Culture and Entertainment

Doroftei Maria- IESC, ETC, gr 4632, an II
Crnu Bristena Ana Maria- IESC, ETC, gr 4632, an II
Culture and entertainment
Cross cultural understanding (2)

Inviting and accepting or declining
Eating out
1.
Cross-cultural understanding(2)
1.The following text is about cultural diversity. Read it through

once and decide which of the three statements (A, B or C) given
below the extract offers the most accurate summary.
The impact of culture on business
Take a look at the new breed of international managers, educated

according to the most modern management philosophies. They all know that in
the SBU, TQM should reign, with products delivered JIT, where CFTs distribute
products while subject to MBO.(SBU=strategic business unit, TQM=total quality
management, JIT=just-in-time, CFT=customer first team, MBO=management by
objectives.)
But just how universal are these management solutions? Are these
`truths` about what effective management really is: truths that can be applied
anywhere, under any circumstances?
Even with experienced international companies, many well-intended
ùniversal` applications of management theory have turned out badly. For
example, pay-for-performance has in many instances been a failure on the
African continent because there are particular, though unspoken, rules about
the sequence and timing of reward and promotions. Similarly, management by
objectives schemes have generally failed within subsidiaries of multinationals in
southern Europe, because managers have not wanted to conform to the
abstract nature of preconceived policy guidelines.
Even the notion of human-resource management is difficult to translate to other
cultures, coming as it does from a typically Anglo-Saxon doctrine. It borrows
from economics the idea that human beings are `resources` like physical and
monetary resources. It tends to assume almost unlimited capacities for

individual development. In countries without these beliefs, this concept is hard

to grasp and unpopular once it is understood. International managers have it
tough. They must operate on a number of different premises at any one time.
These premises arise from their culture of origin, the culture in which they are
working, and the culture of the organisations which employs them.
In every culture in the world such phenomena as authority, bureaucracy,
creativity, good fellowship, verification and accountability are experienced in
different ways. That we use the same words to describe them tends to make us
unaware that our cultural biases and our accustomed conduct may not be
appropriate, or shared.
From Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in business by
Fons Trompenaars , Nicholas Brealey Publishing Ltd.,London,1993.
A There are certain popular universal truths about management

which can successfully by applied in various cultural contexts.
B Cultures are so varied any so different throughout the world that
management has to take account of differences rather than simply
assume similarities.
C Effective management of human resources is the key to everyone
achieving their full potential.
I think B is the most accurate summary, because A and C
give a wrong direction text.
2.Read the text again. Identify the following:
a) the problem with ùniversal` management solutions
They are not ùniversal`.
b) an example of the failure of pay-forperformance
Pay-for-performance has in many instances been a
failure on the African continent because there are
particular, though unspoken, rules about the sequence
and timing of reward and promotions.
c) an example of the failure of management by objectives
schemes
Management by objectives schemes have generally
failed within subsidiaries of multinationals in southern
Europe, because managers have not wanted to conform
to the abstract nature of preconceived policy
guidelines.

d) the problem with human-resource management

Even the notion of human-resource management is
difficult to translate to other cultures, coming as it
does from a typically Anglo-Saxon doctrine. It borrows
from economics the idea that human beings are
`resources` like physical and monetary resources. It
tends to assume almost unlimited capacities for
individual development. In countries without these
beliefs, this concept is hard to grasp and unpopular
once it is understood.
e) three cultures affecting international managers
International managers have it tough. They must
operate on a number of different premises at any one
time. These premises arise from their culture of origin,
the culture in which they are working, and the culture
of the organisations which employs them.
f) six areas in which different cultural interpretations apply.
Authority, bureaucracy, creativity, good fellowship,
verification and accountability
2.Inviting, and accepting or

declining

What kinds of social activities in your town could be

appropriate ways of entertaining visitors from other
countries?
1. Listen to the first example on the recording .You will hear a
conversation in which someone invites a business associate to a
social event. Identify:
a) what is being suggested : a concert, play
b) the response: a play would be good
c) what will happen next: will find out what
or show
is on and call
back.
2. Listen to the second example,where someone else invites a
different business associate to a social event. Identify:
a) what is being suggested: an informal gathering then a
meal in a restaurant
b) the response: accepts with pleasure
c) what will happen next: they will meet at the hotel at
about 7.
3. Listen to the recording of three short extracts, where hosts
invite their visitors to take part in a social activity, The invitations are
rejected.
a) Identify each suggested activity.
b) Give the reasons for each rejection.
c) Do you think each rejection is appropriate? Explain your answer.

Activity
111 1. Opera
2. Dinner party
3.Tennis
Reason for
rejection
doesn`t like
Opera
has to return to
somewhere/someo
ne
Can`t play/wooden
leg
Comments
very direct
polite
sarcastic
4. Work in pairs. Use the advertisements below to invite your

partner to something. He/she should respond. Then change roles so
you both get to invite and accept or reject in each situation.
a) tomorrow night/a show or visit the town/ or have a meal.

b) this evening / a meal in a restaurant / different colleagues.
c) when you come / what would you like to do?
a)
A:Hi. Shall we do something together tomorrow nightif that`s ok. I`d like to invite you to a show or take
you round the town or have a meal.

