B2_U03_A

nullnull Unit 3 : Part A21st Century College English: Book 2 The Tale of a Cultural TranslatornullUnit Three: Part A Pre-reading Activities Intensive Study Exercises AssignmentnullPre-reading Activities Preview Pre-reading ListeningnullWhen a group of human beings work together, what does it take to make the cooperation go smoothly, effectively and productively? This question is one that every business manager faces. Good training, good conditions, a pleasant atmosphere, a common aim — all of these factors play a part, but the richness of human psychology makes management a subtle and demanding art. And when businesses go international, there are even more complexities to cope with. In the last unit, we looked at how cultural differences affect education. But what goes on after school? What happens at work in a world that’s rapidly becoming a “global village”? The three texts you’re going to read in this unit explore some of the fascinating complications of international management.Pre-reading Activities: PreviewPreviewnullFirst Listening: As you listen to the tape, fill in the missing parts in the blanks.Pre-reading Activities: ListeningPre-reading Activities, p. 70Jack is interested in a job as an _____ manager located in _______. His qualifications include _____ years of experience knowing how to use ___________. He believes that people are _________ everywhere.Check-upnullFirst Listening: As you listen to the tape, fill in the missing parts in the blanks.Pre-reading Activities: ListeningJack is interested in a job as an _____ manager located in _______. His qualifications include _____ years of experience knowing how to use ___________. He believes that people are _________ everywhere.officeTokyofourchopsticksthe samenullSecond Listening: Think about the following questions.Pre-reading Activities: ListeningWhat is the disagreement about? Whose opinion do you agree more with? Why?ScriptnullJack: Wow, here’s a great job! “International firm seeks experienced office manager for new Tokyo branch. Excellent conditions, high salary.” Give me the phone, I’m going to call them right now to set up an interview. Jane: Yeah right — what kind of qualifications do you have to work as an office manager in Tokyo?! Jack: What do you mean? I have four years of experience as an office manager! Jane: Yeah, but not in Japan! Jack: So what? How different can it be from running an office anywhere else in the world? People are people. So what if they speak a different language and have a few different customs? Under the surface people are the same everywhere. Jane: But you don’t know anything about Japan, or Japanese culture! Jack: I know how to use chopsticks! Jane: I suspect there’s a little more to it than that …Pre-reading Activities: ListeningnullIntensive Study Intensive Study Difficult sentences Key words, phrases & usages Comprehension exercisesnullThe Tale of a Cultural Translator 1 Joint ventures involving Western and Japanese companies often run into conflicts — a multitude of little things that escalate into big emotional battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming: “What’s wrong with them!? Can they understand that …?!” But because the conflicts are mainly due to cultural differences, neither side can understand — unless they have a “cultural translator”.Intensive Studynull2 The first cultural translator I ever met was an installation engineer, George by name, who worked for an American company where I was the director of international operations. The company had just started a joint venture with a Japanese firm, and the American management needed someone to train the Japanese employees in its unique technology. George’s solid understanding of the equipment, its installation and use made him the best-qualified employee for the job, so everyone was happy when George accepted a two-year contract for temporary transfer to Japan.Intensive Studynull3 From the start, George was well accepted by all the Japanese employees. Japanese managers often distrust anyone sent to represent US owners, but George was so naturally nonassertive that no one could see him as a threat to their careers. So they felt comfortable asking his advice on a wide range of matters, including the odd behavior of their partners across the ocean. Engineers throughout the company appreciated George’s expertise and his friendly and capable help, and they got into the habit of turning to him whenever they had a problem — any problem. And the secretaries in the office were eager to help this nice bachelor learn Japanese.Intensive Studynull4 Sooner than anyone expected, the company became a profitable, thriving and growing venture. George’s first two-year contract came to an end. By then, he could speak good Japanese, and had picked up Japanese habits. He drank green tea at all hours, ate rice at every meal and had even learned to sit properly on Japanese tatami mats. So when George was offered a second