# Exercise 8 - “Outsourced” - the movie study guide

“Outsourced” - the movie study guide

 

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 prefers to stay in the hotel.
Collectivism	Puro	He was telling Todd to stay with auntie Ji .
Low power distance
High power distance	Puro
Uncertainty tolerance
Uncertainty avoidance
Task orientation
Social orientation	Aisha	When she writes the novel “Holiday in Goa”.

 

 

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?

The traveler advised him that he needs to leap out to the train inorder for him to get in the train amongst the crowded transporters.

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?

To not insult Puro’s feelings, Todd told him that Schmuck means “kind guy or nice guy” even if it’s the opposite of the meaning.

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?

Puro suggest to Todd that he will feel Isolated and insolitary if he stays on that hotel.

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?

Auntie Ji asked Todd, like how much is he compensated for his job, if he is conjugal, and what is his father occupation.

9. During his first conversation with Aunti Ji he makes two big mistakes. What are
they?

His mistakes is that his is eating by his left hand and it’s against their customs thinking

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"?

The ethnocentrism in his statement is like he is evaluating other peoples and cultures according to the standards of his own culture in 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?  

He has a sentiment of feeling morose and cheerless.

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?

As soon as Todd saw the advertisement thinking it was McDonalds and eager to eat a cheeseburger and he ended up at “McDonnells”.

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

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

“I 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?

Because Todd already adapted the Hindu culture within him.

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?

29. When Todd comes home, there are several signs that his Indian experience has
influenced him. Name three ways he has become more "Indian".


-Florida Study Guide

 

Ahmed Mohamed Al Jefri  -  H00224953  -  CEB