Cross cultural seminar Worksheet 3 and slides
Common Cultural Misunderstandings Worksheet 1
Try to decide why the following misunderstandings happened:
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This
Most of the nationalities in the Japanese language class were convinced the word watashi meant ‘nose’ until someone translated it for them.
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Witness
When Japanese witnesses appear at American trials, juries are likely to misinterpret their body language and think that they are lying.
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Concentration
Teachers in the school in London complained that the Asian students seemed to be falling asleep during exam listening practice.
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Difficulties
When the Japanese side replied to the Dutch negotiating team’s proposal with ‘That’s difficult’, the Dutch replied ‘Tell us the problem and we’ll find the solution’. The meeting finished with no further progress.
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Discipline
A Japanese manager had to reprimand his American subordinate for bad work, but it took 5 meetings before the American took responsibility and changed his behaviour.
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A letter of complaint
A Japanese company writing to an American software company to complain about the American company’s software were totally unsatisfied with the American response, which was just to offer them advice on how they could fix it rather than a replacement or a refund.
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Yes?
At the end of the presentation the British team were very surprised that the Japanese side rejected their proposal, as they had seemed to be agreeing with everything they said.
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Refusing
When asked ‘Don’t you want sugar in your coffee?’ the Japanese guest was given sugar even though he had tried to refuse.
Common Cultural Misunderstandings Worksheet 2- Readings with Key
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This
The Japanese language class was convinced the word watashi meant ‘nose’ until someone translated it for them.
The Japanese point at their nose to show ‘I” or ‘me’, whereas most countries point at their chest.
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Witness
When Japanese witnesses appear at American trials, juries are likely to misinterpret their body language and think that they are lying.
There are two problems here, both connected to how the witnesses sit. If they sit with their heads down to show that they are sorry the American jury will think they are avoiding eye contact because they are lying. If they sit up very straight to show their attention and respect for the court the jury will think they are very stressed and so probably lying. The best way is to look relaxed and confident.
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Concentration
Teachers in the school complained that their Asian students seemed to be falling asleep during exam listening practice.
The students had been showing their concentration by closing their eyes, but this had been taken as sleepiness and/ or lack of interest.
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Difficulties
When the Japanese side replied to the Dutch negotiating team’s proposal with ‘That’s difficult’, the Dutch replied ‘Tell us the problem and we’ll find the solution’. The meeting finished with no further progress.
The Japanese were trying to politely say ‘No’
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Discipline
A Japanese manager had to reprimand his American subordinate for bad work, but it took 5 meetings before the American took responsibility and changed his behaviour.
The Japanese manager was being so indirect that the American employee really didn’t realize that he had done something wrong until the fifth meeting.
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A letter of complaint
A Japanese company writing to an American software company to complain about their software were totally unsatisfied with the American response, which was just to offer them advice on how they could fix it rather than a replacement or a refund.
The Japanese letters started with expressions like “We are sorry to bother you but we’re having problems with your software. We deeply appreciate your help. It could be our fault, etc. etc.,” to make sure that the American side wouldn’t feel bad. Because the Japanese were apologizing so much the Americans thought it really was the Japanese company’s fault. They carefully explained what to do for the problem but gave no apologies. To the Japanese customer, this was yet another example of American arrogance and poor customer service.
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Yes?
At the end of the presentation the British team were very surprised that the Japanese side rejected their proposal, as they had seemed to be agreeing with everything they said.
The Japanese people in the meeting had been nodding all the way through to show they were listening, but the British thought it meant ‘Yes, we agree’
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Refusing
In English, ‘Yes’ always means ‘Yes, I do (want sugar)’ even when answering a negative question. In Japanese it is the opposite.
