Week 3 Cultural differences + quiz

Cultural differences in business, around the world Grace went to ___ countries in ___ weeks. –Which countries? In which countries did Grace –Give a gift? –Visit a local family? –Buy a clock? Why does Grace say she will give a knife to Jack? Now choose the right answer from page 15

Jack:Hi, Grace! Welcome back! How was your business trip? Grace:It was very tiring! I went to six countries in only two weeks! Tom:Wow! That’s not easy to do! What did you find interesting? Grace:Well, when I was in Mexico and Costa Rica, I learned that it’s not good to give knives to customers. Do you know why? Jack:Because the customer may kill you because your price is too high? Grace:No, silly! It suggests that you want to cut off the relationship! Jack:I heard Thailand has some customs that influence business. Grace:Yes, for example, in Thailand, you have to shake hands gently because it shows that you are respectful and want to be friends. But in America, shaking your hands weakly can mean that you have a weak character. Jack:How else does culture influence business in other countries. Grace:In Jordan, I wanted to give a gift in private but it was a problem. Jack:Oh, really? Why? Grace:No. He asked me to give my gift to him outside where all his workers could see us. This was to show that he was not a accepting a bribe. Jack:That’s interesting! What else did you find unusual in the Middle East? Grace:Well, besides Jordan, I also went to Saudi Arabia on a Friday. On that day, I suddenly realized that in Muslim countries, most offices are closed on Fridays! Everything is very quiet during their holy month of Ramadan. Their mosques are full of people praying. Jack:How about your trip to Japan? Did you learn any new business customs? Grace:Well, I had to bow a lot when I was introduced to new customers. We studied each other’s business cards carefully for a few seconds before putting them away. We couldn’t even write on them! Jack:Didn’t you go to India, too? Grace:Yes, my Indian customer invited me to his home to help celebrate his daughter's birthday with his relatives. During the party, I asked if I could visit his factory the next day. He wasn't very happy about that. Jack:Why not? Grace:Well, I learned that in India, it is bad manners to discuss business at a social occasion (his daughter’s birthday was such an occasion). Jack:Did you experience any unusual business customs in Europe? Grace:Well, in Germany I had to shake hands coming and going, but in England, I only shook hands when I met someone for the first time. Jack:Your last stop was Taiwan, wasn’t it? What did you see there? Grace:I went to some Buddhist temples and night markets, too. I bought a small clock and was about to give it to one of our best customers but I was told that it was awkward to give a clock because saying the action - give clock - in Chinese sounds almost the same as the word for funeral! So, I gave him something else. Jack:Oh, is it true that people burn money in Taiwan?! Grace:Yes, in Taipei, my customers were burning paper money and incense sticks in front of their stores and offices to ask the gods to help them in their business. By the way, it isn’t real money. Jack:Okay. Now, can I ask you - did you bring back a gift for me? Grace:Oh, you’re so annoying, Jack! You’re not supposed to ask that! Jack:But I want my gift now! Give it to me! I want my gift! Grace:Okay, let’s see, … where is that knife from Mexico?!! Jack: Uh oh! Help!!!

Traveling to Canada on business You have to apply for a visa at the Canadian Affairs Office In pairs, write a list of 10 questions the officer might ask –How long…? –How much…? –(maybe some funny questions too) Complete the visa application form on page 9 Find a new partner –Student 1: Canadian visa officer. Look at Student 2’s visa application Ask Student 2 questions about the trip

Presentations So far, people have asked to do –PE7 Lessons 1, 2, 4 and 6 –PE8 Lessons 1, 4 and 5 I need an from every group