Matakuliah
Tahun
: V0052
: 2008
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHERS:
The US, Australia, England
Week 8
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, the students should be able to
explain the cultural characteristics of English speaking
countries; The US, Australia and UK.
Mahasiswa dapat menjelaskan karakteristik budaya dari negaranegara berbahasa Inggris; Amerika Serikat, Australia dan Inggris.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Subjects
English Speaking Countries:
• The US
• Australia
• UK
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
The US: Facts and Statistics
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Bina Nusantara
Location: North America, bordering both the North
Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between
Canada and Mexico
Capital: Washington, DC
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and
Florida, arctic in Alaska
Population: 301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian
4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%, native
Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.)
Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%,
Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none
10% (2002 est.)
Government: Constitution-based federal republic
Language: English (American English)
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Week 8
American Society and Culture
• Diversity
America is ultimately a nation of immigrants. Not
only is the country populated by people from
foreign countries but all Americans in one way or
another trace their ancestry back to another
culture, whether Irish, German, Italian or
Scottish. Looking around any major city one will
notice the ‘melting-pot’ that it is.
Bina Nusantara
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6
Week 8
American Society and Culture
• Informal and Friendly
Most people who come to the United States may
already know a few things about the people
through TV. Although this is of course a skewed
reality some of the stereotypes are true,
especially American friendliness and informality.
People tend to not wait to be introduced, will
begin to speak with strangers as they stand in a
queue, sit next to each other at an event, etc.
Visitors can often be surprised when people are
so informal to the point of being very direct or
even rude.
Bina Nusantara
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7
Week 8
American Society and Culture
• Time is Money
Time is a very important commodity. People
'save' time and 'spend' time as if it were money
in the bank. Americans ascribe personality
characteristics and values based on how people
use time. For example, people who are on-time
are considered to be good people, reliable
people who others can count on.
Bina Nusantara
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8
Week 8
American Society and Culture
• The Family
• The family unit is generally considered the
nuclear family, and is typically small (with
exceptions among certain ethnic groups).
Extended family relatives live in their own
homes, often at great distances from their
children.
• Individualism is prized, and this is reflected in the
family unit. People are proud of their individual
accomplishments, initiative and success, and
may, or may not, share those sources of pride
with their elders.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Meeting and Greeting
• Greetings are casual.
• A handshake, a smile, and a 'hello' are
all that is needed.
• Handshakes are firm, brief and confident
• Smile!
• Use first names, and be sure to
introduce everyone to each other
• Maintain eye contact during the greeting
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Meeting and Greeting
• Most people will insist that you call them by their
nickname, if they have one.
• In formal circumstances, you may want to use
titles and surnames as a courtesy until you are
invited to move to a first name basis, which will
happen quickly.
• Business cards are exchanged without formal
ritual.
• It is quite common for the recipient to put your
card in their wallet, which may then go in the
back pocket of their trousers. This is not an
insult.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Gift Giving Etiquette
• In general, Americans give gifts for birthdays,
anniversaries and major holidays, such as
Christmas.
• A gift can be as simple as a card and personal
note to something more elaborate for a person
with whom you are close.
• Gift giving is not an elaborate event, except at
Christmas.
• When invited to someone's home for dinner, it is
polite to bring a small box of good chocolates, a
bottle of wine, a potted plant or flowers for the
hostess.
• Gifts are normally opened when received.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Communication Style
• Americans are direct. They value logic and linear
thinking and expect people to speak clearly and
in a straightforward manner.
• To them if you don’t “tell it how it is” you simply
waste time, and time is money.
• Try to get to your point more quickly and don’t be
afraid to be more direct and honest than you are
used to.
• Americans will use the telephone to conduct
business that would require a face-to-face
meeting in most other countries. They do not
insist upon seeing or getting to know the people
with whom they do business.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Business Meetings
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Bina Nusantara
Arrive on time for meetings since time and punctuality
are so important to Americans. In the Northeast and
Midwest, people are extremely punctual and view it as
a sign of disrespect for someone to be late for a
meeting or appointment. In the Southern and Western
states, people may be a little more relaxed, but to be
safe, always arrive on time, although you may have to
wait a little before your meeting begins.
Meetings may appear relaxed, but they are taken
quite seriously. If there is an agenda, it will be
followed.
