Cultural Differences

Le cours

1. Topic Presentation\n\nStarter dialogue\nPenfriend's email: Hi! For our magazine, can you tell me about a special tradition in your country? I find cultural differences fascinating!\nYour reply: Of course! I'll write about the 'Fête des Ignames' (Yam Festival) in my village. It's a happy time celebrating the harvest. People wear special clothes, dance, and share food. It shows our gratitude (notre gratitude).\n\nKey vocabulary\nCulture, tradition, ceremony, custom, gesture, body language, feeling, emotion, quality, respect, curiosity, misunderstanding, description, experience (-ed), interesting (-ing).\n\n## 2. Listening & Reading Comprehension\n\n### 2.1 Authentic text\nA short travel blog entry by a visitor to Ivory Coast describing their experience at a cultural event and their feelings.\n- Comprehension: What event did they attend? What did they find surprising or impressive? How did they feel?\n- Reflection: How might an Ivorian view the same event differently?\n\n### 2.2 Listening activities\nAudio: A conversation between two international students, one from Ghana and one from Japan, discussing different meanings of common gestures (e.g., thumbs up, nodding).\nExercises: Listen and match gestures with their correct (or different) meanings in the cultures discussed.\n\n## 3. Speaking & Writing Expression\n\n### 3.1 Guided practice\n- Practice describing feelings: 'I was excited / It was exciting.'\n- Model dialogue: A tour guide explaining the significance of masks in Baoulé culture to a group of tourists.\n- Role-play: A job interview where you are asked about qualities like 'adaptability' and 'respect for diversity'.\n\n### 3.2 Free production\n- Discussion: 'What qualities (e.g., patience, open-mindedness) are most important for someone doing an internship in a foreign culture?'\n- Short writing: Write the opening paragraph of your article for the magazine, introducing the ceremony you chose.\n\n## 4. Grammar in context\n\n### 4.1 Clear and simple explanation\n- Adjectives ending in '-ed' and '-ing':\n - '-ed' describes how a person feels: 'I am interested in your culture.' (Je suis intéressé)\n - '-ing' describes the thing or person that causes the feeling: 'Your culture is interesting.' (Votre culture est intéressante)\n- Question Forms:\n - Yes/No questions: Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (Are you tired?)\n - Wh- questions: Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb (Why are you tired?)\n- Common mistake: Confusing 'bored' (feeling) with 'boring' (causing boredom).\n\n### 4.2 Application exercises\n- Recognition: Identify '-ed' and '-ing' adjectives in the travel blog and say who/what they describe.\n- Production: Write three questions you could ask your Malaysian penfriend about his culture. Use different question words (What, How, When).\n\n## 5. Cultural aspects\n\n### 5.1 English-speaking cultures\n- Focus on Ghana (Akan culture): Similarities with Ivorian cultures (like the importance of festivals, respect for elders). Differences in specific gestures or taboos.\n- Broader view: Compare direct communication styles (common in some Western cultures) with more indirect styles (common in many Asian and African cultures).\n- Stereotype to avoid: 'All Africans have the same culture.' Ivory Coast itself has over 60 ethnic groups with diverse traditions.\n\n### 5.2 English in Ivory Coast\n- English is the tool Ivorians use to share their rich culture with the world (tourism brochures, cultural exchanges, online content).\n- A well-written cover letter in English can open doors to international internships or study programs, allowing Ivorians to become cultural ambassadors.\n- Understanding English-language guides and resources helps Ivorians working in the tourism and hospitality sector to welcome and explain their culture to visitors from everywhere.\n\n## 6. Formative assessment\n\n### 6.1 Self-assessment\n- I can correctly use at least two pairs of '-ed' and '-ing' adjectives. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n- I can write different types of questions (Yes/No and Wh-). [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n- I can describe a cultural practice using appropriate vocabulary. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n\n### 6.2 Final project\n- Write the complete article (150-200 words) about an Ivorian traditional ceremony for your penfriend's magazine. Include a description, its significance, and the feelings it evokes.\n- Rubric: Content & cultural accuracy (4pts), Organization & vocabulary (3pts), Grammar (2pts), Audience awareness (1pt).\n\n## 7. Additional resources\n\n### 7.1 For practice\n- Video: Short documentaries on Ivorian festivals from the Ministry of Culture's YouTube channel.\n- Website: 'Commisceo Global' guide to Ivorian culture and etiquette.\n\n### 7.2 To go deeper\n- Book: 'Les Civilisations de la Côte d'Ivoire' (simplified versions).\n- Experience: Interview an elder in your family or community about a tradition and present your findings in English.