A Culture Difference: Being On Time

In the United States, it is important to be on time, or punctual for any appointment, a class, a meeting, acts. However, this may not be true in all countries. For example, Brazilian has a difference culture to being on time. Many students in a Brazilian came late in the class. Many of them came late 33 minutes. Although all the students greeted the professor as they arrived, few apologized for their lateness. However, an American professor discovered this difference while teaching a class in Brazilian University. The professor talked American and Brazilian students about lateness in both an informal and a formal situation. Such as, if they have a lunch appointment with a friend, the average American student defined lateness as 19 minutes after the agreed time. On the other hand, the average Brazilian student felt the friend was late after 33 minutes. In an American university, students are expected to arrive at the appointed hour. In contras, in Brazil, neither the teacher nor the students always arrive at the appointed hour. Classes not only begin at the schedule time in the United States, but they also end at the schedule time. In the Brazilian class, only a few ask more questions. While arriving late may not be very importance in Brazil, neither is staying late.