Unit2 cultural diversity SGK

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UNIT 2:
CULTURAL DIVERSITY

VOCABULARY
Asia (n.) châu Á
Asian (adj.) thuộc về châu Á, nguòi châu Á
On the other hand: mặt khác
Contractual marriage: hôn nhân do cha mẹ sắp đặt
Attitude /'aetitju:d/ (n.) thái độ, quan điểm, tư thế, điệu bộ, dáng dấp
Response/ri'spons/(n.) sự trả lời, câu trả lời, sự đáp lại, sự hưởng ứng,sự phản ứng lại; sự đối phó lại (khi bị
kích thích...)
Key /ki:/ (n.) hòn đảo nhỏ, bãi cát nông; đá ngầm; chia khoá
Value /'vaelju:/(n.) giá trị (bằng tiền hoặc các hàng hoá khác mà
có thể trao đổi được), giá cả (giá trị của cái gì so với giá tiên đã trà cho nó) giá trị (tính chất có ích hay đáng
giá hoặc quan trọng)
To confide/kon'faid/(v.t.) (+ to to) nói riêng; giãi bày tâm sự; phó thác,giao phó
Major (n) thiếu tá (lục quân); con trai đến tuổi thành niên
Majority (n.) phần lớn, phần đông, đa số;đảng (nhóm) được đa số phiếu; tuổi thành niên, tuổi trưòng thành
Wise /waiz/ (adj.) khôn ngoan, sáng suốt, có sự suy xét đúng
Unwise (adj.) không khôn ngoan, mill xuẩn, khờ, dại dột,không thận trọng
Reject (n.) vật bị loại, vật bỏ đi, vật không được chọn,
người bị loại (trong kì tuyển quân...), người bị đánh hỏng thi
Significant (adj.) đầy ý nghĩa, có tính chất gợi ý, có ý nghĩa
Romantic (adj.) lãng mạn; như tiểu thuyết (về cảm xúc)
To precede /pri:'si:d/ (v.t.) đi trước, dứng trước, đặt trước, ờ trước, có trước, đến trước, nói cái gì trước cái gì
Generation (n.) sự sinh ra, sự phát sinh ra, thế hệ, đời;
To celebrate (v.t.) ki niệm, làm lễ kỷ niệm, tán dương, ca tụng

A. Reading
What things make a marriage happy
understanding

romantic love
Marriage
sharing

And more…
partnership of equals

Read the passage and do the tasks that follow. (mp3.1)
Traditionally, Americans and Asians have very different ideas about love and marriage. Americans
believe in “romantic” marriage – a boy and a girl are attracted to each other, fall in love, and decide to marry
each other. Asians, on the other hand, believe in “contractual” marriage – the parents of the bride and the
groom decide on the marriage; and love – if it ever develops – is supposed to follow marriage, not precede
it.
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To show the differences, a survey was conducted among American, Chinese and Indian students to
determine their attitudes toward love and marriage. Below is a summary of each group’s responses to the
four key values.
Physical attractiveness: The Americans are much more concerned than the Indians and the Chinese with
physical attractiveness when choosing a wife or a husband. They also agree that a wife should maintain her
beauty and appearance after marriage.
Confiding: Few Asian students agree with the American students’ view that wives and husbands share
all thoughts. In fact, a majority of Indians and Chinese think it is better and wiser for a couple not to share

certain thoughts. A large number of Indian men agree that it
is unwise to confide in their wives.
Partnership of equals: The majority of Asian students reject the American view that marriage is a
partnership of equals. Many Indian students agree that a woman has to sacrifice more in a marriage than a
man.
Trust built on love: Significantly, more Asian students than American students agree that a husband is
obliged to tell his wife where he has been if he comes home late. The Asian wife can demand a record of her
husband’s activities. The American wife, however, trusts her husband to do the right thing because he loves
her not because he has to.
The comparison of the four values suggests that young Asians are not as romantic as their American
counterparts.
Task 1. Explain the meaning of the italicized words/phrases in the following sentences.
1. Love is supposed to follow marriage, not precede it.
to precede = to happen or exist before
2. A survey was made to determine their attitudes toward love and marriage.
to determine = to find out
3. They agree that it is unwise to confide in their wives.
to confide = to trust
4. An Indian woman has to sacrifice more in a marriage than a man.
to sacrifice = to willingly stop having something you want
5. A husband is obliged to tell his wife where he has been.
obliged = having a duty to do something
Task 2. Answer the following questions.
1. What are the four key values in the survey?
They are: Trust on building love; Physical attractiveness; Confiding; Partnership of equals.
2. Who are much more concerned with physical attractiveness when choosing a wife or a husband, the
young Americans or the young Asians?
The Americans were much more concerned than the Indians and Chinese with physical attractiveness when
choosing a wife or husband.
3. What are the Indian students’ attitudes on a partnership of equals?

The Indian students agreed that “a woman has to sacrifice more in marriage than a man”.
4. Why does the American wife trust her husband to do the right thing?
The American wife, for example, trusts her husband to “do the right thing” because “he loves her” not
because “he has to”.
5. What is the main finding of the survey?
Young Asians are not as romantic as their American counterparts
Discuss the question: What are the differences between a traditional Vietnamese family and a modern
Vietnamese family?
* Number of children.
* The house they like to have.
* The head of the family.
* Who works?
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* Who takes care of the housework and children?
* The income….

