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Rod: What is culture?
Lara: According to the dictionary, culture is the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time.
Rod: What makes up a culture?
Lara: Many things, foods, music, arts, architecture, religions, traditions, folklore, legends, myths, the way people dress, the way they greet each other, etc.
Rod: Do you know many cultures?
Lara: Indeed, I can say I do. I like to travel and get to know different cultures.
Rod: Can you describe some of the cultures you have seen?
Lara: Yes, for example, American culture has a lot of influence on the world in movies, music, fast food, blue jeans, cowboys, etc.
Rod: How about French culture?
Lara: I would say French culture is known for food, fashion, architecture. French food is often considered “haute cuisine“ and their fashion is called “haute couture“. Their palaces are copied in many parts of the world.
Rod: And the Chinese culture?
Lara: Food, martial arts, festivals, fine china, etc. Many people practice some form of martial arts, Ming vases are collected in many museums and by wealthy people.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
VIDEO: Cultures of the world- Clarendon Learning (Watch from 3:45)
What are some of the cultures of the world like?
Let’s start with America.
Some of the foods that are part of the American culture include pie, banana splits, hamburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken.
Other American populations have different preferences, for example, in the Southwest there is the mixture a Spanish and Mexican foods.
Religions in American culture include Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and others.
Americans celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter, Saint Patrick’s Day and others.
American Sports include football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey.
We have lots of different ways of dressing, but American culture is most known for our jeans, t-shirts, shorts and sweats. All of those things help define American culture.
Here are some other cultures and things that helps define them.
This is Africa. The food across Africa is usually spicy with intense flavours, and the food can be very exotic as well. They eat many different things that Americans don’t. Religions in Africa include Christianity and Islam, but many of the people in more remote parts of Africa practice their own local religions. Celebrations include Kwanzaa, Yam Adae Kese, Sed and Osiris.
There’s music like Samba and Reggae.
Believe it or not there are 11 official languages in South Africa which is the real rainbow nation where many cultures all coexist. In fact one third of the world’s languages are spoken in Africa.
Their art consists of colourful paintings and beautiful ceramics, and the main themes are marriage, mother, and child
Unlike American culture, 41% of children aged 5 to 14 work in Africa.
What about the French culture? Maybe you know someone French.
Some of the elements of their culture include complex foods, with heavy sauces; elegant and professional clothing like scarves and long coats and dresses.
In French culture religions include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
Art and history can be seen in many churches, in public buildings.
The Chinese culture has its own unique characteristics; one of the most prominent being is exceptional food which includes lots of sauces, unique spices, rice, fish, red meat and even scorpions and snakes.
The established religion of Chinese culture is Buddhism, and there is a lot of Buddhist art there.
They drink a lot of tea, which is often used as medicine.
The Chinese New Year happens every Spring, and it’s marked by a bright and colourful 15-day Festival with a dancing dragon in fireworks, parades and more.
The Chinese culture has six different languages, but Mandarin is the most widely spoken.
You can thank Chinese culture for martial arts like Kung Fu, silk, the animals of the zodiac, philosophers like Confucius, and other things that have spread around the world.
AMERICAN FOLKLORE
AMERICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM
The Star-Spangled Banner
O say, can you see
By the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hail’d
At the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?
Finally, let’s talk about the Spanish culture. Their food often includes olive oil, garlic, and onions.
They usually serve wine during dinner, and bread with nearly every meal; fruit is the main dessert.
About 80% of the Spanish are Roman Catholic, which is the form of Christianity.
An important week in the Spanish culture is Holy Week which comes before Easter in which there are large parades and religious events.
Spanish culture has colourful architecture, grand churches, and even the running of the bulls.
Now that you know some of the elements of various cultures, it’s important to know that cultures are complex, and that no single aspect of a culture defines it.
