Outsourced” - the movie study guide exercise 8

 

 

You are going to watch and create a reflection on the film "Outsourced".

 

These questions will help you. If you miss watching the film in class, you may get a copy from the library and watch it at home. Here are some clips from "Outsourced"

 

http://www.outsourcedthemovie.com/Clips/ms_educlips.html

Cultural Dimensions in Outsourced

As you watch the film, answer the questions and write down any examples of different cultural dimensions. This will help you with your reflection.

 

 

Cultural Dimension	Character Todd, Puro, Aisha or other	Outsourced Scene or Circumstance
Low-context culture	Dave	Calling Todd
High-context culture
Individualism	Todd	He likes to stay in the hotle
Collectivism	Puro	He was telling Todd to stay with aunt j
Low power distance
High power distance	Puro
Uncertainty tolerance
Uncertainty avoidance
Task orientation
Social orientation

 

 

Reflection

Create a reflection about the movie Outsourced using the PowerPoint I give you. Show that you really understand the above cultural concepts.

1. As soon as Todd arrives, he experiences the discomfort of being disoriented in a
strange new place. What happens at the airport?

2. When a friendly traveler helps him get on the train, what does he tell him to do?

He told him to jump.

3. When he gets on the train, he cannot find an empty seat. How is this problem
solved for him? How might this be a cultural solution?

4. As any exchange student, he has a lot of experiences trying new food. His first
encounter is with an iced drink. What happens?

5. First encounters with a culture can be shocking – Todd sees crowded streets with
cows, noise, and a man urinating in the street. But how does his host describe the
city?

6. Even though the host Puro speaks English, Todd uses American slang a lot
without thinking. So as not to insult Puro, what does he say the meaning of
Schmuck is?

He told the meaning of Schmuck was a nice guy.

7. Todd wants to check in to a hotel. But Puro insists he comes to a boarding house.
What is the reason he gives Todd?
he told him the place was very lonely.

8. As soon as they meet, Aunti Ji starts asking very intimate questions that
Americans who have just met would never ask. What kind of things does she ask?
what is your salary ,Are you married and what does  your father do.
9. During his first conversation with Aunti Ji he makes two big mistakes. What are
they?
he ate with his left hand , and he was placing the hand that has been in his mouth back in the food.
10. The Golden Rule says do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That
means his Indian hosts and friends are trying to make him comfortable the way
they would be comfortable. How does this apply when the servant is preparing
tea for Todd?

11. How does Todd figure out why one does not eat food with the left hand?

12. What is ethnocentric about his statement "You need to learn about America"?

13. Why do they disagree on how a "native" speaks English?

14. What doesn't Todd understand about the Indians' response to the "cattle brand"?

15. What is Todd's reaction to "You need to learn about India"? What stage of culture
shock might it represent?
felling un happy.
16. He calls home several times. Why? What stage of culture shock might provoke
calls home?

17. What mistakes in language usage are represented in the recording of the call about
"a rubber"?

18. Why is he so eager to go to McDonnells?

Because he want to eat a cheese burger . 

19. Todd doesn't understand bargaining. How does the Indian respond to this?

20. What does I.N.D.I.A. stand for?

I’ll never do it again .
21. What advise does his fellow American have for him?

22. When Todd develops the incentive system, he has begun to adapt to India. How
has he adapted?

23. When he looks at the cow in the office the second time, why is his reaction so
different?
he got used to their culture,  he’s into their culture. 
24. Explain the difference between American and Indian cultures when Todd and
Puro discuss how often he visits his family and why he doesn't live with them.

25. What cultural values are involved in the exchange between Aunti Ji and Todd
about ironing his underwear?

26. How well does Todd handle himself when he is invited over the wall to an Indian
home for a meal?

27. In what ways does he show he has adapted?

28. When the call center floods and they are shut down, Todd finds an "Indian"
solution. What is it?
the solution was rewiring .
29. When Todd comes home, there are several signs that his Indian experience has
influenced him. Name three ways he has become more "Indian".
putting a lot of sugar,  drinking his tea with his right hand and he has an Indian ringtone.

-Florida Study Guide