episode 03 discussion

Below you'll find a number of discussion questions. These questions ask you to reflect on what you've seen in this video.

1.	You are executive vice-president of marketing for Get The Point, Inc., a U.S. pencil company. Recently, you were posted to the Asian sector. It's a plum assignment and promotion is certain if you make a good showing. You are in your office in Tokyo when you receive an invitation to visit with Nga Van Tranh, the Minister of Education of Vietnam, and to stay overnight at the minister's home. You've read the business intelligence reports indicating that Vietnam is about to undergo a shift to mandatory education through high school. As you pack for the trip, visions of endless supplies of pencils being shipped to Vietnam go through your head. Your spouse comes in and says, "Honey, what do they eat? Remember, seafood gives you hives. I hope they sleep on futons because of your bad back. By the way, is the Minister a man or a woman?" In panic, you get on the phone to your personal assistant. "Find out everything I need to know about the Vietnamese culture," you say. "I catch my flight in two hours. Have it ready by then!" List the most important questions you would expect your assistant to find the answers to in the limited time available.

2.	Germany is a low-context culture. By comparison, France and England are more high-context. These three translations of the same message were posted on a lawn in Switzerland: The German sign read, "Walking on the grass is forbidden"; the English sign read, "Please do not walk on the grass"; and the French sign read, "Those who respect their environment will avoid walking on the grass." How does the language of each sign reflect the way information is conveyed in the cultural context of each nation? Write a brief (two to three paragraphs) explanation.

3.	Take a moment to look through the first few pages of your local newspaper or listen to the radio. How many of the major news stories you've noted involve cultural communication, and in what way?

Visit the following Web sites to broaden and enrich your grasp of intercultural communication.

Congratulations! You've come to the end of this episode.

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