CultureandEnglishTeachingContentsAbstract……………………3Introduction………4ChapterIRelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture………5TherelationshipbetweenEnglishcultureandEnglishteaching.DifferencesbetweenChineseandEnglishcultures………………Culturaldifferencesindailyconversation3.1.1GreetingsandFarewells3.1.2Waysofaddressing3.1.3WaysofpraiseCulturaldifferencesincolorsCulturaldifferencesinsocialcontactCulturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandWesternsocietyrepresentdifferencesoffolkcustom.CulturaldifferencesinallusionsCulturaldifferencesinvalueCulturaldifferencesinreligiousbeliefsCulturaldifferencesinbodylanguageDifficultiesinteachingEnglishcultureThedirectionofexamination-orientededucationsystemanditsrequirementThecircumstanceofEnglishlanguagelearningforstudentsteachingEnglishlanguageinculture5.1ChangingEnglishteachers’teachingopinions5.2OptimizingthecircumstanceofEnglishlearningforstudentsAbstractEnglishplaysanessentialandsignificantroleinlife.HowtoteachandstudyEnglishwellhasbecomeapublicconcern.Asculturehascloselyassociatedwithlanguage,manyaneducatorfindsthatculturalknowledgehasbecomeanimportantpartinourEnglishlearningandteaching.Withthedevelopmentofmodernization,theworlditselfisbecominga“globalvillage”.OpportunitiesforChinesetocontactwithwesternersaregrowing.Duetothedifferencesingeography,developmentlevel,differentcountriesandnationalitiespossessdifferentcultures,histories,customsandreligion,misunderstandingsoftenoccurinEnglishteaching.Languagecanneverbeseparatedfromculture.Itisimpossibletostudyalanguagewell,withoutlearningculture.Meanwhile,ithelpsspreadandpassdownaculture.Everypeoplehaveitsownculture.Thispaperincludesfiveparts,thefirstpartisaboutRelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture.thesecondpartisabouttherelationshipbetweenEnglishcultureandEnglishteaching.thethirdpartisaboutDifferencesbetweenChineseandEnglishcultures.NextparttalkaboutDifficultiesinteachingEnglishculture.thefinalpartisaboutSomeAdviceforteachingEnglishlanguageinculture.Itisaboutsuggestingteachingmethodsinculturallearningandteaching.Keywords:CultuercommunicationEnglishteaching.IntroductionWiththedevelopmentofmodernization,theworlditselfisbecominga“globalvillage”.OpportunitiesforChinesetocontactwithwesternersaregrowing.Duetothedifferencesingeography,developmentlevel,differentcountriesandnationalitiespossessdifferentcultures,histories,customsandreligion,misunderstandingsoftenoccurinEnglishteaching.Thesamewordsorexpressionsmaynotmeanthesamethingtothepeoplewithdifferentcultures.Becauseofculturaldifferences,aseriousquestionmaycauseamusementorlaughter;aharmlessstatementmaycausedispleasureoranger.Becauseofculturaldifferences,jokesbyaforeignspeakermaybereceivedwithblankfacesandstonysilence.Yetthesamestoriesinthespeaker’sowncountrywouldleaveaudiencesholdingtheirsideswithlaughter.ProfessorDengYanchangoncesaid“…Infact,thelearningofalanguageisinseparablefromthelearningofitsculture.”However,afterseveralyearsofEnglishstudy,evencollegestudentsstillfindithardtocommunicatewithEnglishnativespeakers.It’snotthattheydon’thavethecommandofthelanguageforms,butthattheylacktheknowledgeofthetargetculture.SoEnglishteachersshouldhelpstudentsacknowledgetheculturebackgroundinteaching.teachingshouldfocusonculturestudyandlearntheskillsofcommunication.ChapterI,RelationshipbetweenlanguageandcultureWhatistherelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture?Whatroledoescultureplaywithlanguage?Inanycultureorregion,languageismuchmorethansemantics,muchmorethanwhatthewrittenpageorthespokenwordcancontain.Thisespeciallybecomesclearwhenstudyingaforeignlanguageandlearningthewaysofaparticularculture.Forexample,theuseofintroductions,salutations,everydaysayings,etc.Thisareainparticulargivesmoreweighttoculturethentothewordsthemselves.Anyonestudyingaforeignlanguagehastobebiculturalaswellasbilingualtospeakthenewlanguageinawaythatitisnotdisparagingtothecultureanditsorigin.Languagedoesnotendatthemeaningortheuseofwordsassociatedtoaculture"wordsrepresentbeliefs,history,andthecultureoftheiroriginandtheymustbeusedaccordingly.Asweallknow,languageiscloselyrelatedtocultureandcanbesaidasapartofculture.Fromadynamicview,languageandcultureinteractwitheachotherandshapeeachother.Languageisthecarrierofculturewhichinturnisthecontentoflanguage.Wecandigoutculturalfeaturesfromlanguageandexplainlanguagephenomenawithculture.Idiomsasaspecialformoflanguageexistinbothofthemandcarryalargeamountofculturalinformationsuchashistory,geography,religion,custom,nationalitypsychology,thoughtpatternandetc,andthereforearecloselyrelatedtoculture.Theyaretheheritageofhistoryandproductofculturalevolvement.Consequently,wecanknowmuchaboutculturethroughstudyingidiomsandinturngetbetterunderstandingofidiomsbylearningtheculturalbackgroundbehindthem.Languageisasystemofarbitraryvocalsymbols,whichiscreative,double-structuredandchangeable.Itisameansofverbalcommunicationanddistinguisheshumanbeingsfromanimals.Culture,oneofmostwidelyaccepteddefinition,isthetotalaccumulationofbeliefs,customs,values,behaviors,institutionsandcommunicationpatternsthatareshared,learnedandpasseddownthroughthegenerationsinanidentifiablegroupofpeople.Accordingtothedefinitionsabove,languageisapartofcultureandplaysaveryimportantroleinit.Somesocialscientistsconsider“Languageisthekeystoneofculture.Withoutlanguage,culturewouldnotpossible”.Onetheotherhand,languageisinfluencedandshapedbyculture.Itreflectsculturesandisthesymbolicrepresentationofanation.Itcomprisestheirhistoricalandculturalbackgroundsaswellastheirapproachtolifeandtheirwaysoflivingandthinking.J.C.Catfordoncesaid,“Meaningispropertyofalanguage.”Toacertainextent,“meaning”standsforculture.Differentsocietyhasdifferentculture,anditchangeswiththechangeofthesociety.Asculturesarediverse,languagesarediverse.Therefore,languageshouldbetaughtinculture,orcultureshouldbetakenintoconsiderationinEnglishlanguageteaching.TherelationshipbetweenEnglishcultureandEnglishteaching.TheChineselanguageispartoftheChinesecultureandEnglishispartoftheEnglishculture.Thereisnoculturethathasnolanguageasitspart.Languageandculturearenotseparable.Theyarecloselyrelated,eachinfluencingandshapingtheother.Humanknowledgeandexperiencearedescribedandstoredinlanguage.Customs,habitsandbehavioralpatternscanbedescribedandanalyzedinlanguage.Socialinstitutions,valuesystems,beliefs,worldviewscanbedescribed,analyzedandevaluatedinlanguage.Inshort,languagecanrepresenteveryaspectofculture.Languageisthemirrorofculture.Thecloserelationshipbetweenlanguageandcultureisreadilyshownbythefactthatcultureistransmittedfromonegenerationtothenextthroughlanguageforthecominggenerationtolearn.Whilechildrenlearntheirnativelanguage,theyalsolearntheirnativecultureandareeventuallyacceptedasmembersoftheirculture.LanguagelearningandculturelearningarenotseparableToteachaforeignlanguageimpliestoteachthecultureofEnglish.EnglishcanneverbetaughtinaculturalvacuuminEnglish.Basedontheresearchachievementshomeandabroad,peoplecametoacommongroundthatforeignlanguageteachingshouldfocusoncultivatingthestudents’abilitiesofcross-culturalcommunicationandtheirawarenessofculture.Incross-culturalcommunication,peoplearerequiredwithnotonlytheknowledgeofphonetics,grammar,vocabulary,language,butalsotheunderstandingofEnglish.Ifnot,misunderstandingcausedbyculturalbarriersmayoccur.Soit’simportanttotaechculturalkonwledgeinEnglishteaching.DifferencesbetweenChineseandEnglishculturesDuetothedifferencesingeography,developmentlevel,differentcountriesandnationalitiespossessdifferentcultures,histories,customsandreligion,misunderstandingsoftenoccurinEnglishteaching.Withthedevelopmentofmodernization,theworlditselfisbecominga“globalvillage”.OpportunitiesforChinesetocontactwithwesternersaregrowing,teachingshouldfocusonculturestudyandlearntheskillsofcommunication.Otherwise,therewillbe“cultureshock”duringthecross-culturalcommunication.Thefollowingsarethedetailsofculturaldifferences.3.1Culturaldifferencesindailyconversation3.1.1Havingbeeninfluencedbyinternationalgreetings,Chineseintellectualsareaccustomedtosay“您好!”“您早!”“早上好!”“晚安!”Withthemoreandmorefrequentcommunication,greetingshavebeendiversifieddramaticallysincethefoundationofthePeople’sRepublicofChina.Youmaygreetingoneofyouracquaintancesbyasking,“上街買菜了?”evenitisobviousthatheisgoingoutforshoppingbecauseheiscarryingabasket;askingaboutwhateveryousee;byasking“上班啦?”ifseeingsomebodytakingahandbag;byasking“旅游啦?”ifseeingsomebodytakingluggage.Westernpeople,however,willbeamazedatyourwords,sinceyouhaveseenthatheisobviouslygoingoutforshopping,forofficeorfortravelling.Whydoyoustillaskquestionlike“Areyougoingoutforshopping”andsoon?Andtheultimatecommentis“Whatastupidquestion!InChina,peoplewouldsaidtoavisitorfromafar,“你一路辛苦了?！盉utifheisanEnglishnativespeaker,ChineseusuallyputthesentenceintoEnglishlikethis,“Iamafraidyoumusthavehadatiringjourney.”Itwillmakehim/heruncomfortable,foritdoesnotmeettheculturebackgroundofEnglishspeakingcountries.Therightexpressionis“Didyouhaveagoodtrip?/Didyouenjoyyourjourney?”O(jiān)r“Howwasthetrip?”WhenChinesemeet,theyoftensay“上哪里去？”whichiftranslatedliterally,wouldbe“Whereareyougoing?”.ThenaturalreactionofmostEnglish-speakingpeoplewouldmostlikelytobe“It’snoneofyourbusiness”tothinsgreeting.Anotherexpressionis“你吃了嗎?”whichisacommongreetingaroundmealtime.Itmeansnothingmorethan“Hello”or“Hi”.Buttowesterners,itcouldindicateaninvitationtoameal.WhenChinesepart,thehostsseethevisitortothedoororgateway.Itiscustomaryfortheguesttosaytothehosts請留步.Thefinalwordsofthehostsareusually慢走，走好，慢點兒開.Noneoftheseshouldbeinterpreteddirectly.Stayherewouldsoundstrange;Goslowly,WalkslowlyorDriveslowlywouldbeequallyso.NativespeakersusuallysayGood-bye,Bye-bye.3.1.2ItiseasyforustofindthatourChineseaddressingaremuchmorecomplicatedthanthatofwesterners.Forwesterners,itisquitecommonforthemtocalleachotherbygivennamewithoutworryingaboutthegenerationdifferences.ButinChina,werarelycomeacrossthosesituations.SoEnglishteachersshouldinformhisorherstudentsoftherightwayofaddressinginfrontoftheforeigners.InEnglish,wehavegrandparents,grandfather,grandmother,whileinChinese,wehave祖父，爺爺，奶奶，外婆，外公.InEnglish,wehave‘uncle’and‘a(chǎn)unt’forthosepeoplewhoarethepeersofourparents,whileinChinese,wehave伯伯，叔叔，舅舅等，姑媽，姨媽，嬸子等.Furthermore,inEnglishthelowergenerationlike‘nephew’and‘niece’havenocleardistinctionofwhichpartheorshebelongsto,thesameistruewiththeword‘cousin’OurChinesepeopleattachgreatimportancetofamily,andthinkthatthebloodisthickerthanwater.Inordertoshowpoliteness,weshouldcallthosestrangersinthewayofaddressingfamilies.Forexample,大爺，大娘，大叔，大嬸，大哥，大姐，等等。TheChineselanguagehasmanyprecisetermsfordescribingfamilyandotherrelationships.PeopleinChinaaddressrelativesorcloseneighborsas二哥，三姐，四嬸，周大伯,whichshouldnotbecarriedoverintoEnglish.English-speakingpeopleaddressothersbyusingthefirstname—Tom,Michael,Linda,Jane,etc.—ratherthancallingthepersonMr.Summers,Mrs.HowardorMissJones.Thisappliesnotonlytopeopleofroughlythesameage,butalsoofdifferentages.Itisnotasignofdisrespect.Itiscommandtohearachildcallingamucholderperson—Joe,Ben,May,Helen,etc.AnothercommonChineseformofaddressistheuseofaperson’stitle,office,oroccupation,suchas黃局長，林經(jīng)理，馬校長.ButEnglishnativespeakersseldomaddressothersinthisway.3.1.3Chinesepeopleliketobemodestabouttheirownachievement,possessionsandsoon.Thisisconsideredasignofmodesty,butitmayseemdishonesttoWesterners.Hereisaexample.AyoungChineseladyintheUSAwascomplimentedforherbeautifuldress,“That’salovelydressyouhaveon.”ShewasquitehappybutrepliedinnegativewayasmostChinesepeopledo,“No,no,itjustaveryordinarydress.”TheAmericanfeltsomewhatembarrassed.ThisimpliesthattheAmerican’stasteinclothingwasquestionable.Suchsituationmaycausemisunderstanding.Westernersmaythinkitimpolite.Thereisantherexample,AforeignerathisChinesefriend’swedding,hesaid,“Yourwifeisverybeautiful.”Buthisfriendreplied,“No,no,sheisugly.”Athearingthis,theforeignerfeltangryandleft.TheChinesewantedtoshowthismodesty,butinsuchasituation,nativespeakerswouldliketosay“Thankyou”.3.2CulturaldifferencesincoloursPeopleusedifferentcolourstoexpresstheirdifferentmoods.Somecolourshavesimilarconnotationsinbothcultures,butsomearedifferent.InChina,thecolorRedisoftenassociatedwithcelebrationsandjoyfuldays.ThisisthesameinEnglish.Forexample,Christmasandotherspecialdaysareprintedinredoncalendars.Thesearecalledred-letterdays.Inordertogivealavishwelcometodistinguishedguests,hostswillrollouttheredcarpetforthem.Whitehasdifferentconnotations.WhiteinEnglishrepresentspurityandinnocent.SowesternerscalltheweddingdayWhiteday.Andthebrideisalwaysinwhiteweddingclothes.ButwhiteinChinesehasanothermeaning.PeopleinChinahavewhiteatfunerals.BlackinbothChineseandEnglishisassociatedwithnegativemeanings:blacklist(黑名單),blackmarket(黑市)，blackmoney(黑錢)，ablacksheep(害群之馬)andanumberofothers.BluehasnospecialassociationwithfeelingsinChinese.ButinEnglishitrepresentssadness.Inabluemoodmeansasadordepressedmood.SimilarinmeaningareablueMonday,bluesong,bluemusic.Blueisalsoassociatedwithhighsocialpositionorbeingaristocraticfamily.He’sarealbluebloodmeanshe’sfromanoblefamily.Greenisoftenreferredtoenvybywesterners.Green-eyedmonsterorjustgreen-eyedbothhavethemeaningjealous,envious.Sometimesgreenisalsousedtoindicatelackinginexperienceortrain,asinThenewtypistisgreenatherjob.YellowappearsinEnglishphrasedasyellowjournalism.Butitisnot黃色期刊inChinese.Itisakindofjournalismdistortingthefacttocreateasensationaleffect.YellowPagesinAmericanisabookwiththetelephonenumbersarrangedaccordingtodifferentcategories.Othercolorsalsohavecertainconnotations.Teachersshouldhelpstudentsunderstandthecolorfulwordsusages.3.3CulturaldifferencesinsocialcontactAnyonewholearnsalittleEnglishknowsthattheequivalentofChinesewords“謝謝”is“Thankyou”inEnglish,butit’sabigknowledgetomakeuseof“Thankyou”appropriatelyindifferentsocialcircumstances.“Thankyou”iswidely-usedinresponsetocongratulationsinEnglish,whilesuchpoliteformulaas“過獎過獎”,“慚愧慚愧”arecommonlyappliedinChinese.InthesecasesofcommunicationinEnglish,ifwerespondliterallysaying“youflatterme”,or“Ifeelashamed”instesdofsaying“thankyou”,itwouldratherbeindecent.Takeanotherexample,avisitingscholarintheU.S.repliesinaccordancewithChinesecustomsbysaying“No,no,it’sjustaveryordinarydress”whensomebodycommentsfavorablyonthedressshewearswith“That’salovelydressyouhaveon”.Thatleadstoapragmaticerror.Thehearerwillbelievethatsuchareplyindicatessheisunabletotellgoodfrombad.(DengYanchang,1981)3.4CulturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandWesternsocietyrepresentdifferencesoffolkcustom.AChinesesaying“Sellingdogmeatbyhangingasheephead”(掛羊頭賣狗肉)ratherthan“Sellingmuttonbyhangingadoghead”(掛狗頭賣羊肉)embodiesChinesetraditionthatpeoplecommentfavorablyonsheepwhileunfavorablyondog.DogshaveimpressedChinamainlandsobadlythatmostwordsandphrasesmadeof“狗”(dog)arealmostderogatory.Chinesewordsas“走狗，惡狗，看門狗，喪家狗，哈巴狗，狗漢奸”areexamplesofthiskind.“Alostdog”,whichcanbeassociatedwith“喪家狗”,isdoomedtobebeatenfiercelybyChinesepeople,while“alostdog”wouldbemuchmorecherishedbyanAmericanoraBritish.InAmericanorBritishculture,“dog”isthesubstituteofloyalty,isafriendofhumanbeingssothatalargenumberofsayingsorproverbsinEnglishconcerningwithdogareabsolutelyoppositetothoseinChinesewithcommendatoryoratleastneutralmeanings.Forexample,“assickasadog”isusedforaseriouspatient;“todieadog’sdeath”referstothosewhodiefrompovertyorotherdisaster;mercyandsympathyareevidentwhenadogisusedtodescribehumanbeings，apersoninhighrank–atopdog;aluckyperson–aluckydog.“I’mtoooldadogtolearnanynewtricks”issaidbyseniorcitizenswhoassumethatit’stoolateforthemtolearn;and“凡人皆有出頭之日”is“Everydoghasitsday”;“愛屋及烏”forloversis“Loveme,lovemydog.”Wecanconcludefromtheabovementionedexamplesthat“dogand狗”meanthesameanimalinChineseandEnglish,theabsolutelyidenticalsignified,buttheirculturalconnotationsareconsiderablydifferent3.5CulturaldifferencesinallusionsAllusionscannotonlymakethelanguagericher,butalsomakecommunicationmorevivid.Allusionsderivefromhistory,legends,literature,religion.MostEnglishallusionsinvolveeventsorcharactersfromShakespeare.ManylinesfromhisplayareusedindailyEnglish:forgiveandforget,that’sallGreektome,all’swellthatendswell,allisnotgoldthatglitters.AlargenumberofcharactersornamesfromEnglishandAmericanliteraturehavecometostandforanypersonwithsimilartraits:ashylock—acruel,greedy,money-grabbingperson,onewhowillgotonoendstoacquirewealth;fromtheMerchantofVenice,aplaybyShakespeare.ASherlock–adetectiveorshrewdpersonwhohastheuncannyabilitytotrackdownandquarryorsolveanymysterythroughcarefulobservation,scientificanalysis,andlogicalreasoning;fromSirArthurConanDoyle’swell-knowndetectivestories.AnUncleTom–ameekperson,especiallyablack,whosubmitstoindignitiesandsufferingswithoutanythoughtoractofrebelling;themaincharacterinHarrietBeecherStowe’snovelUncleTom’sCabin.AnothersourceofallusioncanbetrackedbackancientGreekandRomancivilization.ItisnaturalthattheclassicalGreekandRomanmythicstoriesarethecommonandimportantsourceofallusionsinEnglish.APandora’sbox--aplentifulsourceoftroublesordisaster.ItderivedfromtheGreekmythology.ThestoryisthatPandora,thefirstwomanwhowaspunishedandsenttotheearthbythegodsasaformofpunishment,wasforbiddentoopentheboxsentbythegods.Whensheopeneditatlastoutofcuriosity,alltheevilsintheboxflewouttotroubletheearthwithendlessdisaster,andonlyhopeleftinsidewhentheboxwasclosed.Sothephraseoftenindicatessomethingwhichmayseemgood,butwhichbringstroublesatlast.Trojanhorse--thehiddendanger.ItoriginatedfromthestoryofhugewoodenhorsewhichweretowedintoTroy,withoutknowingthatitwasleftbyUlysses.Thearmedsoldiersinsidethehorselateropenedthecitygatesfortheinvadingarmy,whichenabledtheGreekstooccupytroy.ADamoclessword--thedangerwhichwillhappeninthenearfuture.DamoclesisacourtierofancientSyracuseandservedunderDionysius,atyrantwhoruledoverSyracuse.DamocleswasvaingloriousandenviedDionysiusgreatly.LaterDionysiusrealizedDamocles’psychologyandinvitedhimtoafeast;buthangingoverDamocles’headwasaswordsuspendedbyasinglehair.Damoclessatthroughthebanquetinconstantfear.3.6CulturaldifferencesinvalueSincetheChineseculturalvalueisdifferentfromwesterncountries,thereforewehavetodealwithsuchkindofproblemsasatranslator.AccordingtoKSSitaram’sstudy,Chinesepeopleandwesternershavedifferentresponsetootherpeople’spraise,thedifferentresponseoriginatefromthedifferentculturalvalue.Inchina,modestyisonekindofvirtue,itdescendsfromancienttimes,wecanseealotofsuchkindofwordswhichexpressthespeaker’smodesty.Forexample,“鄙人”(Biren)、“拙著”(zhuozhu)、“寒舍”(hanshe)、“犬子”(quanzi)……Suchkindofexpressionsarebaffledtothewesternpeople,becauseintheirsociallife,self-confidenceisonekindofvirtue.Ageisalsooneimportantaspectofculturalvalue;theentirenation’sculturehasdifferentstress.InChina,agedpeoplesymbolizewisdom,powerandauthority,soweoftenadd老beforetheappellation.Forexample,“老師傅”、“老干部”、“老王”……Butaccordingtowesternculturalvalue,youngisveryimportantwhichmeansvigorousandpromising.Soinwesternpeople’smind,itisgreatimportanttobeyoungandgoontostudy.Theconnotationof“老人”andoldmanoroldladyarequitedifferent,thereforewecannotjusttranslateexpressionsbysuchway.Wehavetoconcerntheculturalvalueofdifferentnations.InChina,theindividualbenefitissubordinatedtothecollectiveprofit.Everyoneshouldcarryouthisownresponsibilityandpreparetosacrificethepersonalinterest.Thepersonalfameandsuccessisassociatedwiththecollectiveclosely.HerearesomeChinesephrases,wecanseetheculturalreflectionfromthem,suchas“光宗耀祖”、為國爭光、“給