Cross-Cultural Values

Net Task

Cross-Cultural Values

As students of international English in a multicultural society, you will experience situations at work, school, or when relaxing where you will need to adapt to cultural differences; speech patterns, body language, values and norms that you are not used to. Understanding these differences may help you to adjust.

Discuss

Sit in pairs and discuss the following:
a. First look up what the word “culture” means. Then write down whatever you associate with the word. Compare with a partner. What differences did you find?
- Is there anything within Norwegian culture that differs totally from other cultures, e.g. behavior, how Norwegians think or feel, regard themselves?
- What traits mentioned above do you think may be most offensive to foreigners? Why?
- What can be done to avoid this?

b. How do Norwegians differ culturally from the following nations?
Britons
Americans
Japanese
Chinese
South Africans
Afghanis
Iranians
Pakistanis
Indians

Values and norms – the bigger picture

c. Look up the meaning of the word “value”
Which of these values do you think the countries below put most emphasis on? (Use the links below to help you) Place the value/values next to the correct country in the table below. Then give an example of a situation where this has been put into practice. Discuss with a partner.
Values
freedom of speech
individualism
family
equality
team spirit
human rights
wealth
animal rights
communalism
religiosity

Country	Value/s	Example
UK
USA
Norway
Japan
China
South Africa
Afghanistan
Iran
Pakistan
India

Net Resources

The Free Library
Cultural Differences
Norway – The Official Site in the United States
Norway - a multi-ethnic country
http://www.norway.org/News/archive/2000/2000101ethnic.htm

Internasjonal engelsk

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