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II. Basic Listening Practice1.????Script

W:?Many Chinese students are too shy to say anything in a classroom.

M:?I think they don’t speak because their culture values modesty, and they don’t want to appear to be showing off. Goes back to Confucius.

Q:?Why don’t Chinese students say anything in classroom according to the man?

2.????Script

W:?The government is doing something at last about sex discrimination in the workplace. Women deserve the same pay as men for the same work.

M:?Yeah. In theUnited States, women earn only 70 percent of what men do for the same job. It’s a situation that has to be changed.

Q:?What does the man say about women?

3. Script

W:?I admire Michael Dell. He had a dream to be the world’s largest manufacturer of personal computers, and he has realized that dream.

M:?And he dropped out of university to become a success. I wonder if there is a lesson in that.

Q:?What do we learn about Dell from the conversation?

4. Script

M:?Successful entrepreneurs are often self-made people who have a vision and know where they are going.

W:?But do they enjoy life like you and me, or is money their only concern?

Q:?What are the two speakers’ attitudes toward successful entrepreneurs?

5. Script

W:?Do you agree that equal opportunity for all in an educational system is important?

M:?Yes, but we have to recognize that all of us are not of equal ability.

Q:?What does the man imply?

Keys: 1.C?? 2.A?? 3. D?? 4.B?? 5.A

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III. Listening In

Task 1: Competition inAmerica

Script

Alan:?What are you reading, Eliza?

Eliza:?An article on American competition.

Alan:?Competition is everywhere and constant. Why so much fuss about it, Miss Knowledge?

Eliza:?Don’t make fun of me. According to the author, competition is especially important in American life. They’re taught to compete from early childhood. When children play games, they learn how to beat others.

Alan:?And many girls want to look more attractive than the girls sitting next to them in class. Do you think that way?

Eliza:?Don’t be silly. Let’s get back to the point. When children are growing up, they compete with one another in their studies.

Alan:?Isn’t that also true of students in other nations? As we all know, many Asian students kill for a high test score and grab every opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge over others.

Eliza:?American boys find great pleasure in competing with each other in sports, according to the author.

Alan:?I do like sports. When our football team beats the other team, I feel great. Makes me want to shout out loud. But isn’t that normal throughout the world?

Eliza:?American people also compete with each other at work and at climbing the social ladder.

Alan:?But there’s competition in other countries as well.

Eliza:?You’re right in a sense, but the author says the idea of competing is more deeply rooted in the minds of Americans. They’re even taught that if you lose and don’t feel hurt, there must be something wrong with you.

Alan:?I hear that some Asians put emphasis on cooperation. Which approach do you think makes more sense?

Eliza:?It’s hard to say. Anyway, there’s no accounting for different cultures.

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1.??????What is the dialog mainly about?

2.??????What is the woman doing?

3.??????What do children learn from playing games according to the woman?

4.??????What does the man say about students’ studies?

5.??????What does the woman say when asked which makes more sense, competition or cooperation?

Keys: 1.C?? 2.A?? 3.C?? 4.B?? 5.D

Task 2: Americans’ Work Ethic

Script

For four hundred years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their “work ethic”. Its (S1)?roots?were in the teaching of the Christian Puritans who first settled in (S2)?what?is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that it was their (S3)moral?duty to work at every task to please God by their

(S4)?diligence, honesty, attention to details, skill, and attitude. To these Puritans, it was a (S5)?sin?to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow the Bible’s (S6)?teachings, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

Therefore, Americans have for (S7)?centuries?believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work as carefully and hard as they could when they did anything. God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. (S8)?Even as children they were taught, “If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing well.”

But some people have gone beyond the usual sense of diligence. They are especially attracted to the notion of “climbing the ladder” so as to increase their status, financial position, and sense of self-worth. (S9)?In English a new word has been created to describe people who work compulsivelly. The word “workaholic” describes an individual who is as addicted to work as an alcoholic is to alcohol.

There are conflicting points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics abuse themselves physically and mentally. (S10)?Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society because they are extremely productive. The American culture values achievement, efficiency, and production, and a workaholic upholds these values.

Task 3: Do you know what “Freeze!” means?

Script

Keys: 1.C?? 2.A?? 3.D?? 4.B?? 5.C

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IV. Speaking Out

MODEL 1???Americans glorify individualism.

Susan:??John, I was looking for you. Where have you been hiding all morning?

John:???Well, I caught Professor Brown’s lecture on American individualism.

Susan:? Oh, how did you find it?

John:?? Enlightening. Americans glorify individualism. They believe?individual interests rank above everything else.

Susan:? Sounds intersting.?It’s a sharp contrast to the oriental collectivism?Professor Wang talked about last semester.

