Preview of Session 2

Before you read this unit, take a look at the following statements and decide whether or not you think they are true or false.

_____Culture refers to the activities that certain cultural groups do (such as traditional dancing and food preparation).

_____The meaning of hand gestures is similar from country to country.

_____Eye contact is always a sign of honesty and respect.

_____The best way to learn about a culture is to read books written by people of that nationality or by anthropologists.

_____Culture shock refers to the feelings of frustration and anxiety associated with moving to another country or place with a different culture.

_____There are five different stages of culture shock.

_____The best way to help a person suffering from culture shock is to teach her how to become "Canadian" as quickly as possible.

_____If your learner is having difficulty, it is important not to directly intervene.

After you have finished reading the session, take a look at your answers. Which would you change? Which responses will stay the same? Are there some for which you cannot give a definitive answer?