10

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Annotations
surpass
exceed
10 6 4 3 care 3 Text 4
5 indiscriminate
criticism
sth./sb.
against
sth./sb.
provide lavish aim level
charge less,
unsystematic
sth.
in heap (n)
ish? give, against
accusation
supply on,
shower
15
 Text 4
Annotations
12 disheartened discour
aged
13 resentful bitter
14 insincere dishonest
17 snafu (n, slang)
situation in which
nothing happens as
planned
18 vigilance watchful
ness, carefulness
19 time sheet Arbeitszeit
nachweis
20 sloppiness careless
ness
25 threshold level at
which something starts
to happen
º Getting started
16 Speaking of English
German willcontinue to turn in his or her best with or without recognition, but
Americans become disheartened and even resentful if they are not recognized. Not
surprisingly, Germans findAmerican compliments empty and insincere. [.1]
15 The German attitude toward compliments, or any kind of encouragement for that
matter, is in large part a function of their perfectionism. Germans are especially
intolerant of inefficiency - errors, mistakes, or snafus - anything that suggests a
lack of discipline or vigilance. An untidy workspace, for example, or a leaking tap
in the cafeteria, or an improperly completed time sheet - all of these would be
20 noted and possibly even commented on. There is never an excuse for sloppiness,
whether physical or mental. The Germans pride themselves on the efficiency of
their systems - and, not surprisingly, they have systems for virtually everything.
They spend more time on worker training than any country in Europe. Needless to
say, in a country where people expect perfection more or less as a matter of course,
25 the threshold for handing out compliments will be rather high.
From: The Art of Doing Business across Cultures, 2017
Comprehension
1 Summarize the main points of the text.
Analysis
2 Examine the way the author uses language to point out the differences between
US-Americans and Germans.
Languageawareness
3 a Collect words and phrases used in the text to praise outstanding workman
ship.
b Modify these expressions to describe an average performance. Find more
words and phrases which could be used for praising a good performance.
Present your notes on tasks 1-3b to your partner.
d Ask your partner what could improve the interaction between people from
Germany and America.
Beyond the text
4 Intercultural communication Imagine your German school is hosting a student
event with participants from Great Britain and the USA. Work on task a or b,
keeping in mind what you learnt from Storti's texts.
With your partner make a list b Challenge With your partner
of 10 dos and don'ts for the agree on 10 dos and don'ts for
students' meetings to avoid the students' meetings to avoid
intercultural misunderstanding. intercultural misunderstanding
and present them in a well
structured poster.
 ºp. 15
Annotations
2 derive come, originate
3 implicit suggested
without being directly
said
5 squelch sth. silence/
crush sth. completely
6 intimidate sb. frighten
sb.
6 meekness submission,
resignation
7 littered with sth. con
taining a lot of sth.
(maybe too much)
10 subtlety small but
important aspect of
sth.
11 legacy tradition,
established practice
11 stratified divided into
social grOups or classes
12 Sufierance tolerance
12 ietrer (n) (here)
Reseektsperson
13 VMspect careful
15 s your tongue con
whal you say
L6 rUtor: Hammel
19 eholden to sb. owing
sih. to sb.
19 subservient too willing
to obey sb.
26 Speaking of English
Culture clashes
Partner B
English and Americans
The English habit of understatement derives in large part from the great English
nct for fairness, here in the form of implicitly acknowledging the right of
everyone to their opinion and to make it known to others. But to insist or otherwise
be too forceful in one's statements could be taken for trying to squelch other views
or intimidating others into meekness. You will notice, in this regard, how English
conversation is litered with expressions that acknowledge the other person's point
without quite agreeing. 'Itake your meaning, but .. That's well said, but..' can
agree with you - up to a point.'
10 Another part of the explanation for English subtlety (as Americans would call it)
surely lies inthe legacy of feudalism. In highly stratified societies, survival depend
ed in large part on the continued good will and sufferance of one's betters. In such
circumstances,people quickly learn to be circumspect in their speech, to say what
they think other people want to hear, and [..] to find ways to avoid saying what
15 others might object to. If curbing your tongue keeps a roof over your head and
mutton in the stewpot, then you learn the art of understatement.
For their part, Americans associate plain speaking with liberty, and being unafraid
to say what to think is perhaps the ultimate expression of individual freedom. It is,
moreover, a symbol of equality, that no one is beholden or subservient to anyone
20 else. [...] American directness may also be related to the fact that there was somuch
opportunity in the New World. What did it matter if you spoke your mind and
caused offense? You could always move somewhere else and start your life over.
From: The Art of Doing Business across Cultures, 2017
 Support and Partner B

Comprehension
1 Summarize the main points of the text.

Analysis
2 Examine the way the author uses language to point out the differences between
the English and US-Americans.

Language awareness
3 a Collect examples in the text that show how English people soften an argu
ment. Come up with more examples.
b Modify the expressions from a into direct, 'unsoftened' statements.
c Present your notes on tasks 1-3b to your partner.
d Ask your partner what could improve the interaction between people from
England and America.
Now go back to p. 16 and work on task4.

What are the challenges of communicating in English? 27