2. Робота з текстом Business Communication

Basics of Intercultural Business Communication

As Bill Davila knows, the first step in learning to communicate with people from other cultures is to become aware of what culture means. Our awareness of intercultural differences is both useful and necessary in today's world of business.

Understanding Culture

Person may not realize it, but he belongs to several cultures. The most obvious is the culture he shares with all other people who live in the same country. But this person also belongs to other cultural groups, such as an ethnic group, a religious group, a fraternity or sorority, or perhaps a profession that has its own special language and customs. So what exactly is culture? It is useful to define culture as a system of shared symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations, and norms for behavior. Thus all members of a culture have, and tend to act on, similar assumptions about how people should think, behave, and communicate. Distinct groups that exist within a major culture are more properly referred to as subcultures. Among groups that might be considered subcultures are Mexican Americans in East Los Angeles, Mormons in Salt Lake City, and longshoremen in Montreal. Subcultures without geographic boundaries can be found as well, such as wrestling fans, Russian immigrants, and Harvard M.B.A.s. Cultures and subcultures vary in several ways that affect intercultural communication:

• Stability. Conditions in the culture may be stable or may be changing slowly or rapidly. • Complexity. Cultures vary in the accessibility of information. In North America information is contained in explicit codes, including words, whereas in Japan a great deal of information is conveyed implicitly, through body language, physical context, and the like.• Composition. Some cultures are made up of many diverse and disparate subcultures; others tend to be more homogeneous. • Acceptance. Cultures vary in their attitudes toward outsiders. Some are openly hostile or maintain a detached aloofness. Others are friendly and co- operative toward strangers. As you can see, cultures vary widely. It's no wonder that most of us need special training before we can become comfortable with a culture other than our own.

Difficulties of Intercultural Business Communication

The more differences there are between the people who are communicating, the more difficult it is to communicate effectively. The major problems in inter-cultural business communication are language barriers, cultural differences, and ethnocentric reactions.

Language barriers Cultural differences Religion and values Roles and status, Concepts of personal space Body language Social behavior and manners

LET'S HAVE A CHAT

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions.

1. Why is it important to understand cultural differences when you do business with people in other countries?

2. How can businessmen develop understanding doing business with people from other countries?

3. It is necessary to learn the principles of international communi­cation and apply them globally. However, we face cultural dif­ferences in different countries.

Ex. 2. True or False.

Cultural differences influence business strategies and operations. Understanding them is difficult to overestimate.

Many of these cultures are complex and different from ours. To be successful in international business means to be good citizens of international community.

We should learn to honour and respect our own cultures and to develop tolerance and respect for other cultures.

No one can learn all there is to know about a foreign culture. But to show an interest means to create a climate of understanding and respect. The mere willingness to accept differences is of great impor­tance.

Робота над текстом за професійним спрямуванням.

What Is Behaviorism?

“Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors”. - John Watson.

Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. There are two major types of conditioning:

1. Classical conditioning is a technique used in behavioral training in which a naturally occurring stimulus is paired with a response. Next, a previously neutral stimulus is paired with the naturally occurring stimulus. Eventually, the previously neutral stimulus comes to evoke the response without the presence of the naturally occurring stimulus. The two elements are then known as the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response.

2. Operant conditioning Operant conditioning (sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning) is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior.

Major Thinkers in Behaviorism are: Ivan Pavlov, B. F. Skinner, Edward Thorndike, John B. Watson, Clark Hull.

Ex. 1. Translate the given words into Ukrainian.

1. Behavioral psychology, 2. healthy infants, 3. observable manner, 4. internal mental states, 5. behavioral training, 6. neutral stimulus, 7. conditioned stimulus, 8. conditioned response, 9. interaction with the environment, 10. Thinkers in Behaviorism.

Ex. 2. Translate the following words into English.

1. немовля, 2. фахівець, 3. теорія, 4. створення умов, 5. вчення, 6. відповідь, 7. стимул-реакція, 8. метод, 9. покарання, 10. наслідок.

Граматичний матеріал: Повторення вивченого матеріалу. Simple, Continuous Tenses.

Ex. 1. Complete the sentences using the following verbs:

cause(s)       connect(s)       drink(s)        live(s)       open(s)     speak(s)       take(s)

1.    Tanya  speaks  German very well. 2.    I don't often ____________ coffee. 3.    The swimming pool ____________ at 7.30 every morning. 4.    Bad driving ____________ many accidents. 5.    My parents ____________ in a very small flat. 6.    The Olympic Games ____________ place every four years. 7.    The Panama Canal ____________ the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Ex. 2.Read what Laura says about a typical working day: Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura. Write what she did or didn't do yesterday. 1. She got up at 7 o'clock.  2. She _______________ a big breakfast.  3. She _______________. 4. It _______________ to get to work. 5. _______________ at 8.45. 6. _______________ lunch. 7. _______________ at 5 o'clock. 8. _______________ tired when _______________ home. 9. _______________ a meal yesterday evening. 10. _______________ out yesterday evening. 11. _______________ at 11 o'clock. 12. _______________ well last night. 

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences with I'll + a suitable verb. 1. I"m too tired to walk home. I think   I'll take   a taxi. 2. 'It's cold in this room.'    'Is it? ______________ on the heating then.' 3. A: We haven't got any milk.     B: Oh, I forgot to buy some. ______________ and get some now. 4. 'Shall I do the washing-up?'    'No. it's all right. ______________ it later.' 5. I don't know how to use this computer.'    'OK, ______________ you.' 6. 'Would you like tea or coffee?'   '______________ coffee, please.' 7. 'Goodbye! Have a nice holiday.'    'Thanks. ______________ you a postcard.' 8.  Thanks for letting me borrow your camera. ______________ it back to you on Monday, OK? 9.  'Are you coming with us?'    'No, I think ______________ here.'

Домашнє завдання:

1. Опрацювати текст за професійним спрямуванням.

2. Опрацювати граматичний матеріал, виконати запропоновані вправи.