ibunka TB_U8

Unit 8

- Conversation and Discussion

INTRODUCTION TO TEACHERS This unit is centered on a topic that is experienced by many people who have lived in foreign cultures, but is rarely discussed, perhaps because it is so difYicult to describe. The way people hold conversations- how they open, what topic they choose to talk about, how the speaker and listener interact and “share the spotlight”- these are all interesting topics to explore. And when it comes to discussing ideas, Japanese students often encounter huge culture shocks in the ways people from other backgrounds express their opinions, and agree or disagree with others.

Part 1 ........................................................................................................115 Part 2 ........................................................................................................117 One Step Further .................................................................................121 Cultural Commentary ........................................................................125

114

UNIT 8 | INTRODUCTION

Part 1

1 - You and Your Culture

Online Form for WARM-UP SURVEY (textbook p.50)

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Online Form for INTERVIEW (textbook p.51)

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Example Sentences for INTERVIEW (textbook p.51) Q1: What topics do you most enjoy talking about? • I quite enjoy talking about my hobbies, and sometimes the lives of famous people. • Now that I think about it, most of what I talk about with friends is what I’ve seen on the Internet. • I most enjoy talking about news and current events, but I try to avoid talking about politics. Q2: In response to simple questions, do you usually give short answers or longer ones? • I usually give quite short answers. If someone is interested in me, they’ll ask more questions. • I tend to give longer answers. I feel bad if there’s too much silence after I talk. Q3: How do you feel when someone disagrees with you openly? • I guess it shocks me a little, because at school we’re only really taught how to agree with others. • It does shock me a little, but then I see it as an opportunity to talk. Q4: Do you ever discuss abstract topics with others? • Yes, sometimes. My closest friends and I talk about love, or what we want out of life. • No, never. I only really talk about everyday topics like fashion and sports. Q5: What kinds of behavior do you Yind uncomfortable when you are talking with someone? • I’m uncomfortable with a lack of eye contact, but then again too much eye contact is not comfortable, either. • I really can’t stand being interrupted, or aggressive behavior like that. • I don’t like it when people speak too much about themselves, and never ask questions.

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UNIT 8 | WARM-UP SURVEY & INTERVIEW

Script for Model INTERVIEW (textbook p.51)

→ Available as audio track “8-00-Interview8” for listening/note-taking practice.

Q1: What topics do you most enjoy talking about? Yoshito: I love talking about sports and hobbies with people who have the same interests. For example, I could talk about baseball and camping all day. My friends and I talk a lot about things we’ve seen on the Internet, too. Q2: In response to simple questions, do you usually give short answers, or longer ones? Yoshito: Now that I think about it, I guess I tend to give short answers. I don’t want to force my own topics into the conversation. Q3: How do you feel when someone disagrees with you openly? Yoshito: It’s actually a bit shocking for me. It doesn’t happen much in Japan I think. That can hurt people’s feelings. Q4: Do you ever discuss abstract topics with others? Yoshito: Yes, but only very rarely. My best friend and I sometimes talk about what we want in life, the meaning of happiness, that kind of stuff. Q5: What kinds of behavior do you Yind uncomfortable when you are talking with someone? Yoshito: Well, there are three things I really don’t like. I Yind it hard to talk when the topic is boring to me. And when the people I’m talking to don’t show interest in what I’m saying, it feels a little rude. And people who are too aggressive in making a point are not much fun either.

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UNIT 8 | INTERVIEW

Online Form for EXPRESSION 1 & 2 (textbook p.52)

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Example Sentences for EXPRESSION 1 (textbook p.52) • I feel that in Japanese society, women are better at listening to others than men are. • I feel that in Japanese society, people from Kansai are better at expressing an opinion than people from Kanto are. • In my experience, creative people tend to be good at speaking actively. • In my experience, people who have lived abroad tend to be good at making a point. Example Sentences for EXPRESSION 2 (textbook p.52) • In conversation, I feel fairly comfortable expressing an opinion. I guess I’m different from most young Japanese people in that sense. • In conversation, I feel quite uncomfortable leading a discussion. I guess I’m similar to most university students in that sense. • In conversation, I feel quite comfortable speaking actively. I guess I’m similar to most people from Kansai in that sense. When I did an internship, I was told that I was talkative, so I was a typical Kansai person.