two-year Japanese contract, he accepted at once. Another contract followed, and George’s love affair with Japanese culture continued.Intensive Studynull5 But as George’s sixth year in the country was coming to an end, an unexpected difficulty became apparent: The Japanese engineers had surpassed George in their knowledge of the rapidly-changing technology. He had nothing left to teach them. 6 Was this the end for poor George? Was there nothing more he could offer to the now-matured joint venture he had served so loyally? Would he have to leave the country he had come to love? No! Faced with the threat of an unwilling departure from Japan, George reinvented himself as a “cultural translator”.Intensive Studynull7 The idea came to George one day when the Japanese joint-venture president was — again — offended by a message from the American management. As usual in such situations, he stormed into George’s office and threw the message in front of him in a fury. And George, as usual, read the message and explained in his calm manner what the Americans had really meant by it, not what it sounded like in the context of Japanese culture. Intensive Studynull8 Fortunately for everyone, both the Japanese and American sides of the joint venture had heard enough horror stories about cultural conflicts to recognize the value of George’s skills, so when he proposed this new position for himself, the idea was quickly approved. The wisdom of this decision was proved again and again over the years.Intensive Studynull9 At times something far more important than good English was needed. One such case was when the Japanese accountant had to explain the $46,534 spent on 874 December-holiday presents. Or there was the time when the Japanese personnel manager had to justify keeping a chemist on the payroll even though the company no longer needed his expertise. In cases like these, everyone turned to George.Intensive Studynull10 Somehow or other, he made their messages sound at least halfway sensible to Americans. And when there was something that even George couldn’t “translated” into American-style sense, he would write, “This will sound crazy, but you should go along with it anyway.Intensive Studynull11 It worked the other way around, too. When the American managers visited Japan, George accompanied us everywhere to ensure that we don’t do or say anything too stupid from the Japanese viewpoint. Whenever we did that anyway, he came to the rescue at once: “What they really mean is …” Whole multitudes of difficulties never arose thanks to George’s skill at smoothing over small conflicts before they became big, emotional and costly.Intensive Studynull12 Since leaving that company in George’s capable hands, I’ve advised many firms on international operations. And my first recommendation is always the same: Don’t worry about language problems — the first thing you need is a cultural translator. (776 words)Intensive Studynullrun into — meet by chance; encounter unexpectedlye.g. I ran into Joe yesterday on Main street. After a promising start, the company ran into debt.Translate 如果你不当心，会碰到麻烦的。Key You will run into trouble if you don’t take care.null… — a multitude of little things that escalate into big emotional battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming: “…a multitude of — a very large number of e.g. It didn’t work out quite like I intended it for a multitude of reasons.More to learnnull… — a multitude of little things that escalate into big emotional battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming: “…e.g. The UN must do something before the war escalated beyond control. The inflation rate has been escalating in many Asian countries.escalate — v. increase in intensity, degree, or amount; make or become greater or more seriousMore to learnnulle.g. A third party from outside the village was brought in as a witness.party — n. person or people forming one side in a legal agreement or conflict… – a multitude of little things that escalate into big emotional battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming: “…nulltransfer — n. the process by which sb. or sth. moves or is moved from one place, job,etc. to anothere.g. • David was fed up with his job in London so he asked for a transfer to the Paris office.Translate Blake’s transfer to an Italian football club came as a shock to all his supporters.Key 布莱克转会到一个意大利足球俱乐部令他的所有拥趸大为震惊。