ibunka TB_U2

Example Sentences for DISCUSSION (textbook p.18) • I found Motoko’s response to be the most strange. I can’t believe that there is an announcement on TV telling children to go to bed. • I found Miki’s response to be the most relatable. I often see people sleeping at work in meetings etc, so I agreed with her when she said “in Japan, being productive is not as important as just showing up.”

Answers to CULTURE SHOCK (textbook p.19 )

6 Takako, Japanese, company employee, has lived in Belgium and France I did a year of study abroad at a university in Belgium. It was pretty tough because I had to work hard at my French to be able to keep up with the rest of the class. I often stayed up late studying, so sometimes I would fall asleep in class. One day, one of my teachers got really upset with me and woke me up. He said “If you’re coming here to sleep, you might as well stay at home!”.

TRUE FALSE

→ Takako got upset at her teachers in Belgium because they didn’t let her sleep in class.

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7 Jurgen , German, engineer, has lived in Japan I’m an engineer, and I was posted to the Tokyo branch of my company for three years. From time to time we had to make presentations to potential clients. The day before, I always made a point of going home early, in order to get a good night’s sleep and be as sharp as I could on the big day. But my Japanese colleagues always stayed extra late on those occasions. That always shocked me, but I’m pretty sure they felt the same way about me.

TRUE FALSE

→ Jurgen thinks that on the night before an important task, it’s better to get enough rest than to work late.

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Extra Discussion Questions 1. Where is the most embarrassing place you have ever fallen asleep? 2. Why do you think there are differences in reactions to sleeping in public across cultures?

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UNIT 2 | DISCUSSION & CULTURE SHOCK