John:???But you should know that the individualism in theUnited Statesis not necesssarily an equivalent for selfishness.

Susan:? Then what does it mean in the States?

John: ??They believe?all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, so they emphasize individual initiative and independence.

Susan:??There could be something in that. Of course in oriental countries the interests of the group are more important than anything else.

John:?I ?So,?it’s all the more necessary?for foreigners to understand American culture, or they can’t hope to understand the importance of privacy in the West..

Susan:??Maybe that’s the reason?nuclear families outnumber extended families?in theUnited ? States.

John:?Right on!?You’re catching on fast!

Susan:Now let me ask you a question.

John:Shoot. Go ahead.

Susan:?Why do Americans cherish individualism?more than oriental people?

John:I don’t know. Anyway, Professor Brown didn’t say.

Susan:One reason might be that American children stop sleeping with their parents at an early age. They learn independence early, so?it’s deeply rooted.

John:?Wow,?that’s an intelligent guess!

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MODEL2???What do you think are the reasons for

? ? ? ? ?

that difference?

Script

Susan:Do you find that people inAmericaoften walk faster than people inChina? Americansalways seem to be in a hurry.

John:It’s hard to come to a definite conclusion. Some Americans walk in a leisurely way, and some Chinese hurry all the time. But on the whole, I think you’re right.

Susan:?What do you think are the reasons for that difference?

John:??Americans treasure time. For them, time is tangible. It’s a thing. “Time is money.” You can “spend time”, “waste time”, “save time”. You can even “kill time”!

Susan:??Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle?

John:Sure. If you’re 20 minutes late for a bussiness appointment, the other person or persons will be annoyed. They may not trust you anymore.

Susan:But as far as I know, English-speaking people may be 15-30 minutes late for a dinner party.

John:That’s true. For an informal occasion like that, punctuality is not so important. Also,?a boss may keep his employees waiting for a long time.

Susan:But if his secretary is late, she’s in trouble. She will probably receive a reprimand.

John:How true!

Susan:The American workship of time probably?led them to create fast foods.

John:I agree. And?globalization shrinks the differences between cultures. Now people everywhere are rushing, and anywhere you go, you find Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Susan:But plenty of Chinese are still making appointments saying, “If I am late, wait for me.”

John:But with more intercultural communication, I think?the gap will eventually be bridged, and Chinese will be hurrying everywhere.

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MODEL3That’s the secret of their success.

Script

Chris:Hey Sue,?how’s the math class going??Are you head of the class?

Susan:Are you kidding? There’s a bunch of foreign students in the class---fromChinasomewhere---and?they are on top.

Chris:Why do you think?so many Chinese students excel in math? It’s been my observation that the Chinese students are usually the best.

Susan:In class they don’t say much, but?they definitely get the best marks.

Chris:I think part of it is their work ethic.?They never skip class, and they pay attention.

Susan:One Chinese student in my class did homework each night until the early hours. He never took a break, watched TV, or went out for a beer.

Chris:That’s the secret of their success: hard work and deligence.

Susan:It’s so unfair. I could probably do better if I worked harder, but that’s no fun. I thinklearning should be more fun.

Chris:Someone with a knowledge of chess would find a chess tournament fascinating. But if you don’t have the knowledge, then you won’t understand the significance of the moves, and you’ll be bored.

Susan:So what you’re saying is knowledge requires hard work, and knowledge makes things interesting.?I am not against knowledge;?I just want to learn it in an interesting way. What’s more, “All work and noplay makes Jack a dull boy.”

Now Your Turn

Task 1:

SAMPLE DIALOG

Maggie:?Josh, you were late for work this morning.

Josh:I was only about ten minutes late. Anyway, the boss didn’t say anything about it.

Maggie:?As a friend, I must give you a warning. You should understand that Americans treasure time.

Josh:What do you mean?

Maggie:?You see, for them time is tangible. It’s a thing. “Time is money.” You can “spend time”, “waste time”, “save time”. You can even “kill time”!

Josh:Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle?

Maggie:?If you’re 20 minutes late for a business appointment, the other persons will be annoyed. They may not trust you anymore. Today you were ten minutes late for work. That was bad enough.

Josh:I was caught in a traffic jam. What could I have done?

Maggie:?You should have called the secretary to say you might be late. I learned the importance of punctuality when I studied at an American university.

Josh:Tell me about it.

Maggie:?Some students were late handing in assignments and the professors gave them poor marks. One professor even refused to read a term paper that was turned in after the deadline.

Josh:But as far as I know, English-speaking people may be 15-30 minutes late for a dinner party.

Maggie:?That’s true. For an informal occasion like that, punctuality is not so important. Also, a boss may keep his employees waiting for a long time.

