Ameiican Pop Cultuie

National Steieotypes

Nouifieu fiom: !"#$$ "&' ())*+), (2uu1) "National Steieotypes," by Richaiu NacAnuiew anu Ron
Naitinez
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1. Biu you finu the joke above amusing. If you uiu, is it because of what you
know about these nationalities peisonally, oi what you know of theii
ieputations.

2. Woulu you like to change the joke in some way. Can you impiove it by
changing some of the nationalities oi some of the jobs.

S. Bo you have touiists fiom othei countiies wheie you live. Which
nationalities. What aie they like.

4. Bow uo you think people fiom othei countiies see people fiom youi countiy.

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Nationa stereotypes
"Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the mechanics
are German, the lovers are Italian and it's all organised by the Swiss. Hell is
where the police are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are
French, the lovers are Swiss, and it's all organised by the Italians."
Discussion
Discuss in pairs or small groups:
1. Did you find the joke above amusing? If you did, is it because of what you know about these
nationalities personally, or what you know of their reputations?
2. Would you like t o change the joke in some way? Can you improve it by changing some of the
nationalities or some of the jobs?
3. Do you have tourists from other countries where you live? Which nationalities? What are they like?
Reading
Read this article and underline anything that surprises you or that you think is not fair.
BRAZILIANS VOTED BEST TOURISTS, GERMANS WORST
In a recent survey conducted by the American Board
of Tourism, professionals in various areas gf the
tourism industry have rated Brazilians as the world's
best tourists. The survey gave points for things like
'politeness,' 'willingness to understand and speak
English' and 'cultural sensitivity.' People working in
jobs ranging from taxi-drivers to hotel receptionists
and airline flight attendants almost unanimously
rated the Brazilians as being 'friendly' and 'polite.'
The opposite seemed true of the Germans. "The
Germans just don't seem to get it," said one
manager of a hotel chain, based in New Orleans.
"They're rude and impatient yet they expect service
with a smile. They travel outside Germany yet want
to have things just like at home. Plus, they never
tip."
The best tippers are the Japanese, according to the
survey. A travel agent representative explains: "The
Japanese are afraid of 'losing face'. They'll do what
they think is expected of them in the country they're
visiting, so they're usually extremely polite. They
rate very high in the cultural sensitivity category."
The French scored extremely low in the 'willingness
to understand and speak English' category. "It's
amazing. They can be so rude and snobby," said a
ticket agent at Chicago O'Hare International
Airport. "You try to explain things to them arid they
answer you back in French. Not only that, they
smoke too much - even where it's not allowed -
and they're generally messy, leaving cigarettes and
other rubbish on the floor. It's unbelievable." A
summary of the Board's survey is given below:
Friendliest nationalities: Most polite: Willingness to understand Most culturally-
and speak English: sensitive:
1. Brazilians
2. Japanese
3. Koreans
4. Canadians
5. Portuguese
1. Japanese 1. Brazilians
2. Brazilians 2. Dutch
3. British 3. Swiss
4. Spanish 4. Hungarians
5. Koreans 5. Poles
Discuss with your partner what you underlined in the text.
1. Brazilians
2. Japanese
3. Romanians
4. Egyptians
5. Koreans
22 National stereotypes Taboos and Issues
Ameiican Pop Cultuie
National Steieotypes

Nouifieu fiom: !"#$$ "&' ())*+), (2uu1) "National Steieotypes," by Richaiu NacAnuiew anu Ron
Naitinez

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1. People all ovei the woilu think Biazilians aie the best touiists.

2. The }apanese aie often afiaiu of uoing oi saying the wiong thing when
tiavelling.

S. The Fiench aie geneially not veiy happy to speak English,

4. The ueimans want to get a ieal feel foi the local lifestyle when they tiavel.

S. The ueimans aie happy to show theii appieciation foi goou seivice.

6. The Fiench uon't seem t o be veiy tiuy when they tiavel.

7. Bo you agiee with Koieans' ianking on the suivey. If not, wheie shoulu
Koieans be iankeu.

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Woik in paiis oi small gioups. Which nationalities uo you think aie being
uesciibeu below.

1. They'ie always in big gioups.
2. They talk too louu.
S. The men aie womanizeis.
4. They'ie goou uanceis.
S. They smoke too much.
!" They'ie all fat.
7. They think they'ie the best.
8. They'ie violent people, I think.
9. They'ie so mean. They count
eveiy penny.
1u. They talk with theii hanus.
11. They'ie bau uiiveis.
12. They'ie all iich.
1S. They always want things uone
theii way.
14. The women aie beautiful.
1S. They'ie all blonue-haiieu anu
blue-eyeu.

Bo you think youi uiscussion woulu have offenueu people fiom any of the
countiies you have been talking about. Bo you minu if Koiea is talkeu about in
the same way.