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Unit 3 Friendship

What Should We Do
for Our Friends?

Reading & Comprehension

Teacher: Tang Xiaoyan | Class: 2207

Date: Nov 27, 2025

Learning Objectives

Reading Skills

  • Skim & Scan for key information.
  • Understand cultural differences in friendship.
  • Analyze two psychological experiments.

Core Values

  • Critical Thinking: Fairness vs. Loyalty.
  • Cross-cultural understanding.
  • Defining "True Friendship".
Warm-up

Happy Thanksgiving!

๐Ÿฆƒ

It's a time for gratitude.

A Question for You

"Who is the person you are truly thankful for?"

(Parents? Teachers? ... Friends?)

What should we do for our friends?

Is the answer the same for everyone?

Experiment 1: The Car Accident

Imagine you are in a car with a close friend. Your friend is driving recklessly (too fast) and hits a pedestrian.

There are no other witnesses.

If you testify your friend was speeding, they go to jail.

The Dilemma

Will you testify that your friend was speeding?

๐Ÿš—๐Ÿ’ฅ๐Ÿšถ

Make Your Choice

Option A

Testify they were speeding.

(Tell the Truth)

Option B

Testify they were NOT speeding.

(Protect the Friend)

What did the research say?

Trompenaars' Experiment Results:

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States

93%

Would testify AGAINST the friend.

"Truth is the only fair thing."

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea

37%

Would testify AGAINST the friend.

"Fairness means standing by your friend."

Analysis: Values in Conflict

Western View (e.g., USA)

Obligation: To the Law / Truth.

Key Word: Fairness (Impartiality).

"Regardless of personal relationships."

Eastern View (e.g., Korea)

Obligation: To the Friend.

Key Word: Loyalty / Protection.

"If you can't count on your friend, who can you trust?"

Experiment 2: Megan & Cheryl

Megan: Average student, likes to have fun.

Cheryl: Top student, ambitious.

Action: Cheryl tries to influence Megan to study more, corrects her notes, and insists she gets serious.

Is Cheryl a "Good Friend"?

Viewpoint A

She is controlling.

She should mind her own business.

Viewpoint B

She is caring.

She is helping Megan become better.

Cultural Perspectives

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ USA / France

Controlling

  • Respect independence.
  • "Accept Megan the way she is."

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China / ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain / ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡บ Cuba

Caring & Warm

  • Interdependence.
  • "Friends naturally take care of each other."
  • "Helping them become better people."

Mind Map: Friendship Across Cultures

Friendship Independent / Rules Interdependent / Relationships Different behaviors, same sincerity.

Part III: Application

Welcome to the "Global Friendship Museum"

Task: Be a Museum Curator

Situation: Our class is building an exhibition about "Friendship Around the World".

Your Role: You are the curators (็ญ–ๅฑ•ไบบ).

Mission: Design an exhibit board for your assigned culture.

Group Assignments

Group 1: The Legalists (USA View)
Group 2: The Loyalists (Korean View)
Group 3: The Improvers (Chinese View)

Discuss: Why is your style of friendship good?

Exhibit Requirements

  1. A Title: e.g., "Friendship Means Honesty".
  2. Key Values: Pick 2 keywords (e.g., fairness, duty, growth).
  3. Commentary (่งฃ่ฏด่ฏ): 2-3 sentences explaining your view.
  4. Visual: A simple sketch or symbol.

Helpful Expressions

Starting:

"In our culture, a true friend is someone who..."

"We believe that friendship is based on..."

Explaining:

"We chose this image because..."

"To us, fairness means..."

Discussion Time

Work with your group!

10:00

(Teacher will circulate)

Presentation

Museum Tour

Please present your exhibits.

"Welcome, visitors..."

Teacher's Summary

"There are many different, yet equally sincere, 'languages of friendship'."

Reflection

The greatest thing we can do is to love our friends in the way they need, not just the way we are used to.

Homework

Write a short reflection (80-120 words):

"After being a 'museum curator' today, which cultural perspective on friendship do you find more relatable?"

Requirement: Use at least 3 new words from today's lesson (e.g., obligation, testify, intervene).

Vocabulary Recap

Testify
Witness
Obligation
Fairness
Intervene
Be accustomed to
Regardless of
Dilemma

Thank You!

See you next class.