F2F Class Notes (Nick) [S]

Do an immediate correction story.

Find some business emails/communications to look over.

Vocabulary

Anthropologist – someone who studies culture, especially ones that live far away from the rest of the world
e.g. If you could fully define the differences between Western and Chinese culture (or even fully define one of those), you would be a famous anthropologist.

To hear that – when someone tells you something; some information has come to you
e.g. I heard that Xi Jinping was coming to Shanghai for the Import-Export Expo.

Faithful – someone you can trust
e.g. He has been a faithful employee for ten years, always putting the good of company first.

Faith – to believe in something, especially something you cannot prove to be true
e.g. My Mom has a strong Christian faith.

Channel vs. Tunnel – a channel is a man-made path for water; a tunnel is a road or channel that goes underground
e.g. Venice is famous for having many channels.
e.g. I use the Jing’an Temple tunnel to go under Huashan Road to go home from work.

Diplomacy – the official relationships between countries; managing those relationships
e.g. Donald Trump is pretty bad at diplomacy.

Sincere – something you really mean
e.g. If you give insincere compliments, then people will not like you (if they don’t believe that you mean them)
e.g. When you apologize, it must be sincere.

Grammar

When talking about the future, “will” is specific and shows what is sure to happen.
The present tense is used to talk generally.
e.g. I will go to the store.
e.g. Every year, many people come to this store.

EASY QUESTION 

Q: Have you had experiences with other cultures other than Chinese?

A: When I travelled to Jiuzhaigou I heard the local person is my driver and he told me that every year a lot of people will walk to Tibet to see the Dalai Lama. They will walk three steps, clap their hands and kowtowed and they walked 9 steps and kowtow again. They just doing like this and walk 3-4 months to go to Tibet. I think they wouldn’t stop because they are believers. They believe doing like this means that they are loyal.

A: When I travelled to Jiuzhaigou, I heard the local person is my driver, a local, and he told me that every year a lot of people will walk to Tibet to see the Dalai Lama. They will walk three steps, clap their hands, and kowtowed and then they walked 9 steps and kowtow again. They just doing continue like this** for and walk 3-4 months to get to Tibet.*** I don’t think they wouldn’t stop, because they are believers.**** They believe doing like this means that they are loyal / have strong faith.

** They keep doing this for 3-4 months . . .

*** They continue like this for 3-4 months all the way to Tibet.

**** Because these people are true believers.

MEDIUM QUESTION

Q: What is the most defining part of Chinese culture that makes it different from the Western way of life?

A: I think the biggest difference is Chinese people have Chinese New Year, we have Lunar calendar. West people just use the word calendar and they celebrate Christmas they don’t have spring festival. The attitude about people who death people. When I travelled to France there was a channel built with people’s bones, Chinese tourists don’t like to visit this part, West people willing to visit this part. People will remember this history, so it’s a place for visit. But Chinese people think that’s unlucky.

A: I think the biggest difference is Chinese people have (the) Chinese New Year, we use a Lunar calendar. Western people just use the word “calendar” and they celebrate Christmas they don’t have instead of spring festival. Another difference is the attitude about people who towards dead people. When I travelled to France, there was a channel tunnel built with people’s bones. Chinese tourists don’t like to visit this part, but Western people are willing to visit this part. People will remember this history, so it’s a place for visiting / to visit. But Chinese people think that’s unlucky.

HARD QUESTION

Q: How do you feel about the recent Dolce & Gabanna scandal and how has this incident negatively portrayed Chinese culture?

I think that I don’t like that video and in fact I don’t think that that actress is actually a Chinese person. I don’t think it will affect the relationship between China and Italy, but Chinese people will not like that brand. I haven’t seen the apology video but many people say that this apology video is not true.

I don’t think that I don’t like that video, and in fact I don’t think that that actress is actually a Chinese person. I don’t think it will affect the overall / international / diplomatic relationship between China and Italy, but Chinese people will not like / won’t support that brand. I haven’t seen the apology video but many people say that this apology video is not true sincere.