Josh:But if his secretary is late, she’s in trouble. She will probably be reprimanded.

Maggie:?How true!

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V. Let’s Talk

Script

Culture shock happens to most people who travel abroad. Psychologists tell us that there are five distinct phases of culture shock.

During the first few days of a person’s stay in a new country, everything usually goes fairly smoothly. The newcomer is excited about being in a new place where there are new sights and sounds, new smells and tastes. They may find themselves staying in hotels or with a home-stay family that is excited to meet the foreign stranger. This first stage of culture shock is called the “honeymoon phase”.

Unfortunately, this phase often comes to an end fairly soon. The newcomer may encounter many problems in transportation, shopping, or interpersonal communication. You may feel that people no longer care about your problems. You might even start to think that the people in the host country don’t like foreigners. This may lead to the second stage of culture shock, known as the “rejection phase”. The newcomer may start to complain about and reject the host culture.

If you don’t survive stage two successfully, you may find yourself moving into stage three: the “regression phase”. The word “regression” means moving backward, and in this phase of culture shock, you spend much of your time speaking your own language, watching videos from your home country, and eating food form home. Also, you may remember only the good things about your home country.

If you survive the third stage successfully, you will move into the fourth stage of culture shock called the “recovery phase”. In this stage you become more comfortable with the customs of the host country. You start to realize that no country is that much better than another---they are just different.

Much later, when you return to your homeland, you may find yourself entering the fifth phase of culture shock---the “reverse culture shock”. After you have become comfortable with the habits and customs of a new lifestyle, you may find that you are no longer completely comfortable in your home country. It may take a little while to become at ease with your home culture.

If you overcome the problems in all five phases, you will be much stronger, and you will be a citizen of the world.

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VI.????????????????Further Listening and Speaking

Task 1: Punctuality

Script

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Keys: 1.C?? 2.B?? 3.A?? 4.C?? 5.D

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Task 2: Our Personal Spaces

Script

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Keys: 1.T?? 2.F?? 3.T?? 4.F?? 5.F

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Task 3: We don’t know what to do with them.

Script

A Russian, a Cuban, an American businessman, and an American lawyer were passengers on a fast train speeding across the French countryside. As time wore on, the men gradually became friendly with one another, introducing themselves and shaking hands. Eventually, the Russian took out a large bottle of vodka and poured each of his traveling companions a drink. Just as the American businessman was sipping the vodka and praising its fine quality, the Russian hurled the half-full bottle out of the open window.

“What did you do that for?” asked the startled American businessman.

“Vodka is plentiful in my country,” said the Russian, “In fact, we have thousands and thousands of liters of it---far more than we need.”

The American businessman shook his head and leaned back in his seat, obviously baffled by the Russian’s reasoning.

A little later, the young Cuban passed around a box of fine Havana cigars. The men enjoyed this treat and made admiring remarks about the pleasures of smoking good Havana cigars. At that very moment the Cuban took a couple of puffs of his cigar and then tossed it out of the open window.

“I thought the Cuban economy was not good this year,” the American businessman said. “Yet you threw that perfectly good cigar away. I find your actions quite puzzling.”

“Cigars,” the Cuban replied, “are a dime a dozen inCuba. We have more of them than we know what to do with.”

The American businessman sat in silence for a moment. Then he got up, grbbed the lawyer, and threw him out of the window.

News Report

Russian Popcorn Festival

Script

American popcorn has made its way into the?heart?of Russian culture. Organizers and participants came together on Sunday at a Moscow festival marking the tenth anniversary of the?introduction?of popcorn toRussia.

It was exactly ten years ago, on December 16, 1991, that popcorn, considered an Americandelicacy?here, first made its appearance in this land famous for its?artists.

To celebrate the occasion, ten “artists” decided to recreate a famous Russian?painting?in, you guessed it, popcorn. It took the ten artists a total of six hours of?painstaking?work to complete the popcorn painting. The result of this long ordeal was a?120?square meter popcorn mosaic.

The Russian Records Agency, the local?equivalent?of the Guinness Book of World Records, was at the Manezh exhibition complex to?witness?the event. A ceremony was held in front ofonlookers?to officially register the record.

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The ceremony was immediately?followed?by a popcorn lovers’feast, with festival-goersconsuming?large amounts of the much-loved snack. Both the young and the old eagerly took part in the festive celebrations. Some participants?voiced?their support for the unusual event.

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There were also those who talked about feeling a?sense?of camaraderie among their fellow popcorn enthusiasts.

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The celebrations continued for?hours?and even included some live performances.

Clean up for the event was no problem---there were many eager onlookers on hand to clean up---and eat---the?delicious mess.