Source: Speak Up in Class
Language level: B2
WORKSHEETS
2011
Getting the Message Worldwide (B2)
A – Before you start
Answer the questions with a partner.
1. Do you think it's more important to avoid offending others or to tell the truth? Why?
2. Do you mind if your parents or your teachers criticise you in front of others? Why (not)?
3. If a friend telephoned you while you were having dinner, would you let your friend know that it was an inconvenient time? If so, how?
4. Would you react in the same way if it was your teacher who phoned you?
B – Listen and answer
Read these statements. Then listen (without reading) and write T (true) or F (false).
1. The author of the article mentions an episode that took place at a G20 Summit.
2. During a press conference, the President of South Korea got angry when an American journalist asked him a question.
3. In Anglo-Saxon culture you should never make fun of your boss in front of others.
4. Sometimes the same statement can be interpreted in a different way by people of different cultures.
5. In a "low-context" culture, people express themselves in a more explicit way.
6. The USA and the UK are examples of low-context cultures.
7. German and Dutch bosses will probably tell you directly if they don't like what you have done.
C – Read and answer
Read the article and answer the questions.
1. What might have happened if President Lee of South Korea had answered the journalist's question?
2. What should you avoid doing if you are a manager in a company in an oriental country?
3. How might an oriental person avoid telling you directly that your proposal has been rejected?
4. What is high-context communication based on?
5. If you ask a British person whether you're ringing at a bad time, what does it probably mean if the reply begins with the words "Well, actually..." ?
6. If you want to avoid misunderstandings with people of different cultures, what should you take into account besides the context of what is said?
D – Learn it! Use it!
Complete these sentences with words from the glossary. (You may have to adapt the expression in some way; e.g. change from plural to singular.)
1. Tom always goes home for his midday _________ .
2. I was having an argument with Sarah over the phone and she _________ _________ .
3. I'm not worried about my test. At the moment it's the least of my _________ .
4. Joe won't understand what you mean unless you _________ _________ _________ to him.
5. Don't worry! You can _________ on me.
6. Do you understand this email from Jane? I can't make any _________ of it.
7. If you treat your employees like that, you'll lose their _________ .
8. When you apply for a new passport, please _________ in _________ that it will take at least a week.
E – Ready for FCE? (Paper 3: Use of English, Part 3)
Use the word in brackets to form a word that fits in the space given.
1. President Lee's reply was greeted with polite _________ (LAUGH).
2. Lee wanted to avoid making Obama feel _________ (COMFORT).
3. In a British company you can make fun of your boss if you do so _________ (RESPECT).
4. In oriental cultures it is not _________ (PERMIT) for a subordinate to make fun of the boss.
5. Anyone in a _________ (MANAGE) position in China or Korea should avoid criticising the work of an employee in public.
6. People in oriental countries are more careful to avoid offending other people's _________ (SENSE).
7. A Japanese person would try to avoid telling you directly that your _________ (PROPOSE)
had been rejected.
8. It's necessary to have an _________ (AWARE) of where the conversation is taking place.
9. If someone refers to a colleague as "good old George", this doesn't necessarily mean George is _________ (TRUST).
10. Effective communication requires a good _________ (KNOW) of the context as well as the language.
F – Talk about it
In pairs or groups.
1. Do you think Brazil is a high-context or a low-context society? Why?
2. Are there any regional differences?
3. If so, can you give any examples?
