Homework assignments in the online delivery of Business English 2 course

Written assignment for week 10: Option 2

A Quiz on Culture (Unit 6)

Do you agree to have parts of your writing in this document copied/published on the pages of
your class wiki (accessible to other students in the course). Several examples of students’ work
may be selected each week for the inclusion in P2P Sample answers to written tasks in course
units and In retrospect: Lesson summaries and checklists in the wiki.
Please underline one of the following:

No, I don’t want to have it published.

Yes, I agree to have it published under my name.

Yes, I agree to have it published, but anonymously (without indicating my name).

AIM: Based on the provided questions, explore different aspects and

examples of culture and / or provide your own point of view or cultural
experience. There is a selection of 20 questions. Some of them will require
you to watch a (short) video material or search for information on the web .

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 For list of questions, see presentation Quiz on Culture (Unit 6) in moodle.

2 Choose any 4 questions. (You can also answer more than 4  if you want).

3 Insert your answers in on the following pages of this document.

There is no min/max word limit per question. Please try to provide

information in your answer that is relevant for the question. Some questions
require more exact, and some, more open-ended answers.

5 Submit the document in moodle in .pdf or .docx format. Name your

document:

Week 10_HW_Culture Quiz_Name_Surname

 Homework assignments in the online delivery of Business English 2 course

Please try to answer at least 4 questions. Insert your answers below

the questions you selected to answer.

Q1 (Shrek)
Watch the videoclip at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FtCTW2rVFM. In simple words, try to explain how the
dialogue can be considered to also deal with intercultural issues? (Please name 1-2 reasons). Note: Look up the word
'parfait' (used by the Donkey).

Q2 (Coco)
Watch the videoclip at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgpBt5STusE

Or the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6RYejo6Hk

In simple words, explain which aspect of Mexican culture provides the framework for the story in Coco? What did Coco
director Lee Unkrich mean when he said that 'Pixar doesn't make movies for kids'?

Q 3 (Re-defining & expanding the meaning of culture)

We tend to associate the meaning of culture with a place or people living in a particular place. While geography is a very
important determinant of culture (consider connection between geography and lifestyle as an example), it is by no means
restricted to a 'country of origin'.

Think of an extension of the concept of 'culture' – which adjectives / nouns etc. can be used with the word 'culture' to refer
to culture in a more narrow / specific context? What else can people that share 'a common culture' also be defined by? You
may think in terms of culture defined by a specific period / activity etc. Give several examples.

Q 4 (Dance as a cultural symbol)

Cultural symbols and values.

Consider the example of a dance from a region in Spain. As a representative example of culture in that region, which layer
of the culture onion model does it refer to? (1 or more layers are possible). In simple words, explain what this dance
epitomizes (symbolizes)?

Q 5 (Food as a cultural symbol)

Cultural symbols and values.

Consider the example of a dish from a region in Spain. Find out where it originates from. Which layer of the culture onion
does it refer to? (1 or more layers of the culture onion are possible). There is even a connection between the dish and
popular interpretation of dreams in that culture.

Q 6 (Fica)
 Homework assignments in the online delivery of Business English 2 course

Culture embedded in language. What are the associations related to the word 'Fica' in a Scandinavian culture /
lifestyle? Which country is it associated with?

Q 7 (Hygge)
Culture embedded in language. What are the associations related to the word 'hygge' in a Northern European culture /
lifestyle? Which country is it associated with? Have you found any examples of how the concept of 'hygge' has been
internationalized?

Q 8 (Saudade)
Culture embedded in language and other cultural artifacts. What are the associations related to the word
'saudade' in a Southern European culture? Which culture? Which cultural artifact (food, clothes, music etc.)
embodies 'saudade' as a collective sentiment?

Q 9 (A word in your own language)

Is there a word in your own language / dialect that epitomizes the lifestyle / collective sentiment / mindset in your
neighbourhood / community / city / region / county? Explain how (in simple words). Prompt: It is these words that are
sometimes difficult to translate to other languages.

Q 10 (Tulips)
Cultural symbols. In which two European countries on two borders of the European continent (one actually
bordering with Asia) are tulips iconic flowers? In the history of which of two of those countries are tulips
historically associated with the origins of financial and capital markets as we know them?

