Unit 3 Culture Teaching aims: In this unit students are required to 1) get to know some useful information concerning the topic of the reading passages in this unit and to know more about english culture 2)do some preparation activities such as discussion, group work, etc. to practice their spoken skill and communicative skills 3)grasp some new words and try to use these words which help them to enrich their vocabulary 4 read the in-class reading passage in a limited time and grasp some expressions and grammatical points in the in-class reading passage to improve their read ing comprehension, 5)do some post-read ing exercises and some after-class reading to practice what they have got to know in class to improve their English comprehensive skills 6)translate some typical sentences into Chinese or English by using some expressions learned in the read ing passages to acquire some translating skills and better their translating abilities Useful Informatior 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 feelings and to communicate with each other It is often difficult to separate language and 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 trad itions are still Although many cultures in the world have remail olated for centuries. commerce and trade have often been the source of all sorts ural exchanges, ranging from foods to tools Chinese fine china and other inventions reached europe thanks to the silk route, for example. However, cultural exchanges have not always been fair or balanced. The native population of North and South America were killed or destroyed (a large part of) 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
Unit 3 Culture Teaching Aims: In this unit students are required to : 1) get to know some useful information concerning the topic of the reading passages in this unit and to know more about English culture; 2) do some preparation activities such as discussion, group work, etc. to practice their spoken skill and communicative skills; 3) grasp some new words and try to use these words which help them to enrich their vocabulary; 4)read the in-class reading passage in a limited time and grasp some expressions and grammatical points in the in-class reading passage to improve their reading comprehension; 5) do some post-reading exercises and some after-class reading to practice what they have got to know in class to improve their English comprehensive skills.; 6) translate some typical sentences into Chinese or English by using some expressions learned in the reading passages to acquire some translating skills and better their translating abilities. I. Useful Information 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 feelings and to communicate with each other. It is often difficult to separate language and 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 fine china and other inventions reached Europe thanks to the silk route, for example. However, cultural exchanges have not always been fair or balanced. The native population of North and South America were killed or destroyed (a large part of) 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. Everyone tends to make value judgments about other cultures. Find ing fault with or making fun of other customs and beliefs is often merely a way of bolstering(supporting a theory cause etc. )our complacency (feeling of personal content, satisfaction) 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 other cultures is in fact very logical and part of a deeply rooted trad ition 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 word to a global village", there are still many fascinating cultural d ifferences to explore enriching experience. Tasting(taste)new foods, listening to different music, andan Discovering how people from other regions or other countries see the world can be studying the architecture or the literature of other cultures can open up new life IL. Preparation 1. Clearing up a misunderstanding The reason is that the thumb-and-forefinger-in-a-circle(the okay gesture ), a friendly one in America, has an insulting meaning in France and Belgium: You are worth zero, " while in Greece and Turkey it is an insulting or vulgar(rude/showing bad banners)sexual invitation 2. Bridging a gap t first he didn t understand the question"How do you find it here? "It was inappropriate for him to answer the above-mentioned question by saying: Well, I don' t know, It was better to say something about his impressions of the country. And it would help to keep the conversation going. How much do you know? was a difficult question for Geri to answer. " A lot"or"A little"the tow possible replies, fact, would not be satisfactory to Liu Zongren. He said his last name when he meant his first name. It was ridiculous for him to say "Thank you at the end of the conversation because there seemed to be nothing for him to thank them for notes 1)bowing like a Japanese The Japanese are noted for their courtesy (polite behavior). They bow all the time and repeatedly. Japanese who greet people from the west often try to do two things at once The to follow local customs They also try to shake hands at the same time---following western trad itions. But they mix both. As they shake hands, they also move their body up and down as if they are bowing. It looks like they are trying te
