Reading file 7

Background

Cultural awareness when you travel

Most travellers have a story about travel Finally, there are your feet. Don’t show
to another country and the problems the bottom of your shoes in many
of cultural differences. Perhaps they countries and you might need to take
arrived late for a meal or they ate too them off when entering someone’s
early. Maybe they did something at the house – or you might need to keep
dinner table that is *rude or they chose them on!
the wrong topics of conversation. These
stories are often funny but rarely serious. 3

When two people with experience of Polite travellers are welcome all over
travel meet, they usually expect cultural the world and people will invite you
differences – after all, that’s what makes into their house. In many cultures, this
travel interesting. But the visitor with offer of hospitality is very serious. If
a good cultural understanding will you refuse an offer of food, help, or even
communicate more effectively and be a gift sometimes, it can be very rude.
welcome back. Here is a summary of the At a meal, it could be polite to finish
key areas to consider. everything or polite to leave a little. In
general, guests who try anything put
1
in front of them (even the strangest-
When you first meet, it’s important to looking food) will be welcome back in
talk about ‘safe’ subjects. In all parts of all cultures.
the world, your journey and the weather
are likely to be good opening topics. 4

Also, asking about the country you are If you are abroad with a close friend or
in and places to visit are good ways *spouse, find out what is *acceptable
to develop a conversation. However, when you are in public. Holding hands
opinions are different when someone is probably safe, but kissing in public
introduces the topic of family or free- might not be. Alternatively, you might be
time interests. Not everyone likes to talk surprised by how much people in some
about personal things in the workplace. cultures show their affection.
The *golden rule here is to begin with
the safe topics and build the relationship 5

before you move on to subjects like the The rules of punctuality really are very
economy or politics. different, even within continents such
as Europe. It’s hard to generalize about
2
regions. For example, people often say
The gestures we make in our own South American countries are relaxed
countries do not always ‘translate’. about being on time, but in Chile it is
When you shake your head from side to important to be punctual. There is a
side in India, it can mean ‘Yes’, not ‘No’. simple guideline to follow: If you arrive
But hands can cause bigger problems early or on time, your host might be
than heads. For example, putting your surprised, but not think it’s rude. If
hands on your hips in parts of Southeast you or someone else arrives late, then
Asia might suggest you feel angry perhaps that’s your *custom or their
or *hostile towards them – definitely custom (or maybe they just couldn’t find
don’t use it with a police officer or a taxi!) In other words, accept and learn
government official! from cultural differences.

Glossary
*acceptable = something that people think can be permitted
*custom = normal way of doing things in a country
*golden rule = most important rule
*hostile = aggressive
*rude = not polite
*spouse = person you are married to

© Oxford University Press 2017 Business Result Second edition Pre-intermediate

 Reading file 7
Exercises
1 Discuss as a class.
1 When you travel abroad (for work or on holiday) what kinds of differences do
you notice?
2 Think of a country you have visited. What was the biggest difference?

2 Read the text about cultural differences. These five headings are missing
from the text. Write them in gaps 1–5.
Showing affection   Time   Topics of conversation
Heads, hands and feet    Hospitality and food

3 Choose the correct ending, a or b.

1 The writer thinks cultural differences between two people …
a are often very serious. b don’t often cause big problems.
2 ‘Safe’ topics are …
a good for starting conversations. b usually very boring.
3 The gestures in your country …
a are rude in other countries. b do not always have the same
meaning in other countries.
4 When you eat in another country, the writer thinks you should always …
a taste any kind of food. b take a gift to your host’s house.
5 The writer advises that you should …
a always take a taxi to dinner. b expect differences.

4 Use a word from A and a word from B to complete these sentences about
customs.
A B
build your head
shake hands
refuse your shoes
be differences
accept gesture
shake an offer
show a relationship
make punctual
take off affection
1 People always when they meet. Even if they know each
other well.
2 When you , it means ‘no’.
3 You don’t when you enter someone’s house. You keep
them on.
4 It’s always important to for a meeting.
5 Never of food at someone’s house.
6 When you the upward with your thumb it means ‘good’.
7 Don’t in public – it’s considered vulgar.
8 It’s essential to with a business contact before talking
about personal matters.
9 It’s important to and understand cultural when you travel.

5 Look back at the text and choose three words that you could use in your
day-to-day work.

6 Work with a partner.

1 Are statements 1 to 8 in 4 true for your country? Which are different?
2 Imagine a colleague or client is visiting your country for the first time. Think of three
pieces of advice or information you can give about your culture and its customs.
3 Present your answers to the class.

© Oxford University Press 2017 Business Result Second edition Pre-intermediate