Interesting exercise [long]

[Renesis]

Alright, so today in my english class, we were talking about culture and billingualism. The teacher had a very interesting exercise for us but before I start, I'll just put you into context.


The teacher: late 30's early 40's born in quebec as an anglophone, now perfectly billingual

The Students: Most around 18 years old, a class of about 25 people, all native francophones in an advanced level english class


So the exercise was quite simple, everyone had to write words that described English Canadians, Americans and Quebecers on 3 separate sheets (it was anonymous) and then the teacher read them and wrote the most popular on the board. I found this very interesting because the results surprised me somewhat. Let me do a quick recap of the most populars, the most popular of each category being in red.

We started with English Canadians

-Anti Quebec
-Pro-Unity of Canada
-Open-Minded
-Liberals
-Squareheads
-Anonymous (meaning they're more reserved)
-Religious


This was pretty interesting, I was surprised by a few of those, especially "Religious" because even though they're more religious than us here in Quebec, I didn't think/know they were that religious (compared to americans let's say)


So then it was about Quebecers, you'd think it would be all positive and we'd think about ourselves as superior but actually not really, we still had both sides of the medal.

-Anti-War
-Proud of their culture
-Sociable/Partying people
-Separatists
-Different
-Swearing
-Poutine

That's what I remember, one person mentionned "Frogs" but well it was only one person, I suppose it should have been there since we put "Squareheads" for anglophones but well.. I ws quite surprised by the results, because although true, they seem like something people outside from Quebec would say/know about us, I guess it's what came to our minds first too. I wasn't really expecting Anti-war to come up, even though we are, but certainly not as the most popular.



Keeping the most interesting for the last, we had the Americans


-Overly Proud
-Fat people
-Pro-War
-Pro-Bush
-Conservatives
-Republicans
-Want to control everything
-Selfish
-Very religious


This was very interesting and even funny, because most students had noted 2-3 qualificatives, but I and the girl beside me, had more than the rest of the class put together, the teacher went OMG! when she read my sheet! But well, back to topic, it was interesting to see that "Fat people" tied with overly proud, well I was really surprised about that. It's also the only place where almost nothing positive came out.. Maybe because we aren't as close to them and only know their bad side..




Anyway, I thought it was a great idea and something interesting to do, to know the opinions of the others. Again, this topic isn't meant to start a huge debate or a flame war about Quebecers, Canadians nor Americans, I just wanted to share this with you and hear your opinions, comments, just be respectful and everything will be cool.

 

[justin syder]

My opinion,

I dont know why ppl hate or dislike Ameriaca??

Yes we are fat, i concede that.

Yes we are proud, we are a prosperous nation and are happy with our accomplishments, sometimes we (me included) come off as arrogant but anyone would if they were living in the British Empire, Roman Empire of their time.

I dont understand how voting Bush in makes the WHOLE country "Jesus-land" and king conservatives when 50+ million voted against him. We have a liberal holywood and liberal media and ton of anti-war ppl here but still come off as "republicans" or "conservatives" or a pro Bush country?

"Want to control everything" and "selfish" I just dont get. Our nation, (possibility for some arrogance, sorry) has MAJOR influence around the world. That doesnt mean we want to rule the world or are selfish.

 

[clem]

I'm quite OK with these opinions

I'm a french ( frog ! ) and I think I feel quite the same as quebecers ! :lol:

 

[zenon]

So what is that class called? Reinforcing Social Stereotypes 101? :?

 

[justin syder]

So what is that class called? Reinforcing Social Stereotypes 101?

sure does sound like it.

 

[Roland]

Seriosly though, what was the point/meaning of the exercise?

 

[clem]

So what is that class called? Reinforcing Social Stereotypes 101?

sure does sound like it.

:lol:

 

[Ultra_Kool_Dude]

Canadians (including Quebecois) and Americans are pretty much the same. If you put ten people from both countries in the same room, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

 

[ruuman]

My opinion,

I dont understand how voting Bush in makes the WHOLE country "Jesus-land" and king conservatives when 50+ million voted against him. We have a liberal holywood and liberal media and ton of anti-war ppl here but still come off as "republicans" or "conservatives" or a pro Bush country?

"Want to control everything" and "selfish" I just dont get. Our nation, (possibility for some arrogance, sorry) has MAJOR influence around the world. That doesnt mean we want to rule the world or are selfish.

