Lesson 2: Culture Clashes
It just bugs me.

I can talk about culture clashes.

INTRODUCE

Each country has a unique culture. Sometimes, the differences between cultures can cause conflicts.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the expressions with your tutor and fill in the blanks.

    1. To bug someone means to annoy or bother a person.

     

    I’m working. Don’t bug me with unimportant things.

     

    ________ bug(s) me.

     

     

    2. To feel awkward means to feel uneasy or uncomfortable.

     

    People often feel awkward when they meet someone for the first time.

     

    I feel awkward when ________.

     

     

    3. To be too much for someone means to be too difficult or upsetting for a person to handle.

     

    Training for the marathon was too much for me, so I quit.

     

    ________ was/were too much for me.

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When one word ends with a consonant sound and the next word also starts with a consonant sound, one of the sounds may be dropped for easier pronunciation.
Phrase Example

bug him

/ bug-im /

They always / bug-im /.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Toru and his wife Holly are having lunch at a restaurant in France.

Toru:

You look upset. Is something wrong?

Holly:

No…

Toru:

Come on, I know you’re not happy about something. What is it?

Holly:

When the female French staff all greeted you with a kiss earlier, you had such a big smile on your face. You never smile like that!

Toru:

Well, of course I was smiling! Who greets someone with a frown? Anyway, it’s just how they greet people here. C’mon, you should know that.

Holly:

It just bugs me. I mean, why would you happily kiss a stranger? Shouldn’t that make you feel awkward, especially in front of your wife? But I guess you don’t mind since they’re all so pretty and dressed up so nicely. Someone should tell them that it’s an office, not a runway.

Toru:

Can you stop being a green-eyed monster and enjoy the food? You’re ruining our lunch with your mood. I already told you it’s just how they greet people here. We’re in France, remember?

Holly:

I can be friendly too. I’m just more used to shaking hands with people I’ve just met. But kissing? It’s too much for me.

Toru:

Yes, but you’re American. This is France! They do things differently here. It’s as simple as that. Now, can you let it go?

Holly:

Fine. When is this business trip going to be over, anyway? The sooner, the better.

TRIVIA

There are many English idioms that are associated with colors. For example, the phrase green-eyed monster refers to a jealous person. Other examples are gray area, which means something that’s unclear or undefined, and black-and-white, which is used to describe something that’s very clear.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Choose the sentences that best use the underlined expressions.

1. ________.

  1. I feel awkward with my best friend. I’ve known her since we were in first grade.
  2. I felt awkward on my first day at school.

 

2. ________.

  1. I can’t really deal with children. Babysitting them is too much for me.
  2. You gave me a lot of easy work! It’s too much for me.

 

3. ________.

  1. I can sleep well at night because my little brother bugs me.
  2. I can’t focus on my homework because my little brother bugs me!

STEP B EXERCISE

Make sentences using the pictures and the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

bug someone
feel awkward
be too much for someone

ex.

His boss always bugs him.

1.

2.

3.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You’re visiting your friend in France. It’s your first time in the country, and you’ve noticed a lot of differences between French and Japanese culture. Talk to your friend about these culture differences.

Today's Expressions

  • bug someone
  • feel awkward
  • be too much for someone

What you have experienced so far:

  • Rice is not served in a lot of restaurants.
  • Bread comes with most meals.
  • Stores close early.
  • There aren’t many vending machines.

 

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

CULTURE CLASHES
2

BUGGING PEOPLE
3

THINGS THAT ARE TOO MUCH
1

CULTURE CLASHES

  1. Have you ever had a clash with someone because of a cultural difference?
  2. How would you resolve problems caused by differences in culture?
  3. Do you think it's possible for people who come from very different cultures to work together without conflicts?
  4. Would you be willing to adjust to a culture that is totally different from yours?

2BUGGING PEOPLE

  1. Do you sometimes bug others?
  2. Who or what has been bugging you recently?
  3. How do you deal with people who bug you?
  4. Is it ever okay to tell someone directly that he/she is bugging you, or should you always be nice?

3THINGS THAT ARE TOO MUCH

  1. In what situations do things tend to be too much for people?
  2. How do you feel when things become too much for you (ex. angry, depressed)?
  3. If something became too much for you, would you keep trying to deal with it, or would you give up?
  4. What advice would you give a friend who said that his/her job was too much for him/her?

FEEDBACK

I can talk about culture clashes.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK