ibunka TB_U6

6 In a Shop

One Step Further ACTIVITIES

Here are some more responses from the Ibunka Survey on the topic of communication in shops. We can see that most responses fall into two basic patterns.

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CULTURAL PATTERN A: &XVWRPHUV DQG VWD΍ RQ HTXDO IRRWLQJ ΖQ VRPH FXOWXUHV VKRS VWD΍ DQG FXVWRPHUV communicate more or less as equals. The tone is UDWKHU IULHQGO\ DQG ZDUP

CULTURAL PATTERN B: Customers treated as “royalty” In other cultures, the customer is treated with UHYHUHQFH DQG VWD΍ JHQHUDOO\ XVH SROLWH LPSHUVRQDO ODQJXDJH DQG EHKDYLRU WRZDUG WKHP

Read through the Ibunka Survey responses below. Highlight in one color the words and phrases that hint at &XOWXUDO 3DWWHUQ $ &XVWRPHUV DQG VWD΍ RQ HTXDO IRRWLQJ DQG LQ DQRWKHU FRORU WKH SDUWV WKDW UHȵHFW Cultural Pattern B: Customers as “royalty.” You can work and discuss this in pairs or small groups.

In Japan, where I grew up and where I live, the shop staff greet and thank customers very politely. Their behavior is often impersonal. Sometimes it's so polite and commercial that I feel it’s XZUJWƳHNFQ . However, in rural areas, there is more human communication. In France, where I've lived, shop staff are not always polite nor pleasant, but as a rule there is some eye contact and some “human contact”. I feel that it's very warm. There are always greetings and thanks from both sides, and that's pleasant. -DSDQHVH IHPDOH LQWHUSUHWHU KDV OLYHG LQ )UDQFH 1 In Japan, many foreigners face the confusion of, "Do I reply to irasshaimase?" In most of our own home countries there’s a kind of obligation to reply to staff greetings, but in Japan, where shop staff are so very friendly and helpful, we are not required to respond. Though I spent some time in Japan, I always made a point of acknowledging the staff who took the time to greet me as I entered their store or section. Whether it was a smile, a nod or a konnichi wa, I felt that I owed the staff as much. $XVWUDOLDQ PDOH WHDFKHU KDV OLYHG LQ -DSDQ 2 To share an anecdote YMJ ƳWXY YNRJ . JSYJWJI YMJ KTTI XJHYNTS TK F IJUFWYRJSY XYTWJ NS Japan, I was shocked. I couldn’t understand why everyone was shouting and making so much noise. I could guess that they were bragging about the freshness or quality of the food, but I didn’t understand why they would need to do that. &DQDGLDQ PDOH FRPSDQ\ HPSOR\HH OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 3 4 I lived overseas for a long time so I had reverse culture shock upon returning to the U.S. Once in a supermarket, the clerk asked, "Paper or plastic?" I wasn't sure what the question meant. She laughed and rolled her eyes and then held up two bags, a paper bag and a plastic bag. She looked as though she thought I was either a smart aleck or an idiot. $PHULFDQ PDOH SXEOLVKHU KDV OLYHG LQ -DSDQ 4 1 2 3

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