关于中美文化差异两个实例的讨论

许安琪

Question1: Could you understand why Mike called the police? What can we learn about American culture and Chinese culture?

Yes, I understand it. Mike thought his grandfather forcing him to eat the bothersome vegetables violates his right of freedom and it was illegal to punish him on physics.

American culture and Chinese culture have many differences in many aspects, which are reflected fully by this small thing between the grandfather and grandson. In American culture, the personal right and the law are important.Children are brave to call the police when are under physical punishment because they are in that culture, in which they are encouraged to do so. On the other hand, Chinese culture praises filial piety. The elder has right and responsibility to educate children while children should respect

them. Physical punishment on children is also illegal in the law in china, but children in China could not do like Mike. America culture attaches more importance to legal concept than Chinese culture.

Question2: Why couldn't Xue Suling carry out her original plan of Chinese language teaching? What can we learn about American culture and Chinese culture? Mike did not like to stay at the table half an hour after school to learn Chinese and the adult could not force him to do it. Everyone is equal in Mike's mind as in America culture, so Xue Suling learnt English, keeping Mike company instead of her original plan of Chinese language teaching. In America culture, individual rights are very important so people on every age are equal. But in Chinese culture, traditional code of conduct is more important. In other words, the more experienced and elder person, like Xue Suling, should be respected and the little child should obey her.