Building relationships and working successfully with different cultural backgrounds can seem like a major challenge. But you can enjoy the rewards, while keeping dissatisfaction to a minimum. The key to making them work is cultural competence. Essentially, cultural competence is defined as the ability to understand and interact effectively with people from different cultures.
Cultural competence is critical for everyone in today’s modern world. Living and working in a culturally diverse environment sometimes comes with differences of opinion and tension. People with strong cultural competence can resolve these issues creatively, even if a solution seems impossible at first. What’s more, thinking and caring about others with different experiences can bring out a sense of understanding. This helps to build trust between each other.
Cultural competence can be improved through training, education, and experience. Here are some simple tips to help you improve your cultural competence.
Assess yourself
The starting point is to understand your own cultural values and world view. Assess the current level of cultural competence in yourself and identify the knowledge, skills and resources that you want to acquire. This can give you an idea of your strengths and weaknesses in the area so that you can improve yourself in future.
Practice good manners
No matter whom you are dealing with, make sure that you are respecting others’ backgrounds, boundaries and customs. Pay close attention to your communication and make sure that you’re speaking to others in a kind and polite way.
Ask questions
When you don’t understand something or want to know why someone has behaved in a certain way, simply ask. Asking questions stops you making unnecessary assumptions, and shows the questions you did not understand to them.
Keep in mind that developing cultural competence is not a one-shot enterprise. It takes time and practice. Whether you are in a classroom or on campus, cultural competence plays an important role in your daily environment. Recognizing and dealing with cultural differences will create a happier setting for everyone.
1. What is cultural competence according to the passage?2. Why is cultural competence important for people in intercultural environment?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
>To improve our cultural competence, we should not only understand our strengths and weaknesses in this area, but also ask questions when we don’t understand others’ behaviors, even if we may speak in an impolite way.
4. Apart from the tips mentioned in the passage, what other way(s) can you think of to develop your cultural competence? (In about 40 words)
2 . An apology can achieve great things for both the givers and the receivers although nobody likes to admit that they were wrong.
An apology is crucial to our physical health. When we acknowledge that we are wrongdoers and express our guilt to others, we will free ourselves from the uncomfortable state. This act feels like a weight on us has been lifted.
Apologizing affects us not just physically, but also mentally.
Of course, the most effective apologies often bring a cost to our dignity, since we have to admit that we are wrong in front of others or many people.
| A．There are agreed-upon ways to express our apology to others. |
| B．It’s a way of showing the price we paid for the wronged action. |
| C．A good apology affects the health of those on the receiving end, too. |
| D．But this can often be minor compared to the benefits of a proper apology. |
| E．This means we should take the blame and not try to justify it or explain it away. |
| F．Apologize for what you did rather than what other people might have thought about it. |
| G．It has the ability to disarm others of their anger and to prevent further misunderstandings. |
3 . While everyone’s image of their dream home looks a little different, most people will agree that their ideal neighbourhood is filled with friendly faces. Getting to know your neighbours takes time and effort.
Nick Tebbey, national executive officer of Relationships Australia, says spring is the perfect season to start getting to know your neighbours. “When the weather starts warming up we’re all spending more time outdoors.” It makes sense that the best way to get to know a neighbour is to first make sure they actually know you’re neighbours.
To put yourself in the way of these opportunities, Tebbey suggests timing your outings to take place“when other people are out and about as well”. When it comes to actually introducing yourself to your neighbours, Tebbey notes it’s important to do what feels comfortable, whether that’s leaving a note on a building notice board or chatting to someone while you wait for the elevator.
Once you’ve introduced yourself to a neighbor, you can start conversations.
“It’s not about grand gestures or sharing everything about yourself with your neighbours.
| A．In fact, it’s almost the opposite. |
| B．It doesn’t have to require a lot of effort. |
| C．It’s vital to ask questions and remember people’s answers. |
| D．However, it can potentially be easier than you may expect. |
| E．Should you start to feel uncomfortable, you could invite another. |
| F．And the easiest way to do that is with short, repeated interactions. |
| G．The less anxiety you feel, the more likely you are to commit to them. |
4 . How to Teach Confidence
While it might seem like some people are just born confident, confidence is largely an acquired skill.
Model confident behavior far people.
If you’re trying to improve someone’s confidence, be a model for how they should behave in a confident way.
Praise small accomplishments to raise a person’s self-worth.
If you’re trying to build someone’s confidence, start small. Each accomplishment they complete is a cause for celebration, even if it seems small. Be happy for your friends, kids, or students.
Give specific praise so people know what they did well.
A specific praise is better than a simple “You did well”.
