1. What aspect/s of culture do they talk about?
2. Are the speakers talking about their own culture?
3. What feelings are expressed about the culture?
Do you know any couples who are from different cultures? Where are they from?
Do you think different countries have a different sense of humour? Why? In what way?
Have you ever misinterpreted something or been misinterpreted? What happened?
What is your best / worst experience of bureaucracy?
Do you think the government can change aspects of culture?
What effect can each of the following have on society and culture? TV & film, education, money, travel & immigration
Conversation 1
C = Chrissy, Z = Zoe
C: Zoe! I'm over here.
Z: Chrissy. How are you? You're looking great!
C: Thanks, so are you. I like that top.
Z: Yeah, it's nice, isn't it? Mehdi got it for me.
C: Very good taste. How is he?
Z: Oh ... he's OK. A bit down.
C: Really? Fed up with the miserable winter?
Z: No, no, not really. It's the people that he seems to be struggling with.
C: Oh?
Z: Yeah, apparently he's sick of our British hypocrisy!
C: Oof, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? It's not as though everyone's like that.
Z: Mmm, I have pointed that out...
C: Oh, so what's brought that on? Doesn't sound like him.
Z: It's not and I try not to take it personally. It's really more about his work.
C: Oh? Not paying him enough?
Z: Well, that too probably. No, what he hates is all the bitchy comments and gossip.
C: Really? He's not just misinterpreting it? You know, people sometimes just take the mickey and don't mean things to be taken seriously.
Z: Yeah, I know it can be like that sometimes here, and they are more formal where he's from - at least in the work setting.
C: Mmm.
Z: Then again, it might not be the usual jokes.
C: Right.
Z: And I guess the bottom line is that he's just not like that and it makes it difficult to fit in.
C: Tch, oh, that's not good.
Z: No. I mean, people are polite to him, but he just feels it's a bit superficial and that he's always going to be an outsider.
C: Aww, that's such a shame. He's such a lovely bloke.
Conversation 2
A: How did it go?
B: Oh man, the bureaucracy here! It just drives me insane. We're in the 21st century! You should be able to do everything online rather than doing it in person.
A: I know. Mind you, the thing that really frustrates me is the fact that they only ever seem to have one person serving you.
B: Yeah, yeah. When I went this morning ... it wasn't that they were short-staffed. There were plenty of others in the rest of the office, but all they did was stare at their computer screens or file papers.
A: I know! And when I went to get a parking permit, there was a queue of about 100 people even before the place opened, but they only had two people actually dealing with them all.
B: Oh, tell me about it!
A: Still, people were very funny about it, in that dry, understated way they have here, you know, which I guess is the best outlook to have.
B: Yeah, but then again, how will anything ever change?
Conversation 3
C: So, how did you find it?
D: Really, really amazing.
C: Yeah, the people there are so welcoming - and the hospitality!
D: I know! I was invited into people's homes or offered tea or dinner so many times.
C: Absolutely. And the other thing I loved about it was the fact that they've managed to maintain their culture and traditions.
D: I guess.
C: You don't think?
D: Yeah, but the flip side is it must be difficult if you don't conform.
C: Mmm, I suppose so.
D: And women are still looked down on and have fewer rights.
C: I'm not sure about that. Just because most take on that traditional home-building role, it doesn't mean they're looked down on, does it?
D: No, of course not, but what I heard from people there is that with the economy developing, more women are starting to study and even work now, and it's the women who are pushing the government to do more to break down barriers. So, you know, there's still a fair way to go.
C: Oh, right, OK. I hadn't grasped all that.