M6Unit 3 Task Writing a letter to

explain cultural misunderstandings

岳阳县二中

易 凤

Task 2

Skills building2: asking for information( 询问信息 )

Skills building3: writing a letter of apology （道歉信）

Learning Aims:

Task 1 Lead-in

Please try to think how to ask for information,when you meet a foreigner for the first time.

What can I do for you?

Why ?

Which city do you like best in China?

Where do you come from?

When did you come to China ?How do you like China?

……

We can use wh-questions.

Task 2 Review the information about the strange actions of each visitor.(P43)

Taboos behind the strange actions

Mr. Singh

Mr. Takashi

Mr. Hudson

He may not eat 2. because of religion( 宗教 ).

It’s 1. to shake hands or givesomeone something with your lefthand.

Giving 3. is very important.

He may get upset if people do not look at the 4. carefully.

He may feel 5._______________ when people stand too close to him.

India

Japan

America

rude

beef

gifts

business card

uncomfortable

Form your questions about the following things with the correct question words.(P 44)

Task 3

Asking about cultural differences

1. ways people in North America and the UK greet each other

How do people in North America and the UK greet each other?

2. hand that should not be used to shake hands with or give things to people from IndiaWhich hand shouldn’t be used to shake hands with or give things to people from India?

3. placesplaces where people greet

one another by giving a slight

bow with their hands pressed

togetherIn which country do people greet one another by giving a slight bow with their hands pressed together?

Where

4. action you should take when a Japanese person gives you a business card

What should you do when a Japanese person gives you a business card?

5. reason that people from the USA do not like crowded places

Why do people from the USA not like crowded places?

6. meaningmeaning of the American

gesture ‘OK’ for French

people

What’s the meaning of the American gesture ‘OK’ for French people?

What does the

American gesture for

‘OK’ mean

to French people?

Please ask and answer the above questions one by one in lines.

Play a game

(1) People in North America and the UK Greet each other by shaking hands.

(2) The left hand shouldn’t be used to shake hands with or give things to people from India.

(3) In Thailand people greet one another by giving a slight bow with their hands pressed together.

(4) When a Japanese gives you a business card, you should look at the card carefully.

(5) People from the USA feel uncomfortable when people stand too close to them.

(6) The gesture “OK” means “Zero” to the French.

Address ofAddress ofBeijing Sunshine Secondary School Sunshine Town Beijing 100000

10 June Date Tan Yi Name of88 Sunny Street Sunshine TownBeijing 100000

Address

Dear Tan Yi, Greeting （问候）…………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………..

Yours sincerely, Closing （结束语）Sun Ting Name of the sender

the sender( 寄信人 )

the receiver（收信人）

of the receiver

Format( 格式 )

(Content of the letter) Message( 信息 / 正文 )

Dear Mr. Singh/Takashi/Hudson, (purpose) I am writing to apologize

for_________________________________________ (an explanation)_______________________ ________________________________________ (ending) I feel very sorry for_______ I hope_____________________________________________________Yours sincerely, …

Class 288,Senior 2 No.2 Middle School of MiluoYueyang,Hunan Nov.14th,2013 Address of the receiver

Sample

Sentence patterns used in a letter of apology

1.I would like to give you my apology for…2. I am terribly sorry for what I have done.3. I feel very sorry for not having known these taboos earlier.4.I was not aware of the cultural differences. 5. Please allow me to say sorry again.6.I hope you can forgive me for all these misunderstandings.7.I hope our next meeting will be happier. …

Taboos behind the strange incidents

Mr. Singh

Mr. Takashi

Mr. Hudson

2.They may not eat beef because of religion.

1.It’s impolite to shake hands or givesomeone something with your left hand.

1.Giving gifts is very important.

2.They may get upset if people do not look at the business card carefully.

They may feel uncomfortable when people stand too close to him.

India

Japan

America

Dear Mr. Singh,I am writing to apologize for any misunderstandings that occurred when I showed you around Beijing the other day. I felt rather strange when you would notshake hands with me. I did not realize that there are some taboos in different countries and cultures. After reading a magazine article, I know that people from India do not shake hands with their left hands. I should not have held out my left hand to you. And I now knowyou do not eat beef because of your religion. I feel very sorry for not having known these taboos earlier.I hope you can forgive me for all these misunderstandings.I hope our next meeting will be happier.Yours sincerely,…...

I would like to give you my apology for... Please accept my sincere apology for...

I am awfully/terribly sorry for what I have done.I feel badly sorry about it and want you to know 

what happened.Please allow me to say sorry again.Once again, I’m sorry for any misunderstanding

 caused.

Summary

1.How to ask for information

2.How to write a letter of apology

Step4: Homework

Finish the letter on your exercise books.