1. Students form into small groups. 

2. The table below shows three six proverb groups. Compare Group 1 and 2, and answer the following questions:

(a) Which of Hofstede’s orientations does each proverb group promote? 

(b) Explain the message in the proverbs related to that dimension.

(c) What countries do you think these proverbs describe? What is your reasoning?

3. Repeat the process for Group 3 and 4; and then for Group 5 and 6.

4. Can you think of another proverb from your own country that seems to reflect an aspect of its national culture?

5. If you were to offer a foreign visitor to your own country one piece of cultural advice as to what to do or avoid doing when interacting with a resident (in their home, in an office, or on the street) what would that advice be?

GROUP 1 one palm makes no applause a single tree makes no forest; one string makes no music giving convenience to others is to give it to yourself the nail that sticks up gets pounded rafters that jut out rot first GROUP 3 a turnip cooked hastily may still have soil residue honing the hatchet will not delay woodcutting an oak is not felled at one stroke when drawing water from a well, never forget the well diggers a constant drip wears away a stone a flower deliberately grown may not bloom; but a sapling planted accidentally may grow into a tree GROUP 5 a teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime. honour the teacher and revere his teaching be at other's beck and call rather be the head of a chicken than a tail of a phoenix a golden hammer breaks an iron door let the emperor be an emperor, the minister a minister, the father a father, and the son a son GROUP 2 too many cooks spoil the broth two's company, but three's a crowd a squeaking wheel gets the grease lend your money and lose your friend familiarity breeds contempt don't hide your light under a bushel GROUP 4 a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today no news is good news easy come, easy go a new broom sweeps clean eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you may die GROUP 6 a wise man admits his ignorance; an ignorant man admits his wisdom from little acorns mighty oaks do grow do unto others as you would have them do unto you what is good for the goose is good for the gander those you pass on the way up the ladder will be the same ones you pass on the way down