I believe anyone who is planning to visit another country should view this clip or read any article that gives an overview of common differnces within his/her own culture and that of the country to be visited. This will not only save embarassment but could even save ones life. How about if travel agencies and airlines provide this information to their customers? Perhaps Ms. Bush would have saved herself a very awkward international situation.The moral of this 'story' is, there are customs that are different from the ones you know and you should be mindful and respectful of other people's beliefs.
I agree with Claudis and Farhat that the travel agencies should provide information on hand gestures to use and not to use in specific countries. Yes, Farhat, people traveling to other countries should research all aspects of the country they are traveling to. Afterall, it is ulimately the person traveling who is responsible for all his/her actions and should not assume that what is correct in his/her home country is the same in the country he/she is visiting. I think researching that country is respecting that country and not assuming that his/her actions in his/her home country is correct all around the world. Great post!
I also agree with Claudia. I often hear people say things to people here in the United States about "going back to their own country" because they are doing things that are not the norm. These same people should keep other people's customs in mind when traveling outside America. If you do not want to be disrespected, then be mindful of those who practice different customs.
That sounds interesting Lisa. I know that the last thing our country needs to do is insult another world leader. It seems like we all need to learn eachothers gestures because the world seems to be getting smaller and smaller.
I think knowing about the different gestures is very important for everyone, especially for the travelers and teachers since both of them deal with other cultures. I remember when I came to USA in 1980's and my supervisor complimented me about my work by doing A OK, sign which means good in America but in my culture it that has to do something homosexuality. I was offended by that but he did not care, even when I told him about it. Therefore, we have to be careful when talking to students from different cultures.
I agree with you Claudia and think that travel agencies should provide some kind of information about the country you are traveling, but I think it is our responsibility to do a little research about that country before traveling.
I agree it is important to know another culture’s background. I also agree with Claudia that travel agents show provide a brief “cliff notes” book for all countries. It is amazing how the slightest hand gesture could have several different meanings.
This clip was EXTREMELY interesting!!! I knew of a few hand symbols that were considered rude in other countries but some of these were new to me. There should be some education about these symbols before traveling to other countries. This could be dangerous to tourists. People who are traveling to other countries could be disrespectful and not even know it.
Interesting. It reminds me of the saying,"One man's meat is another man's poison." This proves how important it is to learn about a culture before you attempt to interact with people who belong to that group.Ignorance can create really awkward situations or can be even dangerous.
I don't know if it's true, but I heard that the peace sign is bad because in medieval times archers who were captured had their first and middle fingers cut off so that they could not shoot their bow and arrow any more. So archers would taunt their enemies by holding up the two fingers to show that they hadn't been caught yet. Teaching gestures is mentioned in the AKS for modern languages but most of them are not appropriate to teach.
I thought that some of those hand gestures would be universal like holding 2 fingers up. After watching this video, I will definitely not use ANY hand gestures at all.
I don't think this is just limited to hand gestures. I had a student from Africa in one of my classes and asked for a rubber. We were all shocked and explained to him it was an eraser. I also wonder about sign language and if those are universal. What might be an acceptable sign in the US, could be offensive in another country. Even after researching, it would be very difficult to find all the nuances that could be offensive.
Reminds me of some briefings I had before entering Iraq and Afghanistan. It is amazing how easily you can offend another culture. Another one that I can think of is never gesture with your left hand to someone in an Arab county. They consider it unclean. Yep I did this several times but was quickly corrected by locals.
We need to know that some of our most visceral non-verbal conventional hand gestures can have opposite meanings around the world. It is humbling to realize that the meanings are so fluid and dependent on history and context. This is an opportunity to embrace our specific non-verbal culture. It could also be an opportunity to learn another.
One commonly taught method of engaging a broader group of our students than is possible calling on individuals, is to ask everyone for non-verbal responses such as evaluating another's predictions about a plot in fiction or a result in a science experiment, using thumbs-up for agreement, thumbs-down for disagreement, and thumbs-sideways for uncertainty. If we are studying Africa or the South Pacific, it might be fun to teach and use a separate set of gestures (agree/disagree/don't know) unique to that geography.
This particular video is one of those lessons elementary teachers must keep to themselves. I can possibly see showing this in a middle or high school social studies or language arts class, but not in an elementary school. I will be on the look out for a less sexually charged set of interpretations.
When I want my students to be quiet, I hold my arm straight out and make my finger straight with their tips tightly meeting up with my extended thumb, mimicking closed lips. It is very effective in Gwinnett County. I hope it won't upset anyone.
