2nd BAC / UNIT: 2 Express Lack of Undersanding , Asking for Clarification, and Clarifying Mr.

Noureddine TIJANI

- Teacher : Today we’re going to talk about cultural relativism. - Teacher : Today we’re going to talk about cultural relativism.
- Student 1 : Excuse me Sir, but what does that mean ? - Student 1 : Excuse me Sir, but what does that mean ?
- Teacher : It means that we should regard other people’s beliefs, values, and practices from the - Teacher : It means that we should regard other people’s beliefs, values, and practices from
viewpoint of their own culture. the viewpoint of their own culture.
- Student 2 : I’m not sure I quite understand what you said. Could you calarify that more please ? - Student 2 : I’m not sure I quite understand what you said. Could you calarify that more ?
- Teacher : Let me put it this way . Cultural ideas differ from one cultural sub-group to another. So, - Teacher : Let me put it this way . Cultural ideas differ from one cultural sub-group to
ethical and moral standards are relative to what a particular society or culture belives to be “ good” or another. So, ethical and moral standards are relative to what a particular society or culture
“ bad ”, “ right ” or “ wrong ” . belives to be “ good” or “ bad ”, “ right ” or “ wrong ” .
- Student 3 : I’m not sure I follow you. Could you give us an example ? - Student 3 : I’m not sure I follow you. Could you give us an example ?
- Teacher : Sure ! For example, slaughtering sheep on the day of Eid al-Adha is a sacred religious - Teacher : : Sure ! For example, slaughtering sheep on the day of Eid al-Adha is a sacred
ritual practiced by muslims all over the world. However,many westerners think of such ritual as a religious ritual practiced by muslims all over the world. However,many westerners think of
laughable , cruel, or weird practice that should be stopped. Some of them would even joke about it. such ritual as a laughable , cruel, or weird practice that should be stopped. Some of them
- Student 4 : And what do you exactly mean by “ westerners”, Sir ? would even joke about it.
- Teacher : By that I mean Americans and Europeans. - Student 4 : And what do you exactly mean by “ westerners”, Sir ?
- Student 1 : So, do you mean people from America and Europe don’t like us because of what we do - Teacher : By that I mean North Americans and Europeans.
to the sheep on the the day of Eid al-Adha ?! - Student 1 : So, do you mean people from America and Europe don’t like us because of what
- Teacher : Not exactly. It’s not that they don’t like us. Let me explain that more : It’s just a matter we do to the sheep on the the day of Eid al-Adha ?!
of perspective. In other words, if they knew Islam and the historical account or the moral motives of - Teacher : Not exactly. It’s not that they don’t like us. Let me explain that more : It’s just a
why muslims sacrifice sheep on this day, they would understand. matter of perspective. In other words, if they knew Islam and the historical account or the
- What does that mean ? moral motives of why muslims sacrifice sheep on this day, they would understand.
- …………………………………………………………….…………. - I’m not sure I quite understand what you said.
Expressing Lack of - I’m not sure I follow you.
- …………………………………….……………………...………….
Understanding Expressing Lack of
- ……………………………………………………………………….. - Sorry, I didn’t get your point. / I’m not sure I got your point.
Understanding - I don’t quite see what you mean. / I don’t undserstand.
- Could you give us an example, please ?
- ………………………………………………….……………………. - What does that mean ? / What’s that ? / What do you mean by..?
Asking for - …………………………………………………….…………………. - Could you clarify that, please ? / Could you eleborate on that ?
Clarification - ……………………………………………………………………….. Asking for
- Could you give us an example ?
- ……………………………………………………………………….. Clarification - Would you repeat that please ?
- Let me pu it this way ,
- Let me pu it this way. / Let me explain that more.
- ……………………………………………………………………….
- It means that .. / By that I mean … - What I want to say is that…
Clarifying - ……………………………………………………………..………..
Clarifying - In other words , …. / To put it differently, … / For exmaple, …
- ……………………………………………………………….………
- What I want to say is that…
FINISH THIS EXCHANGES USING APPROPRIATE EXPRESSIONS FROM THE TABLE. FINISH THIS EXCHANGES USING APPROPRIATE EXPRESSIONS FROM THE TABLE.
- Jalal: I just watched an interesting documentary about the evolution of “ satire” . - Jalal : I just watched an interesting documentary about the evolution of “ satire” .
- Samir : ………………………………………………………………………………..………… ? - Samir : What do you mean by “satire” ?
- Jalal : It’s the use of humour to redicule contemporary politics or other social practices - Jalal : It’s the use of humour to redicule contemporary politics or some social practices.
- Samir : …………………………………………………………………………………..……….. ? - Samir : Mmm... I’m not usre I got your point fully. Could you elaborate on that a bit more ?
- Jalal : ……………………... , some comedians or humourists use their jokes as a weapon to attack - Jalal : For eampple , some comedians or humourists use their jokes as a weapon to attack and
and expose some of our politicians’ hypcricy and that of some ordinary people in society , too. expose some of our politicians’ hypcricy and that of some ordinary people in society, too.