Western culture part 1

1. Western Culture
AWARE Center

2. Importance of understanding the
culture
• Beliefs, values and norms
• Traditions
• Heritage

3. What do they consider
?important
• Admire achievement
• Practicality
• Material comfort
• Freedom
• Individuality

4. Greetings
• Hand shake
• Pat on the back (men)
• Short, they don’t take long.

5. Body Language
• Limited hand movements
• Just turn your head to look at someone, not
necessarily your whole body.
• Keep eye contact – very important
• Smiling
• Personal space

6. Sign language
• Waving
• Rude signs
• V sign (peace / victory)
• Thumb

7. Language
• English – many accents
• European languages – (French, German,
Italian, Spanish etc)
• British / Americans don’t talk loudly

8. Emotions
• Happiness
• Grief

9. Gifts
• If you give them a gift they will open it
immediately.
• If you give them a gift it can be something
practical or personal (chocolates or flowers
for women).

10. Invitations
• Westerners like to talk over dinner, taking a
long time over a meal.
• Western parties are often standing all night
making small talk with a drink and nibbles.
• Westerners usually pay for their own meal
(going dutch) if u want to pay its better to
state it when making the arrangements.

11. If visiting their home
• They will turn off the TV.
• Offer you a cup of tea/coffee but if you
refuse they won’t insist to make you one.
• You may only be given a cup of tea,
nothing else.
• If they have pets (dogs) they may not shut
them in another room.

12. Visiting the sick
• Bunch of grapes / flowers
• Only immediate family tend to visit the
hospital. Others may send a card.

13. Dining
• Table manners
• Children are expected to sit still
• Children ask permission to leave the table
• Everyone stays sitting until everyone has
finished

14. Time
• Punctuality
• Time is money

15. Rules
• Discipline
• British follow the rules
• Queues

16. Business
• Privacy. (They expect only people involved
to be in the meeting)
• Interruptions. Put your mobile on silent if
you cant switch it off. Don’t answer it
during a meeting.
• Westerners like deals to be confirmed in
writing.

17. .How to gain their respect
• Keep your word
• Non personal questions
• Don’t force food & drink
• Speak with quiet voice, don’t shout across
the room
• If you ask a question, wait for the answer

18. Sensitive Topics
• Politics
• Religion
• Age
• Weight
• Pregnancy
• Personal Questions

19. End of part 1
Thank You