nullaccept (sb.) — v. think of (sb.) as part of the group and treat him in the same way as other members of it; treat (sb.) as welcomee.g. • The children gradually began to accept her. • He was never really accepted by his fellow workers.nullbut George was so naturally nonassertive that no one could see him as a threat to their careers.Paraphrase the sentence: ?George was by nature so easy and modest that his presence in the joint venture didn’t pose any threat to the positions of Japanese managers and employeesnullget into the habit of doing sth. — start to do sth. so often that it becomes a habite.g. • He’s got into the habit of switching on the TV as soon as he gets home. • I got into the habit of studying in the library when I was in college.Fill in the blank Once __________ (他养成了用筷子吃饭的习惯), he preferred them to a knife and fork.he’d got into the habit of eating with chopsticksnullcome to an end — stop; finishe.g. • The team’s run of success seems to come to an end. • And here the story come to an end.Translate When this temporary job comes to an end, he’ll be unemployed again.Key 这份临时工作干完以后，他就又失业了。nullpick up — learn or acquire easily without making much efforte.g. • George picked up a few Japanese phrases when he was on a business trip to Tokyo. • We need someone who will pick the job up quickly.Translate 我不知道孩子们上哪儿学到这些无礼的字眼的！Key I don’t know where my children have picked up those rude words!nullat all hours — at any time; all the timee.g. • The restaurant serves meals at all hours. • She is inclined to telephone at all hours of the day or night.nullText-related informationnullsurpass — v. be even better or greater than; go beyonde.g. • His time for the 100 meters surpassed the previous world record by one hundredth of a second.Translate 你的优异表现已经超出了所有人的期望。Key Your excellent performance has surpassed everyone’s expectations.nullbe faced with — be confronted with; be made to meet (sth.bad or difficult)e.g. • Faced with the threat of losing their jobs, the workers on strike decided to go back to work. • He is faced with a difficult choice after graduation: to go back to his hometown or stay in the big city.Fill in the blank __________ (面临严重的财政问题), the company had to lay off some of the workers.Faced with severe financial problemsnull… , George reinvented himself as a “cultural translator”.Translate the sentence: ?乔治将自己重新塑造成了一名“文化”。nulle.g. • My last question is again a somewhat personal one. • Again, that’s very impossible.The adverb again can be used to indicate and emphasize a similarity between the situation, action or subject that is happening or being discussed now and a previous one. … when the Japanese joint-venture president was — again — offended by a message from the American management.nullstorm — v. move or walk quickly and noisily in an angere.g. • After the argument she stormed off. • He stormed round the house in a rage.nullThe wisdom of this decision was proved again and again over the years.Paraphrase the sentence: ?The decision (to act as a cultural translator) was proved sensible by one incident after another during all these years.nulljustify — v. give good reasons for / to do (sth.)e.g. • Does the end always justify the means? • It’s hard to justify making everyone wait for so long.Translate 你怎能为这样对待你的母亲而辩护？Key How can you justify yourself for treating your mother like that?nullSomehow or other, he made their message sound at least halfway sensible to Americans.somehow or other — in some way; in one way or anothere.g. Somehow or other, we will get the machine working again. Don’t keep the secret from him; he will know it somehow or other.More to learnnulle.g. • Any halfway decent teacher should be able to explain it. • He halfway surrendered to their demands.Somehow or other, he made their message sound at least halfway sensible to Americans.The word halfway is used as an adverb to mean fairly or reasonably.nullgo along with — agree with; accept; supporte.g. • She’ll go along with your decision. • We’ll go along with your suggestions, although they’re not exactly what we want.nullIt worked the other way around, too.Paraphrase the sentence: ?It was also effective with messages from the American management to the Japanese.nullensure — v. make sure, guaranteee.g. • This letter will ensure you an interview. • The door did not lock, but at least it ensured a reasonable amount of privacy.Translate This medicine will ensure you a night’s good sleep.Key 这药可以保证你一夜好睡。nulle.g. • Thanks to a cool summer, our electricity bills have been very low. • The play was a great success thanks to the effort and commitment of everyone involved.Cf. due to — because of e.g. It is reported that accidents due to driving at high speed have increased a lot.thanks to — because of; owing to; with the help ofMore to donull1. The big emotional battles are mainly _____ cultural differences. 2. One company I worked for avoided this entire problem _____ the sensitivity of one of their employees.V. Study the use of “due to” and “thanks to” and then use them to complete the following sentences. due to thanks to Exercises • Vocabulary《读写教程 II》: Ex. V, p. 79null3. _____ circumstances beyond our control, the store will be closed for the entire month of August. 