Unit 3 Task Unit 3 Task

Writing a letter to explain Writing a letter to explain

cultural misunderstandingscultural misunderstandings

Lead inLead in

1. What should we do before and after

listening if we need to complete a text?

2. What should we pay attention to when

we are listening?

Skills building 1: completing a textSkills building 1: completing a text

Tips on completing a text by listening:

1. Make sure you read the text first so

you understand the subject of the text

and the type of words that you are

likely to hear.

2. Try to guess the words that might be

used to fill in the blanks.

3. Decide if it is content words or

grammar words that you are listening

for.

After listening:

Proofread it to ensure that it makes

sense and check whether there are any

mistakes in it, including any spelling

mistakes.

Listen to the conversation and complete

the diary. Remember the tips on

completing a text by listening.

Step 1: Showing foreign visitors around

Answers:

(1)___________ (2)___________

(3)___________ (4)___________

(5)___________ (6)____________

(7)___________ (8)___________

three unusual

wouldn’t beef

gifts business cards

crowded space

Read part B on page 43, and circle the

taboos that help explain some of the

unusual incidents mentioned in the

article.

If you are from India, you may not eat

beef because of your religion. If you are from the West, you probably

would not like to eat chickens’ feet, but

it’s not a taboo.

Suggested answersSuggested answers

In India, it is impolite to shake hands or

give someone something with your left

hand.

Japanese people get upset if people do

not look at their business cards

carefully. Remember not to just put the

business cards in your pocket without

looking in Japan .

Listen for more information about

culture habits and fill in the blanks in

your notes below.

Answers:

1._____________ 2.______________

3._____________ 4.______________

5._____________

uncomfortable

gifts

money

zero

hug

How can we deal with the

misunderstanding resulted from

the cultural differences?

Say sorry orally.

Write a formal letter of apology.

Skills building 2: asking for information

When we want to find out about

something, we need to ask questions.

How many question words do you

remember ?

What---when we want to find out about

something specific, e.g. things /

people / places

How---when we want to find out the way

something should be done

Which---when we want to specify which

one of a choice of possibilities

When--- when we want to inquire about

time

Why---when we want to find out a reason

Where---when we want to find out about

the place in which something

happened

Step 2: asking about culture differences

Work in pairs to ask questions about

culture differences. You can answer the

questions according to what we learned.

1. How do people in North America and

the UK greet each other?

2. Which hand shouldn’t be used to shake

hands with or give things to people from

India?

Suggested answersSuggested answers

In North America and the UK, people greet one another by shaking hands.

The left hand.

3. In which country do people greet one

another by giving a slight bow with their

hands pressed together?

4. What should you do when a Japanese

person gives you a business card?

We should look at the card carefully.

Thailand and other parts of South-

East Asia.

5. Why do people from the USA not like crowded places?

6. What does the American gesture for “OK” mean to

French people?

It means zero.

They feel uncomfortable if others are

in their ‘personal space’, which is

about 50 centimeters around them.

Skill building 3:

writing a letter of apology

1. Do you know the differences between 1. Do you know the differences between

writing letters in Chinese and writing writing letters in Chinese and writing

letters in English?letters in English?

2. What do you usually say if you want to 2. What do you usually say if you want to

make an apology?make an apology?

Address of the sender

Date

Name and address of the recipient

Greeting/ an opening

The body of a letter/ content

closingname/signature

When writing a letter of apology, you

need to include the following: your address the date an opening the purpose of the letter an explanation an ending phrase your name and signature

Step 3: explaining misunderstandingsStep 3: explaining misunderstandings

Work in groups to discuss what to

include in your letter of apology. After

discussion, write your letter in the

blanks on page 45.

Possible examplePossible example

Mr. Singh

(Address)

Dear Mr. Singh,

I’m writing to apologize for any

misunderstandings that occurred when I

showed you around Beijing the other day.

I felt rather strange when you would not

shake hands with me. I did not realize

that there are some taboos in different

countries and cultures. After reading a

magazine article, I know that people from

India don’t shake hands with their left

hands. I should not have held out my left

hand to you. And I know you do not eat

beef because of your religion.

I feel very sorry for not having known

these taboos earlier. I hope you can

forgive me for all these

misunderstandings. I hope our next

meeting will be happier.

Yours sincerely,

***(name)

HomeworkHomework

Finish your letter of apology. You can

write a letter to Mr. Takashi or Mr.

Hudson.