Speak out

Task I.Read the following dialogues aloud and dramatically.Then role-play them in your group.

Dialogue A　The Pennsylvania Dutch

（In the library）

Cindy：What is the origin of Pennsylvania Dutch？

David：In their search for religious freedom，some German-speaking groups immigrated to the American colonies and settled mainly in Pennsylvania.They came to be known as the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Cindy：Why were they called“Dutch”although none of them were from Holland？

David：The term“Dutch”evolved as a mispronunciation of the word“Deutsch”meaning“German”.

Cindy：What does it mean to be Pennsylvania Dutch？

David：It means a very strict up-bringing in the old ways.Whatever the parents say goes.Everyone is encouraged to speak his mind but the final decision is with the parents.

Cindy：What is the most important value of family life？

David：Trust is important.Parents never lie to children.Children are responsible for their own actions and the consequences.

Cindy：How do the people treat each other？

David：Everyone is taught to like everyone and to treat everyone the same.If someone needs help，you help that person.You never ask for anything，but if someone needs something that you have，you give it.

Cindy：Do you buy articles of clothing at the store？

David：A word for Pennsylvania Dutch is“home made”.It’s all made with a warm touch.All food，clothing，bedding，tablecloths，etc.，except shoes，are made at home.

Cindy：How did you learn to cook？

David：By watching.I used to ask for recipes，but my mother would laugh and then tell me，“If you want to learn，you watch me”.Till this day，that’s how I learn.

Dialogue B　Happy New Year

（In the supermarket）

Beth：Fancy meeting you here，Paul.I am so thrilled about the New Year’s Eve party.

Paul：Hi，Beth.I’m looking forward to it，too.So，this is your first New Year’s Eve in the United States，right？

Beth：Yes.I have never spent this holiday anywhere other than in my own country.

Paul：How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Britain？

Beth：Well，in London there is always a firework display.And people sing the famous Scottish song Auld Lang Syne.

Paul：I know that song，but I can never remember all the words，so I just sing the first line and then mouth the rest of it.

Beth：Ha-ha，I do that，too！

Paul：What else do you do to celebrate New Year’s Eve？

Beth：Mm-hmm.People drink a lot and there is a tradition called“First Footing”.

Paul：What does that mean？

Beth：The first person over the threshold of a house after midnight must bring coal，bread，milk，alcohol，etc.You know，for luck.The gifts are then distributed to all the people in the house.

Paul：Wow，that sounds good.I always like getting gifts.

Beth：OK.I’ll make sure you’ll get mine after the party.Do you like drinking Scotch？

Paul：Fantastic！

Task II.Read the following monologues and retell them in your own words in your group.

Monologue A　Culture Shock

“Culture shock”is used to describe the emotional rollercoaster that someone experiences when living in a new country.Anyone that has worked and lived in a foreign country will experience culture shock of some kind.I’ve been in the USA for a year and fully understand what it is.

Culture shock affects anyone from business personnel and their families，to EFL teachers to sports stars.Speaking from my own experience，recognizing culture shock is an important way of being able to deal with it.Dealing with it helps minimize the risk of becoming disillusioned with a new country and the possibility of deciding that a quick“return home”is the only solution.

It must be heartening to learn that experts agree that culture shock has stages and that once people get beyond the initial and most difficult stages，life in a new country becomes a lot better.

Monologue B　Gift Giving Customs in the USA

When I was living in the USA，I was invited to some occasions.I found giving gifts was a tricky issue.The following are some tips I can offer.If you are invited to a wedding，baby shower，bar mitzvah，or other celebration，it is expected that you will bring a gift.Unless you know the host very well，the gift should be modest in value，about $25.

If you need help selecting a gift，talk to a salesperson at a department store.Tell them about the person who will be receiving the gift and the reason for the gift，and they will help you find something appropriate and within your budget.

If you wish to give a gift when you leave to return to your home country，the best gift is something that is unique to your country.If you owe a debt of deep gratitude to an American host family，a common way of repaying it is to take the family to a form of entertainment，such as a baseball，basketball，or hockey game，the ballet，or to a good restaurant.

New words and expressions for Task I and Task II

1.Pennsylvania　　n.　　（美国）—宾夕法尼亚州

2.immigrate　　v.　　移民到某地

3.consequence　　n.　　结果；后果

4.recipe　　n.　　烹饪法；食谱

5.Auld Lang Syne　　美好的昔日（苏格兰民歌）

6.threshold　　n.　　门槛；开始

7.Scotch　　n.　　（苏格兰）威士忌

8.rollercoaster　　n.　　过山车

9.disillusioned　　adj.　　不再抱幻想的；大失所望的

10.bar mitzvah　　受诫礼（为满13岁的犹太男孩举行的成人仪式）