2009年5月12日火曜日

Meeting 4: An Introduction to the kind of Culture we will study in MMCE

Here is our agenda for today's Meeting:
1) A Discussion of "Maybe we go skating"

Japanese GroupDutch Group
Describe how you think the Dutch students feel about the Japanese student's behavior.
Answer:
- J students behavior is ambiguous (not clear)
- The behavior of the Japanese students is irritating (irritates them) Why? Because the D students want clear answers from the Japanese students.
Describe how you think the Japanese students feel about the dutch students' behavior.
Answer:
- It is not good to say too clearly (speak straightly) Why? Perhaps it is important to cooperate others.
- The Japanese students think the Dutch students candid(frank) people. The Japanese students do not know how to communicate in English very well so they are confused by the Dutch students' behavior.
Identify the reason why the two sides are conflicting.
Answer:
- Difference of culture. The Japanese students are indirect people and the Dutch students say directly.
- Behind the backgrouns of J culture, Japanese people pay more attention to other people's opinion than their own indivudual opinion. Because it is more polite to reserve their own ideas in front of foreigners with different background cultures. And the Japanese people want to show respect to keep away from direct decision. Therefore, they wait for their questioners' expectancy of answer.
Give advice to the Japanese side about how to get along better with the Dutch side.
Answer:
- Don't be afraid to say your own opinion clearly
- Don't hesitate to say your own opinion clearly
- Honesty is the best key to make friends with the foreigners
Give advice to the Dutch side about how to get along better with the Japanese side.
Answer:
- We belong to different thinking types so we have different behavior habits. So the problem is our problem, not just with one side or the other. My advice is that we should spend more time to understand. We must have patience.

- Please explain detailed information to the Japanese students. For example, date, members' names, place,
- Students should talk to J students step by step. They should ask questions to the group, not to just one person because typical Japanese students want to act with the group. Sometimes it is hard for them to decide things immediately, so the Dutch students should give the Japanese students time to think about the question. For example, give us the answer by tomorrow.

2) Short talk on "What is Culture?" (Handout to fill out is here) - This will be discussed next meeting
3) The Martian and Earthling Activity

Preparation for Meeting on May 20

Please be ready to discuss the following about the role play:
  1. What did you think about the other culture you met? Please brainstorm key words.
  2. Why did you say such words?
  3. What caused these misunderstandings?
  4. Could you have done anything to avoid these misunderstandings?
Next week's assistant facilatators will be Sayahh & Panda. Today's assistant facilitator was 37. Great job 37!

Preparation for Meeting on May 27
1. Go to the CIA World Factbook
As a group find out the following information for your country. Write your information in this sheet and be prepared to report it next meeting:

Environment:
Area (How much bigger is the area than Japan?), Climate, Natural Resources, Current environmental issues:

People:
Population, Age Structure, Infant Mortality rate, Life expectancy, Ethnic groups, Languages,
Literacy

Government:
Country Name (conventional long form), Capital, Government type

Economy:
GDP per capita, Population below poverty line

2 件のコメント:

  1. Many people says that most of Japanese are shy. I understood the fact through this class. I think it is good that different countries have different cultures and the national character. So when we talk and do something with foreign people, we must understand their character each other. If we don't know the character of the partner, we may get to be irritated. We should know each other.

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  2. It is fact that japanese people are shy. But it is not all. Some japanese say their opinion directly, others japanese make friend soon. People have personality. So we have to understand it.

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