Start with a positive statement before correcting something.
| A．Instead, tell the person exactly what they did well. |
| B．It’s something you can model and teach other people. |
| C．You may have to point out where someone needs to improve. |
| D．Instead of feeling criticized, the person will know you’re sincere. |
| E．Act confident around them and in your interpersonal interactions. |
| F．Your positive energy will teach them to celebrate their achievements. |
| G．You might show someone’s strengths to help them see the bright side. |
The Best Response to Criticism
When someone criticizes you, your natural reaction is mostly to feel bad about it or defend yourself. If you lack confidence or if you have no clear opinion about yourself, you may also feel pain and even accept the criticism as true. Living in this world, we have to deal with the opinions of others and keep ourselves safe from their negativity.
Sometimes, you will face genuine criticism from others. If you are too caught up in defensive attitude and not being open minded, you may not receive the criticism well and may not perceive the truth in it. When you are criticized, remember that your opinion of yourself is probably more genuine than the opinion of another who does not know you as much as you know about you.
Yet, we give so much importance to what others say and what they think about us. It is natural because we prefer to be approved and accepted by others, or at least respected and acknowledged for who we are. The truth is, in many respects, criticism is a reflection of the person who indulges in it rather than you. A critic’s criticism reveals more about him and his judgment rather than the object of his criticism.
Criticism is a personal opinion of the critic. It very much depends upon the person, his or her thinking, beliefs, knowledge, attitude and values. It is a product of his worldview, upbringing, values, beliefs, likes and dislikes, knowledge and ignorance. It also depends upon his relationship and attitude towards the person for whom the criticism is intended.
A criticism which is not based upon true discernment（识别能力）and purity of perception and judgment should not be considered true criticism. You can ignore it or use it to know the people who criticize.
Every criticism helps you know about you or those who engage in it. Use it to improve yourself or your relationships. If you understand this truth, you will accept criticism as a blessing and an opportunity to become a better person with better awareness.
1. According to this passage, what is the natural reaction when one gets criticized?2. Why do we give so much importance to what others say and what they think about us?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Since every criticism is a personal opinion of the critic, it is not helpful for us.
4. How do you usually respond to criticism?（In about 40 words）
6 . A new documentary called Silver Surfers shows the inspiring story of a group of teens helping elderly people to improve the quality of their lives by teaching them how to make use of the Internet. Rosemary Raynes, the director of the documentary, got the idea when talking to her sisters Poppy and Amy about a project they had started several years before in Kinston, Canada. The two teenagers had a clear goal: they wanted to help elderly people to feel more connected to other people, through the use of the Internet.
The two teenagers started the project after seeing how the Internet had changed their own grandparents’ lives. Their grandparents could use the Internet at a basic level but wanted to become more skillful. After the two girls had given them a few basic IT lessons, they were able to use the computer confidently, and became eager users of Facebook and email.
The two students were so inspired by the success that they got several of their friends to join them. Together, they started to visit a local home for elderly people. Many of the people there couldn’t even switch on a computer without help. But the young people were amazed how much they had learned after only a few lessons.
It’s interesting to see how the silver surfers featured in the documentary all had very different interests. Some of them wanted to use Facebook to stay in touch with family members. Others were eager to get ideas for travelling, playing an instrument or cooking.
Through the project, silver surfers have got good results: 89-year-old Sheila, together with a friend, managed to create a YouTube cooking class; 93-year-old Marilyn succeeded in making a rap video; Albert, 89, used the Internet to reconnect online with people he hadn’t seen for many years.
The project has been met with great interest in several countries, and a number of follow-up projects have been started. They are all aimed at helping elderly people to explore the benefits of technology, have fun, and stay in touch with others—thanks to a wonderful project by two teenage girls.
1. What does the documentary Silver Surfers show?| A．Elderly people’s achievements impress the world. |
| B．Teenagers teach elderly people to use the Internet. |
| C．Elderly people come together with long-lost friends. |
| D．Teenagers help elderly people master cooking skills. |
| A．To explain the effect of follow-up projects. |
| B．To suggest the good topics for documentary. |
| C．To prove positive outcomes achieved by the project. |
| D．To encourage more teenagers to take part in the project. |
| A．Home Projects for Directors | B．Great Success for a Documentary |
| C．When Silver Surfers Get Connected | D．How the Internet Saves Silver Surfers |
7 . Everyone thinks they're great listeners. But the truth is that hearing isn’t necessarily listening, nor is it necessarily listening well. Listening is an art as well as a basic life skill that we are encouraged to practise and master.
●Don't interrupt
●Practice active listening.
To understand better in communication, you can first practice active listening. The art of listening isn't simply about staying quiet 100% of the time, it's also about asking questions, which are for clarification or for further explanation, so that you can fully understand what the speaker is telling you.
●
About 60-75% of our communication is accomplished without speaking. In order to know whether to encourage the speaker, or to open yourself more, it's essential to know what the person's body is saying. Do they display signs of discomfort? Are they cautious about you? Their body language tells a lot.
●Create a suitable environment.
