36515 good behavior read speak

Good Behavior
1. Work in groups and discuss the
following.
a) Have you ever been to a foreign country? If so,
were there any customs that you found unusual,
interesting or uncomfortable?
b) Does your country have any customs that
tourists find surprising?
c) Do you kiss people to greet them?
d) Are there any topics of conversation that

visitors to your country should avoid?
e) Is punctuality important in your country?

2. Read the following passage. Decide
where it comes from:
- a geography textbook
- a guide to Latin American customs and manners.
- a novel about Latin America


Greetings
(1) ____. In many parts of Latin America, greetings are often rather effusive. People sometimes shake
hands and sometimes kiss or embrace. In some places, women will be kissed three times on the cheek –
twice in greetings and once as a wish for marriage – and should not be offended by this.

Conversation

People from English-speaking countries often believe in being open, frank and direct, Latin American take
pride in being tactful and complimentary. Follow suit to avoid giving offense.
Try to learn before you go. (2) _____. To make a good impression in business or to strike up an

acquaintance, however, it’s essential to know something about the other person’s world. For instance,
learning about soccer, a sport which is almost an obsession in most of Latin America, will give you an
instant topic of conversation.

In Public

Some public manners and gestures don’t travel. You may offend when you least intend to. For example, in
conversation Latin Americans naturally tend to stand very close.
Don’t back away, or you might be considered snobbish and aloof.
Be careful talking with your hands. (3)____. The cheerful “OK” sign with the thumb and index finger of the
right hand in a circle is obscene in most Latin American countries.

Dress
(4) ____. North Americans are pretty much used to wearing what they want, but dress that is too casual is
very offensive in some areas of Latin America. When selecting your travel wardrobe, remember that you
rarely err by being on the conservative side.

Appointments

(5)____. If someone has an appointment with you, and a friend drops in, he or she will never say to the
friend, “I’m sorry, I can’t see you now.” Friends always come first, even if they stay three hours!
Appointments can happen up to two hours after the agreed time, and no apology is deemed necessary.
Frustrating though it may feel, visitors cannot single-handedly change basic cultural traits such as the Latin
view of time, nor should they presume that their way is better. Remember, you’re the visitor.

3. Are the following statements true or false?
a. If a man kisses a woman three times, it means he wants to marry her.
b. Latin Americans tend to be more indirect than North Americans.
c. Travelers to Latin America should learn how to play soccer.
d. Most gestures mean the same in North and South America.

e. Latin Americans in general dress more formally than North Americans.
f. It is considered very impolite to be late for an appointment in Latin America.

4. Five topic sentences have been removed from the passage; choose from the sentences a-f the one
which fits each gap 1-5. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.


a. A visit to any country is richer when you know something about it in advance.
b. Do not make appointments before ten o’clock.
c. One of the easiest ways to offend is to dress inappropriately.
d. Remember that a Latin American’s sense of priorities may be different
e. To make a good impression, it’s important to know how you will be greeted and to react properly.
f. Gestures mean different things in different countries.

5. Work in pairs and try to guess the meaning of the words in italics below, as they are used in the
passage.
a. Follow suit to avoid giving offense
b. … strike up an acquaintance
c. Some public manners and gestures don’t travel
d. …you rarely err by being on the conservative side
e. ….visitors cannot single-handedly change basic cultural traits

6. Work in pairs. Look at the verbs in the box and answer the questions.
Beckon blow bow chew clap cuddle frown grin hug
kiss kneel laugh nod nudge pat pinch point scratch
shrug smile stare stoop stretch wave wink yawn
1. Are there any verbs which describe actions that are socially unacceptable to perform in public in your
country?
You shouldn’t yawn in public
2. Which verbs describe gestures which are warm and friendly?

cuddle
3. Which part of the body do you use to perform the actions of the verbs?
beckon: hand