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Common cultural misunderstandings Slide One Part One
This
Situation: The Japanese teacher used a gesture to explain the word “watashi”, meaning I
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide One Part Two
This
Situation: The Japanese teacher used a gesture to explain the word “watashi”, meaning I
Result: Everyone thought “watashi” meant “nose”
Reason:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide One Part Three
This
Situation: The Japanese teacher used a gesture to explain the word “watashi”, meaning I
Result: Everyone thought “watashi” meant “nose”
Reason: Japanese point at their nose to mean “me”, not at their chest
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Two Part One
Witness
Situation: Japanese in US trials sit up very straight or look down respectfully
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Two Part Two
Witness
Situation: Japanese in US trials sit up very straight or look down respectfully
Result: The Americans think they are guilty and/ or are lying
Reason: Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Two Part Three
Witness
Situation: Japanese in US trials sit up very straight or look down respectfully
Result: The Americans think they are guilty and/ or are lying
Reason: In the US, you should look relaxed and natural, and make eye contact.
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Three Part One
Concentration
Situation: Teachers noticed Asians closing their eyes when listening
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Three Part Two
Concentration
Situation: Teachers noticed Asians closing their eyes when listening
Result: The teachers were angry
Reason:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Three Part Three
Concentration
Situation: Teachers noticed Asians closing their eyes when listening
Result: The teachers were angry
Reason: It was to improve concentration, but the teachers thought they were sleeping
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Four Part One
Difficulties
Japanese negotiator: ‘That’s difficult’
Dutch negotiator:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Four Part Two
Difficulties
Japanese negotiator: ‘That’s difficult’
Dutch negotiator: ‘Tell us the problem and we’ll find the solution’.
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Four Part Three
Difficulties
Japanese negotiator: ‘That’s difficult’
Dutch negotiator: ‘Tell us the problem and we’ll find the solution’.
Result: The meeting finished with no further progress.
Reason:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Four Part Four
Difficulties
Japanese negotiator: ‘That’s difficult’
Dutch negotiator: ‘Tell us the problem and we’ll find the solution’.
Result: The meeting finished with no further progress.
Reason: The Japanese side was saying “No”
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Five Part One
Discipline
Situation: A Japanese manager told an American subordinate his work was bad
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Five Part Two
Discipline
Situation: A Japanese manager told an American subordinate his work was bad
Result: It took 5 meetings before he changed
Reason:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Five Part Three
Discipline
Situation: A Japanese manager told an American subordinate his work was bad
Result: It took 5 meetings before he changed
Reason: The American didn’t understand that he was being criticized
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Six Part One
A letter of complaint
Situation: A Japanese company wrote to complain about a US company’s software
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Six Part Two
A letter of complaint
Situation: A Japanese company wrote to complain about a US company’s software
Result: The Americans just offered them advice, not a replacement or a refund.
Reason:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Six Part Three
A letter of complaint
Situation: A Japanese company wrote to complain about a US company’s software
Result: The Americans just offered them advice, not a replacement or a refund.
Reason: The Japanese company apologised so often the Americans thought it was their fault
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Seven Part One
Yes?
Situation: The British team were happy that the Japanese agreed with everything
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Seven Part Two
Yes?
Situation: The British team were happy that the Japanese agreed with everything
Result: The British were very surprised when the proposal was rejected
Reason:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Seven Part Three
Yes?
Situation: The British team were happy that the Japanese agreed with everything
Result: The British were very surprised when the proposal was rejected
Reason: They had been nodding, but only to show they were listening
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Eight Part One
Refusing
Situation: They asked the Japanese guest ‘Don’t you want sugar in your coffee?’
Result:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Eight Part Two
Refusing
Situation: They asked the Japanese guest ‘Don’t you want sugar in your coffee?’
Result: The Japanese guest tried to refuse but was given sugar.
Reason:
Common cultural misunderstandings Slide Eight Part Three
Refusing
Situation: They asked the Japanese guest ‘Don’t you want sugar in your coffee?’
Result: The Japanese guest tried to refuse but was given sugar.
Reason: He was trying to say “Yes, you’re right. I don’t want any”, but in English “Yes” means “Yes, I do”