Despite the fact that American companies have been “global” for a very long time now, many people today inside companies still misunderstand cultural differences. They misperceive potential foreign-born workers, for example, as too “shy” or not “confident” enough.
In many cultures, it is just not appropriate to make small talk with someone you don’t know, especially someone above you in the corporate level.
In addition, the US is basically a “straight-shooter (坦率的人)” style culture, where it is cultural valued to tell it like it is. But this isn’t necessarily true worldwide. For example, in Japan, people prefer to communicate indirectly, especially when it comes to a sensitive topic. To avoid accidentally damaging a relationship, people approach problems through subtle hints or general statements. If someone were to directly state a problem, it would make them look ungraceful, immature, and untrustworthy.
Americans tend to be relatively informal in a business context.
The above discussion just hits the tip of the iceberg of the different cultural misinterpretations in corporate America. For American employers to succeed in selecting, training, inspiring and keeping their top foreign-born talent, it is high time that they started taking account of these cultural differences in their leadership selection process.
| A．There is a significant problem in corporate America today with foreign workers. |
| B．In fact, many people are quite surprised at the level of informality in American businesses. |
| C．Someone who avoids making small talk can be seen as unfriendly or not a team player. |
| D．However, in reality, with a moderate amount of training, these high-performing individuals could be corporate leaders of tomorrow. |
| E．It can also be impolite and even dangerous to openly express your opinion. |
| F．But from the perspective of American culture, this more indirect style appears as if someone is “hiding” the truth. |
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【推荐1】No matter how many times you go, Dubai always has something new in store for its natives and tourists. Let’s take a look at a few must-dos for your first time in this impressive city in the United Arab Emirates!
●Hit the famous Dubai Mall.
Any shopaholic (购物狂) worth their salt knows about the Dubai Mall, one of the most famous and the most expensive shopping centres in the world.
●Mind your manners.
While you’re searching for the next adventure, make sure you follow some basic rules of conduct that the local law prescribes. For example, if you’re travelling with your significant other, public displays of affection are strictly forbidden.
●
Although you’ll find many tourists wearing clothes considered not entirely polite by the locals, there are certain rules that are strictly implemented in restaurants, malls, and entertainment centres. So, if you put on something considered inappropriate or revealing, you risk being asked to leave a place.
●Save some time for Jumeirah Beach.
Situated conveniently close to Burj al Arab, this spectacular stretch of the coast is a perfect way to spend some time sunbathing and enjoying the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.
●Prepare your palate for Emirati cuisine.
Have you ever had a chance to sample Al Machboos, camel meat, or Manousheh? Arabic cuisine has some of the most extraordinary delicacies you could possibly imagine, few of which are prepared in the same manner outside of their native lands.
| A．Jumeirah Beach is about 10 kilometres long. |
| B．Pay attention to your dressing requirements. |
| C．If you’re travelling with kids, you’ll find the beach perfect. |
| D．Try the authentic Arabic coffee for a flavourful taste of the East. |
| E．Dubai is indeed a destination packed with adventure and culture. |
| F．Getting drunk or using offensive hand gestures are all illegal activities. |
| G．Home to around 1,300 stores, it is a wonderful shopping place. |
【推荐2】Nowadays, more and more young people have the chance to go to another country to study. Studying abroad will enable you to have various experiences. The best recommendation I’d like to give you is to be open to the experiences and the culture shock. Several common new experiences are around food, locations, culture, and language.
Food: The food in a foreign country will not only be different from American food, but the cooking style will also be different. For example, while most American vegetables are usually boiled, which, as far as I’m concerned, is terrible! In China, where I studied, vegetables are often fried. China actually helped me like my former enemy, vegetables. So, have an open mind, and try the local food.
Locations: In terms of locations, I mean that your study abroad location differs from your home location or college location. For example, coming from San Francisco and going to school at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Masschusetts, was a location shock for me. I was not used to the very slow public transport and the need to drive.
Culture: Having an open mind will benefit you the most. In a global education program, we had Chinese roommates, and my Mount Holyoke Class was mainly made up of Chinese graduate students.Therefore, hanging out with them was not too much trouble, but if finding local friends is not that easy, join clubs, sit at coffee shops, or start conversations at a gathering or party. Being interested in flea markets and art galleries, I looked online for those types of events and went to them. At these events, I met expatriates (侨民) and locals alike and became good friends with them. Another way to fit in with the culture is to find people who will go to cultural events and places with you. I would walk around Shanghai, taking in the Chinese culture everywhere I went.
1. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?| A．The writer felt it convenient to drive to school. |
| B．The writer found it difficult to make friends with locals. |
| C．The writer disliked vegetables prior to coming to China. |
| D．You can participate in cultural events online to take in the Chinese culture. |
| A．made only Chinese friends when in Shanghai |
| B．kept an open mind when studying in China |
| C．disliked his study experience in Masschusetts |
| D．experienced Chinese culture by traveling everywhere |
| A．Parents at home and abroad. |
| B．Teachers teaching foreign languages. |
| C．Students studying or to study abroad. |
| D．Workers in service agencies. |
| A．Friends. | B．Language. |
| C．Study. | D．Chinese culture. |
| A．Make the Most of Your Experience When Studying Abroad |
| B．Get Familiar with Chinese Culture |
| C．Be Open to the Chinese Culture Shock |
| D．My Wonderful Experience When Studying Abroad |
【推荐3】Knowing the cultural differences can help you understand friends who are of a different race or culture, which is beneficial to you. With this understanding, you won’t run the risk of being disrespectful. You’ll also know if you are misunderstanding your friend’s behaviour. The major differences between Asian and American teenagers lie in the following aspects.
Family
Family comes first in the Asian culture. Teenagers stay close to home and have a stronger commitment to their parents than many American teens do. While Asian families have a greater dependence on each other, American families encourage their children and teenagers to be independent.
Friendship
Some Asian teens generally prefer having a small group of life-long friends. They are committed and loyal to their friends. Americans often prefer a larger group of friends. There might be less commitment to keeping friends for life because of their bigger pool of possible friendships.
Working Relationships
If you are working on a group project with teens from China or other Asian countries, they might focus on developing a good relationship with you. However, American teens tend to first focus on the task and getting the work done. Developing relationships with their group members might come second
Body Language
In China and many other Asian countries, making direct eye contact is considered rude and disrespectful. However, in America and some European countries, it is not only seen as appropriate but also necessary because it means the person is paying attention. In Asian culture people are usually more comfortable with less personal space than Americans are.
1. How many benefits of understanding friends are mentioned in the text?| A．One | B．Two | C．Three | D．Four |
| A．Asian teenagers are more independent than those in America. |
| B．Asian teens would like to make a number of friends. |
| C．When working on a group project, American teens always concentrate on the work. |
| D．American teens are more willing to be touched by others. |
| A．The main cultural differences between Asian and American teenagers. |
| B．Ways to help teenagers make foreign friends. |
| C．How to understand your friends |
| D．The meaning of knowing the cultural differences. |