Very interesting. This is a video that I might show to my studnets. It is very interested to know that the gestures in one country may mean something demeaning in another. That just prove that we should be aware of diversity and culture differences in the world. We need to learn to be cross culture and realize that what we have in our culture is not the same for another.
Watching this video was a learning experience for me. I had no idea hand gesture communication was different in other countries. I guess, I never thought about it. These are information that should be used in airplane videos to educate the travelers about their destination compared to where they are traveling from. At least a hand out/brochure would be helpful. Wow it's amazing. Great stuff!!!
I think the moral of this video is to keep your hands to yourself! While it is very interesting that different cultures share similar hand signs, I was surprised that most had negative connotations. It also makes me wonder how many students I have offended or shocked over the years with my "hand language".
I agree! After watching this clip, I can only imagine "what messages" I may have sent to my girls at school. They are all refugees! I need to have a little chat with them to see if I have some apologies to offer. (Then we can have a good laugh.) I'm passing this this clip on to other staff and volunteers at the school!
I agree it is interesting how these gestures have negative connotations. I was curious about Sign Language, so I looked up to see if other countries have their own. Each country has their own Sign Language. I hope the Sign Language does not collide with those gestures not to use.
I certainly hope that in my travels I have never offended anyone! I agree that airlines and travel companies should provide local culture videos such as this one to help travellers to be considerate of the culture they are visiting.
Wow,who would have thought so many hand gestures have negative connotations. I wonder what is the history of why the gestures have so different. I hope our ambassors throughout the world have learned this imformation. Learning a Language...Why isn't our school systems teaching this method of Dr. Paul Pimsleur. I sat through many hours in high school Latin class and was bored out of my mind. The only good thing I learned were root words for understanding English.
Wow, this was quite interesting. It amazes me that most of the symbols used in our country were positive, and when used in other countries were negative. I wonder if hand gestures in general are considered used in poor taste abroad. I agree that this information needs to be made available to anyone travelling abroad. It could become an international incident very quickly. Be careful!
I believe anyone who is planning to visit another country should view this clip or read any article that gives an overview of common differnces within his/her own culture and that of the country to be visited. This will not only save embarassment but could even save ones life. How about if travel agencies and airlines provide this information to their customers? Perhaps Ms. Bush would have saved herself a very awkward international situation.The moral of this 'story' is, there are customs that are different from the ones you know and you should be mindful and respectful of other people's beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Claudis and Farhat that the travel agencies should provide information on hand gestures to use and not to use in specific countries. Yes, Farhat, people traveling to other countries should research all aspects of the country they are traveling to. Afterall, it is ulimately the person traveling who is responsible for all his/her actions and should not assume that what is correct in his/her home country is the same in the country he/she is visiting. I think researching that country is respecting that country and not assuming that his/her actions in his/her home country is correct all around the world. Great post!
DeleteI also agree with Claudia. I often hear people say things to people here in the United States about "going back to their own country" because they are doing things that are not the norm. These same people should keep other people's customs in mind when traveling outside America. If you do not want to be disrespected, then be mindful of those who practice different customs.
DeleteI once heard a speech given by someone who worked for the Carter Administration and her job included briefing the President on such potential errors.
DeleteThat sounds interesting Lisa. I know that the last thing our country needs to do is insult another world leader. It seems like we all need to learn eachothers gestures because the world seems to be getting smaller and smaller.
DeleteI think knowing about the different gestures is very important for everyone, especially for the travelers and teachers since both of them deal with other cultures. I remember when I came to USA in 1980's and my supervisor complimented me about my work by doing A OK, sign which means good in America but in my culture it that has to do something homosexuality. I was offended by that but he did not care, even when I told him about it. Therefore, we have to be careful when talking to students from different cultures.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Claudia and think that travel agencies should provide some kind of information about the country you are traveling, but I think it is our responsibility to do a little research about that country before traveling.
DeleteI agree it is important to know another culture’s background. I also agree with Claudia that travel agents show provide a brief “cliff notes” book for all countries. It is amazing how the slightest hand gesture could have several different meanings.
DeleteThis clip was EXTREMELY interesting!!! I knew of a few hand symbols that were considered rude in other countries but some of these were new to me. There should be some education about these symbols before traveling to other countries. This could be dangerous to tourists. People who are traveling to other countries could be disrespectful and not even know it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think if you plan on visiting another country you should learn about gestures, symbols, etc.
DeleteInteresting. It reminds me of the saying,"One man's meat is another man's poison." This proves how important it is to learn about a culture before you attempt to interact with people who belong to that group.Ignorance can create really awkward situations or can be even dangerous.
DeleteMaking a note....do not use hand symbols... Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100 percent.
