Australian Culture Revised 1

Overview of British,
American and
Australian cultures
Overview of British, American and
Australian culture
BRITISH
CULTURE
AMERICAN
CULTURE
AUSTRALIAN
CULTURE
ACTIVITIES
BRITISH Commu-
Beliefs CULTURE nication
style
Values
Behavior
Beliefs
• The British are generally uninterested in

formal religious practice.
• In a poll conducted by YouGov in March
2011: Asked when they had last attended a
place of worship for religious reasons, 63%
had not attended in the past year:
– 43% of people last attended over a year ago
– 20% of people had never attended.
HumaniskUK. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from Religion and belief: some
surveys and statistics: https://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/religion-and-
belief-some-surveys-and-statistics/
Beliefs
HumaniskUK. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from Religion and belief: some
surveys and statistics: https://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/religion-and-
belief-some-surveys-and-statistics/
BRITISH Commu-
style
Values
Behavior
Values
The rule of law:

No one is above the law.
Personal freedom:
no one is harmed.
Private property:
one of the happiest
and most prosperous
nations on Earth
The Telegraph (2005, July 7). The Telegraph. Retrieved July 07, 2017, from
Telegraph View: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-
view/3618632/Ten-core-values-of-the-British-identity.html
Values
• The family: Stable families are the

essential ingredient of a stable society.
• History: a political culture, a set of
specific legal rights and obligations,
and a stupendous series of national
achievements
• The British character: stubborn, stoical,
and indignant at injustice
The Telegraph (2005, July 7). The Telegraph. Retrieved July 07, 2017, from
Telegraph View: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-
view/3618632/Ten-core-values-of-the-British-identity.html
BRITISH Commu-
style
Values
Behaviour
Behaviour
Open doors for others
Stand in line
Take your hat off when

you go indoors (men only)
Cover your cough
Patarroyo, L. M. M. (2010). (pp.12-16)

Behaviour
Say “Excuse me!”

Smile
Say “Please!” and

Say “Sorry!”
“Thank you!”
Patarroyo, L. M. M. (2010). (pp.12-16)
Behaviour
Backslap people with

Ask a lady her age a kiss or a hug
Talk loudly in public

Pick your nose
Patarroyo, L. M. M. (2010). (pp.12-16)
BRITISH Commu-
style
Values
Behaviour
Communication style
• Be reserved rather than

demonstrative in the way they
communicate.
• Be expressive and extroverted to
the Japanese BUT
reserved and introverted compared
with Latins.
Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

Communication style
Verbal Communication
– Direct language to East Asia, Arab
World & Latin America BUT
indirect language to Dutch, German &
Danish).
– Value vague, oblique language for upper
classes BUT
more directly for others.
Paraverbal: rarely in interrupt AND less
likely to raise voice.
Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

Communication style
Nonverbal
Communication
o The handshake: when
meeting and greeting,
NOT with colleagues.
o Spatial Behavior:
o Stand and sit further;
o Stand at 90-degree angle
o Gaze Behavior: less direct,
interpreted as rude and
intrusive.
Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

Communication style
Nonverbal Communication
o Touch Behavior: avoid touching others.
o Gestures:
o Make 2-fingure “peace” sign with palm outward
(NOT inward);
o Avoid pointing (instead of using a nod).
Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

AMERICAN Commu-
style
Values
Behavior
American beliefs and values
Beliefs American traditional
values
1) Each person is • Individual freedom
unique, special and a and Self-reliance
“basic unit of nature”
2) Everyone has an • Equality of
equal chance to Opportunity and
succeed. Competition
3) People can end the • Material Wealth
poverty and have a and Hard Work
chance to do
wonderful things
Datesman, M.K., Crandall, J. & Kearny, E.N. (1997). Chapter 2 (p.22 – 29)
1) BELIEF: Each person is unique,
special and a “basic unit of nature”
- The earliest settlers came to North America to

escape the controls from kings and governments,
priests, churches, aristocrats.
They created a climate of freedom where the

emphasis was on the INDIVIDUAL
VALUE: Individual freedom
The most basic of all American values
By freedom, Americans mean the

desire and the ability of all
individuals to control their own
destiny without outside interference
from the government, a ruling noble
class, the church, or any other
organized authority
Ex 1: People can express their own ideas and opinions
freely (at school, in public…)
Ex 2: People can choose any kinds of lifestyle that they
want
VALUE: Self-reliance
(a price to be paid for individual freedom)
Individuals must learn to rely on themselves

or lose freedom
A strong belief that they should take care of

themselves, solve their own problems, and
“stand on their OWN two feet”
Ex: By the age if 18 – 21, Americans have to be
independent from their parents. They need to find
a part-time job to pay for college studying by
themselves.
Americans do not want to be
dependent
Weaken the American character
2) BELIEF: Everyone has an equal chance
to succeed
• Immigrants believe that they had a better chance to
succeed in America
• The fact: Many immigrants were very successful
in the US – regardless of their background
VALUE: Equality of opportunity
It means each individual