4. _____ effort and good will of everyone involved, the Christmas party was a great success.Due toThanks to V. Study the use of “due to” and “thanks to” and then use them to complete the following sentences. Exercises • Vocabularynull5. All flights have been delayed _____ a thick fog. 6. _____ the public’s generous donations, the earthquake victims were able to rebuild their homes within two months.due to thanks to V. Study the use of “due to” and “thanks to” and then use them to complete the following sentences. Exercises • Vocabularynullsmooth over — make (problems or difficulties) seem less serious or more pleasante.g. • Perhaps a gift of flowers will help to smooth your quarrel over.Translate 比尔试图平息和妻子的争吵。Key Bill tried to smooth over his argument with his wife.nullUnit 3 • ExercisesExercisesComprehension Vocabulary ListeningnullExercises • Comprehension《读写教程 II》: Ex. II, p. 77null1. What kinds of “little things” is the author talking about in the first paragraph? Why does she say that “neither side can understand” the conflicts?Answer the following questions:Exercises • ComprehensionKey: She’s talking about cultural differences: different ways of doing things in different cultures; different attitudes, traditions, beliefs, etc. she says neither side can understand because people are not usually conscious of their deepest cultural attitudes.null2. What were the steps that led to George’s transfer to Japan? Exercises • ComprehensionAnswer the following questions:Key: The American company George worked for started a joint venture with a Japanese firm, and they needed someone to train the Japanese engineers. George was the most highly qualified employee for the position, and he accepted a two-year contract for temporary transfer to Japan.null3. What were the qualities that the Japanese like in George? How did these qualities contribute to his becoming a “cultural translator”?Exercises • ComprehensionAnswer the following questions:Key: The Japanese liked George’s nonassertive nature, his expertise and his willingness to help; it’s also implied that they liked his efforts to learn Japanese, and that the secretaries liked the fact that he was single. These qualities contributed to his becoming a cultural translator by making the Japanese trust him, feel comfortable with him, and grow accustomed to asking him for all kinds of advice.null4. Why did George have to “reinvent himself”? And why was his “reinvention” quickly approved by the company?Exercises • ComprehensionAnswer the following questions:Key: He had to “reinvent” himself because his expertise as an engineer was no longer needed, but he didn’t want to leave Japan. The company accepted his “reinvention” because they had heard lots of horror stories about cultural conflicts and recognized the value of having someone like George around.null5. What does the author mean by saying that “at times something far more important than good English was needed?”Exercises • ComprehensionAnswer the following questions:Key: She means that the misunderstandings were not always merely linguistic.null6. The author gives two examples of situations that George had to “translate” to the American side of the company. What do the examples tell you about Japanese business relationships and values?Exercises • ComprehensionAnswer the following questions:Key: The examples imply that there is a strong group orientation in Japanese business, that sentiment can be as important as profit and efficiency, and that employees may be valued for something other than their material contribution to the company. The fact that these examples mystified the US side implies that in American business relations, profit and efficiency are considered more important than sentiment, and that American expect logical explanations for decisions, expenditures, etc.null7. Why did George use the phrase “what they really mean is …” when the American managers visit Japan? Exercises • ComprehensionAnswer the following questions:Key: Because the words and actions of the American visitors could be misinterpreted by the Japanese: Things that could seem crazy or rude to the Japanese are normal to Americans.null8. Why does the author recommend that companies should not worry about language problems when they start international operations?Exercises • ComprehensionAnswer the following questions:Key: Because she believes that language problems are not a serious barrier, compared with cultural differences.nullVocabularynull《读写教程 II》: Ex. III, p. 78Exercises • Vocabularynull1. We expected Ellen to do well, but when she got straight A’s she _____ all our expectations.Exercises • Vocabulary2. You made a good decision, and I thoroughly _____ of it.III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. surpassedapprovednull3. They arrived at the stadium three hours early to _____ that they’d get good seats.Exercises • Vocabulary4. The company is now _____ thanks to the skillful management and outstanding technology.III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. ensurethrivingnull5. The directors’ disagreement rapidly _____ into a fight, so the meeting became more exciting than anyone had expected.Exercises • Vocabulary6. As a junior member of the school’s teaching s