Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Exercise 9


Culture Shock


The events starts from the modern Seattle downtown office to an old and shabby Indian train station . This movie shows that many people in different countries are suffering from prejudice. When Todd firstly arrives India, he refuse to accept the Indian cultures, so he suffers from the culture shocks and some problems in the work. Few days later, he starts to make friends with Indians. After that, Todd realizes the fact that Aisha is such a smart girl, and she has done many great things at work. Suddenly, the story turns to a series of dramatically changes and we finally see their love. In the end, Todd Anderson discovers that being outsourced may be the best thing that ever happened to him in his whole life. In my opinion, Outsourced is a very good movie which gives us not only romantic and comedy scenes to enjoy, but a general idea to think of what we should understand more about the world economy and what we should do to stop the discrimination.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Exercise 8

“Outsourced” - the movie study guide
 
You are going to watch and create a reflection on the film "Outsourced".
 
These questions will help you. If you miss watching the film in class, you may get a copy from the library and watch it at home. Here are some clips from "Outsourced"
 
Cultural Dimensions in Outsourced
As you watch the film, answer the questions and write down any examples of different cultural dimensions. This will help you with your reflection.
 
Cultural Dimension
Character
Todd, Puro, Aisha or other
Outsourced Scene
or Circumstance
Low-context culture
Dave office manager
High-context culture
Puro asking to go another place
Individualism
Todd travel to India alone
Collectivism
Indians holy festival
Low power distance
Todd saying no
High power distance
Aisha take place Todd when he late
Uncertainty tolerance
Antiji asking Todd question
Uncertainty avoidance
Todd auntie Js house
Task orientation
Todd India office
Social orientation
Puro giving Todd healthy food
 
 
Reflection
Create a reflection about the movie Outsourced using the PowerPoint I give you. Show that you really understand the above cultural concepts.



1. As soon as Todd arrives, he experiences the discomfort of being disoriented in a
strange new place. What happens at the airport?


 He struggled trying to walk through the huge crowed at the airport, which was an abnormal scene for him. Then he got annoyed by all the taxi drivers around him, who were fighting over him



2. When a friendly traveler helps him get on the train, what does he tell him to do?
How could this advice apply to what an exchange student has to do?


He advised him to jump into the train


4. As any exchange student, he has a lot of experiences trying new food. His first
encounter is with an iced drink. What happens?


He got stomach ache, and got sick because of the polluted water used in the iced drink


6. Even though the host Puro speaks English, Todd uses American slang a lot
without thinking. So as not to insult Puro, what does he say the meaning of
Schmuck is?


“That means like a nice guy”

7. Todd wants to check in to a hotel. But Puro insists he come to a boarding house.
What is the reason he gives Todd?


That he will feel lonely if he stays by himself in the hotel.


9. During his first conversation with Aunti Ji he makes two big mistakes. What are
they?


He ate with his left hand which considered not clean in india and he placed the same hand he ate with back in the food



10. The Golden Rule says do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That
means his Indian hosts and friends are trying to make him comfortable the way
they would be comfortable. How does this apply when the servant is preparing
tea for Todd?


She poured the tea for him and even put sugar just the way they do.


14. What doesn't Todd understand about the Indians' response to the "cattle brand"?


He was talking about it in an insensitive way without knowing how sensitive and holy cows are in India

15. What is Todd's reaction to "You need to learn about India"? What stage of culture
shock might it represent?


He was shocked and didn’t understand why Aysha said that. High-context culture




16. He calls home several times. Why? What stage of culture shock might provoke
calls home?


Because he is homesick.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Exercise 7

The presentation was about Hofstadter's Cultural Dimensions in Individualism and Collectivism.

Individualism: is all about taking care of yourself; it is the belief and practice that every person is unique and self-reliant. A belief in individualism also implies that you believe that the government should bud out of your individual affairs.

Collectivism: is a political theory associated with communism. More broadly, it is the idea that people should prioritize the good of society over the welfare of the individual.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Exercise 4

(Ibrahim Naji)(h00252811)(CEB)


With a partner, please answer the following. You may use internet resources to help you.
1.      Define:
a.       Stereotyping: is thinking that all the people with a certain character in them are the same
b.      Prejudice: Pre-judging people without interacting with them
c.       Bias: is an inclination of temperament or outlook to present or hold a partial perspective and a refusal to even consider the possible merits of alternative points of view.
d.      Discrimination : Thinking that you are better than someone because you have something others don't have.
2.      Give an example of each.
Stereotyping : To think that "all Muslims are terrorists"
Prejudice:  To suppose that someone is stupid from the way he looks.
Bias: To suppose that someone is stupid from the way he looks.
Discrimination: Believing that while skinned people are better than dark skinned ones.
WatchClass Divided
ΓΌ Understanding
With partners, answer the following:
1.      Where, when and with whom did this experiment take place?
 In an U.S elementary school at the 1960's with normal school kids.
2.      Describe the experiment.
The teacher told the kids that blue eyed people are better than the brown eyed ones then vice-versa.
3.      What were the results?
The kids who were supposed to be better than the others abused their superiority , and when it ended kids realized that it doesn't feel good to be looked down on.
4.      How successful do you believe it was?

I think it was a very successful experiment that yielded excellent results.