has an equal opportunity
for success
Ex: All Americans should

have a chance to attain a
college degree without
the hindrance of racial
discrimination.
VALUE: COMPETITION
(A price to be paid for equality of oppotunity)
An American see life as

race to succeed – with
winner and loser.
They have duty to try
Pressure places a
constant strain on them
3) BELIEF: People can end the poverty
and have a chance to do wonderful things
I II III IV
The slogan “Going

from rags to riches”
for the great
American Dream
(Từ khốn khó trở nên
giàu có)
Ex: MC Oprah Winfrey used to
live in such a poor condition
I II that she often
III wore garments
IV
from a bag of potatoes. At the
age of nine, she became a
victim of sexual abuse and got
pregnant at 14. But fate did not
defeat Winfrey. By making best
efforts, now she is called the
American TV Queen and also
one of the millionaires in USA.
VALUE: Material wealth
I II IIIAcceptableIV
measure
Acquiring and
of success
maintaining a large
number of material
possession is of
great importance to
most Americans Acceptable measure
of social status
VALUE: HARD WORK
(Americans have paid a price for material wealth)
I II III IV
It plays a major part in most people’s success
Americans believe that people should hold

jobs and not live off welfare payment
from the government
AMERICAN Commu-
style
Values
Behaviour
BEHAVIOUR OF AMERICAN
• 1) IMakingIIcontactIII IV
• 2) Deal focus
• 3) Orientation to Time
• 4) Informality
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

1) Making contact
The USA is an immigrant society; therefore, most
urban Americans are used to doing business with
I
strangers. TheyII can usuallyIII IV
approach the
counterpart directly without any intermediary.
Ex: Americans often send a

letter or e-mail in English
with basic information
about their company and
products because they
generally consider
themselves to be frank,
open, and direct in dealing
with other people.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)
2) Deal Focus
Americans are usually ready to “get down to
brass tacks” shortly after meeting a potential
II time. III
partnerI for the first IV
(Meaning: begin to talk about important things and do
not waste around)
Ex: The doctor directly
shows his patient the X-
ray and immediately
explains that she has some
problems about her spinal
column.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

3) Orientation to Time
American place a high
value on punctuality. They
I II III IV
can treat time as a tangible
asset which can be saved,
spent, lost, found, invested
and wasted.
Ex: In American, if you make plans
with someone, you should be there
when you say you will. 3 to 5
minutes early is even better. Most
people will allow 5 or 10 minutes
late, but more than that is considered
bad form.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

4) Informality
Informality is meant to show friendliness and warmth,
not intended to show disrespect, is not to be mistaken
for impoliteness.
I II III IV
Ex 1: Instead of “sir”
and “Madam”, they
want to get on a first-
name basis quickly,
even with people they
have just met
Ex 2: Common to go
out with jeans, gym
clothes, or even
pajamas
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)
AMERICAN Commu-
style
Values
Behavior
American communication styles
I II III IV
1) Verbal communication
2) Paraverbal communication
3) Nonverbal communication
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

1) Verbal communication
II
• American
III
speak
I IV
much more
directly.
• They tend to be
suspicious of
indirect and
ambiguous
communication.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

2) Paraverbal communication
• Many American
I II negotiators
III speakIVlouder at
the bargaining table than
people from more reserved
cultures.
• Uncomfortable with
silence, they may quickly
fill in any gaps in the
conversation.
• Americans know it is rude
to interrupt other in mid-
sentences.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)
Meeting and Greeting:

I II IV
Expect a firm
handshake and direct
eye contact because a
soft handshake
reflects weakness.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

I II III IV
Space Bubble:
The normal
interpersonal distance
in a business context
is about an arm’s
length.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Touch Behavior:
I II III
The amount IV
of touching
varies from moderate to
relatively high-contact.
Ex: Americans may slap

each other on the back
and grab one another by
the elbow or upper arm
to express friendliness
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

AUSTRALIAN Commu-
style
Values
Behaviour
Australia values
I II III
Multiculturalism IV
Directness
Modest
Informality
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Multiculturalism
I II IV
Sensitive in
comments
about culture Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)
http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/ethnic-background-of-australians.html
Directness
• More direct than the Germans and the Dutch

• Valuing
I frank and
II straightforward
III speech
IV
VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Modest
This is rooted from the

belief
I “Modesty
II is the best
III IV
policy” and “The tall
poppy gets cut down”
Ex: When you want to apply for a job in

Australia, it is better to give evidence to claim
your skills and achievement rather than just talk
about it.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

http://blog.goinglobal.com/australia-communication-styles/
Informality
People interact just as informally as in

