Preaction Have you ever been in a situation where you did not understand the social codes? In pairs, explain and discuss.
Cultural Meetings Knowing how to behave in a new culture, whether in a different country, at work or at school, can be a challenge. You probably do not often think about your own behaviour and choice of language when you are among your friends and family. But how much do you know about the culture and vocabulary of your future workplace? Having an awareness of cultural differences is important to avoid being rude or unprofessional.
awareness bevissthet/medvit rude frekk dressing up pynte seg properly riktig/rett denied nektet/nekta
ar
rarely sjelden/sjeldan
em pl
Study the four next example texts. How do they demonstrate the importance of cultural awareness? Use the tips in the textbox below each example to discuss how to handle similar situations.
Vu
rd er
in
gs ek s
OSCAR, 18: Norwegians are well known for not dressing up; we will go everywhere wearing sneakers. Unfortunately, many places abroad will not let you in if you are not properly dressed. I was out with friends in York, England, and one of them was denied entrance to a club because he was wearing white sneakers. He was told to come back with black shoes. We are not used to dressing or behaving differently for work, school or even many social settings. For instance, students in Norway do not wear uniforms in school, and you rarely see a teacher in a suit. We love our practical clothes, backpacks and all-weather jackets. Therefore, it is really important to be aware that this is not acceptable in many countries or professions.
TIPS! I’m sorry, I was not aware that there was a dress code.
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