Discussing Cultural Differences

The partners delve into a specific cultural topic (e.g., holidays, work culture, social etiquette), comparing and contrasting customs between their home countries, leading to deeper understanding and vocabulary related to culture.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

Emily (Female)

Hey Michael, thanks for meeting up again! I was thinking about our last discussion on holidays, and it got me wondering about work culture differences. What's it generally like in your country?

Michael (Male)

No problem, Emily! It's an interesting topic. Well, generally speaking, work culture in my country, the US, can be very fast-paced and results-oriented. There's a strong emphasis on individual accountability.

Emily (Female)

That's quite different from what I'm used to. In my country, Japan, there's a much greater focus on group harmony and collective responsibility. Decisions are often made by consensus, which can take more time.

Michael (Male)

That makes sense. So, would you say feedback is given differently as well? In the US, direct feedback, even critical, is quite common. Sometimes it can feel a bit blunt.

Emily (Female)

Definitely. In Japan, feedback is often indirect and subtle to avoid direct confrontation. It's usually conveyed through hints or in a gentler manner. We try to 'save face' for everyone.

Michael (Male)

Interesting! That 'saving face' concept is something I'm trying to wrap my head around. It seems like communication styles vary a lot. What about work-life balance?

Emily (Female)

That's a hot topic in Japan! Traditionally, long working hours have been common, but there's a growing movement towards improving work-life balance and reducing overtime. It's a slow process.

Michael (Male)

I can imagine. Overtime is present in the US too, but generally, there's a strong emphasis on personal time outside of work. Many companies offer flexible hours or remote work options.

Emily (Female)

That sounds appealing. Remote work is still less common in Japan, especially in traditional industries. It's fascinating how these cultural norms shape everyday professional life.

Michael (Male)

Absolutely. It really puts things into perspective. Thanks for sharing your insights, Emily. It gives me a much better understanding.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

fast-paced

Describes a work environment that moves quickly and requires constant activity. Use it when talking about busy jobs or cultures that value speed.

results-oriented

Focuses on achieving goals and outcomes rather than just the process. Common in business discussions about work styles.

consensus

Agreement reached by a group after discussion. Useful when describing decision-making in team-based cultures like Japan.

blunt

Direct and straightforward, sometimes seeming rude. Use it to describe honest but harsh communication.

save face

To avoid embarrassment or loss of dignity for someone. An important cultural phrase in Asian contexts to explain polite interactions.

wrap my head around

To understand or come to terms with something difficult. Informal idiom for expressing confusion or learning.

work-life balance

The idea of balancing time between work and personal life. A key topic in modern discussions about job satisfaction.

remote work

Working from home or away from the office using technology. Increasingly common post-pandemic, useful for career talks.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

What's it generally like in your country?

This is a polite way to ask about general customs or experiences in someone's home country. Use it to start discussions on culture. 'Generally' softens the question to make it less direct.

Generally speaking, work culture in my country can be very fast-paced and results-oriented.

Introduces a general opinion with 'generally speaking' for hedging. Useful for describing broad cultural traits without overgeneralizing. Focuses on adjectives to compare work styles.

That's quite different from what I'm used to.

Expresses contrast with personal experience. 'What I'm used to' means habits from one's background. Great for conversations comparing cultures; uses 'quite' for emphasis.

Decisions are often made by consensus, which can take more time.

Explains a process with a relative clause 'which can take more time' to add a consequence. Useful in business English for team decisions; 'often' shows frequency.

In Japan, feedback is often indirect and subtle to avoid direct confrontation.

Describes cultural communication using infinitives of purpose 'to avoid.' Helpful for explaining polite styles; contrasts with direct methods in other cultures.

I'm trying to wrap my head around that concept.

Idiomatic expression for struggling to understand. Use in learning situations or cultural exchanges to show interest. Informal and engaging for conversations.

There's a growing movement towards improving work-life balance.

Discusses trends with 'growing movement towards' + gerund. Useful for talking about social changes; gerund after preposition shows ongoing action.

It really puts things into perspective.

Means it helps see things more clearly or relatively. Idiomatic for gaining new insights. Perfect for ending cultural discussions to show appreciation.