《新编大学英语》第二册电子教案7

Unit Seven Culture
Teaching Focus: Knowing about cultural differences between China and western countries
Teaching Aims: In this unit, students are required to 1) get familiar with some of the useful language points appeared in the reading passages; 2) get to know some useful expressions concerning the topic of culture, customs, and taboos; 3) acquire a better understanding of the differences among people from different cultural backgrounds to ensure better communication
I.Background information:
Culture
Culture is a very broad term used to describe the arts, the beliefs, the values, the traditions, the customs, and the institutions that are considered to be characteristic of a community, a people, a region, or a nation. Culture also includes the languages and dialects that people use to express their culture, since, in most cases, language is the main medium through which culture is transmitted. Most people feel that it is impossible to really know a culture without speaking the language. In some immigrant populations in North America, however, the original language (French, German, Chinese, Polish, etc.) has been lost but customs and traditions are still maintained.
Although many cultures in the world have remained isolated for centuries, commerce and trade have often been the source of all sorts of cultural exchanges, ranging from foods to tools. Chinese porcelain and other inventions reached Europe thanks to the Silk Route, for example. However, cultural exchanges have not always been fair or balanced. The native populations of North and South America were decimated （大批毁灭）by disease and alcohol brought by the Europeans. Throughout history, wars and political decisions have destroyed cultures and forced people to adopt the language and the customs of the dominant civilization.
It is often assumed that if a culture is technologically advanced, it must be superior or that if a culture is young it must be inferior. Every one tends to make value judgments about other cultures. Finding fault with or making fun of other customs and beliefs is often merely a way of bolstering(支持、鼓励) our complacency or our pride. It is certainly much easier to learn about other cultures if one approaches them with an open mind and if one respects differences rather than criticizing them. Often something that appears strange or unusual in another culture is in fact
very logical and part of a deeply rooted tradition. What might seem rude in one culture might seem perfectly normal and acceptable in another culture. Tolerance and curiosity are key factors in all cross-cultural learning experiences.
Although modern transportation and communications have reduced the world to a “global village”, there are still many fascinating cultural differences to explore. Discovering how people from other regions or other countries see the world can be an enriching experience. Tasting new foods, listening to different music, studying the architecture or the literature of other cultures can open up new perspectives on life.
II.Period 1—2
A.Part One: Preparation (50min.)
1. Comparing Chinese and American Body Language
Step 1. Ask the students to finish the table in groups, and then check together
Step 2. Pair Work. Ask them to work in pairs to find out more gestures that bear different meaning in different cultures. V olunteers give their answers to the class. Finally
the teacher sums up and may add more. E.g.
*pointing to different part of the body to signify “me”; the head movement to
mean “yes”or “no”; the different meaning of the OK gesture;
bow/embrace/handshake to show politeness and courtesy, etc.
Step 3. Comment on some very common differences between Chinese and Western cultures: * different forms of address: We often address a person by his/her title,
such as 李经理,王院长,刘记者, which is not practiced by westerners. Chinese
never call a senior, esp. an elder in the family by his/her given name, while it is
common in western countries. * body space: whether body contact is acceptable.
2.Testing Your Stereotypes
*Work in groups and finish the table. Ask the students to add more words concerning the
characteristics of different people.
*Inspire the students to give examples to illustrate some characteristics that they
consider particularly typical.
B.Part Two Reading-Centered Activities----In Class Reading (50 min.)
1. Text: Pre-Reading
Work in groups to come up with a list of things that you would introduce to your foreign friend regarding Chinese rituals. Text Reading:
2. Give the students 10 minutes or so to finish reading the passage Bridging Cultural Gaps
Gracefully
3. Ideas and structure of the passage:
Ask the main idea and topic sentence of each paragraph.
Students work in pairs to complete Reading Comprehension Exe.1 -- the outline of the passage.
The class together finish Exe.2 with the specific information got from the passage
4. Assignments: Try to learn the new words, phrases and expressions by heart.
III.Period 3-4
1.Check on New Words / Phrases and Expressions (15 min.)
a. Dictate some words and expressions by giving the English explanations or synonyms or
antonyms. (abrupt, accomplish, feasible, inevitable, negotiation, straightforwardness,
fancy).
b. Draw students’attention to the usage of the important words (esp. verbs) and
expressions by doing translation (C-E). (The sentences are picked up from the examples
of the words and expressions concerned.)
c. Ask the students to point out some collocations and collaborations that they think
important and useful. Teacher gives necessary sum-up.
e.g.
*There may be an abrupt change in weather patterns.
*If we’d all work together, I think we could accomplish our goal.
