AGE: 14-18 years, High school (In China, class of 45 students)

LEVEL: Intermediate-Advanced

TIME: 20 minutes

LANGUAGE FOCUS: descriptive skills, interview skills, and summarization skills

SKILLS: speaking, listening, writing

MATERIALS: Attached “Cultural Differences or Similarities: United States!” worksheet,

Crossing Cultures in the Language Classroom Textbook, timer

OVERVIEW SNAPSHOT: to encourage students to consider their own culture and others

STUDENTS WILL: be able to describe cultural differences and similarities, as well as be able to
describe other’s cultures.

PROCEDURE (20 minutes):

•   Ask students what is a ‘cultural norm’? What is a stereotype? Ask students to think about
key aspects to their cultural performance, that is, what cultural norms are followed in
their culture? What cultural norms are known for other cultures in the world? Are these
stereotypes? How do students feel about cultural norms? Teacher will write these ideas
for students on the board (5 minutes)
•   Define ‘cultural norms’ using the definition in Crossing Cultures in the Language
Classroom book. Give examples of ‘cultural norms’ for students. Ask students how they
feel about this and whether or not what they said is a stereotype or cultural norms (5
minutes)
•   Have students fill the “Cultural Differences or Similarities: United States!” sheet with the
things they do in their own cultures. Ask students to share if they found any similarities
or differences that they found interesting (5 minutes)
•   Have students summarize the content in a paragraph, focusing on using the content
learned in class and writing cohesively by using transitions (5 minutes)

Idea inspired by: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-culture-shock-activities/

 
 Cultural Differences & Similarities: United States!

How do the following cultural norms differ or are similar from yours?

United States: Your culture:

Dinner time! Have Dinner between 5pm to
7pm
Talk about your day with your
family members
Help with the dishes/help clean
the kitchen
Household Walk into the house with shoes
on
Relax/take a break, then do
homework
Parents clean the house/do the
chores
You make your own lunch
Parents make Dinner
Holidays Sundays go to church
Day off on National Holiday
(Do not have to make up lost
time)
Tooth Fairy
Santa Claus
Studying Breaks during homework
Homework is finished after
dinner
No after school cram school,
instead after school
extracurricular (sports, music
etc.)
Lunchtime is 11:30-12:00, do
not get to go home or see parent
School Buses to take students
home
Have a mid-day break (called
recess), but cannot leave the
school grounds
iPad, computers and
SmartBoards in class

Idea inspired by: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-culture-shock-activities/