Q 11 (Proverbs)
What do these proverbs / sayings have to do with the concept of culture? Is there a similar proverb / saying in your language?

You become like the 5 people you spend most time with. Birds of a feather flock together. You will be judged by the company you keep.

These sayings are culturally correct. As people we grow throughout our lives, and we are influenced by people around us. In all close
groups of people we can see some internal jokes than nobody outside the group really understands. Those little jokes and rituals like
going to the same place for coffee or eating at the same place/time is our way of making a subgroup that is ,in a way, our groups
subculture. It is mostly a good thing because we feel less alone when having something to share with somebody else but it can also have
the effect of losing our own way.

In our language the closes one that I can remember is : S kim god da si, takav si.

Q 12 (Haggling scene)
Culture and business. In simple words, explain which aspect of business communication is illustrated in the following
scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51_Qs8tq5c8

In some cultures haggling or squabbling over the price is a part of the shopping experience. In others it is very rude to even
try and do so. When one is trying to buy a product the main thing to know is that the first price is never the final price. It is
a skill that few have in them, but everybody can learn.When trying to buy something you have to seem less interested
 Homework assignments in the online delivery of Business English 2 course

than you actually are , and also buy in bulk so it is more easily negotiable. Once the haggling begins you have to know
when to put your foot down and also when to back down and know if you are asking for too much of a discount. It is a
most fun thing to try but very tiresome.

Q 13 (Victoria and Abdul)

When (distant) cultures meet: In simple words, describe the evolution in the key character’s perspective (the
trailer for the movie may give you a clear enough idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T504u17Ao9A)

Q 14 (travel)
Find out how Erasmus+ student mobility programme got its name. Which values does Erasmus (the historical
figure) epitomize?

In simple words, explain how it is related to saying 'Travel broadens the mind.’ Explain whether you agree or
disagree with it.

Q 15 (Separated by the same language)

Different cultures, one language? In the words attributed to George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright, “England and
America are two countries separated by the same language!” In simple words, explain whether this is true in today's
circumstances, taking into consideration your knowledge of American and British culture.

To me they are not because American culture, even though it originated from England, has made its own culture. They
even changed the language a little by making it their own(for example in England its exam, in America its test). In
addition, the two cultures do not have much in common other than the language. The way of life, their jargon and their
hobbies are different. British are much more traditional than Americans are so to me the only thing they have in common
is the language.

Q 16 (Bend it like Beckham)

In simple words, explain the cultural challenges faced by the two main female characters in the movie (you should get a
clear enough idea from the trailer only): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Pt_GMDdGo

In this video(I watched the film years ago) we see the way certain cultures try to limit females by showing them into a box.
The Indian one struggles with the way her family sees her. They see her playing soccer as nothing more than a disgrace to
the family so they try to take it away from her. They want her to live more traditionally (her mother says she is running
half naked when she is wearing shorts). The other one has problems with her mother because she wants for her to be
more like other girls saying she is the only one without a boyfriend. Her mother wants for her to stop being a tomboy
when in fact it should matter what she does.

Q 17 (mapping the culture)

In simple words, describe the perspective on culture shown in this map (use a couple of adjectives if possible):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alphadesigner/4616800668/sizes/o/
 Homework assignments in the online delivery of Business English 2 course

Q 18 (importance of perspective)
Watch the talk in this 7-min video and try to relate it to the topic of culture, in particular, the concept of ethnocentrism.
(The talk does not deal with cultural issues, by the way). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Il_D3Xt9W0

Q 19 (subculture / community derived from fiction)

Can you think of an example of a subculture / subcultural scene / community in the real world that was derived from an
artistic genre / fictional context? If yes, provide an example and its explanation in 2-3 sentences.

Q 20
Provide your own example from a work of fiction (movie, series, book, story, game, graphic novel etc.) or a real-world
example (news story, anecdote etc.) that illustrates any of the following:

globalization issues / cultural (in)tolerance and prejudice / culture shock / cultural sensitivity / stereotypes

or culture in business / cultural rituals / cultural values / cultural symbols

Provide a link to a source (if available) and describe it in 2-3 sentences.

Thank you for submitting your work.