Lifestyles - Module 1B

B2 First · Multiple Matching · First Expert Student's Resource Book, Pearson Education

You are going to read an extract from a book which gives businesspeople advice about social customs in different parts of the world. For questions 1–10, choose from the countries (A-D). The countries may be chosen more than once.

A Egypt

When the US president Jimmy Carter visited Egypt in 1978, a camel trader was asked to show him round a camel market. The trader was so honoured that he not only gave the tour but also presented the president with a six-year-old camel, a pink ribbon tied around its neck. The camel trader's action was typical of the hospitality and generosity shown in many parts of the Arab world, where good manners are an essential ingredient in a person's character and generosity to guests is essential to a good reputation. Because there are accepted rules of behaviour in gift-giving, the foreign businessperson must be careful. For example, admiring a painting or ornament in a client's home or office might oblige them to present you with it as a gift. What's more, your Egyptian colleague will probably begin a round of gift-giving and will expect you to reciprocate - if not immediately, then on the next possible occasion - and the gift should match theirs in size and cost, if possible.

B Japan

And the Arab world is not the only place where gift-giving follows set rules. In Japan they are even stricter. As an American who volunteered to teach English to a Japanese woman reported, 'Before each lesson and on each and every visit, the Japanese lady brought me a gift - a book, some paper sculpture or flowers.' Unknowingly, this American was experiencing a ritual rooted centuries deep in Japanese culture. According to Business Tokyo magazine, among the Japanese, 'gift-giving is a necessity, not merely a nicety as it is in the West.' In Japan the proper gift is thought to express the giver's true friendship, gratitude and respect far better than words can. And specific gift-giving rules have prevailed in Japanese society for centuries. They spell out the type of gift to give and how the various types of gifts should be wrapped. So if you plan to visit Japan, be prepared. But don't worry about getting the protocol wrong - foreigners are not expected to know all the rules!

C Thailand

Another country which takes gifts seriously is Thailand. When visiting a home in this country, take flowers or a box of chocolates from the local market. The value is not important; it is the thought and the act that count. It is the tradition in Thailand to wrap gifts beautifully with colourful ribbons and the custom has long been to put the gift aside to be opened later, so don't be offended if the gift seems to go unappreciated. But this custom is not as rigid today as it was and you may be invited to open a gift in front of the giver. But in this case do avoid ripping open the beautiful wrapping as this is considered rude.

D Australia

And of course, there are countries where businesspeople rarely exchange gifts and Australia is an example of this. Modest gifts such as a business diary, a paperweight or a coffee mug might be presented as a memento of a visit or business meeting, and sales conferences and trade shows often give out T-shirts, ties or baseball caps bearing the date and location of the event. However, anything more than these types of gifts could cause embarrassment in a society known for its friendly informality as people might regard them as pretentious.

The art of giving

In many countries it is customary to give gifts to your guests and hosts but different cultures have different customs. How does the foreign visitor know what to do where?

is the price of the gift unimportant?

are you expected to give a gift as large as the one you've received?

are most gifts specially made to celebrate a particular event?

have the rules of gift-giving been established for generations?

is it common not to open gifts in front of the giver?

is it unwise to say you like someone else's possessions?

are there rules about how different types of gifts must be presented?

might people be unimpressed by a large gift?

is it important not to damage the packaging of a gift?

will you be forgiven if you get the details of gift-giving wrong?

According to the writer, in which country

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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