Bài tóm tắt tổng hợp những điểm khác nhau giữa văn hóa Mỹ và Việt Nam, dùng trong môn Văn hóa Mỹ lớp CN Anh.
Page Getting Along with People Introduction The person smile when introducing himself or her self The handshake like firm and gently They just shake hands some seconds The other person looks at your eyes when speaking It is an arm a far from you to the other person in conversation US the Either the person who wishes to meet another or a friend who knows the other person makes the introductions Who should be A younger person should be introduced to an introduced to whom? older person, a subordinate to a subordinate to a superior What should you say? “Hello, my name is _” “Mary Jane, I’d like you to meet my friend, John Jones.” “Dr Raman, this is my associate, Pro Allen” May a man introduce Yes; yes himself to a woman? May a woman introduce herself To a man? What body language Smile, face the person, and look attentively at (facial expressions, the person’s eyes gestures) should a person use? Who makes introduction? What tone of should you use? voice Does a person shake hands when meeting someone? How should you shake hands? (*) Do people embrace or kiss people of the same sex upon meeting? Do you kiss or hug children when they are introduced? VN Same Introduce the friend first When greeting someone, say “xin chao” +given name + title Same shaking hands both when greeting and when saying good-bye bowing the head waving hand Use a quite but friendly tone It depends on the area Example: in the countryside is loud In the city (company) is friendly tone Men and woman usually shake hands firmly Men shaking hand with and gently the other A man want to shake hands with the woman, he must ask he permission No, unless the people are very close friends Touching children on the Men kiss each other if they are relatives or very head is only done by close friends parents, grandparents, etc Not usually Page Some good things to talk about with your new friend include the following: The country you or the other person is from - What is it like? - How does it compare to US or Vietnam? What the other person is studying or has studies in school - What are you studying in school? - What is your favourite subject? - What you want to after you graduate? The work that the other person does - What kind of work you do? - Do you like it? - What you enjoy about it? - How did you decide to go into teaching, programming,…) North America - What you like about the US/ Canada? - What interesting things have happened since you came here? Your family Current events The weather Some subjects that you should not talk about, especially with someone you don’t know well How much money you have or make - How much money you earn? How much someone paid for something - How much does it cost? - How much Sexual subject Class, status or racial issues A person’s age - How old are you? - What’s your age? A person’s weight - How heavy are you? Politics Religion Distance & Space Requirements Riding on a bus with people you don’t know Waiting in a doctor’s office Waiting in line Eating lunch in a restaurant or café Talking to your boss or teacher Talking to friends in a group Talking to a stranger One seat apart feet apart seat apart – feet apart – feet apart – feet apart Page Talking to a child – feet apart Page Attending school School rule VIET NAM Don’t paint your fingernails/ don’t have your fingernails painted Don’t color your hair Don’t wear make up/ long hair (boys) Not allowed to wear flip flops Not allowed to swear (use bad words) Not allowed smoke, drunk in school Don’t litter THE UNITED STATE Kindergarten through high school: Always refer to a teacher by title and last name Dr Walker, Mr Field (Never call a teacher “Teacher.”) You may speak to the teacher from your desk while you are seated If you expect to be away from school because of an emergency, tell your teacher in advance, if possible, and ask for the work you will miss All assignments you hand in must be your own work Never cheat on test (Never look at or copy another student’s paper when you are taking a test.) If you are having difficulty with a class, schedule an appointment to see the teacher for help The teacher will be glad to help you You may miss school because of personal illness, a death in the family, or a religious holiday It is illegal to stay home from school for any other reason You must give permission to have your work discussed with your parents After taking the required courses in your major, you may select your other courses 10 You must be entirely responsible for your progress in a course You must seek help, either with professor in a lab, if you need help with the work 11 Colleges must accept and consider applications any student who applies Idiom Ace it : to get an A Bomb the test = Flunk : to fail an exam brown-nose = Suck up : to try hard to please “Mega” homework : a lot of work to Blow-off course : an easy course Pull an all-nighter : to study instead of sleep Killer course : a difficult subject Data brain : a very smart person Hard nose : a difficult teacher 10 mark on a curve : to add points to the grades 11 Easy grader : Gives many good grades Page Learning About North American Schools Uniform How to go to school Greeting teacher Addressing teacher School day