Match the two columns.

1. to be alien to a) inadequate opinion

2. to float to the fore b) to carry out

3. preconception c) loyalty

4. unostentatious d) colleague

5. hurdle e) modest

6. counterpart f) to be the limelight

7. commitment g) to change

8. to implement h) to get rid of

9. to obviate I) unknown

10. to alter j) barrier

Match the definitions below with the words from the box.

objective (n) flippancy (n) reluctant (adj) assumption (n) self-deprecation (n) be renowned for alleviate (v)

 

1. Unwilling to do smth…

2. Trying to make your own abilities seem unimportant…

3. To make smth less painful and difficult…

4. Smth that you think is true although you have no proof…

5. An aim that you are trying to achieve…

6. Known and admired by a lot of people for some special skills…

7. Not being serious about smth…

Translate the sentences into English.

1. Иногда бывает трудно преодолеть культурный барьер при общении с незнакомцем.

2. Человеку свойственны такие качества, как слабость, легкомыслие и самоуничижение.

3. Стереотипы являются препятствием на пути прогресса.

4. Японцы демонстрируют необычную преданность своему начальству.

5. Принять решение также трудно, как и осуществить его.

6. Стереотипизация – это предвзятое мнение о каком-то народе.

7. Неиссякаемый оптимизм американцев совершенно незнаком британцам.

COMMUNICATING INTERCULTURALLY

As communications technology advances and international transportation shrinks the world, intercultural communication opportunities are likely to increase. Opportunities for misunderstandings can also increase. For example, one business executive considered his counterparts in Athens, Greece, to be rude. They asked "personal" questions (i.e., questions about the business executive's religious beliefs, his political views, and how much money he earned on his job) just a few weeks after his arrival. The Greeks, of course, did not consider themselves rude. They were just being friendly. To them, such questions signaled their acceptance of the American.

Such stories are commonplace. They point to a growing challenge for all of us because our intercultural communication effectiveness is usually inadequate. In fact, the gap between our intercultural communication skills and the need for those skills is increasing.

This chapter examines the most common cross-cultural communication problems. It suggests certain skills to improve cross-cultural communication effectiveness.

TEXT 1

 

IMPORTANCE OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION*

(Upper-intermediate)

I. Pre-reading task