*In rock climbing, no amount of skill will make up for a lack of caution.
*He told them that no venue had yet been definitely decided.
*To switch back and forth between the two documents, press Shift-F3.
*Unfortunately the report was prepared in haste and contained several inaccuracies.
*A British trade mission has arrived in Moscow.
*He plays the character with tremendous concentration combined with a pleasing modesty.
*The early stages of their negotiations with the Government were unsuccessful.
*In many ways Brett and Bernard are polar opposites.
*She listened to him, but only out of politeness.
*The President is to put forward new proposals for increasing trade between the two countries.
*Loud protests were heard when the decision was announced.
*His letter in response to her request had contained a firm refusal.
2.In- Class Reading: language points(40min)
a. Group work: (10-15min.)
Divide the passage into several parts. Each group is assigned a part to study. Then share their work with the whole class.
b. Teacher’s Sum-up: (20min.)
Teacher give comments and explanations, and point out the main language points they have
to learn.
Language Points:
*L2 … without all your foreignness exposed?
with(out) + noun (phrase) +p.p
e.g. without all your weakness exposed
without all the produce delivered
with all the work finished
sleep with the room open
stand with his hands in his pockets
*L4 …I constantly found myself tongue-tied when it came to seeing guests off at the door.
Find + obj + adj/p.p/ prep. phrase is a widely used structure, meaning “to discover (someone or something) to be
e.g. I suddenly found myself lost.
He woke up to find himself in hospital.
I find it difficult to believe you.
…when it comes to…means “when it was a case or question of”. Here “to”is a prep.
followed by noun or gerund.
e.g. When it comes to hard work, you can rely on Jim.
When it comes to music I know nothing.
*L5 An abrupt goodbye would not do…
“do” here means “be suitable” or “be acceptable”.
e.g. Will it do if I get those books to you by Friday?
There is no seat on this coach. Will the next one do?
*L6 so I would smile and nod, bowing like a Japanese and trying to find words that would smooth over the visitors’ leaving and make them feel they would be welcome to come again.
bowing like…is a very long adverbial phrase indicating accompanying circumstance.
The word “would”appears three times in this sentence. The first “would”shows what always happened.
e.g. We used to work in the same office and we would often have coffee together.
I would get up at six and read when at middle school.
*L8 In my fluster, I often hid behind my Chinese husband’s graciousness.
I often rely on my husband’s polite words and appropriate behavior to cover my
nervousness and confusion.
*L11 involve
(1) include … as a necessary part or result
e.g. The job involves traveling abroad for three months each year.
(2) cause (someone or oneself) to become connected or concerned
e.g. He was involved in a heated discussion.
Don’t involve other people in your mad schemes.
*L12 observe
(1) obey ( a law, rule or custom)
e.g. Too many accidents are occurring at work because employers are not observing safety
regulations.
(2) watch something or someone carefully
e.g. The role of scientists is to observe and describe the world, not to try to control it.
(3) make a remark about something
e.g. She observed that it would soon be time to stop for lunch.
“I’ve always found German cars very reliable,” he observed.
*L25 And of course the guest assures him that…
The word “assure” here means “telling someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true so that they are less worried”.
e.g. I assured you that they’ll be perfectly safe with us.
They tried to assure him of their willingness to work with him.
That same “slow” is used to assure his guests what a poor and inadequate host he has
been. (L36)
*L40 likely
The word here means “probable” or “that can reasonably be expected”.
While most words with an –ly ending are adverbs, some are adjectives, such as:
Lovely, friendly, brotherly, motherly, fatherly, etc.
*L41 Not so a Chinese host or hostess…
Paraphrase: Chinese parents are not that way. Instead, they would apologize for not being able to provide enough delicious dishes and for not showing you enough honor that you deserved.
The sentence is put in inverted order, because “Chinese host or hostess” is following by a very long attributive clause.
*L44 The same rules hold true with regard to children.
The word hold here means “continue to be true, good, and available”.
e.g. Twenty years on, his advice still holds good.
If their luck holds, they could still win the championship.
*L50 That modesty has left many a Chinese hungry at an American table…
leave+obj+adj/-ing/prep.phrase: cause to be or to remain in a particular state or position
e.g. Will you leave the door open when you go out?
She left me waiting in the rain.
The documentary left me in a state of shock.
*L58 It would have saved them a lot of confusion and frustration in their negotiations.
The sentence is in subjunctive mood, with the conditional clause omitted.
It would have saved them a lot of confusion and frustration in their negotiations if they
had studied up on cultural differences before coming to China.