Part 2

t 2 - People in Other Cultures

Online Form for PART 2 (textbook p.53-p.55)

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Answers to COMPREHENSION 1 (textbook p.53) Highlighted words are those from the VOCABULARY boxes.

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UNIT 8 | EXPRESSION & COMPREHENSION

1 Mark , American, professor, lives in Japan, has lived in Mexico and France Short answers like, “No, I don’t” seem rather cold to me. It feels like the person answering wants to end the conversation. By not adding something, like a question or more information, there seems to be no interest in communicating.

TRUE FALSE

→ Mark feels that giving longer answers is part of active communication.

☑

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2 Ulrike , German, accountant, lives in Japan If I don't feel like continuing the conversation, I'm more likely to answer quite dryly and briefly. I think most Europeans give longer answers to show that they are open to conversation, or simply say, "No, what about you?"

TRUE FALSE

→ Ulrike says that Europeans give long answers because they only want to make the conversation about themselves.

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3 Ulrike , German, accountant, lives in Japan But in Japan, when people give an answer as short as, "No, I don't", it doesn't necessarily mean they don't want to talk. You have to "read the air" to pick up on other signs that encourage discussion.

TRUE FALSE

→ Ulrike believes that in Japan, people who give short answers are showing that they don’t want to talk.

☑

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4 Takato , Japanese, engineer, has lived in Australia and the UAE Living abroad, I found that Australians give pretty long responses, but those I met in the UAE (including Arab people, Indians and Bangladeshis) tend to reply quite minimally.

TRUE FALSE

→ Takato experienced two similar response styles in the two foreign countries he lived in.

☑

□

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UNIT 8 | COMPREHENSION

Answers to COMPREHENSION 2 (textbook p.54)

Example Sentences for DISCUSSION (textbook p.54) • I found Mark’s response to be the most interesting. In my culture, it’s best to give short answers when you don’t know someone well because you don’t want to offend them. It’s not meant to be cold. • I found Juri’s response to be the most relatable. For me, the best kind of conversation is one where people express their views calmly. When people get excited and raise their voice, it seems to me that they are arguing. 6 Andrew , Australian, actor, has lived in France I'm probably more comfortable in the culture I grew up in. However, I did appreciate the directness of the French, and their way of seeing disagreement not as a personal attack but as an essential and respectful way of making conversation . In Australia, disagreement can often be seen as disrespectful and quite arrogant , I think. 5 Juri, Japanese, homemaker, has lived in France I am married to a Frenchman. A long time ago, when he was my boyfriend, he invited a French acquaintance to our place. They started to discuss politics and the conversation got quite heated. I thought they were fighting, and I started to cry ! They were very surprised. They said “We are just having fun, don’t worry!” On that day I learnt that French people enjoy a good debate. For them, disagreeing is sometimes more fun than agreeing. They don’t take it personally.

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UNIT 8 | COMPREHENSION & DISCUSSION

Answers to CULTURE SHOCK (textbook p.55)

7 Vincenzo, Italian, data analyst, has lived in the US When I lived in the US, I was told to stop interrupting other people during a discussion, because it was rude. It was so shocking for me to hear that. It was as if I were a bad-mannered person! In Italy, we often “jump into a discussion” when we are interested in what someone is saying.

TRUE FALSE

→ Vincenzo was surprised that people in the US thought his behavior was rude.

☑

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8 Vincenzo, Italian, data analyst, has lived in the US I got the sense that Americans make a point of not interrupting each other. They speak on and on, and they don’t even look at you to see if you are interested in what they are saying. That kind of discussion felt rather boring to me.

