Review

Lesson 2: Cross-cultural Communication

Introduction
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
- Language and Culture
- Language Functions
- Appropriateness
- Second Language Sociocultural Norms
- Review and Reflect
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Conclusion
Portfolio
Resources

1. Which of the following errors made by a non-native English speaker would be most likely to cause misunderstanding and offense?

"Yes, I'll be there. You can count with me, don't worry!"

"She has the hair brown."

"You can let me use your cell phone to make a call."

"I cannot say 'it is' I say 'eat ease'. I hab a problem wit my bowels."

2. What is normally the basis of cross-cultural problems in communication?

The overuse of "chunks" of language.

The predominance of face-threatening acts in a culture.

Sociolinguistic appropriateness.

Differences in sociocultural norms.

3. Of these possible teaching interventions, how can teachers help learners move most effectively beyond knowing vocabulary and grammar to learning how to communicate their intentions and needs?

Help learners practice language in contextualized language functions, such as in role plays.

Give lectures on general differences in cross-cultural norms.

Teach different speech acts and reactions to them.

Make lists to be memorized of expressions that could be used.

4. Along with an awareness of the sociocultural norms of a target society and language, of what other aspect of communication must the learner be keenly aware?

The appropriateness of what is said.

The relevance of what is said to what is happening in the context.

The grammatical perfection of what is said.

The humor that is conveyed.

Clear Answers

Reflect

Think about a sociocultural norm that differs between the target language that you teach and that of the first language of your students. Jot down an example of how you would illustrate the difference to your students, either explicitly or by letting them guess the difference themselves (implicitly).

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