GTEE 1111: PRESENTATION SKILLS AT THE WORKPLACE

INFORMATIVE SPEECH

Topic : CULTURAL DIFFERENCESBy: Norazmanidar Binti Azwarman

(JED 130007)

SO, WHAT IS CULTURAL DIFFERENCE??

Culture : the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society

Differences : a point or way in which people or things are not similar:

Types of DifferencesWays of Greetings

Ways of Looking at Things

Cultural Dimensions

HandshakeKiss or EmbraceBowing

WAYS OF GREETING EACH OTHER

HANDSHAKE

US : Firm short handshake – Self ConfidenceAfrica : Limp handshake that last several

minutesTukey : Way of bargaining

KISS OR EMBRACE

Middle East – Hug with the same gender and touch cheek to cheek

France – Hugs and make a kissing sound

Italy – It’s a kiss. Real one.

Mali (West Africa) – Kiss hands each other

BOWING

Japan

Eshaku Keirei Saikeirei (casual greeting) (thanks someone)

(formal/apologies)

India

Slight bow and pressing palm each other with

a saying ‘NAMASKAR’ or ‘NAMASTE’’

EUROPE

Gentleman bowing- The body is not bend; Only inclination of head.

It is a must to return a bow, even an anemy. To greet / bow a lady, the hat must be lifted from

the head

WAYS OF LOOKING A THINGS:

Scanning Text & Writing DatesGesturesExpressing Things

READING TEXT

Arabic or Chinese Reader Scanning a Page

American or European Reader Scanning a Page

12th of November 2013

Europe US

12 /11 /13 11/12/13 Days/Month/Year Month/Days/Year

Japan

13/ 11/ 12 Year/ Month/ Days

WRITING DATES

GESTURES

1) THUMBS UP!

In many countries, it means GREAT! Or GOOD! In Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran, it’s an insult

(similar to middle finger)

2) OK SIGNS

UK & US : OKAY! Canada : Not bad~ Japan : $$$ Venezuela & Turkey : Homosexual Russia : Zero France : You are worthless D:< Brazil : Insult (put it downwards)

3) ‘PEACE! ’ SIGN

Asia : It’s a pose for a picture :D Most country : It’s ‘V’ for VICTORY! Australia : It’s an insult (face backwards)

4) Fingers bought together

Italy : What’s this? India & Congo : Little Turkey :Beautiful Egypt : Wait a moment

CULTURAL DIMENSIONS

High Context vs. Low Context

Monochronic vs. Polychronic

Individualism vs. Collectivism

HIGH CONTEXT & LOW CONTEXT

High Context Low Context

Assume that the people they talk with understand as much as they do

Things are fully spelled out

Usually they talk indirectly Really depends on what actually been said or written

Listener plays more role in understanding the information

Hard to tolerate or understand diversity

Eg: Japanese, Arab, French Eg: Germans, Scandinavians

MONOCHRONIC VS POLYCHRONIC

Monochronic Polychronic

Like to do one thing at a time Like to do multiple things at a same time

Value a certain orderliness

They want to be at appropriate time and place for everything

Typical manager’s office=Open door+ Ringing phone+meeting going on

They hate interruptions

E.g. : German E.G : French & American

INDIVIDUALISM VS COLLECTIVISM

Individualism Colllectivism

Value Individual uniqueness Expect people work well in group which protect them, in exchange for loyalty

Person who show initiative & works independently is more admirable

Universal values should be shared by all

Different group have different values

E.g : Anglo cultures E.g : Asian cultures