Read the article and have a discussion based on the following questions.
記事を読んで次の質問に応えてください。
Lesson 1: Understanding Prvacy in Different Cultures
Understanding Privacy in Different Cultures
In the United States, privacy is very important. Americans value their own space and time alone. This idea is part of a bigger cultural value called “individualism,” where people feel it’s important to respect each person’s needs and boundaries. In many American homes, people knock before entering each other’s rooms. This custom shows respect for privacy, even with family members.
In some other cultures, though, privacy may not be seen in the same way. In Japan, for example, people focus on the needs of the group more than on individual space. When Japanese businesspeople invite American guests, they often stay with them all day to be helpful and polite. While the Japanese hosts are being friendly, the American guests might feel uncomfortable after a while, because they want some time alone. They may say, “They’re very nice, but I need some time to myself.”
This difference happens because “privacy” is not the same in every culture. Some languages, like Arabic, Russian, and Japanese, do not have an exact word for “privacy” like in English. This doesn’t mean people in these cultures don’t have privacy, but it may look different. For example, some cultures value being close and together rather than having time alone. In these places, people may feel that spending time together is a way to show respect and care.
Overall, understanding privacy is different from place to place. What feels normal in one country may feel strange in another, so it’s important to understand and respect these differences.
Vocabularies
value 価値をおく (kachi o oku)
People value their personal space. (人々は自分のプライベート空間に価値を起きます。)
individualism 個人主義 (kojin shugi)
Individualism is an important concept in American culture.
(個人主義はアメリカ文化の重要な概念です。)
boundary 境界 (kyoukai)
Setting a boundary is important for personal relationships.
(境界を設定することは人間関係にとって重要です。)
custom 習慣 (shuukan)
It is a custom to take off shoes before entering a house in Japan.
(日本では家に入る前に靴を脱ぐのが習慣です。)
even さえ (sae)
Some people feel uncomfortable even with close friends.
(中には親しい友人とでさえも不快に感じる人もいます。)
in the same way 同じように (onaji you ni)
Not everyone thinks in the same way about privacy.
(プライバシーについて皆が同じように考えるわけではありません。 )
focus on 〜に焦点を当てる (〜 ni shouten o ateru)
Many cultures focus on community rather than individual needs.
(多くの文化は個人のニーズではなく、コミュニティに焦点を当てています。)
individual 個人 (kojin)
Each individual has their own beliefs and values. (各個人にはそれぞれの信念と価値観があります。)
while 一方で (ippou de)
While some people enjoy being alone, others prefer being in company.
(孤独を楽しむ人がいる一方で、仲間といることを好む人もいます。)
after a while しばらく後 (shibaraku ato)
After a while, I started to feel more comfortable.
(しばらく後、私はより快適に感じるようになりました。)
time to myself 自分の時間 (jibun no jikan)
Everyone needs some time to myself now and then. (誰でも時々自分の時間が必要です。)
Arabic and Russian アラビア人とロシア人 (Arabia-jin to Roshia-jin)
Arabic and Russian languages have different concepts of privacy.
(アラビア人とロシア人はプライバシーの異なる概念を持っています。)
exact 正確な (seikaku na)
There is no exact translation for the word “privacy” in some languages.
(いくつかの言語には「プライバシー」の正確な翻訳がありません。)
being close and together 近くにいて一緒にいること (chikaku ni ite issho ni iru koto)
Being close and together is important in many cultures.
(近くにいて一緒にいることは多くの文化で重要です。)
rather than 〜よりも (〜 yori mo)
Some people prefer community rather than isolation.
(ある人々は孤立よりもコミュニティを好みます。)
a way to 〜する方法 (〜 suru houhou)
Having privacy is a way to maintain mental health.
(プライバシーを持つことは精神的健康を維持する方法です。)
care 気を使う (ki o tsukau)
People care about their privacy differently across cultures.
(人々は文化によってプライバシーに対する気遣いが異なります。)
overall 全体的に (zentai-teki ni)
Overall, understanding privacy is important in a global society.
(全体的に、プライバシーを理解することは国際社会で重要です。)
Questions
1. What is one reason American families knock before entering each other’s rooms?
a) To remind each other of family rules.
b) To show that they respect each person’s privacy.
c) To help family members feel comfortable.
d) To make sure the person inside is not busy.
2. Why might American guests feel uncomfortable when visiting Japan?
a) They feel that Japanese people ignore their needs.
b) They think the Japanese language is difficult to understand.
c) They are not used to being with someone all the time.
d) They believe Japanese people value privacy too much.
3. What is one reason that privacy can feel different across cultures?
a) Some cultures believe that spending time together shows respect and care.
b) Privacy only exists in languages that have a word for it.
c) People in every culture prefer to spend time alone.
d) Different cultures see privacy as a way to avoid others.
4. Do you prefer to spend time alone or with friends and family? Why?
（あなたは一人で時間を過ごすのと友達や家族と時間を過ごすのではどちらの方が好きですか。）
5. In what situations do you think privacy is especially import?
（どのような状況でプライバシーが特に重要ですか。）
6. Have you ever visited a country where people have cultural differences? How did you feel
about those differences?
（あなたはこれまでに文化の違う国を訪れたことがありますか。その違いについてどう感じましたか。）
7. 次の日本文に合うように空所に適語を入れましょう。
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to match the following Japanese sentences.
a)人々は自分のプライベート空間に価値を起きます。
People (v—-) their personal space.
b) 日本では家に入る前に靴を脱ぐのが習慣です。
It is a (c—–) to take off shoes before entering a house in Japan.
c) 中には親しい友人とでさえも不快に感じる人もいます。
Some people feel uncomfortable (e—) with close friends.
d) プライバシーについて皆が同じように考えるわけではありません。
Not everyone thinks (i-)(t–)(s—)(w–)about privacy.
e) 多くの文化は個人のニーズではなく、コミュニティに焦点を当てています。
Many cultures (f—-)(o-) community rather than individual needs.
f) 各個人にはそれぞれの信念と価値観があります。
Each (i———) has their own beliefs and values.
g) 孤独を楽しむ人がいる一方で、仲間といることを好む人もいます。
(W—-) some people enjoy being alone, others prefer being in company.
h) しばらく後、私はより快適に感じるようになりました。
(A—-)(-) (w—-), I started to feel more comfortable.
i) いくつかの言語には「プライバシー」の正確な翻訳がありません。
There is no (e—-) translation for the word “privacy” in some languages.
j) ある人々は孤立よりもコミュニティを好みます。
Some people prefer community (r—–)(t—) isolation.
k) プライバシーを持つことは精神的健康を維持する方法です。
Having privacy is a (w–) to maintain mental health.
l) 全体的に、プライバシーを理解することは国際社会で重要です。
(O——), understanding privacy is important in a global society.