Relationship between Practices, Products, and Perspectives of the Target Culture

Example of Level II Standards 4 and 5

#1

Perspective: Valuing and Respecting Food

The French culture highly values food. It is an important part of life and it should be respected. The French place a strong emphasis on food and how much it means. Their culture is centered around fine cuisine and rich foods.

Practice: Taking Their Time When Eating a Meal

Meal time is a time to enjoy the food at the table. The French often spend over an hour eating one meal. Dinner is the largest meal and it is eaten leisurely. French culture is such that meal time is a time to appreciate the food, enjoy it and enjoy the people around the table.

Product: Tartiflette

Tartiflette is a traditional French entree that is served in the Rhone-Alps region. This is a comfort food that most families enjoy around the table during the winter months. This dish uses the specialties of the region as ingredients to pay tribute to the region.

#2

Practice: Greeting Friends and Family

The French always greet people they know and love with a warm and accepting manner. They are very welcoming and acknowledge the presence of their friends and family when in public or at home.

Product: The Kisses on the Cheek

The French often do “la bise”, which are the kisses on either side of the cheek. Women most often do this. The number of kisses depends on the region that one is from. When in France, it is sure that you will see the French people doing the kisses on the cheek as they greet their loved ones.

Perspective: It is important to be hospitable.

The French culture values communicating to friends and family that they are loved and wanted. Being welcoming and hospitable is very important in France. The French pride themselves on their being welcoming. They will always greet people they know when they see them and even say hello to strangers.

#3

Product: The Metro in Paris

The underground Metro system is widely used and important to Parisians and tourists alike. Everyone in Paris relies on the metro to travel within the city. The metro is a sophisticated system of lines that go almost anywhere in the city. The metro is efficient and cost-effective.

Perspective: The environment is highly valued.

The French value the environment and make every effort to conserve resources. French people are conscious of their environment; this is one belief that I noticed almost immediately when I was in France. They enjoy nature and embrace all that is natural.

Practice: Using Public Transportation

Public transportation is widely used in France. Most people do not own cars and they take the bus or metro or walk. It is uncommon to drive everywhere. Public transportation is the primary means of getting anywhere in France. Everyone is able to use the public means of transportation because it is affordable.