At the conclusion of the meeting, there will be a
summary of what was decided, a list of who will
implement which facets and a list of the next steps to
be taken and by whom.
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Week 8
Business Meetings
• If you make a presentation, it should be direct
and to the point. Visual aids should further
enhance your case. Use statistics to back up
your claims, since Americans are impressed by
hard data and evidence.
• Business is conducted rapidly. Expect very little
small talk before getting down to business. It is
common to attempt to reach an oral agreement
at the first meeting.
• The emphasis is on getting a contract signed
rather than building a relationship. The
relationship may develop once the first contract
has been signed
Source: www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/usa.html
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
AMERICANS vs AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH
AUSTRALIA
Bina Nusantara
AMERICANS
Tomato sauce = ketchup
Tomato sauce = sauce for
Entrée = light dish eaten at the
meal
Entrée refers to main course dish
Serviette
Napkin
Napkin or nappy
Diaper
Pharmacy or chemist
Drug store
Lifts
Elevators
Holidays
Vacations
Trips
Journeys
Films
Movies
Shops
Stores
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Week 8
AMERICANS
DINING PREFERENCES
• Americans are used to a waiter bringing ice
water as soon as they sit down in a restaurant
• Americans may like salad before their main
course
• Traditional American breakfast is ham and
eggs, with sweet pastries
• The very important American tradition of
Thanksgiving Day is held on the 4th Thursday
of November each year – roast turkey and
pumpkin pie are among the symbols of this
festival
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
AMERICANS
DINING PREFERENCES
• Americans are used to a waiter bringing ice
water as soon as they sit down in a restaurant
• Americans may like salad before their main
course
• Traditional American breakfast is ham and
eggs, with sweet pastries
• The very important American tradition of
Thanksgiving Day is held on the 4th Thursday
of November each year – roast turkey and
pumpkin pie are among the symbols of this
festival
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
AMERICANS
DINING PREFERENCES
• The American custom is to eat with the fork in
the right hand, the knife is used only when
necessary for cutting or spreading
• When one orders a whisky in the USA, a
bourbon will usually be served, so it may be
necessary to clarify what Americans want if
they order a whisky
• Cocktails are popular amongst Americans
• Americans may enjoy a mixed drink before
dinner
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
AMERICANS
SERVICE PREFERENCES
• Americans tend to know exactly what they
want, and American visitors can give very
detailed orders and tend to ask a lot of
questions
• In general, Americans expect immediate,
perfect and very attentive service – stress on
high standards
• Tipping is an accepted part of everyday life
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
AMERICANS
• The basic tipping rates are approx. as
follows:
– Waiter = 15% (20% for a group)
– Bartender, hairdresser/barber, taxi
driver = 15%
– Doorman, airport/hotel porter = $
0.50 per bag ($1 min.)
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
AUSTRALIA
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Australia: Facts and Statistics
• Location: Oceania, continent between the
Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
• Capital: Canberra
• Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in
south and east; tropical in north
• Population: 19,913,144 (July 2004 est.)
• Ethnic Make-up: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%,
aboriginal and other 1%
• Religions: ;Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic
26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%,
other 12.6%
• Government: democratic, federal-state system
recognizing the British monarch as sovereign
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Australia: A Multi-Cultural Society
• The initial population of Australia was made up of
Aborigines and people of British and Irish descent.
After World War II there was heavy migration from
Europe, especially from Greece, Italy, Germany,
the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, and
Turkey.
• In the last thirty years, Australia has liberalized its
immigration policy and opened its borders to
South East Asia.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Australian Cultures
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Bina Nusantara
The Key: Accept “mateship”
Show you are willing to be one of the mates
Always lead from the front and never ask anyone
to do anything you would not do yourself
Roll up your sleeves and help people to move
tables
Sarcasm, irony, jokes and anecdotes are popular
Don’t oversell yourself and undersell your
Australian host
They are free spenders
Like cheerfulness and affability
Often mix business with social activities
Do them favours, they are quick to repay
Human rights are high on their priorities list
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Week 8
Australian Cultures
What to Avoid?
