Intercultural Seminars: China

For a Westerner, China is a leap.  There is no winging it – deducing what the street signs say or the appropriate way to eat what your host just served you.  But a little knowledge can go a long way.   If you take the trouble to learn just a bit of Chinese history and a few common phrases, your efforts will be welcomed and rewarded.

Our seminar will offer you a big-picture overview of China / U.S. differences (economies, religions, governments, ethnicities); a brief look at China’s history; some key elements to understand about the Chinese language; cultural differences on topics such as concept of the self, social responsibility, perspective on time, level of directness, and the importance of reputation and standing (“face”).  It ends with practical discussions on social behaviors – do’s and don’ts of common interactions (surface culture) and the deeper values beneath them.

Syllabus

Introduction

A Comparison of the USA and China

History

Language

Culture

Cultural Comparisons

Social Behavior

Names

Greetings

Entertaining

Chinese Values

Miscellaneous