TRUE FALSE

→ Vincenzo is convinced that Americans interrupt each other all the time.

☑

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Extra Discussion Questions 1. Do you think that you are good at getting your point across in conversation? Do you have any advice on how to do this effectively? 2. What advice would you give to a foreigner learning Japanese about having a smooth conversation?

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UNIT 8 | CULTURE SHOCK

One Step Further rther

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Suggested Answers for ONE STEP FURTHER Activities (Google Form)

p.88-p.89 | LOOKING FOR PATTERNS Here are some example answers for the Google form. 1 Portuguese / female / lawyer / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: I tend to give long answers if I want to continue the conversation with that person / if I don't feel like continuing the conversation, I'm more likely to answer dryly and quickly, with an answer like “No, I don’t.” 2 Polish / female / homemaker / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: I speak about myself without being asked questions / I am pretty good at talking 3 French / female / translator and teacher / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: In my case I tend to give long answers 4 Japanese / female / publishing executive / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: If it's a friend from daycare, a neighbor, or someone with whom I want to have an ongoing relationship, I would try to give long answers.

Cultural Pattern B: none

Cultural Pattern B: Japanese people around me would rather ask questions than talk about themselves.

Cultural Pattern B: none

Cultural Pattern B: I try to maintain a proper distance by adjusting how much I talk about myself / I would probably give short answers, because I wouldn’t want to force them to talk.

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UNIT 8 | ONE STEP FURTHER

5 Japanese / female / jewellery artisan / has lived in Australia Cultural Pattern A: in that culture, replying to a question with just “Yes” or “No” would seem a little too short and plain

Cultural Pattern B: in Japan, short answers seem preferable

6 Spanish / female / tour guide / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern C: I like to discover different points of view on a subject or a situation, even if I don't completely agree. It gives me a fresh perspective on the subjects in question.

Cultural Pattern D: they quickly clam up so as to say nothing that could go against my ideas.

7 French / male / assistant professor / has lived in the US and Japan Cultural Pattern C: mutual trust between us, and that entails being able to broach almost any topic. Cultural Pattern D: none 8 Japanese-French / female / biotechnology consultant / lives in France Cultural Pattern C:

Cultural Pattern D: In Japan, where I grew up, in conversation we avoid disagreeing with other people and are always looking for consensus. This leads to "agreeing" with what others say, even when we really don't.

In France, where I live now, disagreeing with someone doesn't necessarily frustrate them. It is simply part of the exchange, and an expression of the diversity of human experience. 9 Chinese / female / student / has lived in the US Cultural Pattern C: none

Cultural Pattern D: if in the course of a conversation we found we have different views, we would probably change the topic.

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UNIT 8 | ONE STEP FURTHER

8 Conversation and Discussion

One Step Further ACTIVITIES

Here are some more responses from the Ibunka Survey on the topic of conversation and discussion. Let’s examine them for underlying cultural trends. We can see that the language in many responses hints at four basic patterns.

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CULTURAL PATTERN A: Responding to questions with long answers In some cultures, it is considered normal to give long and detailed contributions to conversation. These people try to put their conversation partners at ease by giving longer answers when asked a question, and speaking freely without being asked questions. Expressing yourself is seen as a sign of openness to communicate.

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CULTURAL PATTERN C: Disagreement is OK

CULTURAL PATTERN D: Disagreement is avoided

In some cultures, expressing contrary opinions is not taboo and can even be seen as “spice” for open, lively discussions.

In other cultures, disagreeing openly with one’s conversation partners is considered uncomfortable and even rude, so it is generally avoided. As a result, abstract discussions tend to be rare.

