Cultural Differences & Culture Shock in North America (Advanced)

ESL/EFL Level: Advanced
Lesson Topics:  Cultural differences and culture shock in North America
Skill Focus
: Speaking, Reading, Vocabulary
Approximate Class Time: 1.5 hours
Lesson Plan Download: cultural-differences-lesson-advanced-082022.docx
Lesson Overview:

  • The reading passage lists thirteen cultural differences in Canada, the United States, and Mexico that could lead to culture shock. The passage closes with six quotations from real visitors about their experiences with culture shock in North America.
  • Speaking activities include students creating a brief presentation for foreign businesspeople on the culture of their home country, two role-play scenarios, and a list of famous quotations about culture.

Jeep atop a map of North America

Note to teachers:

  • I've changed the format of the vocabulary questions. Feedback would be appreciated.
  • OneStopEnglish has a lesson on Culture Shock Around the World that looks good though I have not used it. (Note that it looks like registration is required after visiting that site three times).

ADVANCED Lesson on Cultural Differences in North America: Warm-up (Pair Work)

  1. What does the word ‘culture’ mean to you?
  2. What culture would you say you belong to? What are its traits?
  3. Have you ever experienced culture shock? Explain.

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Cultural Differences Lesson plan copyright Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com

Sources

  • [1] https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-culture-shocks-america-us-2018-11
  • [2] https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/canadian-culture/canadian-culture-communication
  • [3] https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-culture-shocks-america-us-2018-11
  • [4] https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-culture-shocks-america-us-2018-11
  • [5] https://brightlightsofamerica.com/2016/04/culture-shock-in-america/
  • [6] https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-culture-shocks-america-us-2018-11
  • [7] https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/7q2xyd/is_there_an_inoffensive_way_to_ask_about_someones/
  • [8] http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_mx.htm
  • [9] https://www.123teachme.com/learn_spanish/cultural_differences_mexico_united_states
  • [10] https://www.123teachme.com/learn_spanish/cultural_differences_mexico_united_states
  • [11] https://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-city-pda-capital-20190408-story.html
  • [12] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/s195n8/nonamericans_of_reddit_what_was_the_biggest/ Approval received from users to post comments, some of which were amended for clarity.

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