DeleteI don't know if it's true, but I heard that the peace sign is bad because in medieval times archers who were captured had their first and middle fingers cut off so that they could not shoot their bow and arrow any more. So archers would taunt their enemies by holding up the two fingers to show that they hadn't been caught yet. Teaching gestures is mentioned in the AKS for modern languages but most of them are not appropriate to teach.
ReplyDeleteI had not heard that about the peace sign. Interesting.
DeleteI thought that some of those hand gestures would be universal like holding 2 fingers up. After watching this video, I will definitely not use ANY hand gestures at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this is just limited to hand gestures. I had a student from Africa in one of my classes and asked for a rubber. We were all shocked and explained to him it was an eraser. I also wonder about sign language and if those are universal. What might be an acceptable sign in the US, could be offensive in another country. Even after researching, it would be very difficult to find all the nuances that could be offensive.
DeleteReminds me of some briefings I had before entering Iraq and Afghanistan. It is amazing how easily you can offend another culture. Another one that I can think of is never gesture with your left hand to someone in an Arab county. They consider it unclean. Yep I did this several times but was quickly corrected by locals.
ReplyDeleteWow! That was interesting. I would have never thought some of those gestures meant such negative things in other places.
ReplyDeleteWe need to know that some of our most visceral non-verbal conventional hand gestures can have opposite meanings around the world. It is humbling to realize that the meanings are so fluid and dependent on history and context. This is an opportunity to embrace our specific non-verbal culture. It could also be an opportunity to learn another.
ReplyDeleteOne commonly taught method of engaging a broader group of our students than is possible calling on individuals, is to ask everyone for non-verbal responses such as evaluating another's predictions about a plot in fiction or a result in a science experiment, using thumbs-up for agreement, thumbs-down for disagreement, and thumbs-sideways for uncertainty. If we are studying Africa or the South Pacific, it might be fun to teach and use a separate set of gestures (agree/disagree/don't know) unique to that geography.
This particular video is one of those lessons elementary teachers must keep to themselves. I can possibly see showing this in a middle or high school social studies or language arts class, but not in an elementary school. I will be on the look out for a less sexually charged set of interpretations.
When I want my students to be quiet, I hold my arm straight out and make my finger straight with their tips tightly meeting up with my extended thumb, mimicking closed lips. It is very effective in Gwinnett County. I hope it won't upset anyone.
Very interesting. This is a video that I might show to my studnets. It is very interested to know that the gestures in one country may mean something demeaning in another. That just prove that we should be aware of diversity and culture differences in the world. We need to learn to be cross culture and realize that what we have in our culture is not the same for another.
ReplyDeleteWatching this video was a learning experience for me. I had no idea hand gesture communication was different in other countries. I guess, I never thought about it. These are information that should be used in airplane videos to educate the travelers about their destination compared to where they are traveling from. At least a hand out/brochure would be helpful. Wow it's amazing. Great stuff!!!
ReplyDeleteAirline videos are an excellent idea! I think they should also include information on facial expressions and personal space as well.
DeleteI think the moral of this video is to keep your hands to yourself! While it is very interesting that different cultures share similar hand signs, I was surprised that most had negative connotations. It also makes me wonder how many students I have offended or shocked over the years with my "hand language".
ReplyDeleteLOL Rebobinage! You have me thinking now.
DeleteI also wonder how many of our students are laughing at us because we didn't know what we were saying with our "hand language".
DeleteI agree! After watching this clip, I can only imagine "what messages" I may have sent to my girls at school. They are all refugees! I need to have a little chat with them to see if I have some apologies to offer. (Then we can have a good laugh.) I'm passing this this clip on to other staff and volunteers at the school!
DeleteI agree it is interesting how these gestures have negative connotations. I was curious about Sign Language, so I looked up to see if other countries have their own. Each country has their own Sign Language. I hope the Sign Language does not collide with those gestures not to use.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope that in my travels I have never offended anyone! I agree that airlines and travel companies should provide local culture videos such as this one to help travellers to be considerate of the culture they are visiting.
ReplyDeleteWow,who would have thought so many hand gestures have negative connotations. I wonder what is the history of why the gestures have so different. I hope our ambassors throughout the world have learned this imformation.
ReplyDeleteLearning a Language...Why isn't our school systems teaching this method of Dr. Paul Pimsleur. I sat through many hours in high school Latin class and was bored out of my mind. The only good thing I learned were root words for understanding English.
Wow, this was quite interesting. It amazes me that most of the symbols used in our country were positive, and when used in other countries were negative. I wonder if hand gestures in general are considered used in poor taste abroad. I agree that this information needs to be made available to anyone travelling abroad. It could become an international incident very quickly.
ReplyDeleteBe careful!