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I often feel uncomfortable with Japanese people when I talk about abstract subjects, because they quickly clam up so as to say nothing that could go against my ideas. This makes me feel like I'm forcing them to accept my point of view. I like to discover different points of view on a subject or a situation, even if I don't completely agree. It gives me a fresh perspective on the subjects in question. 6SDQLVK IHPDOH WRXU JXLGH OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 6 For me to become friends with someone, conversation and discussion are important. I need to feel there is mutual trust between us, and that entails being able to broach almost any topic. )UHQFK PDOH DVVLVWDQW SURIHVVRU KDV OLYHG LQ WKH 86 DQG -DSDQ 7 In Japan, where I grew up, in conversation we avoid disagreeing with other people and are always looking for consensus. This leads to "agreeing" with what others say, even when we really don't. In France, where I live now, disagreeing with someone doesn't necessarily frustrate them. It is simply part of the exchange, and an expression of the diversity of human experience. I particularly like this, because I am exposed to different views and this enriches my thinking. -DSDQHVH )UHQFK IHPDOH ELRWHFKQRORJ\ FRQVXOWDQW OLYHV LQ )UDQFH 8 I rarely talk about abstract topics with people I am not close to, and I think that basically, my friends and family hold the same views as me. But if in the course of a conversation we found we have different views, we would probably change the topic. &KLQHVH IHPDOH VWXGHQW KDV OLYHG LQ WKH 86 9

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Cultural Commentary lt l Co entary

This unit is dedicated to the cultural act of conversation, and the ways in which we go about talking with others. What seems “natural” to us about what, when, and how much to say is actually deeply ingrained in our culture. We have all unconsciously learnt and internalized the rules of our native languages and home societies. Living abroad, we come to terms with communicating according to the rules of the culture around us. We learn to conduct conversation and discussion in different ways. Many questions and answers, or longer, more spontaneous talk?

In Japan, it is common for conversation partners, especially people who don’t know each other well, to take turns asking each other many questions. Brief answers are an invitation to ask the next question. As people are carefully looking for common ground, this is seen as the safest, most respectful way to conduct yourself. However, in many Western cultures, it is largely true that a minimal answer like “No” to a closed question such as “Do you have a part-time job?” implies that the responder is not interested in conversing. In our oral communication textbook Conversations in Class , we explain to students that giving longer answers when speaking in English is a way of showing interest in conversation. It is considered cooperative and polite to volunteer extra pieces of information for the listener, giving them little “hooks” to latch onto by asking follow-up questions.

The Polish respondent on page 88 (OSF No. 2) says “When I am with my friends, I speak about myself without being asked questions, and also expect them to do the same even without asking.” Her testimonial hints at the cultural habit, common in the Western world, to speak from oneself, about oneself, as a way to volunteer information and to invite your conversation partner to speak. This is a very powerful, but somehow hidden, aspect of communication which deeply inYluences the way we interact with others.

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UNIT 8 | CULTURAL COMMENTARY

Integrating the “Western cultural codes of conversation” into Japanese oral communication classes In our oral communication textbook Conversations in Class , our goal is to (1) unblock uncommunicative students who have never had an actual two-way conversation, (2) have them practice basic conversation patterns that are suited to basic, everyday conversations in English. We give them three cultural “Golden Rules” and encourage them to incorporate them into repeated practice. This must be repeated because taking on such habits requires time, as our habits or “scripts” for conversation are cultural and therefore deeply ingrained. The three Golden Rules that we encourage students to follow are: GR1: Don’t remain silent more than a few seconds → How? By making “thinking sounds”, repeating the question, asking to clarify the question, asking for help in formulating an answer, saying you don’t know, etc. GR2: Give long answers → How? By replying to at least one implicit question contained in the explicit question. GR3: Speak from yourself → How? By answering your partner’s “How about you?” question before they ask you, or by rebounding on what someone said by speaking about oneself on the same topic.

How cool are you with disagreement? The Comprehension 2 and Culture Shock sections look at the topic of disagreement or contradiction within discussions. • Japanese respondent Juri talks on page 54 about her experience with French people having a rather animated discussion. She was shocked when she thought her French boyfriend and his friend were having a Yight. Their tone was probably elevated, their debating rapiers unsheathed, and their gaze intense, they interrupted each other constantly. But it turned out that they were just having fun contradicting each other, and they were surprised at her emotional reaction. • On page 55, Italian Vincenzo shares his experience of living in the US. Like Juri’s French boyfriend, and members of other Latin cultures, he views interrupting as an expression of interest in what the discussion partner is saying. As he admits, “I can’t help but jump in.”

