20. COMMUNITY SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Culture, , , ,

For what occasions do groups of people gather on a social basis? Where do they gather? Are these local, or a localized branch of a national event? Are these initiated by an individual or by a committee?

Inquire about these, and attend one or two if appropriate. Take notes and discuss the activities with your language helper or a local friend. Possibilities: weddings, funerals, religious fairs, art fairs, community dinners, senior centers, any community activity held in a central place like a plaza or community center. How are personal and group social needs met through these events? Note things like the selling of snacks, telling stories, dancing, exchange of gossip, playing of games, etc.

Remember that an event may have several purposes. A gathering for a funeral, for instance, not only is an opportunity to pay one’s last respects but also to show group solidarity in a time of crisis, to bring family and friends together, to provide an opportunity for young people to flirt or court, etc.

What city social activities are you aware of? Are there parades or activities that center around a certain region of the city, to remember a local historical event, or to honor a local hero or pioneer? Who are considered heroes or pioneers? Get information about one or two of them.

21. HOLIDAYS — NATIONAL & RELIGIOUS

Culture, , , , ,

Ask your friends about the annual national religious calendar (dates and reasons for the celebration). Are there other celebrations or ceremonies that are local? When are these held?

Observe, when possible, several ceremonies done in the village or your area of town. At this stage, don’t worry about fine details of ritual and meaning. Note these important points:

  • The time and date of the ceremony
  • Correlation with phases of the moon, the season of the year, the time of day
  • Who performs the ceremony and where it is held (a building set aside for religious ceremonies, a home, outdoors, etc.)
  • Why it is performed and for whom (an individual, a family, the whole society)
  • What is the purpose of the ceremony (curing, blessing, fertility, dedication, initiation, etc.)
  • Participation – Is it a private ceremony, participation by invitation, or an open public event? Who gets invited? How do people know about the event? How are the participants expected to respond?
  • Progression of events

What other holidays are observed throughout the year? Make a list of these, noting the name of the holiday, the date it is observed, the reason why it is celebrated, and the extent within the country that it is observed (whether it is local, ethnic, or limited in some other way).

How long do the activities last (a day, a week, or more)? What special foods are prepared for the event? Is this an occasion for wearing the national dress? Are there special activities associated with the time? What is their significance? Are homes and neighborhoods decorated for the occasion?

Are schools closed on these special days? Are special programs held in schools or other venues and if so, when? Are outsiders (government dignitaries, parents, friends, etc.) invited?

How much coverage is given on TV or the radio to the celebrations?

Write down your observations and add to them as you have opportunity to attend more such events.

22. BODY LANGUAGE IN ONE-ON-ONE COMMUNICATION SITUATIONS

Culture, , , ,

Note how people act when they talk to each other.

  • How far apart do they generally place themselves?
  • When people talk to you, how comfortable are you with the distance they keep?

Note the range of facial features used: raising the eyebrows, frowning, smiling, gesturing, etc.

Note head movements and how assent and dissent is conveyed through these movements.

Note body position and posture during conversations.

  • What position is taken for a relaxed conversation?
  • For a mother scolding her child?
  • For an argument between adults?
  • Are people seated comfortably? on the edge of their seats? leaning forward? looking down, or up, to the person being addressed?
  • What do these convey?

Note various positions of arms or legs during conversations. Do the gestures give an idea of what the conversation is about?

How are the eyes directed: where is the gaze directed while speaking? while listening?

Note differences there may be when:

  • Men are conversing with men
  • Women with women
  • Men and women conversing together
  • A child is addressed.

How does the listener communicate that he/she is listening?

Are there certain motions that convey a message without saying anything (like “come,” “go away,” “that’s enough,” “forgive me,” “thank you”)?

Compare the gestures and distance in informal situations with more formal situations, such as at a town meeting, a church service, or negotiations for a wedding, ceremony, purchase, etc. In public situations does everyone listen attentively or is there a certain amount of “murmuring” allowed?

After noting these, look at your own communication habits and evaluate whether any need to be changed so as to not offend unnecessarily.

23. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Culture, , , , , , ,

How do the local people communicate with one another? How common is the use of iPods, tablets, smart phones? How up-to-date with modern technology is the common person? the younger generation?

How proficient are they with texting? Are there prohibitions on texting as to where it can be done or can’t be done?

How many people own personal computers?

  • In what way do they use them (educational use, research, e-mail, business, buying tickets to events, etc.)?
  • How expensive is it to buy a computer?
  • What brands are available?
  • How can it be repaired? Is there a high incidence of “crashing?”

How widely used are social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube)?

  • By all, or mostly by the younger generation?
  • What local or national social media is available?
  • What purposes does social media fulfill in society?

Do people use Internet Cafes? How “safe” are they? How crowded are they? Can they use a computer any time or is there a waiting list? a sign-up sheet?

For e-mail and the Internet, what service providers operate in the country? Is one preferred over another? Why? How does one open an account? How expensive is it and how is it paid for?

24. MEDIA COMMUNICATION

Culture, , ,

What part does media have in the every-day life of the people? Does this come through radio, TV, or computer programs? How “techy” is the population at large? What generations are involved with technological matters and which are not?

Is radio and TV programming monitored or censored by the government? What types of programs are aired? Which types of programs are censored?

In what language(s) are newscasts, dramas, talk shows, etc. given? Is this acceptable to your friends?

How readily available are radios, TVs, boom boxes, cell phones, or other electronic equipment to the local people? Where are these items obtainable? Would every family own at least one of these items?