They can be so local that different people in different parts of a country can have vastly different things that they cherish and celebrate. In America you have Native American culture, African American culture, Cajun, Creole, and others. In Greece a child throws a lost tooth onto a roof for good luck. Japanese children cover their belly buttons when they hear thunder. In Indonesia people point with their thumbs. In Russia Father Frost bring children presents on New Year’s Day. In the Brazilian culture New Year’s Day is usually celebrated with a bowl of lentil soup, now that’s a tasty New Year! During the Italian Carnival people throw oranges.
All of those things are unique to the cultures that do them, and are part of what makes those cultures special. Respecting other people’s cultures; trying to learn about them; never stereotyping or mocking them; and living in harmony with them is the first step in becoming friends, having greater humanity and creating a peaceful world for us all to share.
OTHER VIDEOS AND READINGS:
IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS
Culture shock
A state of confusion and anxiety experienced by someone upon encountering an alien environment.
Cultural appropriation
the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.
“his dreadlocks were widely criticized as another example of cultural appropriation”
Drama queen:
Josie is such a drama queen. She made such a storm in a teacup.
VOCABULARY SELF-TEST
Belief
the feeling of being certain that something exists or is true
Belief in the Tooth Fairy is frequently used to call someone who is too trusting.
Recent scandals have shaken many people’s belief in politicians.
Folklore
the traditional stories and culture of a group of people.
According to Vietnamese folklore Emperor Le Loi returned a sword to a turtle at Lake Hoan Kiem.
Legend
a very old story from ancient times.
According to the legend Rome was founded by two twin brothers you were nurtured by a wolf.
Myth
a popular belief that has grown up around something/ a commonly believed but false idea
The dragon is a mythical animals that does not really exist.
Describe
To explain what something is like.
Can you describe the person you just met?
Influence
the power to have an effect on people.
That singer has bad influence on young people.
Many people let themselves be influenced by what they see on the internet.
Haute cuisine
cooking of a high standard, typically French cooking.
French haute cuisine emphasizes small menus with high quality ingredients and restaurant sophistication.
Haute couture
The business of making expensive clothes of original design and high quality.
Chanel, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy are some of the haute couture designers.
China (porcelain)
Cups, plates, bowls, etc. made of high quality clay.
She insists on using her best china when she invited her in-laws for dinner.
Martial art
a sport that is a traditional Japanese or Chinese form of fighting or defending yourself.
Kung Fu, Karate, Judo, etc. are martial arts
Festival
a day or period of celebration, typically a religious commemoration.
There are many types of festival now, like Jazz Festival, Film Festival, Comedy Festival, Dragon Boat Festival. Most of them have music, food, drink, show, movies, and sometimes sport activities.
Vase
a container used for holding cut flowers or for decoration.
We need to put these flowers in a vase.
Vases made in China during the Ming reign are collectors’ items and are very expensive.
Wealthy
Rich.
Only wealthy people have money to buy Ming vases and Rolls Royce cars.
Banana split
A cold dessert made with a banana split in half, ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, plus other fruits and nut toppings.
If you are counting calories, don’t eat a banana split.
Mixture
A combination of substances or things.
Cocktails are mixtures of alcohol, juices, ice and sometimes sugar, salt and spices.
Religion
Examples: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism
Sweatshirt
Thick cotton T-shirt
Ceramics
Objects made from baked clay
Scarve
a strip, square, or triangle of cloth, worn around the neck, head, or shoulders to keep you warm or to make you look attractive
Scorpion
Poisonous insect
Zodiac
The 12 symbols associated with the month or year of birth.
Person who study the meaning of life
Olive
Fruit used for food or to produce cooking oil
Running of the bulls
Event that involves running in front of a small group of bulls, that have been let loose on sectioned-off streets in a town, usually as part of a summertime festival.
Belly button
Navel
Thunder
Sound produced when there is lightning.
Lentil
A kind of bean
SPEAKING PRACTICE
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW, THEN USE THE ANSWERS TO TELL YOUR STORY:
What is culture?
What makes up a culture?
Do you know other cultures? Which one?
Can you give some of its characteristics?
What represent Vietnamese culture? Give a few examples.
NOW PUT THE ANSWERS TOGETHER INTO A STORY.
