This document discusses customs and traditions in different countries around the world. It begins by outlining common greetings such as handshakes in Britain and the US, bowing in China, and kissing cheeks in France. It also discusses table manners including using chopsticks in China and slurping noodles as a sign of respect. Further customs covered include removing shoes before entering homes in Asia and considering silence during meals embarrassing in Ukraine. The document concludes that understanding cultural differences can help avoid misunderstandings when visiting other places.

1. AROUND THE WORLD!
By: John J. Betancourth

2. Hello!
We are going to study some customs around the
world.
We are to answer the questions:
What is different and what is common?
What and why do we have to know while visiting
other countries?

3. We’ve checked some
websites and
that’s what
we have found out…

4. Ways of greeting in different countries
Words Countries Gestures
Britain A handshake
The USA A handshake, a hug
(friends)
China A bow
France A light handshake, a double
kiss on the cheeks
India A slight bow with hands
pressed together
Mexico A handshake (may be
followed by a strong hug
and a few hearty pats on
the back)
Ukraine A hug, three kisses
Hello!
Hello!
Ni hao!
Bon jour!
Namaste!
Hola!
Dobrogo dnia! /
Pryvit!

5. Tables manners: People…
…have to ask three times, offer
you food three times before
you can accept it
In Indonesia
…eat with a fork and a knife In the USA
and European countries
(including Ukraine)
…eat with fingers in India
…eat with chopsticks In China and Japan
...slurp their noodle and smack
their lips as a sign of respect
In China and Japan
…belch at the table (it’s a
compliment)
In Arab countries and India

6. Other customs: People…
…remove their
shoes before
entering
somebody’s house
in most Asian
countries
…arrive on time for
meetings or social
events
in Britain
…believe that the
smile is a sign of
frivolity
in Korea and Japan
…consider periods
of silence during a
meal embarrassing
in Ukraine

7. We’ve compared the Colombian customs with those
of the other countries and we’ve come to the
conclusion that…
• we’ve got much in common
with the USA and some European countries.
• Customs in Asian and Arab
countries differ a lot from ours.

8. We’ve read a lot about culture and customs in
other countries and now we know that..
• …customs are closely
connected with the
history of the country
and its religion;
• …customs within one
and the same country
depend on gender, on
age, on how familiar
you are and on what
region of the country
you are from;
• …customs in many
countries are changing
due to globalization.

9. The brainstorming has helped us
realize that not knowing other
peoples’ customs can result in
misunderstanding and
misinterpreting!
To avoid it we should
know more about other
cultures!

10. The literature and I-net resources
• English-Ukrainian dictionary/ By M. I. Balla.- Kyiv: “Osvita” Publishing House, 1996.
• Solutions. Pre-Intermediate. Student's book / Anita Omelanczuk, Caroline Krantz, Tim Falla, Paul A
Davies. Oxford University Press, 2009.
• http://dic.academic.ru/
• http://luccava.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/greetings-from-around-the-worldmeeting-and-greeting-customs/
• http://www.stonebtb.com/news/Countries_Profiles/13479-Greeting-People-in-Different-
Countries.shtml
• http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/brochure/international/studsup/ready/dcdc/?view=Standard
• http://www.eslprintables.com/register/register1.htm
• http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/43902.aspx
• http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/greeting-customs-–-how-do-you-greet-people-where-youre-from/
• http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/12/02/210-french-kissing-map/
• http://www.hawaii.edu/hga/GAW97/greeting.html
• http://amolife.com/customs-and-traditions/a-question-of-culture-greeting-people-in-different-
coun.html
• http://www.videojug.com/interview/manners-and-body-language-across-cultures-2#how-do-
greetings-differ-among-cultures
• http://www.brucevanpatter.com/world_greetings.html