Are cinemas accessible? Are they locally situated or only in central locations, as a downtown? Are they patronized? What types of films are shown? Are they foreign films or made within the country? What themes are most frequently targeted? How successful is the industry?

Do people own cameras? What type? digital or film? video? What type of pictures do people take? Do they like their picture taken? Are there any taboos about taking the picture of anyone? Where/How can you get your pictures printed?

25. PUBLISHED COMMUNICATION

Culture, , ,

Are newspapers available? In what languages? Who reads the newspapers? Are there special sections for different interest groups? What about magazines? Is there a variety, or is the choice limited? Are newspapers and magazines shared around the neighborhood? Where does one get newspapers and magazines? in a store, or are they delivered to the door? Find out what the subscription prices are for a few of these publications.

Is the news heavily slanted toward one viewpoint? Is the news government controlled or is there scope for dissent and idea sharing? Is there punishment for dissent?

Is there a library accessible to the public? What kinds of services does the library offer? Does one need a card to take out books, DVDs, etc.? Does the library offer educational programs? Who can attend these? Is membership mandatory?

Do schoolchildren have access to textbooks? Are these of good quality? Are they expensive? Are they passed down from child to child within a family? Are textbook publishers run by the government, or are they owned and run by private companies?

26. TIME AND ITS MEANING

Culture, , ,

How is time kept track of in the city, town, neighborhood, family, by an individual? Is there a town clock? Do offices, public buildings, and homes have clocks? Do men and women wear watches? Do children have watches? At what age are they taught how to tell time?

Is it important to be on time for business meetings? for social functions? for church? What is the meaning of “on time” for such events? Does it make a difference if the event is Western oriented or locally run? Are there certain events when time is of importance?

Do offices, businesses, government departments (post office, passport office, etc.), stores have regular hours they are open?

Is the Western calendar followed? Is another type of calendar also followed for religious purposes? for agricultural purposes? What seasons are acknowledged (in comparison to the Western concept of “four seasons”)? Why are these differentiations made? Is timing calculated differently for these seasonal changes? Is daylight savings time observed?

27. RECREATION & LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Culture, , ,

During which times of the day do people have more leisure? During which times of the year? What do people do in their leisure time? Do they sing, carve, sew, visit, tell stories, travel, go to a movie, watch TV, gamble, etc.? How much time is taken up with these activities? Are they done individually or as a group?

What do people do when they go to town or to the main shopping or recreation areas? Do people eat out, and if so, how often would they do this? Are there places to just sit and talk? Are there parks and do many people enjoy them? What kind of facilities are available in public places (entertainment, rest rooms, eating)?

What games do children play? Are any similar to ones played in your own country? What toys do children have? Who makes the toys? Or are they bought commercially? Sketch and describe the production and use of one or more local toys.

Do adults play games? If so, what and when? What kind of clothing is worn? by men? by women? Is this only appropriate for games and sports? Are any sports gender specific? Is this changing?

Do any games have a ritualistic significance? Are any used in courting? during the wedding activities? What games do adults play with children? Are these just for amusement, or for teaching?

What sports are played? By whom? Are these played by people in the neighborhood or only by professionals? Are uniforms worn? Are certain sports played at particular times of the year? What is the general interest level for participation? for cheering?

What amusements have been introduced as a result of contact with outsiders? Do people enjoy learning a new game? Describe the rules for playing one or more games.

In which recreational activities would it be appropriate for you to participate? What linguistic or physical skills do you need to develop in order to participate acceptably? How do people try to teach you the rules for participating?

28. GOING DOWNTOWN OR TO THE MALL

Culture, , , , ,

Does your village, town, or city have a “downtown” area, that is, a main shopping center? Or are there big shopping centers scattered throughout? How far is it from where you live to one of these centers?

Is going to the mall or to a downtown area a special occasion? Do people dress more formally when they go? Do they go here for special reasons, like business or events, or do they sometimes go just to have a good time?

Are the shops under one roof? Situated on a main plaza? Located on a jumble of interconnected streets?

What kinds of shops are located in the center you have chosen? Are the same types of shops found in other centers, or does each center have a “specialty?” Is there more variety found downtown than in local shops?

Are any of these connected to a Western franchise? If so, how familiar does it look to you, and how much has been added in deference to the culture? Are the products of these international shops considered more prestigious than local items?

Are larger shops more frequented than the smaller neighborhood shops? How has the local economy been affected by the arrival of megashops?

Are there special venues for events located downtown, like the opera, musical programs, or plays? Would businesses have special events for their staff at downtown sites rather than at a local venue?

29. ARTS AND CRAFTS

Culture, , , , , , , , ,

Dictionary definition: Arts and Crafts: the creative design of everyday objects

What creative objects and decorations have you observed? How are they used? What value do they seem to have (are they in a place of honor? worn on special occasions)? Who makes them? Are they made at certain times of the year? Are certain crafts associated with ritual practices? Are any crafts gender specific? Do any crafters cross the gender expectation and what do local people think of these people.

What decorative (as opposed to utilitarian) features are used in crafts to make them more attractive? What standards of beauty are there and how does this affect the value of the article? What artistic expressions are found? Are there patterns which are followed or is there room for free expression? Do these appear in special objects or at special occasions (e.g. house decoration, pottery, carving)?

Are the materials for these crafts available locally? If not, how are they obtained?

How are children taught various crafts? At what ages?

Is the activity necessary in order to have the item? or can the item be bought commercially as well? Are formerly hand-made items no longer made because of their availability commercially? What motivates a person to make an item by hand? Which items are more valued– those made commercially, or those made by hand?

Which crafts bring in supplementary income? Is the income pooled with other family funds or does it remain personal property?