It can be difficult to listen to another person when the TV is screaming, your phone is buzzing and there are thousands of cars passing by.
| A．Listen to non-verbal communication. |
| B．Let the person speak without interruption. |
| C．Listen without forming responses in your mind. |
| D．Here's how to bring the vital life skill into your daily existence. |
| E．Additionally, it's important to hold back your negative judgments. |
| F．Another great way to show your understanding is to respond by nodding. |
| G．When you remove the distractions and find a quiet place it’s easier to listen attentively. |
8 . Why does social media trigger feelings of loneliness and inadequacy? Because instead of being real life, it is, for the most part, impression management, a way of marketing yourself, carefully choosing and filtering the picture and words to put your best face forward.
Online “friends” made through social media do not follow the normal psychological progression of a interpersonal relationship. You share neither physical time nor emotional conversations over the Internet. You simply communicate photographs and catchy posts to a diverse group of people whom you have “friended” or “followed” based on an accidental interaction. This is not to say that your social media friends can't be real friends. They absolutely can, but the two are not the same. Generally speaking, there are no unfiltered comments and casually taken photos on our social media pages. And, rightfully so, because it wouldn't feel safe to be completely authentic and vulnerable with some of our “friends” whom we don't actually know or with whom trust has yet to be built.
Social media can certainly be an escape from the daily routines, but we must be cautioned against the negative effects, such as addiction, on a person's overall psychological well-being.
As humans，we are eager for social connection. Scrolling (滚动) through pages of pictures and comments, however, does not provide the same degree of fulfillment as face to face interactions do. Also, we tend to idealize others' lives and compare our downfalls to their greatest accomplishments, ending in feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.
Social media can lead people on the unhealthy quest for perfection. Some people begin to attend certain events or travel to different places so that they can snap that “perfect” photo. They begin to seek validation through the number of people who “like” their posts. In order for it to play a psychologically healthy role in your social life, social media should supplement an already healthy social network. Pictures and posts should be byproducts of life's treasured moments and fun times, not the planned and calculated image that one is putting out into cyberspace in an attempt to fill insecurities or unmet needs.
Ultimately, social media has increased our ability to connect with various types of people all over the globe. It has opened doors for business and allowed us to stay connected to people whom we may not otherwise get to follow. However, social media should feel like a fun experience, not one that contributes to negative thoughts and feelings. If the latter is the case, increasing face to face time with trusted friends, and minimizing time scrolling online, will prove to be a reminder that your social network is much more rewarding than any “like”, “follow” or “share” can be.
1. What does the author imply social media may do to our life?| A．It may facilitate our interpersonal relationships. |
| B．It may filter our negative impressions of others. |
| C．It may make us feel isolated and incompetent. |
| D．It may render us vulnerable and inauthentic. |
| A．They do not find all their online friends trustworthy. |
| B．They do not want to lose their followers. |
| C．They want to avoid offending any of their audience. |
| D．They are eager to boost their popularity. |
| A．Exaggerate their life's accomplishments. |
| B．Strive for perfection regardless of the cost. |
| C．Paint a rosy picture of other people's lives. |
| D．Learn lessons from other people's downfalls. |
| A．Use social media to increase their ability to connect with various types of people. |
| B．Stay connected to those whom they may not otherwise get to know and befriend. |
| C．Try to prevent negative thoughts and feelings from getting into the online pages. |
| D．Strengthen ties with real-life friends instead of caring about their online image. |
Your personality shapes you. Personality is the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors
From the cheeky sound of a whoopee cushion to a spring-loaded spider rocketing from a glass, pranks (恶作剧) are a popular way of making fun of others and getting a laugh. While some experts point out potential negatives, pranking can also decrease stress, raise a smile, and strengthen relationships.
It’s little wonder that best-selling children’s author Matt Stanton has shaped his latest book around pranks for young jokesters. Part of his Funny Kid book series, Prank Aliens, is about a boy named Max who is searching for the greatest prank of all time. Stanton said that pranking in the home can build strong relationships between parents and kids.
“Some of the best relationship-building moments I have with my own kids are when I enter into their space,” Stanton said. “An adult joining in their games can be surprising for kids and bring wonderful moments of joy. It’s a great way to demonstrate to our kids that we can laugh at ourselves and still feel loved and secure,” he added.
But playing tricks can come with unintended consequences, said psychiatrist Mark Cross. Pranks that are intended to harm or embarrass can anger the target and even ruin a relationship. However, Cross also added “Pranking can be good when the outcome is laughter for everyone, including the pranked person. It can be a great release of stress. When you laugh, you breathe deeper, which helps ease anxiety.”
So why not try some pranks? Wrapping vegetables and shoes up as presents for kids on their birthdays always gets a great reaction. Putting plastic spiders in guests’ drinks or placing a whoopee cushion on an unsuspecting person’s chair is sure to cause a belly laugh. All these might just be good for you and everyone involved.
1. What are the benefits of pranking?2. When can pranks anger the target or even ruin a relationship?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Pranking is good when everyone laughs at the pranked person, since laughter releases stress.4. In addition to pranking, what other ways can you use to strengthen relationships with family members? (In about 40 words)