Teaching method: Learning method Assessment Grading system US Public – no uniform Private - uniform - School bus VN - Uniform - Go by bike, walk motorbike - Hi Mr/Mrs + last name - Stand up - Don’t call teachers “Teacher” - Teacher - teacher - period, start late, leave early, have lunch Student centered Active » critical thinking (tư phê phán) Understanding Using knowledge - Process - Letter grade A B C D F A(plus+ and minus-) - period, go home for lunch - Teacher centered - Passive » learn by heart - Memorize - Acquire knowledge - Product + mid term and final - Number grade (0 -10) Building friendships 1/ Friendships across culture The word friend in North America has a broad meaning, including everyone from an acquaintance to a long time best friend Neighbor: some one who lives next door, across the street Acquaintance: some one you have been introduced to but not know well Best friend: some one you can rely on and of whom you would feel comfortable asking for assistance at any time Boy/girl friend: some one of the opposite sex for whom you have romantic feelings Girlfriend: a female friend of another woman Classmate: a student in your class Colleague/ business associate: some one who works in the same place of business as you 2/ Image; the way you appear to others as clothes, hairstyles, make up, cleanliness, posture, person’s name Concept about friend ship of Americans: the first, they spend much time to introduce the neighbor many things, many places (going shopping, doing everything together) Then they less contact because they think you need independence Sometime the friend send the email to ask something as health, work,… Good characteristics: friendly, honest, polite, humorous Items list to hygiene: spray deodorant; roll-on deodorant; breath mint; chewing gum; mouthwash 3/ sharing good and bad times Vietnam group emotion hide Friend Same age - Neighbors American personal Show/express large Page They often give together cake, fruit, and many things when someone’s house has to organize a meeting or an anniversary When you got some sickness, they will come to ask about your health and bring something that’s good for your health When they organize a wedding, death anniversary, funeral… they often help you to arrange everything better, and after all, they went home with some presents from the wedding or anniversaries like cake or fruit as the thanks of yours - Acquaintances When acquaintances meet together in the street, they often smile together if they are at the same age If they are different about the age, the younger must bow down to express the polite, then the older will smile and ask something about you - Best friends Someone’s best friend can visit their house when he (she) has free time although the house owner don’t invite Many polite behaviors may be skipped despite of some gestures are not too formal They share good and bad time, but sometimes they hide their mood with other because they don’t want to make the others sad, too - Boyfriends/Girlfriends They often go on date in some private places, not in public Some intimate gestures are expressed in the place that only both of them know They also share affection, difficulty and success together Sharing Common Interests Superstitions: are beliefs that are not founded on scientific proof but nevertheless persists from generation to generation America: Breaking a mirror: years if bad luck A black cat’s crossing your path: bad luck Finding a four-leaf cloves: good luck The number 13: very unlucky number Knocking on wood: to prevent something bad form happening Crossing your finger: wish to have food luck Rabbit’s foot: good luck will be carrying Horse shoe: put it over the door of a new house to bring luck Vietnam: Bad luck: Don’t eat bananas, eggs before your exam It will make you fall Don’t wear black clothes in wedding Don’t go out on the 5th, 14th, 23rd of lunar month Don’t like the number because its sound likes the word “dead” The number and are lucky Because it is a symbol of success New year: America Vietnam Page - January 1st(US) - Fireworks, cheering, singing and noisemakers: on New Year Eve to scare evil spirits - Paying off your debt: before January 1st Meaning arrives past year and start new year Don’t pay out anything or make loans on January Because money leaving you - Kissing at Midnight: Kiss is a symbol that your affection and close mess will last all after - The first person to visit your home on new year’s day is consider good luck - February (Asians) January 1st on Lunar calendar Vietnam not - The first person to visit your home on new year’s day is throughout the name Wedding: America - Wear the veil: to disguise herself from evil spirits - Breaking glass: lucky because symbolizes many year they will happy - Organized on Saturday and Sunday because everyone free Vietnam - Wearing gold for bride: rich symbol in future - Unlucky because symbol of unhappy and incomplete marry - Chosen the lucky day for bride, groom and family Don’t marriage on the ages 23, 25, 31, 33 Foods: America - Hollow bread: someone was soon die - Salt: bad of you helf other salt because saying “helf to salt help to oppologize” - Egg luck: farmer takes fresh egg into the fields to bring a good healthy crop Egg have to yolk: marriage soon Vietnam - Don’t eat