Culture in the English classroom

1.

Culture in the English classroom

2. Culture as a 5th skill

Culture as a
th
5
skill

3. Compliments (CIS vs West)

4. Public notices

At a petrol station
On a wall in town
On the grass
YOU ARE BEING RECORDED BY
SECURITY CAMERAS
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY BEFORE
YOU TAKE FUEL
PLEASE KEEP DOGS ON LEADS
CLEAN IT UP
THANK YOU
NO PARKING ON THE GRASS
PENALTY £40
On a farm
On a dustbin
Behind a campsite tap
PRIVATE LAND
NO PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY
NO TRESPASSING
ONLY LOSERS DROP LITTER
FOR FILLING WATER CONTAINERS
ONLY
PLEASE DO NOT DO YOUR WASHING
UP HERE OR HAVE WATER FIGHTS
WATER IS EXPENSIVE

5. Most common answers

• a person's privacy is really important
• fill in the tank, pay afterwards
• the dog’s owner is responsible for cleaning after his dog
• parking on the grass is a serious offense
• even public notices should be polite
• there is a lot of private land in Britain
• water is expensive
• by dropping litter you make yourself look bad

6. Belarus

7. Conclusion:

What you should do
What you shouldn’t do

8. Styles of presenting information

Dear colleagues,
As you are aware, the communal area is a place for resting
and enjoying our food when not working. As part of this,
the fridge is available for you to put your food inside for
your own consumption.
However, it seems that many of you have a disrespect for
other people’s property. There have been cases where
employees are taking their colleagues’ food without asking
for permission.
[
This is unacceptable.
Thus, please show more respect to your colleagues – you
should not take their food. If you do not follow these rules,
further action will be taken.
Also, as part of showing respect for others, and not
inconveniencing them, you should not leave dirty cups in
the sink.
Best regards,

9. Styles of presenting information

[
Dear colleagues,
Dear colleagues,
We would appreciate it, if you did not take other people’s food
from the fridge and washed your cups after using them.
As you are aware, the communal area is a place for resting
and enjoying our food when not working. As part of this,
the fridge is available for you to put your food inside for
your own consumption.
The communal area is for everybody’s enjoyment and therefore
everybody is requested to show respect for others. If these
rules are followed we will all be able to enjoy the facilities
without arguments.
Thank you,
However, it seems that many of you have a disrespect for
other people’s property. There have been cases where
employees are taking their colleagues’ food without asking
for permission.
This is unacceptable.
Thus, please show more respect to your colleagues – you
should not take their food. If you do not follow these rules,
further action will be taken.
Also, as part of showing respect for others, and not
inconveniencing them, you should not leave dirty cups in
the sink.
Best regards,

10. Summary

CIS Style
Email 1
1. Long, with many details
Anglo-Saxon Style
Email 2
1. Short
2. Reasons first, actions last
2. Actions first, reasons last
3. Penalties are emphasized
3. Benefits are emphasized
4. instruction – orders –(‘should (not)’)
5. ‘you’
4. Advice/request (‘We would appreciate’)
5. ‘we’ (inclusive)

11. Things that intrigue me in Belarus

12. New words for new times

Power breakfast
Al desko
Binge-watching
Earworm
Poverty tourism
Kiss up, kick down

13. Listen to the small talk between Andy and Irene

14. Feel the difference

Small talk
the smallest
small talk
The longest small
talk

15. To recap the activities…

Compliments
Styles of presenting
Small talk in different
cultures
Public notices
New words in the dictionary
What intrigues me in
Belarus

16. 4 goals

• to activate cultural awareness
• to teach language through culture and vice versa
• to promote tolerance
• to raise SS’ motivation

17.

‫يتع‬
Thank you