Denmark,
I the Midwestern
II United
III States or
IV
Western Canada.
Using word style

Ex: Do not try to impress Aussies
by using title and accomplishment.
They will find it boastful and get a
negative feeling
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)
Beliefs
Modesty is the best policy

I II III IV
The tall poppy gets cut down
Ex: When Aussies attend a product meeting, they

do not want to listen to “over-praise” company
product. Instead, it is better to show the benefits
and superiority of your products to them. Let your
documentation, testimonials, and thirty-party
reports speak for you.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Beliefs
The Aussies regards silence as

golden.
I II III IV
They tend to be less talkative and
less demonstrative than the U.S
people
Anything smacking of boastfulness
or showing off gives a negative
impression
They consider people who boast or
flaunt their success obnoxious
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Behaviour
I II III IV
Queue behaviour
Orientation to time
Pub Etiquette
Gift giving
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Behaviour
Queue behaviour: Form orderly lines
and politely waiting one’s turn. This is
inherited the British custom.
I II Ex: WhenIIImake-up emporium IV Sephora
opened its store in Melbourne in
November, where shoppers lined up
overnight to be first in the door
Orientation to Time: some what relaxed

attitude toward time. It is more time-
conscious than South and Southeast
Asian It is less obsessed with time and
schedules than Germans
Ex: Aussies do expect visitors to be on

time for the meeting, but few Aussies get
upset if visitors have few minutes late.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Behaviour
I II III IV
Pay for a round in turn.

Do not pay for a round out of turn. It is
considered “show-off” activity.
Ex: If you and your friends are drinking at the pub and you
want to break the turn to pay for the drink, you may lose your
friendship. Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)
Behaviour
Not a gift giving
business.
I II III IV
Invited to dinner:
Bring some items to
the host house
Ex: When you are invited to
Aussie’s house for dinner, you
should bring the famous
things in your town or, to be
safe, bring wine, flowers, or
chocolate to the host house
Gift Giving
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)
Communication style
I II III IV
Verbal communication
Non-verbal communication
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

I II III IV
Using word style
Argument style
Topic and conversation
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Using word style: Direct, and

I II informal III IV
 Speaking directly to the point,
sometimes, they are considered
to be rude or blunt.
 The Australian may unaware
that people from other culture
find such directness offensive.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Using word style: Direct, and
informal
I II III IV
 No need to use title and
accomplishment when talking.
Argument style: vigorous.
 This style of argument may
cause others misinterpret and
find spirited verbal
confrontation
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Topic and conversation
Appropriate
I topic:II Sport, local
III food, beer
IV
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)


I IITaboo topic:
III IV
Invidious comparison with
elements of their own culture
Comment about how hard
one works
Ex: When a man has to work

overtime and his friends joke that he
is a workaholic, he might find it
insulted.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

I II III topic: IV
Taboo
Saying “stuffed” after a
big meal
-Meaning 1: Full
-Meaning 2: a vulgar
connotation
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

I II III IV
Interpersonal distance
Touch behavior
Gesture
Eye contact and greeting
Exchange business card
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Interpersonal distance:
In an informal
I conversations:
II III0,5 to 1meter.
IV
Conversations closer distances are in an intimate
In formal conversations: distances up to 3 meters
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Touch Ibehavior: II III IV

+ Less physical contact than is the case with Latin
cultures
+ More than those of East and South-east Asia
Gesture:
Fewer and smaller gestures than most Americans and
southern Europeans
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Eye contact and greeting

I II III IV
DIRECT EYE CONTACT AVOID EYE CONTACT
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Exchange business card

I II III IV
IN AUSTRALIA IN ASIA
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Taboo gesture
I II III IV
• “Thumbs-up” and “extending one’s first and middle fingers with the pa
facing” in Australia convey the negative feeling, and consider the tabo
gestures.
• In 1992, George Bush visited Australia and tried to be friendly with the
palm facing inward and did damage his image to Aussie.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/up-yours-the-gesture-that-divides-america-and-the-uk/
Taboo gesture
I II III IV
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Taboo gesture
I II III IV
Ex: When you are in front of others, avoid to

blow your nose of sniff hard. It is considered
rude.
Tip: You can excuse to go out and do it privately.
Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

References
I IV
• Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)
• Datesman, M.K., Crandall, J. & Kearny, E.N.
(1997). Chapter 2 (p.22 – 29)
• https://edeq.stanford.edu/sections/concept-
equality-opportunity
• https://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/USVa
lues.html
Fill in gaps in the tables with following words/phrases
Individual freedom Conservatism
Self-reliance The love of nature
Informality Orientation to time
British
British culture
culture American culture
American culture Australian
Australianculture
culture
Conservatism Individual freedom Informality
The love of nature Self-reliance Orientation to time

