What is the American Stereotype?
So these kids came over from france and visited our french class. They said the typical american stereotype is that Americans are all very very fat.
If you aren't in the U.S, what do you think of when you here 'American?'
Iggy, you just made my day a million times better, seriously.
about this post of the mexicans not knoweing english and the americans not knowing spanish etc... if you live and work in a country well i am sorry but YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE!!!! im in cambodia, i learned cambodian, i was in indonesia, well learned that too,... otherwise you are just one of those lazy expats living in a different country and dont even make an effort to speak the language.
Thats the problem of France. If you go to france well you better know some french otherwise your ****, they wont even bother trying speaking english to you. Some people that i meet here dotn speak any english and they expect an asian country to know french AHAHAHAHAHA these people make me laugh, i just laugh at them and ask them if they know cambodian. Why should this country learn french anyway, guides dont want to learn french (apparently as they told me they think french tourist are bad tippers eheehe thats why they prefer to learn other languages eheheh)
I see it in France with all the different immigration, a lot of people come to france and dont even bother learning french, Hello this is not the middle east, this is france so dont try to change it... If you live in a country that is different from yours i am sorry but you need to learn the language come ON!!!! make an EFFORT!!
I agree. I live in Korea and I've made the effort to learn Korean. I may not be so great with it yet but I'm at least trying and that seems to impress the Koreans I meet. If they know English and see I'm having a hard time, they try to talk to me in English. I've been out with Korean friends whose friends speak no English and we get by just fine with what I know.
If you go to france well you better know some french otherwise your ****, they wont even bother trying speaking english to you.speaking of stereotypes? in my experience, in france if you're rude, you're ****; if you're polite and make an effort, you're treated very well.
Hello this is not the middle east, this is france so dont try to change it...and, huh? i don't think i even want to know what this is supposed to mean.
there's a big difference between moving to a country where your language is just not spoken and moving to one where there's a significant population and subculture of business and community where your language is dominant.
geez. people just want to live. what's the big freaken deal?
Original Post by pgeorgian:
there's a big difference between moving to a country where your language is just not spoken and moving to one where there's a significant population and subculture of business and community where your language is dominant.
It shouldn't matter though. If the country's primary language is not your own, then it is your job to learn their primary language. If you choose not to, then you need to be aware that your options will be limited.
If you choose not to, then you need to be aware that your options will be limited.exactly. it's a choice, and as such, none of our concern. most immigrants are more concerned with opportunities for their children than for themselves. what is it to us if some don't make learning a new language a priority?
do you want someone dictating your priorities?
See, but the problem with that Ali (living in chinatown, little saigon, little mexico, or any other ethnic enclave) is that it segregates people from different cultures. If they are further separated by language barriers (meaning their language is uncommon to the majority of the population AND they don't speak the predominant language) then you increase the probability that an immigrant will be limited to a life of near poverty. Increased poverty leads to increased crime, which kills quality of life and property values in the area.
You end up with race/class tension on both sides of the equation.
The politically correct fantasy of a multicultural garden is a farce. Perpetuating the myth instead of addressing ethnic tensions, resentment and alienation stemming from unplanned integration is a disservice to both citizens and immigrants.
It'd simply be better to offer free english classes at local meeting places (churches, junior colleges, YMCAs etc) as a policy and advertise within the communities where little english is spoken about the benefits of learning the language (namely a better standard of living).
Instead of ESL (english as a second language) classes, school age children would focus solely on english language immersion coursework to attain proficiency with the language before moving on to a regular class schedule.
If both sides have the capacity to communicate then cultures can be shared. You can have accessible ethnic enclaves that act as a welcome home for similar immigrants, but that don't doom them to a life of poverty. That should be the goal.
America is a melting pot. Diversity is not encouraged.
(I don't believe it - but that is a stereotype). :)
I worked with many Asian folks in my years in manufacturing - one man in particular was memorable. When he was talking to me or anyone else in 'management' his English was very broken and cryptic.
Then I overheard him on the office phone in pursuit of a refinance on his mortgage.
"Yes, this is Mr. Hoa. I have all the necessary documents here and ready to fax. Can I confirm your fax number?"
When he got off the phone he came to my desk and said,
"Hey. Mamma. Need send fax. Need send fax."
Even he had to laugh when I called him on it.
Iggy, you make a good point as well.
Unfortunately, a higher percentage of immigrants who live in poverty and break the law are ones who have either refused or not been here long enough to learn the language. Many of these same people have no concern with becoming legal citizens.
I have alot of friends in law enforcement, and I don't have the statistics, but they have seen first hand, what I have stated in the previous paragraph. It's overwhealming.
There's nothing wrong with letting someone live their own life and speak their own language, but it is a big chain reaction as Iggy said in post #308
Original Post by glinda:
If you want a true American stereotype Iggy - you just stated it.
America is a melting pot. Diversity is not encouraged.
(I don't believe it - but that is a stereotype). :)
I don't believe it either, Glin. You can totally keep your diversity and your culture and still learn the language of the country that you live in. It doesn't make you any less of a Hispanic, or Italian or Indian or Asian.
Original Post by glinda:
If you want a true American stereotype Iggy - you just stated it.
America is a melting pot. Diversity is not encouraged.
(I don't believe it - but that is a stereotype). :)
Diversity can't be shared without a reliable means of communication, so until we locate a huge stock of babel fish, it's in the best interest of immigrants to learn the language of the area they settle.
Only then can their culture be shared with the citizens of their host nation, only then can their culture truly be understood and embraced by all. Learning the language of the land does not equate to giving up one's culture and becoming homogenized with the host population.
If that were the case I'd be one culturally confused kid, because I speak english, spanish, french and understand german pretty well.
I'm American, but I do a lot of traveling and I'm currently living in the middle east. In my experience, most people think Americans are fat and stupid... I was here for a week or so when I first heard a (sad but mostly true) joke...
What do you call someone who speaks four languages?
-Quadlingual
What do you call someone who speaks three languages?
-Trilingual
What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
-Bilingual
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
-American
I think that pretty much sums up what people think of Americans over here... And in my experience in western more western countries (ie Europe) the consensus is pretty much the same...
Oh I definitely agree, iggy. I was just making a point. If they don't want to learn English, they just set up in those areas.
I have to agree about the stereotypes. When I was in Iraq, most locals were stunned I took the time to learn just basic greetings and hand gestures. Sure, I wasn't speaking full sentences, but it immediately helped both sides try to bridge a language gap. Most of them said Americans thought Iraq was worthless and not worth learning the language. Sadly, when I was in Ireland and Germany, I got the same impression.
I am a spud-loving heavy drinking red-haired freckled Irish lass! Seriously. 
I do agree with learning the basics if living in a country- In rural Spain they usually won't even try to understand your hand gestures- but even if you just try to use a phrase book they're more willing to try to help you.
BTW- the stereotype of Americans that I grew up with was either very heavy or very skinny- not one or the other, and no-one appeared to be 'normal'- blame the media!?
Most of them said Americans thought Iraq was worthless and not worth learning the language.from what i can tell, awmust, most americans can't be bothered to learn to say "Iraq", let along speak the language. were you there in the service?
hahahahaha Sadly... so true. "Man, them 'eye-rack-ees'..." bleh.
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