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UNIT 8 | CULTURAL COMMENTARY

• Andrew (page 54) is Australian, but his communication style seems to be in line with those of the American respondents to our survey. In his culture, as he has experienced it, open disagreement is not taken very well. It can be equated with conYlict, and is synonymous with pressure. He says: “In Australia, disagreement can often be seen as disrespectful and quite arrogant, I think.” • The Spanish respondent (OSF no.6 on page 89) adds that in her experience Japanese people “clam up” when she talks about abstract subjects: “They quickly clam up so as to say nothing that could go against my ideas.” It makes her feel “uncomfortable” because “This makes me feel like I'm forcing them to accept my point of view.” The same Spanish respondent suggests that having open discussions with people is a necessary part of friendship. “For me to become friends with someone, conversation and discussion are important. I need to feel there is mutual trust between us, and that entails being able to broach almost any topic.” The French respondent (OSF no.7) explains: “I like to discover different points of view on a subject or a situation, even if I don't completely agree. It gives me a fresh perspective on the subjects in question.” • One Chinese respondent (OSF no.9) suggests that, in her experience of her home culture, people would tend to be closer to Japanese culture, as far as the expression of disagreement is concerned. Not all Westerners have the same discussion style Americans and French people (or other people raised in Latin cultures) therefore have a lot of potential for culture shock when interacting with each other (they comment that their conversion partner was “rude”, “boring”, “didn’t show any interest in what I was saying”, “didn’t open the discussion and try to include me”, etc.) This is potentially another interesting discovery for Japanese students, who can relate to either one or the other cultural styles of discussion. By and large, they are not accustomed to the act of discussing and debating abstract ideas. But it is good for them to realize that there are very distinct styles among Western cultures, and that even if general tendencies are shared (that it’s OK to talk about ideas and to accept some contradictions), there are subtle cultural rules that one needs to follow in order to communicate effectively in the culture in question. French people are careful of their discussion partners’ feelings, they respect certain ways of formulating their ideas (contradicting someone’s idea on an abstract topic is not a personal attack) and certain ways to inYluence the speaking turns of all people present. References and further reading • The Communicative Advantages of Interrupting ( Psychology Today article) • Talandis, J., Vannieu, B., Richmond, S. (2015), Conversations in Class, Third Edition . Kyoto: Alma Publishing (Golden Rules) • Contradiction is not avoided, and even welcomed as it makes for more interesting dialectics. But nobody takes it personally: one’s position on a topic and one’s affection or respect for the conversation partners are obviously two different things. One doesn’t automatically want to side with one’s friends or romantic partner during a discussion just because of personal or social ties. Vincenzo Yinds the American style of discussion boring: • Americans dislike being interrupted, which lack of respect (“Let me Yinish!”) • They therefore have longer turns of speech. • Their voice tone is calmer, lest they wouldn’t mind signalling tension or anger. • They don’t need to maintain constant eye contact, not expecting to have to gauge whether they can go on or if they should speed up / change the direction of what they are saying / let someone else intervene. Raymonde Carroll gives a great description of the processes involved during a discussion by French people (and by extension people from Latin cultures): • discussion partners keep steady eye contact with the persons they are talking with, to gauge their interest and be aware of their desire to speak • When someone wants to speak, intervene, they Yirst start with non-verbal clues (like leaning forward, opening their mouth as though they are going to speak) and verbal clues (starting a sentence but not Yinishing it: “Yes, but…”). • Participants’ tone is getting more and more animated; there is a real group warming up and people get “agitated” (when seen from an American point of view); the speed is increasing.

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UNIT 8 | CULTURAL COMMENTARY