TRUE/FALSE
QUESTIONS
BRITAIN
1. British do not normally shake hands with

colleagues upon meeting in the morning and again
when leaving the office.T
2. Two Englishmen in conversation will often face

each other directly rather than standing at a 90-degree
angle to each other. F
AMERICA
3. Democracy: a situation where everyone is treated
equally and has equal rights.T
4. The normal interpersonal distance in a business

context is over 12 feet (equivalent to 3,6m). F
5. The strong belief in self-reliance is not as a

traditional basic American value any more. F
AUSTRALIA
6. If you are told that a party is BYO, it means that you
are expected to bring your own. F
7. People under the age of 18 years are not allowed to

buy alcoholic drinks.T
8. Verbal communication in Australia is generally very

direct, open, and informal in the workplace. T
ROLE PLAY
SITUATION 1
Nam is studying in America.
Dan and Nam are friends of each other.
Nam shows a picture in his phone to Dan.
Nam (happy): Hey, Dan. This is my girlfriend.
Dan: She is a cow.
Nam (angry): You mean… she is an idiot.
Dan (surprised): Oh, I just think she is fat a little
bit.
Why does Nam misunderstand Dan?

We already know that a cow is big. When American
see a fat woman, they usually associate her with a cow.
In contrast, Vietnamese connect the image of a cow
with a fool. That is why the conflict occurs.
SITUATION 2
Mai Anh is studying in English.
She usually visits an English family on weekends.
One day, the husband tells her, “My wife said that
she doesn’t want you to come here every
weekend. You know, this is the time we can spend
for our family after long busy workdays.”
Mai Anh feels sad and angry. After that day, she
never visits this family even one time.
Why does Mai Anh feels sad and angry?

When comparing to Vietnamese, British are
much more direct in conversation. This may
easily make Vietnamese feel hurt if they do not
understand British culture.
SITUATION 3
Thùy Linh is studying in Australia.
Thùy Linh rents a room near her university in
Australia.
After having a bath, she gets out of the bathroom.
She immediately sees her land lady standing in
front of her with an unpleasant face.
Linh: Hi Mrs. Francis.
Land lady: I have told you that you are allowed to
take a bath just around 5 minutes. This is the
second time I told you this. And if you don’t
observe the regulation again, you will be banned
from taking a bath in two days.
Why does the land lady scold Thùy Linh?
In Australia, the source of water supply is not

enough for developing population. People recycle
wastewater and even build seawater desalination
plants to provide more water. However, the cost is
very high. This demonstrate why water in
Australia is very expensive. Therefore, people use
water economically.
Q&A
How is the way of greeting in Vietnam different
from that in America?
American Vietnamese
- It is normal to shake - We very rarely see the opposite sex
hands between two shaking hands. Vietnamese men often
people of the do not actively shake hands with older
opposite sex. people or with women but wait for
action the others. When shaking
hands, they only hold hands and not
too long, use both hands and bow to
show respect for older people. Women
often never shake hands.
- Friends often hug - They never give other friends kisses,
each other, kissing on especially between two people of the
the cheek to express opposite sex. It is a taboo for married
emotions. women.
American Vietnamese
- They often wave to other - Only adults can use a wave of
people, including the older, their hands to call children, or
and pat the back from the their peers to call each other.
back to say hello to the one Patting the back is only
they love. acceptable to friends, but for
adults it is completely
forbidden, especially for men
who do not do it with an adult
woman.
- When returning home or - When entering a Vietnamese
visiting friends' homes, they family home, you need to
often greet each member of greet the head of the family or
the family they meet first. elders first.

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Overview of British,

• The British are generally uninterested in

The rule of law:

• The family: Stable families are the

Open doors for others

Take your hat off when

Cover your cough

Patarroyo, L. M. M. (2010). (pp.12-16)

Say “Excuse me!”

Say “Please!” and

Backslap people with

Talk loudly in public

• Be reserved rather than

Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

Gesteland, R. R. (2005). (pp.283-284)

- The earliest settlers came to North America to

They created a climate of freedom where the

The most basic of all American values

By freedom, Americans mean the

Individuals must learn to rely on themselves

A strong belief that they should take care of

Weaken the American character

It means each individual

Ex: All Americans should

An American see life as

They have duty to try

The slogan “Going

Americans believe that people should hold

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Ex: Americans often send a

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Meeting and Greeting:

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Ex: Americans may slap

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.340 – 344)

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

• More direct than the Germans and the Dutch

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

This is rooted from the

Ex: When you want to apply for a job in

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

People interact just as informally as in

Using word style

Modesty is the best policy

The tall poppy gets cut down

Ex: When Aussies attend a product meeting, they

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

The Aussies regards silence as

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Orientation to Time: some what relaxed

Ex: Aussies do expect visitors to be on

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Pay for a round in turn.

Gesteland, R.R. (2005). (pp.331– 334)

Using word style

Topic and conversation