B:That would be nice, but unfortunately I`ve already

made plans for tomorrow night.
b)
A: We have reserved a meal in a restaurant this
evening. Would you like to join us?
B:I`d like that. Thank you.
c)
A: Hiwhen you come home? What sort of thing would
you like to do while you`re here?
B: I don`t know, what do you recommend?
Practice
1.Use the following flow chart to construct a dialogue. The situation is a
semi-formal business meeting in your country.
Host:
Have you tried the local cuisine?
Visitor:
No, but I`ve heard it`s very good.
Host:
Yes, in particular you should try `cabbage`, is
a traditional food of our country.
Visitor: Hmmm. Sounds delicious.
Host:
We have some very good restaurants. Would
you like to visit one?

Visitor:
Oh, yes .of course. I`d like that very much.
Host:
Right, so do you like fish?
Visitor: Yes. I`ve heard that the fish is very special in

Romania.
Host:
That`s true. I`d like to invite you to have
dinner .Shall I meet you at your hotel this evening?
Visitor:
That would be great.. What time?
Host:
7.30 it`s ok?
Visitor:
It`s ok. We will meet again soon.
Host:
Ok 7.30 at your hotel. See you there.
2.You receive the letter below from a business partner confirming a

meeting with you at a Trade Fair in Munich. Unfortunately you have to
leave Munich after your meeting, but you expect to be in London a
month later. Write a reply suggesting a different arrangement which
you can confirm nearer the time.
Bank of Commerce
PO Box 400 Bondi Junction New South Wales 2022 Australia
Tel ++44-134 675 345 Fax ++44-134 675 256

John Callam
Product Development
Interlink PLC
250 Charing Cross Road
London WCI 4RD
Your ref.GF6
19 March 19__

Dear John,
Munich International Communications Fair
Thank you for your letter and the information you sent
of 15 March 19__.I`m sure we will have a lots of things to
talk about when we meet in Munich.
I received your suggestion that we should meet for a
meal on Thursday evening. I would be very pleased to
come, but pity on this occasion I have to decline your
invitation as I have to leave Munich early. I will be in
London o month later and I hope we could meet then. If
this idea suits you, call me after you receive the later to
discuss about our meeting.
In the meantime, we hear well.
Very best wishes,
Maria Saans
Accounts Director
encs.
3.
Eating out
1. Imagine you are in a restaurant with a business colleague.Work

in groups of three. Brainstorm as many examples as you can of
the language indicated below.
Maria:
Waiter:
Let`s orderCan I have a menu , please?

The menu..

Bristena: What you want to eat?

Maria:
I see they have fries with cheese on the
menu.
Bristena: Oh yeah, the fries are really good.
Maria:
Actually, I don`t eat a lot of unhealthy food,
I`m more of natural food.
Bristena: I`d recommend Greek salad or cream
soups.The soups contain the freshest vegetables.
Maria:
That would be great. Let`s have that..
Bristena: And drinking?
Maria:
Well I prefer one green tea.
Waiter: Would you care to order drinks now?
Bristena: Sure..we want a green tea and one coffe with
milk,please.
Waiter: OK,I`ll take your food order in just a moment.
Bristena: Hmmm This looks nice..how is the soup?
Maria:
Very good.thanks for your opinionit`s
really a good choice.
Bristena: I`m glad to hear that.
Maria:
It`s a nice place by the way.
Bristena: Yeah..It`s very colourful.
Maria:
The check, please.
Waiter:
Here it is, thank you.
Bristena: Can I get this?
Maria:
No, No , certainly not, one`s mine.
Bristena: Well, okay, thank you, I`ll pay next time.
Maria:
Then, next time .
Bristena: Because you did honor I`ll take you with the
car to the hotel.
Maria:
Thanks again.
2.Divide into fresh groups of three and together in your

new groups share all the examples you have of different
ways of saying the nine functions above.
Complete the grid below with possible phrases:

Recommending what
to eat
I`d recommend Greek
salad or cream
soups.The soups
contain the freshest
vegetables.
Commenting on the
food
Expessing
preference
Ordering
Sure..we want a
green tea and one
coffe with
milk,please
Actually, I don`t
eat a lot of
unhealthy food,
I`m more of natural
food.
Asking for the bill
Offering to pay
The check, please
Can I get this
Insisting on paying
Inviting
Thanking
No, No , certainly not,

one`s mine
Because you did

honor I`ll take you
with the car to the
hotel.
Thanks again.
Hmmm This looks

nice..how is the soup?
Very good.thanks
for your opinionit`s
really a good choice.
Why did you choose this unit?

The unit starts with a reading text about of cultural
diversity, about how difficult is to work with people from

other countries. The second chapter comprises talking

about social events and making arrangements. We have
to write a letter deferring a social engagement. The final
section looks at eating out and making conversation.
We choose this unit because the language used in
the unit is relatively simple. Another reason about why
we choose this unit is because we we have to be
creative in all discussions we write.
Teamwork is always more interesting than the
individualwork.


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Doroftei Maria- IESC, ETC, gr 4632, an II

Crnu Bristena Ana Maria- IESC, ETC, gr 4632, an II