Next week, I’m taking my students to welcome a group of international exchange students. Their English is quite good, but I’m still worried that misunderstandings may arise when they talk.

That’s very common. Speaking the language correctly doesn’t necessarily mean the intended meaning is conveyed correctly. Different cultures have different ways of being polite, refusing, and showing concern.

Last time, a student heard a foreign friend say, “You can think about it,” and assumed the other person was genuinely still considering it. Only later did the student realize it was actually a polite refusal.

Exactly. When I teach Chinese, students often think that Chinese people are invading their privacy when they ask, “Have you eaten?” In fact, it is often simply a way of showing friendliness, and they do not really expect an answer.

In that sense, learning a language is like putting on a different pair of glasses. The same sentence may reflect completely different habits and values.

That’s right. Some cultures value direct communication, while others place more importance on helping people save face. Once we understand these differences, we are less likely to judge others only by our own standards.

Then I’ll not only have the students practice introducing themselves, but also prepare some situations that could easily cause misunderstandings and ask them to discuss how they should respond.

That’s a great idea. As long as they are willing to ask for clarification first instead of immediately assuming the other person is being rude, the exchange will already be meaningful.