Culture Shock

Culture is an umbrella term that encompasses the social behavior and norms found in societies, including knowledge, beliefs, arts, habits, and capabilities. Through the years we learned to blend, learn and adapt to each others' situations. Understanding culture and norms help us be more considerate.

This lesson provides an insight into how culture is experienced, perceive, and appreciated as you discuss it with each other. 

Vocabulary

adopt                  /əˈdäpt/ v. choose to take up, follow, or use.

culture               /ˈkəlCHər/ n. the arts, customs, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social groups.

rude                    /ro͞od/ adj. offensively impolite or ill-mannered.

shock                 /SHäk/ n. a sudden upsetting or surprise event or experience.

situation             /ˌsiCHəˈwāSH(ə)n/ n. a set of circumstances in which one finds oneself.

Expressions

I think...

The best...

The most important...

What I like least/most...

I have been...

I felt that...

Questions

• Do you know much about your own culture?

• What do you think is interesting about your own culture?

• What do you like most about your own culture?

• What do you like least about your culture?

• What is the best/most important thing your culture has given to the world?

• What is the best/most important thing your culture/country has adopted from another culture?

• If you could choose three aspects of your culture to put in a "time box" for the future, what would you put in it?

• What are some things that define a culture? For example, music, language, ...

• When people from other countries think about your culture, what do they usually think of?

• What does it mean to be polite in your culture?

• What is considered rude in your culture?

• How do young people in your culture behave differently from older people?

• Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had to "do as the Romans do"?

• What is culture shock?

• Have you ever experienced culture shock?