3.Post-Reading: Ex.3 Group discussion (15 min.)
Do you agree with the author’s description of Chinese people? Give your reasons.
4. Check on other post-reading exercises (15min)
5. After-Class Reading—Specific Taboos: Read the passage and finish the exercises. (15 min)
6. Homework:
a. Read the text fluently and try to memorize some good sentences
b. Can you think of some taboos in China? Discuss with your roommates and each dorm
makes a list.
VI. Period 5--6
1. Dictation:
Choose a short para. from the text or the background material or anywhere that is concerned with the topic of this unit.
2. After-Class Reading—Passage I
a. Ask the students to go through the passage very quickly, and do Exe.1.
b. Draw students attention to some language points and useful expressions. Finish Exe.2.
*Expressions used when saying something is common practice:
L11 It is usually considered polite…
L16 It is customary for the men to help the ladies…
L20 Some families have a habit of offering a prayer of thanks…
L57 It is the custom to thank the hostess for a very pleasant evening.
*Compare expressions used to show being likely or having the tendency to do something:
be liable to is more often used when talking about general characteristics. Similar expressions are be apt to/ be inclined to/intend to. E.g.
He is liable to shout when he gets angry.
He is apt/inclined to lose his temper in difficult situations.
be likely to is used when you think there is a possibility on a particular occasion that something will happen. E.g.
The bus is likely to be late today because of the bad weather.
c. Exe. 3. Encourage students to add more words of the same category.
3. Further Development:
a.Exe.1. Work in groups to make a list of American dining customs. Then find out if there
are any similar or different Chinese dining customs. On the basis of the discussion, make
a list of Chinese dining customs and share with the class. This is the preliminary work for
the writing.
American Dining Customs:
1)Be on time. If you cannot, call the host or hostess.
2)Bring a box of candy or some flowers, depending on the situation.
3)Stand up when a woman enters till she is seated.
4)Help a lady sit down by pushing her chair under her.
5)When a prayer is being offered, keep silent with bowed head.
6)Use one hand whenever possible and keep the other one on the lap.
7)Between bites, put the fork on the plate while drinking coffee or buttering
bread.
8)Put a spoon where it will lie flat.
9)Don’t use silverware for eating bread. Hold it in fingers, usually breaking it
first.
10)If you want to leave the table during the meal, say to the host or hostess,
“would you please excuse me for a minute?”
11)Stay for two or three hours after the meal.
12)When you leave, thank the host by saying “Good-bye. It’s been a thoroughly
enjoyable evening.”
b.Listing Taboos in China
Sample:
1)Avoid saying the word “die” or any word with the same pronunciation to any body.
2)Never give a friend or relative, etc. an umbrella.
3)Don’t divide a pear among family, friends, relatives, etc.
4)Don’t send a clock to a Chinese, esp. old people, because it carries a funeral
connotation.
5)Don’t pat an adult on the head, which is insulting.
6)Don’t hug your Chinese friend’s wife even for greeting.
7)Presenting a pair or 2 of something as gifts will be welcome.
8)Never call your superiors by their names, esp. when they are much older than you.
9)Don’t break anything on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
10)Don’t stick the chopsticks in a bowl of rice.
11)Never return your purchase in the morning if you don’t like it or if it’s faulty.
c.Exe.4 Group discussion and then ask for a short presentation. It would be interesting and a
lot of fun.
Sample:
The British people are polite, gentlemanlike, but British food is probably the worst in the world.
The French people are poor in manufacturing, but French cuisine is wonderful.
The Italians are romantic and they are great lovers, but they are not well organized.
The Germans are good at manufacturing and German products are of high quality and very popular worldwide, but Germans are stern, and sometimes stubborn.
The Swiss are good organizers, but they are not romantic.
4. Part Four: Writing and Translation
Give some general idea on the translation of idioms.
5. homework：
a. the translation practice of the idioms
b. Write a composition on the topic “Dining Customs in China”based on the result of the
preceding discussion. It should be written in at least 120 words. This assignment is to be graded and filed as a basis of the accumulated marks.
V. Period 7-8 View , Listen and Speak (100 min)
1. Part One Viewing, Understanding and Speaking
5 minutes for students to get familiar with the word list. Make sure they know the correct
pronunciation.
Watch the video and finish Exe.2.3.4.
2. Part Two Listening, Understanding and Speaking
Listening I Exe.1.2.3
Listening II Exe.1.2
3. Part Three More Listening
Practice One, Two & Four
Practice Three for self-learning
4. Part Four Testing Yourself
Self- learning assignment. Finish after the class and report the marks to the group leaders.。