Do the quiz and choose the best answer. Every country has its customs. Different nations can behave differently in the same situations.

 

1) Which should you never offer a Moslem to eat?	a) beef b) pork c) chicken d) fish
2) What do you have to do before you go into a mosque?	a) put on white clothes b) take off your shoes
3) At a traditional meal in India you would eat	a) only with right hand b) only with your left hand
4) In a Buddhist country you shouldn’t	a)pat a child’s head b) hold hands with a child
5) If you are a guest in Japan, and you can’t finish the food, it would be polite	a) to leave the food on your plate b) to wrap the food in the paper and take it home
6) What Italians do at midnight on New Year’s Eve?	a) throw old things out of the windows b) sit on the floor and hold hands
7) In Russia at the English lesson students	a) chatting b) listening to the teacher
8) In Russia at the English lesson students	a) chew a gum b) use a mobile phone c) are ready with their homework
9) If you’re invited to a meal in Brazil, you should arrive	a) shortly before the stated time b) some time after the stated time
10) In Arab countries a guest must be careful not to admire his hosts possessions because	a) the host will offer them as a present b) it’s considered to be impolite

3. Guess the meaning of the word “business” in the following sentences:

1. Business is the production, buying, and selling of goods and services.

2. A business, company, or firm is an organization that sells goods or services.

3. A business may also be referred to formally as a concern.

4. A business may be referred to approvingly as an enterprise to emphasize its adventurous, risk-taking qualities.

5. Business is also referred to as commerce when it is used to distinguish the business sphere from other areas such as government or the arts.

 

4. Read the text and answer the questions:

Language is a part of culture. To start any business it is important to learn economics as well as foreign languages. If you plan to have business relations with foreign partners, you should learn about their culture, traditions and customs.

 

Problems in international business relationships are not always caused by language difficulties.

The areas which we must be aware of include body language, gesture, social customs, attitudes to punctuality, dress code and business practice.

 

It is useful to know, for example, that the British shake hands less often than other European people, that the Americans use first names more often than many other nationalities, and the Japanese think that harmony and consensus are very important.

 

Norman Ramshaw, the author of ‘A World Guide to Good Manners’ give some examples how to behave with foreign business friends.

§ Greeting and meeting

In the Middle East you must never use the left hand for greeting, eating or drinking. In Japan you should bow the head when you greet somebody. If the Japanese give you their business card, you should receive it with both hands and you must take time to read it carefully. In Thailand you should clasp your hands together and lower your head and your eyes when you greet someone.

§ Eating and drinking

The British are happy to have business lunch and discuss business matters with a drink during a meal; the Japanese prefer not to work while eating. Lunch is a time to relax and get to know one another, and they rarely drink at lunchtime. The Germans like to talk business before dinner; the French like to eat first and talk afterwards. They have to be well fed and watered before they discuss anything.

§ In an office

Taking off your jacket and rolling up your sleeves is a sign of getting down to work in Britain and Holland, but in Germany people regard it as taking it easy. Sometimes the Americans put their feet on the desk while speaking on the telephone. In Japan people would be shocked. Showing the soles of your feet and blowing your nose in public is the height of bad manners for the Japanese.

 

So, it is very important to learn more about other cultures. We can find out about other cultures by reading and talking to people with experience. When we visit countries, it is important to be good observers and listeners. We should avoid criticising other cultures and realise that we all have similar problems, but different ways of dealing with them.

 

Translate the underlined words in bold type.

6. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is it important to learn about other cultures?

2. What areas of culture should a person be aware of to communicate effectively?

3. How can we learn about other cultures?

4. Why should we avoid making criticism when dealing with people from other countries?