ESL21B #1761

Essay Topics #2

07/04/2007

A Cultural Pattern in Japan

    When we travel to another country, it is important that we educate ourselves about a cultural pattern that is unique to that country. By understanding the cultural pattern, we can adjust more easily and avoid intercultural conflicts and misunderstanding. Japan has a unique and interesting cultural pattern. {***}Choppy I recommend that a foreign visitor be aware of the communication style, concept of time, cooperation and values that are unique to Japan..

    First, a foreign visitor should be aware of the Japanese communication style, which is very complicated. When we communicate with each other, we speak differently according to the age and the status of the person that we are talking to. For example, if I am talking to someone who is younger than me, I will use a casual form. However, if I am talking to someone who is older than me, I will have to use an honorific form. If I fail to use the honorific form when I am speaking to someone who is my senior, I will be considered rude and uneducated. Similarly, if a foreign visitor ignores this cultural aspect and communicate with Japanese people always using a casual form, he or she might be perceived as ignorant and disrespectful. What makes the Japanese communication style particularly complicated is that we also have to change the communication style according to the status of the person that we are talking to or the relationship between the two speakersGood!. For example, when a sales person speaks to a customer, he or she will use an honorific form regardless of the age of the customer. If the sales person fails to communicate using an honorific form, the person will probably lose the business. A foreign visitor should be aware of this aspect of the Japanese culture especially if he or she is traveling to Japan for business.

Second, a foreign visitor should be aware of the Japanese concept of time. Japanese people are very strict about time. When we make upWChoice a meeting at 11:00PM, Japanese people would come to meeting before 11:00PM, especially at business situation they would come about fifteen minutes before. Train timetable is a good example. Japanese train timetable is the most accurate in the world. Japanese trains always come on time. If for any reason a train did not come on time, we would be very irritated. We also believe that it is disrespectful to be late and always try to be on time. When I went to the Thailand, TheCapitalization train never came on time. It is unbelievable in Japan. tSpl is very common for Japanese people to arrive at wherever we need to be at least ten minutes before the arranged time. In Brazil, ManyCapitalization Brazilian college studentSing/Plu come late to their classes and they does not concernVForm about it (Robert Levine's article). This kind of behavior by students will not be tolerated in Japan. Professors will fail the students who are habitually late to the class. If a foreign visitor wants to avoid cultural conflicts and misunderstanding, he or she should be always on time.

    Third, Japanese people emphasize the importance of cooperation. weCapitalization learn about "Groupism" at school. Most ofCut students hasS/VAgreement to wear aCut same uniform and followsS/VAgreement strict rules. Individualism is not preferred at school. The rules of the school decidedVForm very in detail. For example, when I was junior high school and high school student, all studentsPunctuation shoes areVTense white color shoesCut and student's bag are simple shape and black color. Students hair styles also, we could not decide favorite hair style such as long hair or permanent. A teacher does not expect a student's remark at a class. ItReference not clear looks like the system of military forces. Recently, some schools are reviewing aboutCut this tendency, but it is remaining. It is also same at company this tendencyWord Order. The superior preferredVTense person who obediently follows. If you remark to superior too much, the superior would considersVForm that it is rebellious. When I am learning at American college, I am surprised by American's student's influence. They make remarks and question positively in class. American people emphasize the importance of individualism. They are educated by individualism in childhood (Robert Levine). Americans usually assume that conflicts or disagreements are best settled by means of forthright discussions among the people involved (Gary Althen). In point of this, I feel that the assertiveness of the Japanese is weak because of Japanese education system. Recently, Japanese people's assertiveness weak are realization,Awkward and some schools are wrestleVForm about these problems. For example, teachers try to hotly debate for students in a class{***}Explain. I think the Japanese people whose cooperation is superior compared with other countries peopleAwkward, but assertiveness is too weak.

Finally, a foreign visitor should be aware of the fact that the Japanese people value humility. In certain countries, such as the United States, it is considered good for people to be proud of themselves and people do not hesitate to say they are proud of themselves. However, in Japan, we usually consider such behavior as arrogance. We tend to think that great people will never brag about themselves. For example, if someone compliments me for studying hard in America, although I am proud of myself, I will never say, "Thank you" and accept the compliment. In Japanese culture, I'm expected to say something like, "What I'm doing in America is nothing. I need to work harder to better myself." Foreign visitors should be aware of theWChoice aspect of our culture and should never brag about their accomplishments. If they do, they might be perceived as arrogant.    

    In conclusion, Japan has a cultural patternSing/Plu that is unique to the country. In order to adjust more easily and avoid intercultural conflicts and misunderstanding, foreign visitors should be aware of certain aspects of our culture. I think that our communication style, concept of time, cooperation and values are the most important things to learn. If the visitors learn to use different formsAwkward, be on time and be humble, they will be welcomed in Japan and will have a great time.

Reference:

"American Values and Assumptions" Glary Althen

"Time Talks, with an Accent?" Robert Levine