that if a culture is young it must be inferior. Everyone 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 (supporting a theory cause etc.) our complacency (feeling of personal content, satisfaction) 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 other cultures 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 word 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 (taste) new foods, listening to different music, and studying the architecture or the literature of other cultures can open up new perspectives on life. II. Preparation 1．Clearing up a misunderstanding The reason is that the thumb-and-forefinger-in-a-circle (the okay gesture), a friendly one in America, has an insulting meaning in France and Belgium: “You are worth zero.,” while in Greece and Turkey it is an insulting or vulgar(rude/showing bad banners) sexual invitation. 2．Bridging a gap At first he didn’t understand the question “How do you find it here?” It was inappropriate for him to answer the above-mentioned question by saying: “ Well, I don’t know,” It was better to say something about his impressions of the country. And it would help to keep the conversation going. “How much do you know?” was a difficult question for Geri to answer. “A lot” or “A little”’ the tow possible replies, in fact, would not be satisfactory to Liu Zongren. He said his last name when he meant his first name. It was ridiculous for him to say “Thank you” at the end of the conversation because there seemed to be nothing for him to thank them for. Notes: 1) bowing like a Japanese: The Japanese are noted for their courtesy(polite behavior). They bow all the time and repeatedly. Japanese who greet people from the west often try to do two things at once. They try to follow local customs. They also try to shake hands at the same time---following western traditions. But they mix both. As they shake hands, they also move their body up and down as if they are bowing. It looks like they are trying to
pump water from an old pump at a well 2)ritual and a great deal of one-upmanship Here "ritual" refers to the things people unanimously(unanimous: in/showing complete agreement )do or say when parting. One-upmanship"means one tries to be more polite than the other. If one says one"Goodbye, the other will say it two or three times 3)That same"slow" is used in another polite expression used by the host at the end of a particular large and delicious meal to assure his guests what a poor and inadequate host he has been.(这里“sow”被用在“怠慢”这个词组里) IlL. In-Class Reading Activities Bridging Cultural Gaps gracefully 1. to slip into: pass gradually into a state or situation, in a way that is hardly noticed .o It amazed him how easily one could slip into a routine He slipped into the room when no one was looking B The boy slipped into bed and went right to sleep to slip one's memory/mind to be forgotten g These points had entirely slipped my memory. His name slipped my mind 2.without all your foreignness exposed (without +N+PP) e.g. without all your weakness exposed without all the mail delivered without all the products delivered without all the apples picked without all her sensitivity revealed 3. to start out: begin e.g. He has started out to study French. He stared out to write his report We all start out in life as helpless infants to start out leave. set out We stared out from home in the morning Bill started out for school on his bicycle 4. when it came to seeing.. When talk ing about seeing, When it was a case or question of seeing .o When it comes to relationships, everyone makes mistakes g When it comes to hard work, you can rely on him g When it comes to mathematics, I am completely at sea g The school has very good teachers, but when comes to buildings, the school is very poor. 5. to see sb off to go to an airport, station etc. with sb who is leaving to see his friends off at the bus stop g Are you coming to see us off at the station This morning he had not even come to see them off to see about sth to deal with
pump water from an old pump at a well. 2) ritual and a great deal of one-upmanship: Here “ritual” refers to the things people unanimously (unanimous: in/showing complete agreement) do or say when parting. “One-upmanship” means one tries to be more polite than the other. If one says one “Goodbye”, the other will say it two or three times. 3) That same “slow” is used in another polite expression used by the host at the end of a particular large and delicious meal to assure his guests what a poor and inadequate host he has been.（这里 “slow”被用在“怠慢” 这个词组里） III. In-Class Reading Activities Bridging Cultural Gaps Gracefully 1 .to slip into: pass gradually into a state or situation, in a way that is hardly noticed. ❖ It amazed him how easily one could slip into a routine. ❖ He slipped into the room when no one was looking. ❖ The boy slipped into bed and went right to sleep. to slip one’s memory/mind: to be forgotten ❖ These points had entirely slipped my memory. His name slipped my mind 2….without all your foreignness exposed (without +N+P.P) e.g. without all your weakness exposed without all the mail delivered without all the products delivered without all the apples picked without all her sensitivity revealed 3. to start out: begin e.g. He has started out to study French. He stared out to write his report. We all start out in life as helpless infants. to start out :leave; set out We stared out from home in the morning. Bill started out for school on his bicycle. 4. when it came to seeing…: When talking about seeing; When it was a case or question of seeing… ❖ When it comes to relationships, everyone makes mistakes. ❖ When it comes to hard work, you can rely on him. ❖ When it comes to mathematics, I am completely at sea. ❖ The school has very good teachers, but when comes to buildings, the school is very poor. 5. to see sb off: to go to an airport, station etc. with sb who is leaving ❖ to see his friends off at the bus stop ❖ Are you coming to see us off at the station? ❖ This morning he had not even come to see them off. to see about sth: to deal with
The first thing we must do when we arrive in London is to see about a hotel to see through sb/ sth: not be deceived by g He cannot fool me, I can see through him every time ☆ I saw through his trick to see sth through: continue it until the end g Whatever happens, we'll see the struggle through to see to sth attend to it There was much to see to g Who is seeing to the arrangements for the meeting? 6. An abrupt goodbye would not do todo: be acceptable(行,合适,可以,凑合) g Will it do if we let you have an answer by Friday? g It will do if you let me know in an hour or so g That is not quite what I wanted, but I think it will do 7. to smooth over; to make( difficulties) seem small or unimportant使…缓解,使…,平 息下来 It will be difficult for you to smooth over your differences after so many years 经过这么多年,你想消除你们之间的分歧谈何容易 The teacher smoothed over the quarrel between the two boys g Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary making her laugH 8. to pick up:get,gain(非正规地)学会,学到 He picked up French while he was staying in Paris Young children soon pick up words they hear their elders use .o Statistics isn t a subject that can be picked up in a month to pick up take hold of and lift He picked up the book and gave it to her to pick up: gather together; collect g Pick up your room before mother sees it to pick up: to give sb a lift ☆ Pick me up at the hotel At the next corner the bus stopped and picked up 3 people 9. to send sb off: to say good-bye to sb, to see sb off . There was a large crowd to send him off All the students want to send the teacher off to send sth off: to post/mail(a letter, parcel, message.) g I would like to send off the parcel by early post Why haven t you got my letter? I sent it off last week to send sb off:(esp. in football) to cause a player to leave the field because of a serious breaking of the rules g. The judge sent Li Jingyu 10 to involve: cause . to take part in This problem involves us all Dont involve you in the quarrel . That's no concern of me. I'm not involved
❖ The first thing we must do when we arrive in London is to see about a hotel. to see through sb/ sth : not be deceived by ❖ He cannot fool me; I can see through him every time. ❖ I saw through his trick. to see sth through: continue it until the end ❖ Whatever happens, we’ll see the struggle through to see to sth : attend to it ❖ There was much to see to. ❖ Who is seeing to the arrangements for the meeting? 6.An abrupt goodbye would not do. to do : be acceptable（行，合适，可以，凑合） ❖ Will it do if we let you have an answer by Friday? ❖ It will do if you let me know in an hour or so. ❖ That is not quite what I wanted, but I think it will do. 7. to smooth over: to make (difficulties) seem small or unimportant 使…缓解，使… 平 息下来 ❖ It will be difficult for you to smooth over your differences after so many years. 经过这么多年，你想消除你们之间的分歧谈何容易。 ❖ The teacher smoothed over the quarrel between the two boys. ❖ Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary making her laugh. 