?
Why do Americans always pay for their own meals? I have a friend who is majoring in
English, and she said that Americans pay for themselves because their renqingwei bijiao
think this is true?
Sincerely,
Questions
Mona
1. Why do you think Americans like to pay for themselves? 2. What do you think David’s answer will be?
come to China to study and we have talked several times. Yesterday afternoon I ran into her and we talked for a while, then she suggested that go out for dinner. So we went to a small restaurant nearby and ordered a bowl of noodles for each. After we finished she asked me how much her bowl of noodles cost. I felt that since she was new in China I should treat her to dinner, I just paid for both of our dinners. When Marie realized what I had done, she seemed surprised, not very happy and said she wanted to pay for her own dinner. She said that we should “Go Dutch.”I kept refusing to take her money and finally she gave in, but she didn’t seem very happy about it. I found the experience a little awkward and unpleasant. I didn’t have the good feeling that I have when I treat my Chinese friends to a meal.
• To understand a variety of definitions in culture and communication • To design a model for intercultural communication • To distinguish different types of communication
dan. (I don’t know exactly how to translate this into English. It means something like
Americans don’t emphasize relationships between people as much as Chinese do.) Do you
Unit 1 Culture & Intercultural Communication
Learning Objectives
• To get acquainted with some basic concepts concerning culture and intercultural communication
第二版
新世纪高职高专教材编审委员会 组编 总主审 刘黛琳 总主编 牛 健 主 编 王催春
Unit 1 Culture & Intercultu化（Culture）是一个群体在一定时期内形成的思想、理念、行为、风俗、习 惯、代表人物，及由这个群体整体意识所辐射出来的一切活动。广义的文化是人类 创造出来的所有物质和精神财富的总和。其中既包括世界观、人生观、价值观等具 有意识形态性质的部分，又包括自然科学和技术、语言和文字等非意识形态的部分。 文化是人类社会特有的现象。跨文化交际（Intercultural Communication）指本族语 者与非本族语者之间的交际, 也指任何在语言和文化背景方面有差异的人们之间的 交际。
Lead-in Activities
Just Ask
Directions: Read the following letter without using your dictionary. After reading, work in groups to discuss the following questions.