B. Listening
Find out words relating to the key word "Wedding"
groom

bride
Wedding cake

ring

Wedding

And more
champagne

flowers

Task 1. Listen to the passage and fill in the missing information. (mp3.2)
1. The wedding day is carefully chosen by the __groom’s parents______.
2. The gifts are wrapped in ___red papers____.
3. The wedding ceremony starts in front of the ___altar____.
4. Food and drinks are served ___at the wedding banquet__.
5. The guests give the newly wedded couples envelopes containing ____wedding cards__ and
___money gifts____.
Task 2. Listen again and answer the questions. (mp3.2)
1. What is the most important thing the groom’s family has to do on the wedding day?
2. What would the groom and the bride usually do during the wedding ceremony?
3. When do the groom and the bride exchange their wedding rings?
4. Where is the wedding banquet usually held?
5. What do the groom, the bride and their parents do at the wedding banquet?
1. What is the most important thing the groom’s family has to do on the
wedding day?
-> The most important thing the groom’s family has to do on the wedding day is to go to the bride’s
house bringing a lot of gifts wrapped in red papers.
2. What would the groom and the bride usually do during the wedding ceremony?
-> They would pray, asking their ancestors’ permission to be married.
3. When do the groom and the bride exchange their wedding rings?
-> After the Master of Ceremony gave the wedding couple advice on starting a new family
4. Where is the wedding banquet usually held?

-> The wedding banquet is often scheduled at the groom and bride's home or at a hotel or a
restaurant.
5. What do the groom, the bride and their parents do at the wedding banquet?
-> They stop by each table to say thank to their guests.

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TOURIST: Can you tell me about wedding ceremonies in VN?
TOURIST GUIDE: Well, wedding is very important to the Vietnamese, not only to the couple involved, but
also for the both families. The wedding day is usually chosen carefully by the groom’s parents.
TOURIST: What does the groom’s family usually do on the wedding day?
TOURIST GUIDE: On the wedding day, the groom’s family and relatives go to the bride’s house bringing
gifts wrapped in red paper. The people who hold the trays of gifts are also carefully chosen.
TOURIST: Do you have someone in charge of the ceremony? And what does he do during the wedding
ceremony?
TOURIST GUIDE: Yes, we have Master of Ceremonies who introduces the groom, the bride, the parents,
the relatives and guests of the two families. The wedding ceremony starts in front of the altar. The bride and
the groom would pray, asking their ancestors’ permission to get married. The Master of Ceremonies gives
the wedding couple advice on starting a new family. The groom and the bride then exchange their wedding
rings.
TOURIST: Where is the wedding banquet held?
TOURIST GUIDE: Well, it depends. Often the wedding banquet is held at the groom and bride’s home or at
the hotel or a restaurant and all close relatives, friends, and neighbors are invited.
TOURIST: What kind of food and drinks are served?
TOURIST GUIDE: Traditional food and beer or vine are served. During the reception, the groom, bride, and
their parents stop by each table to thank their guests. The guests in return, will give envelopes containing

wedding cards and money to the newly wedded couples along
with their blessing.
TOURIST: Oh. That’s very interesting. Thank you.
TOURIST GUIDE: You’re welcome!

C. Speaking

1. What are they doing?
2. Can you guess where they are?
3. In Viet Nam, do people often kiss in public? Why or Why not?
4. What about in America?
Express your point of view using the words or expressions in the box.
Agreement

Disagreement

I think/ feel/ believe ...
In my opinion,...
For me...

It's not true...
That's wrong...
I don't agree...

Example:
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I think it is a good idea to have three or four generations living under one roof. They can help each other a
lot.
Below are some typical features of American culture. Find out the corresponding features of Vietnamese
culture.
American
Vietnamese
Two generations (parents and children) live in a
home.
Old-aged parents live in nursing homes.

Three or even four generations live under one roof.

It is not polite to ask questions about age,
marriage and salary.

Asking about age, marriage and salary is acceptable.

Americans can greet anyone in the family first.

A Vietnamese greets the head of the family or an older
person first, then the younger ones.

Groceries are bought once a week.

Groceries are bought every day.

Christmas and New Year holidays are the most
important.

Tet (Lunar New Year) is the most important

Children sleep in their own bedrooms.

Children often sleep with their parents.

Elders live with children and are taken care by their
sons.

D. Writing
•
•
•

Do you know what it is in Vietnamese
Do you often wear it?
Is it the symbol of Vietnamese girls/ women?
leaf

rim

ribs

strap

Write a passage of about 150 words about the conical leaf hat of Vietnam, using the outline and
information below.

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Introduction:

− symbol of Vietnamese girls/women
− part of the spirit of the Vietnamese nation

Main body:
Materials
Shape and size
Process

− special kind of bamboo and young/soft palm leaves
− conical form
− diameter: 45 − 50 cm; 25− 30 cm high
− covering the form with leaves/sewing leaves around ribs

Conclusion:

− protecting people from sun/rain
− girls/women look pretty/ attractive

Example passage:
The conical hat is one of the typical features (symbols) of the Vietnamese culture because it cannot be
found from anywhere else in the world. The leaf hat is not only a symbol of Vietnamese girls (women), but
has also become part of the spirit of the Vietnamese nation.
The hat is made from a special kind of bamboo and young and soft palm leaves. The rims are shaped into

conical form. The diameter of the hat is about 40 - 45 cm and it is about 25 - 30 cm high. The form is
covered with the palm leaves, which are then sewed into all rims. Finally, the hat is trimmed and painted
with a coat of attar oil.
The leaf hat is used like an umbrella to protect people from sun or rain. Beneath the broad rims of the leaf
hat, the girls and women look pretty and attractive.

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