• Using flowery speech
• Any form of arrogance
• Intruding into their leisure time
• Boasting about your past achievements
• Referring to their convict past
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Australian Cultures
Communication Styles:
• They love criticizing themselves but take it poorly
to being criticized
• Everyone is treated equally
• Australian speak in a uniform languages and
there are hardly any regional variations
• Jokes, sarcasm, irony and anecdotes are
popular
• Good sense of humor
• They are used to informality
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
Meeting Etiquette
• Australians are not very formal so
greetings are casual and relaxed.
• A handshake and smile suffices.
• Australian may say, 'G'day' or 'G'day,
mate‘ (this may sound patronizing from a
foreigner).
• Visitors should simply say, 'Hello' or
'Hello, how are you?‘
• Aussies prefer to use first names, even
at the initial meeting
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Business Meeting Etiquette
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Bina Nusantara
Appointments are necessary and relatively easy to
schedule.
Punctuality is important in business situations. It is
better to arrive a few minutes early than to keep
someone waiting.
Meetings are generally relaxed; however, they are
serious events.
If you make a presentation, avoid hype, making
exaggerated claims, or bells and whistles.
Present your business case with facts and figures.
Emotions and feelings are not important in the
Australian business climate.
Business cards are exchanged at the initial
introduction without formal ritual.
If you are not given a business card, it is not an insult;
the person simply may not have one.
HO 0708
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Week 8
Gift Giving Etiquette
• Small gifts are commonly exchanged with
family members, close friends, and
neighbours on birthdays and Christmas.
• If invited to someone's home for dinner, it
is polite to bring a box of chocolates or
flowers to the hostess. A good quality
bottle of wine is always appreciated.
• Gifts are opened when received.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
Dining Etiquette
• Many invitations to an Aussies home will be for a
'barbie' (BBQ).
• Guests to a barbeque typically bring wine or beer
for their personal consumption. In some cases,
very informal barbecues may suggest that you
bring your own meat!
• Arrive on time if invited to dinner; no more than 15
minutes late if invited to a barbeque or a large
party.
• Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she
would like you to bring a dish.
• Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or
clearing up after a meal is served.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Dining Etiquette
• Table manners are Continental -- hold the
fork in the left hand and the knife in the
right while eating.
• Indicate you have finished eating by
laying your knife and fork parallel on your
plate with the handles facing to the right.
• Keep your elbows off the table and your
hands above the table when eating.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
Negotiating and Decision Making
• Australians get down to business quickly with a
minimum amount of small talk.
• They are quite direct and expect the same in
return. They appreciate brevity and are not
impressed by too much detail.
• Negotiations proceed quickly. Bargaining is not
customary. They will expect your initial proposal to
have only a small margin for negotiation.
• They do not like high-pressure techniques.
• Decision-making is concentrated at the top of the
company, although decisions are made after
consultation with subordinates, which can make
decision making slow and protracted.
Source: www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/Australia.html
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
UNITED KINGDOM
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
UK: Facts and Statistics
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Bina Nusantara
Location: Western Europe
Capital: London
Climate: temperate; more than one-half of the days are
overcast
Population: 60,776,238 (July 2007 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish
8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%,
Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6%
(2001 census)
Religions: Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic,
Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%,
other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001 census)
Government: constitutional monarchy
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Week 8
UK: The People
• The United Kingdom is comprised of four countries:
England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Each country has a strong sense of identity and
nationalism felt by the populations of these nations.
• The terms 'English' and 'British' do not mean the
same thing
• British denotes someone who is from England,
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
• English refers to people from England
• People from Scotland are 'Scots', from Wales
‘Welsh’ and from Northern Ireland ‘Irish’
• Be sure not to call someone Welsh, Scots, or
Northern Irish ‘English’.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
UK: A Multicultural Society
• Formerly a very homogenous society, since
World War II, Britain has become
increasingly diverse as it has
accommodated large immigrant
populations, particularly from its former
colonies such as India, Pakistan and the
West Indies.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
UK: Meeting and Greeting
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Bina Nusantara
The handshake is the common form of greeting.
The British might seem a little stiff and formal at first.
Avoid prolonged eye contact as it makes people feel
uncomfortable.
There is still some protocol to follow when
introducing people in a business or more formal
social situation.
Introduce a younger person to an older person.
Introduce a person of lower status to a person of
higher status.
When two people are of similar age and rank,
introduce the one you know better to the other
person.