8. to pick up: get, gain（非正规地）学会，学到 ❖ He picked up French while he was staying in Paris. ❖ Young children soon pick up words they hear their elders use. ❖ Statistics isn’t a subject that can be picked up in a month. to pick up: take hold of and lift ❖ He picked up the book and gave it to her. to pick up: gather together ; collect ❖ Pick up your room before mother sees it. to pick up: to give sb a lift ❖ Pick me up at the hotel. At the next corner the bus stopped and picked up 3 people. 9. to send sb off: to say good-bye to sb; to see sb off ❖ There was a large crowd to send him off. ❖ All the students want to send the teacher off. to send sth off: to post/mail (a letter, parcel, message…) ❖ I would like to send off the parcel by early post. ❖ Why haven’t you got my letter? I sent it off last week. to send sb off: (esp. in football) to cause a player to leave the field because of a serious breaking of the rules ❖ The judge sent Li Jingyu off 10.to involve : cause … to take part in ❖ This problem involves us all. Don’t involve you in the quarrel. ❖ That’s no concern of me. I’m not involved
to involve: have as a necessary result g To accept this work involves living in London. g Housework involves cooking, washing dishes, sweeping and cleaning g The plan involves the co-operation of both young and old 11.to assure( sb that). to cause sb to be sure向谁保证,肯定地说 g I assure you that you are wrong .o I assure you that the medicine cannot harm you .o Nothing can assure permanent happiness to assure sb of.向。。保证一定,肯定地向..说 I can assure you of my full support for your plan g He assures us of his ability to work to ensure: to make sure保证,使一定得到 to ensure sb sth. to ensure sth to sb to ensure that The book ensured his success g This medicine will ensure you a good nights sleep These documents ensure to you the authority you need i cannot ensure that he will be there in time to insure: make a contract that promises to pay a sum of money in case of accident loss death etc .s The old lady has insured her life g My house is insured against fire l2. to put sb to trouble:给某人造成麻烦,增添麻烦 g. I dont like putting you to so much trouble I am sorry for putting you to so much trouble .o I dont want to put you to a lot of trouble to ask/look for trouble: behave so as to cause trouble g What made you write such a letter? It was asking for trouble g Dont you go looking for trouble? to get into trouble: to be in trouble He is always getting into trouble with the police o get sb into trouble g If you do, you might get me into trouble to have trouble in doing: to have difficulty in doing Did you have much in finding the house? I have some trouble in read ing the letter. to take trouble over sth: to take trouble to do sth use much care and effort in doing sth ver his wo He has taken end less trouble to make a success of our picnic They took a lot of trouble to find the right person for the job 13 to insist on to order strongly坚持要求,一定要 insist on an answer. g He insisted on a second message being sent She insisted on lend ing them a car
to involve: have as a necessary result ❖ To accept this work involves living in London. ❖ Housework involves cooking, washing dishes, sweeping and cleaning. ❖ The plan involves the co-operation of both young and old. 11.to assure(sb that)…to cause sb to be sure 向谁保证，肯定地说 ❖ I assure you that you are wrong. ❖ I assure you that the medicine cannot harm you. ❖ Nothing can assure permanent happiness. to assure sb of…向。。。保证一定，肯定地向…说 ❖ I can assure you of my full support for your plan. ❖ He assures us of his ability to work. to ensure: to make sure 保证，使一定得到 to ensure sb sth. to ensure sth to sb to ensure that ❖ The book ensured his success. ❖ This medicine will ensure you a good night’s sleep. ❖ These documents ensure to you the authority you need ❖ I cannot ensure that he will be there in time. . to insure: make a contract that promises to pay a sum of money in case of accident, loss, death etc. ❖ The old lady has insured her life. ❖ My house is insured against fire. 12.to put sb to trouble:给某人造成麻烦，增添麻烦 ❖ I don’t like putting you to so much trouble. ❖ I am sorry for putting you to so much trouble. ❖ I don’t want to put you to a lot of trouble. to ask/look for trouble: behave so as to cause trouble ❖ What made you write such a letter? It was asking for trouble. ❖ Don’t you go looking for trouble? to get into trouble: to be in trouble ❖ He is always getting into trouble with the police. to get sb into trouble ❖ If you do, you might get me into trouble. to have trouble in doing: to have difficulty in doing ❖ Did you have much in finding the house? I have some trouble in reading the letter. ❖ to take trouble over sth; to take trouble to do sth: use much care and effort in doing sth ❖ He should take more trouble over his work. ❖ He has taken endless trouble to make a success of our picnic. ❖ They took a lot of trouble to find the right person for the job. 13.to insist on :to order strongly 坚持要求，一定要 ❖ I insist on an answer. ❖ He insisted on a second message being sent. ❖ She insisted on lending them a car