egg, banana before exam - On Tet, don’t eat durian, banana - Some fruits on five fruits tray as: custard, apple, coconut, papaya, mango, fig are lucky meaning Animals and Pets: America - Spend a great deal of money on pets Buy coats, fancy collars for pets - Don’t mistreat an animal because you can convicted and must to pay a large fine even go in jail - Owner sell health insurance for their pets - Dog and cat are fed on table, given bed and pillow in the house Health: America Breakfast Orange juice cereal (hot or cold) or toast and margarine coffee or tea Lunch Salad or a sandwich beverage (often mineral water) Diner Broiled chicken (without the skin) fresh vegetables (steamed) fresh fruit beverage Smoking: America Vietnam - Just to feed, don’t fancy anything and don’t coats - People usually kill pets to eat - Dog and cat given food under table our underground sleep in outside or house but have not bed and pillow Vietnam Slight meal: noodles, soup, cakes… The main meal: rice with fish and meat Usually at 4-5 pm Vietnam Page - Age limit: 18 - No - Smoking sections and non smoking sections: public - Public places often not allow smoking and places often not allow smoking and if wish to smoke, if you want to smoke, it’s easy but you can check carefully the area to see the smoking section should check the area to see the smoking because you can be fined section Drinking: America Vietnam - Age limit: 21 - Age limit: No - Severe punishment: must be 21 years old to buy alcohol in - In public places (school, company, street…) liquor store, bar, or restaurant and if a store sells alcohol to a you can be prohibited In traffic law, people minor, the owner of the store is usually fined In addition, who drive car must not use alcohol people may not drink alcohol on the street or in the car, anyone caught with an open container of alcohol may be arrested Participating in social events social events Events US Birth Birthday Marriage Friends give a baby shower for expectant mother; people send gifts for baby, flowers for the mother in hospital; send birth announcement to friends; people send greeting cards to new parents Adults celebrate with family and usually have a cake with candles; children have parties, invite friends, wear hats, play games, receive prizes, eat cake and ice cream; guests bring relatively inexpensive presents Engagement: Fiance gives his future wife a ring, usually with a diamond; the bride’s friends give bridal showers, where the bride receives household gifts, friends of the groom give a “stag party.” Wedding: Guests attend the ceremony and, if evented, a reception afterwards; guests give gifts, usually of expensive silver, china, or glassware, or they give money VN Family of baby celebrated a party with family and friends They will send gifts for baby Adults: somebody celebrate with family and usually have a cake with candles but somebody celebrate with friends in restaurant or coffee shop; Children have parties, invite friends, play games, receive prizes, eat cake and foods marriage includes various steps and related procedures, but generally there are two main ceremonies: Lễ Đám Hỏi (betrothal ceremony): Some time before the wedding, the groom and his family visit the bride and her family with round lacquered boxes known as betrothal presents Lễ Cưới (wedding ceremony): On the wedding day, the groom's family and relatives go to the bride's house to ask permission to for the groom to marry and take his bride to his house Guests would be invited to come and celebrate the couple's marriage Page Wedding anniversary Death Husband and wife spend the evening together or go out with friends On the 25 th and 50th wedding anniversary, family and friends give the couple a special party and bring them presents Funeral home: Friends gather at the funeral home or chapel to pay their respects, offer condolences; they send flowers or make a contribution to a charity in the name of the deceased, Funeral: Family and close friends go to the religious service and then to the cemetery to pay their respects US Wedding ceremony Funeral Some of people to get the wedding anniversary Relatives, friends, and descendants take part in the funeral procession to accompany the dead along the way to the burial ground After three days of mourning, the family visits the tomb again, or worship the opening the grave After 49 days, the family stops bringing rice for the dead to the altar And finally, after 100 days, the family celebrates, or the end of the tears After one year is the ceremony of the first anniversary of the relative's death and after two years is the ceremony of the end of mourning VN White clothes for bride traditional weddings: betrothal Black vest or White vest for ceremony, groom and bride wear Groom Ao dai wedding ceremony, as US Black clothes White clothes Saying the Right Things at Weddings and Funerals Weddings: - What a handsome couple they make Yes, isn’t she a lovely bride! - Do you know where they plan to honeymoon? Funerals: - He (she) certainly was a wonderful person Yes, we will miss him (her) very much I just spoke him (her) last week - He (she) was very special to me I remember when… (tell incident) - I’m sorry about your loss I will miss him (her) so much - I know It’s a very sad time - I was sorry to hear about