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Week 8
UK: Meeting and Greeting
• Most people use the courtesy titles or Mr, Mrs or
Miss and their surname.
• Wait until invited before moving to a first-name
basis. People under the age of 35 may make this
move more rapidly than older British.
• Business cards are exchanged at the initial
introduction without formal ritual.
• The business card may be put away with only a
cursory glance so don’t be offended if not much
attention is paid to it.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
UK: Gift Giving Etiquette
• The British exchange gifts between family
members and close friends for birthdays and
Christmas.
• The gift need not be expensive, but it should
usually demonstrate an attempt to find
something that related to the recipient’s
interests.
• If invited to someone's home, it is normal to
take along a box of good chocolates, a good
bottle of wine or flowers.
• Gifts are opened when received.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
UK: Dining Etiquette
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Bina Nusantara
Unlike many European cultures, the British enjoy
entertaining in people their homes.
Although the British value punctuality, you may arrive
10-15 minutes later than invited to dinner. However, if
going to a restaurant be on time.
Table manners are Continental, i.e. the fork is held in the
left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
The fork is held tines down so food is scooped on to the
back of the fork. This is a skill that takes time to master.
Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be
shown to a particular seat.
Do not rest your elbows on the table.
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Week 8
UK: Dining Etiquette
• If you have not finished eating, cross your knife
and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.
• Indicate you have finished eating by laying your
knife and fork parallel across the right side of your
plate.
• Toasts are given at formal meals.
• When in a pub, it is common practice to pay for a
round of drinks for everyone in your group.
• If invited to a meal at a restaurant, the person
extending the invitation usually pays. Do not argue
about the check; simply reciprocate at a later time.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
UK: The British Communication Style
• When communicating with people they see as
equal to themselves in rank or class, the British
are direct, but modest.
• When communicating with someone they know
well, their style may be more informal, although
they will still be reserved.
• Written communication follows strict rules of
protocol. How a letter is closed varies depending
upon how well the writer knows the recipient.
Written communication is always addressed using
the person's title and their surname. First names
are not generally used in written communication,
unless you know the person well.
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
UK: The British Communication Style
• E-mail is now much more widespread,
however the communication style remains
more formal, at least initially, than in many
other countries.
• Most British will not use slang or
abbreviations and will think negatively if
your communication appears overly
familiar.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
UK: Business Meetings
• If you plan to use an agenda, be sure to forward it
to your British colleagues in sufficient time for them
to review it and recommend any changes.
• Punctuality is important in business situations. In
most cases, the people you are meeting will be on
time. Scots are extremely punctual. Call if you will
be even 5 minutes later than agreed.
• If you are kept waiting a few minutes, do not make
an issue of it. Likewise, if you know that you will be
late it is a good idea to telephone and offer your
apologies.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
45
Week 8
UK: Business Meetings
• In general, meetings will be rather formal
• Meetings always have a clearly defined purpose,
which may include an agenda.
• If there is a senior ranking person in the room, that
person will do most of the speaking
• There will be a brief amount of small talk before
getting down to the business at hand.
• If you make a presentation, avoid making
exaggerated claims.
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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Week 8
UK: Business Meetings
• Make certain your presentation and any materials
provided appear professional and well thought out.
• Be prepared to back up your claims with facts and
figures. The British rely on facts, rather than
emotions, to make decisions.
• Maintain eye contact and a few feet of personal
space.
• After a meeting, send a letter summarizing what
was decided and the next steps to be taken.
Source: www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/UK.html
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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QUESTIONS?
Bina Nusantara
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Week 8
Review Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Bina Nusantara
The Americans population is made up of many ethnic groups. It is
called ……………..
How many states are there in the USA?
The USA is a society that places a much greater emphasis on the
…….. than on the group
Americans tend to be more exacting about standards of
performance (T or F)?
Many Americans expect to be served iced water as soon as they
sit down in a restaurant (T or F)?
In Australia and UK, gifts are saved when received and opened
later (T or F)?
The “mateship” is important in Australia (T or F)?
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Week 8
Group Discussion
Group A :
Compare the dining etiquette between Americans,
Australians and British
Group B:
Compare the meeting/ business meeting etiquette
between Americans, Australians and British
Bina Nusantara
HO 0708
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