Nelly Chen昭菁英語教學工作室-Nelly Chen's English Workshop

This is sociolinguistics class-my reply to the Discussion board.

In order to learn the native culture of gratitude in the shortest time, I will have three stages to follow the instruction of gratitude. The time of each stage is flexible to tailor to end in 30 minutes. For the first stage, I will compare the C1 and C2 respectively. Then, I will focus on the native culture and illustrate the different functions of gratitude.

An understanding of how culture shapes the language is primary significance for these 6 businessmen. In order to make sure their understanding of the disparate functions of gratitude, initial 10 questions of multiple choices will be practiced and discussed together. For the second stage of lectures, video for realizing the authentic use of gratitude will be played. Then, I will have 6 businessmen separate into 3 groups for role playing and simulation such as expressing in response to receiving a gift, favor, reward, or service. Have them use thanking formulas to express their gratitude as much as possible.

The range of the answers can be from ‘bald’ thank you to more lengthy speech act set.
It will be effective and productive for them to practice these practices of thanking formulas in the shortest time.

The third stage of the lectures will have one native speaker to briefly answer their questions. If time permitting, S/He will be the model and role play with me to show some common functions of gratitude such as holding the door or thanking hosts for dinner. Since the six businessmen have learnt the target culture and practiced the formulas in the lectures in order to reach the mutually-shared script. We suppose these 6 businessmen ranging in 30s and 40s can express the function of the gratitude.

So before they go to America for the business trip, the extra assignment is to grasp the chance outside the classroom to contact with native language and culture even in EFL setting. Men and female will have different ways of expression of gratitude. Therefore, they need to record their actual and simulated interaction with target participants, thereby they can find out the differences between their expression and the natural communication.