your (mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, child, friend) Page 10 Celebrating Holidays and Special Events Holiday New Year’s Eve U.S - Evening of Dec 31st - People dress up to go out to dinner, movies, theater, or parties Most parties begin at 9:00 or 10:00 PM New Year’s Day - Jan 1st - People relax from the previous evening’s festivities They may visit with friends Many watch college football on TV Valentine’s Day - Feb 14th - Children exchange greeting cards in school Sweethearts exchange cards Men give flowers or candy to the women they love (wife, daughter, mother, girl friend) Women may give gifts, too Vietnam - Evening of 29th or 30th December, according to the lunar of every year - People often stay at home with family, while others go out with friends to see the firework - The older, usually grandparents, preparing the fruit and cake to express the respect with ancestors - Jan 1st (lunar) - Children often greet parents, grandparents and then they give them lucky-money! - They also go out, most of places that they want to visit are many pagodas - Feb 14th - Sweethearts present chocolates, roses and greeting cards together - Husband always buys flowers for his wife Mother’s Day - Second Sunday in May - The extended family gathers; mothers and grandmothers receive cards and gifts - March 8th - Sons or daughters usually buy gifts for their mother - Men also buy many presents for their girlfriends, especially husband can present gifts for his wife, too Father’s Day - Third Sunday in June - Families gathers; fathers and grandfathers receive cards and gifts - July - The day the American colonies declared independence from England is celebrated with parades, picnics, barbecues, and fireworks - In Vietnam, the father’s day is considered as a abroad culture, and it’s more and more popularly to express the love with fathers - September 2nd - On that day, all of families in VN must hang the Vietnamese national flag in front of the door - Many events are organized in some big cities and it has communicated on many Tv programs - Vietnamese people must not go work and stay at home or go out with friends - May 1st - On that day, everyone who has to work does not need to everything Independence’s Day Labor Day - First Monday in Sep - This is usually the final summer vacations before school begins Page 11 People go on picnics and have outdoor parties with family and friends A holiday commemorating the efforts of working people - The Vietnamese government allows them to stay at home on that day Veterans’ Day - Nov 11th - This is a day honoring all people who have served in the armed forces; people display flags, and there are parades - July 27th - This is a day that everyone is the citizen of Vietnam has to remember the contribution of each veteran Christmas Day - Dec 25th - This is the Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ Families gather to exchange gifts and eat a traditional meal Families decorate Christmas trees with ornaments and sing songs Santa Claus, a fat, jolly man in a white beard, brings gifts to all - 24th to 25th Dec - The Christian in VN usually go to many churches - For others who are not Christian, they often go to many gift shop and buy something relates to the Christmas For instance is Christmas trees, greeting cards, lights were bought to decorate the Christmas trees Eating America - Lunch is the biggest meal in day - No talking while eating - Using folk and knife - Eating full enough - Eating more fat and less fiber - Drinking soft drink like milk, orange juice,… while eating Vietnam - Diner is a biggest meal in day - Chatting while eating - Using chopsticks to eat - Eating as much as possible - Eating more protein and less fat - Drink mineral water while eating [...]... Christian, they often go to many gift shop and buy something relates to the Christmas For instance is Christmas trees, greeting cards, lights were bought to decorate the Christmas trees 4 Eating America - Lunch is the biggest meal in day - No talking while eating - Using folk and knife - Eating full enough - Eating more fat and less fiber - Drinking soft drink like milk, orange juice,… while eating Vietnam. .. picnics and have outdoor parties with family and friends A holiday commemorating the efforts of working people - The Vietnamese government allows them to stay at home on that day Veterans’ Day - Nov 11th - This is a day honoring all people who have served in the armed forces; people display flags, and there are parades - July 27th - This is a day that everyone is the citizen of Vietnam has to remember the. .. contribution of each veteran Christmas Day - Dec 25th - This is the Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ Families gather to exchange gifts and eat a traditional meal Families decorate Christmas trees with ornaments and sing songs Santa Claus, a fat, jolly man in a white beard, brings gifts to all - 24th to 25th Dec - The Christian in VN usually go to many churches - For others who are... full enough - Eating more fat and less fiber - Drinking soft drink like milk, orange juice,… while eating Vietnam - Diner is a biggest meal in day - Chatting while eating - Using chopsticks to eat - Eating as much as possible - Eating more protein and less fat - Drink mineral water while eating