……爭光……”InEnglish-speakingworld,theculturalvalueisquitedifferentfromChinese,individualismistheirmostimportantculturalvalue,theindividualpotentialityandhobbyisindominantposition.Thechildrendeveloptheindependentcharacter.Sincetheyareveryyoung,theyneverattributetheirsuccesstotheirfamily.SoitistotallydifferentfromChineseculturalvalue.Asatranslator,wemustovercomesuchkindofelementstoprovideabettercommunicativeway.InChina,itisacceptabletoaskother’sageorsalary,butwesternersconsidertheseastheirprivacy.English-speakingpeoplesetahighvalueonprivacy.Thereisasaying:“Aman’shomeishiscastle”.IntheUSA,everyonehashis/herownroom,noonecouldcomeinwithoutpermission.Soparentscannotentertheirchildren’sbedroomsuntiltheyareallowed.OncethereisaprogramcalledOprah,oneofthemostpopulartalkshowsinAmerica,givingatopicabouta12-year-oldgirlaccusingherparentsofspendinghermoney.ItisashocktoChinese.Chinesepeoplehaveastrongfeelingofthefamily.Familymembersaredependentonandsupporteachother.MostChinesefamilymemberslivetogetherandtheyoungaresupposedtoshowfilialpietytotheirparents.Iftheyoungworkinanotherplacewhichisfarfromtheirparents,theywillmanagetovisittheirparentsandsendsomemoneytothem.AnotherdifferenceisthatChineseusuallyadvocatecollectivism,whileinEnglishspeakingcountries,theyfocusonIndividualism.Individualismisthecoreofwesternculture.Towesterners,self-relianceandindependenceareimportant,anditisconsideredweaktobedependentonothers.Hereisastory:OnceMr.Huang,afamousfilmdirectorinChina,visitedabroad.Hesawadisabledpersonturninghiswheel-chairupwardswithallhiseffort.Mr.Wangwenttohelphim,butthemanstaredathimangrilyinsteadofsaying“thankyou”.Why?Itisaterriblelossthatheisdependentonothers,inhisopinion.3.7CulturaldifferencesinreligiousbeliefsThetraditionalWesternbeliefabouthumannatureisthathumansarebasicallyevil.AccordingtotheBible,allhumanshavebeenbornwithoriginalsin.ThewesternworldbelievesinistakeGodascentralChristianity.WhentheyusethewordGod,theimageintheirmindarelikelytoOneGodwhoisallpowerful.TheybelievethathumansmustbesavedandacceptGodtobecomegood.InChina,peoplehaveacceptedtheteachingsofConfuciusandTaoism.Chinesebelievethathumansarebasicallygood.Childrenarepureandinnocentbutmaybecomebadastheygrowup.TheyalsobelieveinBuddhismwhichwasspreadinfromancientIndiathousandsofyearsago.Whentheysaythewordgod,theirimagesaremanygodsbutwithlimitedpower.Thereligiousdifferenceleadstoaestheticsdifference.TheworddragoncanbefoundinbothChineseandEnglish.InChina,thedragonisnotonlybeautiful,butalsothesymbolofChinese.Itrepresentspower,strengthandgoodluck.Chinesepeoplecallthemselvesthedescendantsofthedragon.However,thedragonisamonstertowesterners.Itisthesymbolofevil.Thatiswhy“亞洲四小龍”istranslatedas“thefourtigersofAsia”inEnglish.3.8CulturaldifferencesinbodylanguageWhenpeopleconversewithothers,theycommunicatebymuchmorethanwords.Inthesocialinteraction，bodylanguageisbelievedtocompriseupto90%ofourcommunication.Byourexpressions,gesturesandotherbodymovements,wesendmessagestotheotherpeople.Likeverballanguage,bodylanguageisalsoapartofourculture.Itisimportanttounderstandthatoneculturesetofacceptablebodylanguagegesturesormovementsmaynotbetranslatedwiththesamemeaninginanotherculture.SoinordertocommunicateeffectivelyinEnglish,oneshoul