东西方文化交流案例练习题及答案

东西方文化比较练习题：(1)Jim-American Michiko-JapaneseJim: You know, Michiko. I really enjoy the time we spend together. I really like you. I’ve been so happy since we meet.Michiko: Hmmm, thank you.Jim: I mean, I feel like I’ve learned so much about you and your culture.Michiko: Yeah, it’s very interesting.Jim: I am so glad you came to the United States. Do you like it here?Michiko: Well, it’s pretty big. It’s very nice here.Jim: What do you think about American?Michiko: I don’t know. Maybe I haven’t been here long enough to know.Jim: You must think something.Michiko: Well, I’d probably have to think about it.Jim: I mean, do you like us?Michiko: Well, I don’t really know that many Americans yet.Please explain the conflicts between direct and indirect communication styles in the dialogue.•With direct communication style, speaker expresses his intention (need and desire) openly and directly. Direct styles are often used in low-context,individualistic cultures. In an indirect communication style, which is oftenseen in high-context and collectivistic culture, speakers usually hide or hinttheir intentions during interaction. In this case, Jim is not going to get much of an answer from Michiko. Michiko continues, throughout the dialogue usingrather genera l answers to Jim’s very specific and direct questions about herfeelings toward the United States. Michiko might believe that Jim is being far too direct and invading her privacy. Michiko cannot possibly say somethingcritical about the United States because she would lose face, as would Jim, asa native. So she relies on imprecise and indefinite answers.(2)Violation of Nonverbal ExpectationIn the following two scenarios, Jim, Akira, and Mitsuko interact. Akira and Mitsuko are exchange students from Japan who are spending a semester studying at an American college.Jim and Akira are at a party.Jim: (Nudges Akira and says loudly) This is a great party, eh?Akira: (Is startled—stands back—tries to put some distance between himself and Jim) Yes, thank you.Jim: (Leaning forward toward Akira, with direct eye contact) If you want to meet some girls, I could introduce you.Akira: (Shocked by such an offer, he backs away) But I don’t know them. They might be upset.Jim: Well, how else are you going to meet them?Akira: (Uncomfortable) Maybe during a class or something.Mitsuko, another Japanese exchange student, approaches Jim and Akira. She knows Akira, but not Jim.Mitsuko: Hello, Akira. (Bows slightly and looks down)Akira: Ah, Mitsuko, this is my friend Jim.Jim: Hi! (Forward leaning into her space)Mitsuko: Hi, Jim. (Bows slightly and does not make direct eye contact)Jim: Are you two friends? (Wonders why she won’t look at him, thinks to himself, “Well, I’m not one of them. She probably thinks I’m ugly.”)Akira: Yes, we know each other.A long pause ensues.Jim: (Thinks to himself, “This is going nowhere—I’ve got to think of something to say.” He speaks rather loudly) Great party, hey guys?Akira and Mitsuko both jump back.Akira: (Thinks to himself, “This guy is too weird”) Yeah, this is fun.Please analyse how each of them violates the others’ expectations without realizing it using what you have learned about nonverbal communication.•This case can reflect different nonverbal communication patterns exist in the actual intercultural communication. Nonverbal communication differsaccording to different cultures. People might have different opinions about the proper space, time, body language and paralanguage. If we don’t pay attention to intercultural nonverbal communication, we will have somemisunderstanding and conflict. In this case, Jim (an American), Mitsuko andAkira (two Japanese) belong to totally different cultures; they have verydifferent opinions about the space and body languages. Therefore, Mitsukoand Akira felt uncomfortable when Jim gave some exaggerated body language and kept close space distance in communication.(3)In the following exchange, Mr. Patterson, an American manager working in Korea, is meeting with his supervisor, Mr. Wyman, who is also American. The United States is considered an individualistic culture whereas Korea is considered collectivistic. In this scenario, Mr. Patterson reports to Mr. Wyman about some changes he has madewithin several of his sales teams. Later, Park Young Sam, their Korean counterpart, enters into the dialogue.Mr. Patterson: Good morning, Mr. Wyman, thanks for meeting with me this morning. As you know, our division has been doing very well this quarter. In fact, our numbers are up across the board.Mr. Wyman: Yes, I’ve seen your quarterly reports. Nice job!Mr. Patterson: Thanks. In order to recognize their hard work, I’ve made some changes in our sales teams. I’ve created team leaders in each group. In our product group, I promoted Lee Young-sam. In the marketing group, I promoted Chun Tae-woo, and in the technology group, I promoted Choi Mino. All of them have been real leaders. I think this idea will really motivate them. In fact, I met with the groups individually and announced the promotions.Mr. Wyman: Good job, Patterson. I can see you’re really on top of things. Good work. Two months laterMr. Patterson, Mr. Wyman, and Park Young Sam, a Korean manager, are discussing the poor performance of Mr. Patterson’s sales teams.Mr. Wyman: Well, just look at these dismal results. The numbers for this quarter ar way down from last quarter. What’s happened?Mr. Patterson: I don’t know. Ever since I introduced the team leader concept the group’s productivity has really plummeted. I thought it was a great idea. I guess I chose the wrong people to lead the teams. I’ll assign new leaders tomorrow.Park Young Sam: Well… you may select new leaders if you desire, but the men you chose were all very capable. However, by elevating them you made them stand out and disrupted the harmony of each group. In Korea, we all work hard for the group…not just one person.Mr. Patterson: I guess I should have just left things as they were.Please analyse the scenario based on what you learned about individualism and collectivism.•Individualism and collectivism are terms that describe whole cultures. But cultures are not pure. Members of collectivist cultures may practiceindividualistic tendencies while members of individualist cultures may valuecollectivist ideals. Following their individualistic orientations, Mr. Pattersonand Mr. Wyman were perfectly comfortable with the idea of creating teamleaders within the individual sales groups. However, as Park Young Sammentions, doing so upset the harmony of the groups, which in turn lead to poor performance. In the United States, workers are often motivated by theopportunity for promotion and advancement as this serves the individualisticdrive for individual achievement. In collectivistic culture, however, workersmay be motivated by being a part of a cohesive and productive team.(4)Kelly: an AmericanKeiko: an JapaneseKeiko: Hey, Kelly, let’s do something tonight.Kelly: All right.Keiko: Please come over to my house and I’ll cook dinner for you.Kelly: I have invited some friends over to my house for dinner tonight, but I don’t know if they’re coming.Keiko: Well… as soon as you know if they’re coming, let me know.Kelly: I won’t know until tonight.Keiko: What time?Kelly: I won’t know until they call me. They’ll probably call later this afternoon. Keiko: How will you know whether or not to cook enough for everyone?Kelly: Oh, I’ll make up something on the spot. I like to cook. I’ll whip up something fast.Keiko: But… what if they don’t come? Won’t they call and let you know?Kelly: No… if they don’t come, I’ll know that something else came up. I’ll let you know as soon as I can.Keiko: Maybe we should plan my dinner for some other night.Which cultural dimension is reflected in this case and how is it reflected?•Uncertainty avoidance orientation can be seen in this case. In the dialogue, Kelly and Keiko and interacting about a dinner invitation. Kelly, from theUnited States, possesses as relatively low uncertainty avoidance culture, while Keiko, from Japan, comes from a culture with a relatively high uncertaintyavoidance culture. In the dialogue, Keiko is confused by Kelly’s easygoingattitude toward the evening’s plans. Coming from a highuncertainty-avoidance culture, Keiko would prefer to plan ahead to avoiduncertainty and prepare her script for the evening. Kelly, on the other hand, is perfectly comfortable making plans based on how the evening progresses.Without a plan, Keiko does not know how to act.。