I think the whole religious stereo-type probably comes from the fact that because bush was openly christian it did his campain no damage and picked up a great deal of votes through that. Just as Kerry picked up a lot of Jewish votes because Bush had the taken the christian stance.

As for the selfish control freak image, I believe this has a lot to do with the attiude and actions from the cold war times.

My own personal view of part of the problem is that the USA is the only country to not fight to get it's super power status. What I mean is that the Roman's, Greeks, British & USSR had to conquere and fight and toil to construct their Empires. Where as the US inherited the posistion from Britain as we simply couldn't afford to carry on after 2 world wars.

Because of this and your relatively short period of being a United State I think the US still has some important leasons to learn. And like others before them this will only happen once you've pissed a lot of people off

I know that is over simplifying things, but I don't want to have to write an essay.

Probably an easier way put this is that I've been to about 10 different countries now and spoken to many natives. The common view of American's is that they are the most noisey, ignorant, rude and arrogant people they have met.

seeing as only about 20% of yanks have passports I'd say that your giving them out to the wrong people

sorry for mega post

 

[Renesis]

Seriosly though, what was the point/meaning of the exercise?

Talking in english while expressing our opinions I guess. The teacher didn't say a world, well yes, she argued that english canadians CAN drink (she took that personally I think..) because someone had noted that (you know the ontarians who come here during springbreak and get drunk and all... some even die!)

 

[Renesis]

Canadians (including Quebecois) and Americans are pretty much the same. If you put ten people from both countries in the same room, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Maybe not between Canadians (including Quebecois) but Americans? I think so, well maybe not everytime, but sometimes yes.

 

[Roland]

Americans are selfish... wouldn't think so, i belive the US tops the list of private donations/aid to poor/un-developed countries.

 

[ruuman]

Canadians (including Quebecois) and Americans are pretty much the same. If you put ten people from both countries in the same room, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

I used to think that until I got stuck in a room full of Canadian's and Yanks.

Yanks are a slightly noisier and don't get sarcasam.
Canadians only talk about their personal achivements and never listen to the other side of a conversation.

Both never shut up or hold their drink!!

Only kidding


........ well half kidding

 

[justin syder]

Ruuman

US inherited the posistion from Britain as we simply couldn't afford to carry on after 2 world wars.

I whole heartedly disagree, we only "inhearited" the colonies and everything frmo the Louisiana Purchase to Hawaii and Alaska came form our sweat, blood, tears and unfortunately the blood of Native Americans.

The common view of American's is that they are the most noisey, ignorant, rude and arrogant people they have met.

I feel the same about the French! :lol:

seeing as only about 20% of yanks have passports I'd say that your giving them out to the wrong people

Ruuman how did you get that number? Where?

I think the whole religious stereo-type probably comes from the fact that because bush was openly christian it did his campain no damage and picked up a great deal of votes through that. Just as Kerry picked up a lot of Jewish votes because Bush had the taken the christian stance.

This is prob why most foreigner think this is Jesusland etc. This has been going on at every Presidential Election. Every president elected has been religious, or claimed to be as that is a major portion of voters. 80-90% of ppl here believe in a higher power. We are religious but have been even before Bush.

 

[Ultra_Kool_Dude]

Canadians only talk about their personal achivements and never listen to the other side of a conversation.

I've never heard that before....

Well except this one time when I was climbing this really tough mountain, and I just didn't think I could make it, but I struggled on and really learned something about myself.

Let's see if any Yanks get that then...

Not that I'll be listening.

 

[Renesis]

Americans are selfish... wouldn't think so, i belive the US tops the list of private donations/aid to poor/un-developed countries.

you don't get what we meant by selfish...

 

[justin syder]

you don't get what we meant by selfish...

Please explain...

 

[Renesis]

Well first of all I'd like to see Roland's stats, I'm sure if you put that per capita, it'll drop in the list.


Secondly it wasn't only about money, but more about how they are self-centered and only care about themselves in many situations

 

[Kip_6666]

Americans are selfish... wouldn't think so, i belive the US tops the list of private donations/aid to poor/un-developed countries.

But many foreign policies between europe and the us give those countries a unfair trade position.

 

[Ultra_Kool_Dude]

American news stations always place a huge importance on "American life".

ie: a riot in India killed 1299 people, but they emphasize that "14 Americans lives were lost today"