About Stereotypes August 22, 2014

PC TECH students have come to us from every continent except Australia…(and Antarctica, so far!).  At times friendly discussions about national and cultural stereotypes come up in class.  Acknowledging and defeating these stereotypes can lead to increased understanding of and respect for the various customs of the English language learners who share their traditions with one another.  Here is an example from Russian-born Tamila:

As I have written  in previous posts, learning English in New York City gives you a great opportunity to meet many different people from almost every part of the world.  You understand that every culture is unique and has its own traditions, customs, and lifestyles.  Moreover, many are victims of stereotyping.  So now I would like to break some stereotypes about people from Russia.

1. All Russian people are Russians.  Alright, I know that it sounds a little bit weird, but that is true. Being Russian means being a citizen of Russia; it does not refer to the ethnicity (russkiy  refers to that).  It also includes 21 republics, each with its own culture, language, and customs.
2. All Russian people (citizens of Russia) drink vodka.  No, not at all.  In fact, many of us don’t like it and try to avoid it.
3. In Russia, bears walk on the streets. This is one of the funniest one.  I have never seen a bear walking on a street in my life.  Only at the zoo, in a cage.

1. It is extremely cold in Russia.  Winter is not the only season in Russia. There are four seasons, and summers can be really hot there.  Although in some northern regions the temperature may be lower, overall the climate can be really quite pleasant.
2. Russian people smile very rarely.  Well, there may be some truth to that; however, it all depends on the individual.  I do smile and I smile a lot!

How about you out there?  Do you have any stereotypes about your cultures that you want to break?

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City