跨文化交际_案例分析Case_analysis

A case

Situation

Li Hong is a new teacher in a middle school. One day, one of her Chinese colleague Yang Zhen introduces her to their middle-aged foreign teacher Maggy. Yang: Li Hong, this is Maggy, our English teacher from America. And Maggy, this is Li Hong, our new colleague. Li and Maggy: How do you do? Maggy: Your sweater is so smart. Li: Oh, it is only an old one, I bought it last year. Maggy: You are so young and smart, I am sure you are a good teacher. Li: No, no. I am just a newcomer, I should learn from you old teachers. Maggy looks surprised and thinks, ” Am I really so old?"

Case analysis: a poor example

Poor example: In this case, Maggy is too bold. She should not be too talkative. Li Hong is too modest. She should be more talkative. This analysis does not take 3-step approach! This analysis does not take a crosscultural approach!

Case analysis: a better example

Li Hong comes from a collectivist culture which emphasizes deference paid to people older than self and modesty displayed on the part of the young. Maggy comes from an individualistic culture which values assertiveness and free expression of feelings.

Case analysis: a better example

As a young and new teacher, Li Hong showed her respect to Maggy with a formal greeting. When Maggy complimented Li on her sweater and herself, Li reacted in a typical Chinese way by overusing modesty in front of a teacher older than her. She displayed her humbleness by saying that her sweater was an old one and she should learn from Maggy, an old teacher. Li’s responses are perfect between Chinese people but terrible in cross-cultural situations like this. She did not realize that her expression of respect could be translated into offence since individualistic cultures do not associate as much deference with age as collectivistic cultures do. Therefore, Maggy, coming from an individualistic culture, was surprised when Li called her “old teacher”. Maggy did not understand that the word “old” here meant as a compliment, meaning that she had richer teaching experience. Both Li Hong and Maggy communicated only from their cultural perspectives and thus caused miscommunication.

Case analysis: a better example

To avoid miscommunication, Li Hong and Maggy should learn more about each other’s culture and adjust their behaviors accordingly. When Maggy complimented Li on her sweater and herself, Li could simply reply “thank you”. She could use her nonverbal language to show her respect to Maggy, for instance, with a smile, a handshake, etc. (2 points) As to Maggy, she could use fewer complimentary words or more objective questions to reduce Li ’s nervousness. She should also understand that one of the key values in collectivism is deference paid to experience and old age.

Techniques about case analysis

Analyze a case from a cross-cultural perspective Apply cross-cultural knowledge in the analysis

Take the 3-step approach

Normative-level analysis Behavioral-level analysis Giving behavioral-level suggestions

Another case

It is the first time for Kate, an elderly American professor to come to teach in a University in Beijing. Wang Hong(王虹), her Chinese colleague, took time out of her busy schedule to visit Kate one day to make sure things were going well from the beginning of her stay in China. As a local resident, Wang wanted to do her best to help Kate. In Kate’s apartment, Wang checked every thing from the telephone line to the closestool (马桶). She wrote down directions for Kate to nearby shopping malls, post offices, supermarkets, flower shops, and other places. After finishing all this, Wang sat down, expecting Kate to offer her something to drink. To her amazement, Kate asked, “Do you want to stay longer?” Your analysis?