ibunka TB_U3

culture, it is much better to apologize profusely without giving a speciYic reason. The reason can be gently elicited out of the student (or any other person in a similar situation in life) - which is easier to do when one is not too upset. :) In the same line of thinking, it can be hypothesized that saying “I don’t know” can contain different subtexts. In the West, it could mean “I am sorry, I am in the wrong for not knowing, giving you, as teacher, the Yloor back”. In Japan, it could mean “I don’t care, I give up. I will not look for the answer any longer”.

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UNIT 3 | CULTURAL COMMENTARY