Hell is where the cooks are British, the police are German, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss, and everything is organized by the Italians.

This is an old popular joke that never fails to make those who hear it cringe or laugh. National stereotypes have been the subject of many jokes for centuries. Even today when the international community promotes diversity and encourages tolerance, certain people are still tagged according to their nationalities.

I’m sure you already have heard these stereotypes-turned-jokes:

• The Romanians are vampires.
• The Swiss love clocks.
• The Japanese are very techy.
• The French have poor hygiene.
• The Chinese know kung fu. And so on…

To some, national stereotypes may provoke racism. To others, national stereotypes are harmless jokes based on the identity that a certain nation or people has established towards other countries through the years.

But is there a sliver of truth in these national stereotypes? Or are they just inaccurate preconceived notions, which can be pretty offensive to many people? Whatever your views are, note that the stereotypes are based on nationalities and not race.

Generalizations about cultures or nationalities can be a source of pride, anger or simply bad jokes. Some people say that in all stereotype there is some basis in reality, as they don’t develop in vacuum.

To give a more serious definition: “National Stereotype is a system of culture-specific beliefs connected with the nationality of a person. This system includes beliefs concerning those properties of human beings that may vary across nations, such as appearance, language, food, habits, psychological traits, attitudes, values etc.”

After reading many stereotypes, I’m a bit shocked that a lot of them are pretty negative or even insulting. Don’t you think it’s a bit strange, how much effort most people around the world invest, to classify their neighbors? After all we are made from the same wood and soil; but somehow that seems to get lost along the way.

Anyway – I hope you could smile a bit from time to time, even though most of them are quite nasty. It’s maybe part of the human conscience to concentrate on bad or negative things, instead of concentrating on the things that connect us.

1. Answer the questions:

1. Why do you think stereotypes are the subject of many jokes?

2. Why certain people are still tagged according to their nationalities?

3. Do you think national stereotypes may provoke racism? Why?

4. Are the stereotypes just preconceived notions offensive for some people?

5. Are the stereotypes based on race or not?

6. The stereotypes don’t develop in vacuum, do they? Why?

7. Do you agree with a definition of a national stereotype? Do you have something to add?

8. Why do you think most of the stereotypes are negative? What’s the main reason?

2. Find the English equivalents in the text:

1. чувствовать раздражение или смеяться

2. способствовать разнообразию и поощрять толерантность

3. снабжённый ярлыком, этикеткой

4. безобидная шутка

5. чуточка правды

6. предвзятое мнение

7. немного обидный

8. источник гордости

9. психологическая черта

10. негативный или оскорбительный

11. слеплены из одного теста

12. достаточно неприятный, отвратительный

13. человеческое сознание

Make up your own sentences with some of the phrases listed above.

Here are some common stereotypes given as examples. Do you know any others?

 

It is a common belief in America that all other countries don't really exist.
I'm a Negro so I must carry a gun.
I'm German, so I must be a Nazi.
I'm Asian so I must be a nerd who does homework 24/7.
I'm an atheist, so I must hate the world.
I'm Colombian, so I must be a drug dealer.
I'm into theater and art, so I must be a homosexual.
I dress in unusual ways so I must be looking for attention.
I don't have a religion, so I must be evil and have no morals.
I'm Mexican, so I must have hopped the border.
I'm rich, so I must be a conceited snob.
I'm native American, so I must dance around a fire screaming like a savage.
I have a bunch of girls who are friends, so I must be gay.
I'm Cuban, so I must spend my spare time rolling cigars.
I'm young, so I must be naive.
I'm Jamaican so I must smoke weed.
I'm Arab, so I must be a terrorist.
I dye my hair crazy colors, so I must be looking for attention.
All Italians are in the mob.
All Irishmen do is drink and beat their wives.
All black people are on welfare.

Russians

Culture background Russian culture has a long history and tradition and Russians are very proud of it. Russians consider themselves as a well educated nation. They read a lot, books are cheap, and one can afford to buy 5-10 books a month without serious damage to a family budget. Russians are also big fond of live performances at theatres and since tickets are affordable (prices in cinemas and theatres are comparable), they enjoy attending theatres: opera, musical, ballet, drama etc. Movie theatres are also becoming popular in Russia and they are equipped with the latest sound systems. When Russian people talk about movie theatres, they will usually say "cinema"; if they talk about "theatres", they mean live performances. Since both education and culture facilities used to be widely available, Russians can be considered a highly cultured nation. Their general knowledge is very good: they know a little bit about virtually everything. Intellectually, Russians are interesting people to talk to and enjoy deep subjects. Philosophy is still a mandatory subject when you study for a degree and one of the 3 compulsory subjects for PhD qualifying exam (the other 2 are foreign language and the specialty itself). At the same time the majority of Russians don't have what you call in the west "good manners". Their manners are not bad, they are just Russian. Russia is quite a tough country and Russians usually do not hesitate to say what they think. Russians are smart. They have so many difficulties and problems in life, that they can easily find a roundabout way for anything. They don't have a deep respect towards any law, including traffic rules. Russians are of some the most reckless, but at the same time skillful, drivers, and the most careless pedestrians in the world. There was no such term as "private property", that's why Russians don't care about intellectual property either. No other country in the world has such abuse of pirate software, video and audio records, CDs etc. Russians like to emphasize their different attitude towards material values and consider themselves as sincere, cordial, understanding and unselfish. They like to talk about "specifics of Russian soul" or "mysterious Russian soul", and repeat the famous phrase of a Russian poet "You can't understand Russia by your mind". Generally, Russians love their country. They can criticize it severely, but if you try to do the same they will defend it furiously. They feel like citizens of the largest county in the world, which has rich history and deep cultural roots, and they are proud of it. 1. Answer the following questions: 1. Why are Russians considered to be a well educated nation? 2. What live performances are Russians fond of? 3. What deep subject do Russian people prefer? 4. Do you agree that Russians are the most reckless and careless drivers? 5. Why do you think Russia is a tough country? 6. Why are Russians sincere and cordial nation? 2. Find the English equivalents of the phrases in the text: 1. гордиться чем-либо 2. хорошо образованная нация 3. серьёзный урон 4. оснащённый новейшими системами 5. высококультурная нация 6. общие знания 7. широко доступный 8. знать чуть-чуть обо всём 9. «жёсткая» страна 10. не колебаться 11. окружной путь 12. беспечные водители 13. невнимательные пешеходы 14. частная собственность 15. выставленный на продажу 16. откровенный и сердечный 17. яростно защищать 18. богатая история и глубокие культурные корни 3. Translate the sentences using the phrases listed above: 1. Я всегда найду выход (окружной путь) из любой ситуации. 2. Мы – высокообразованная и высококультурная нация и всегда знаем понемногу обо всём. 3. Он человек с «жёстким» характером, но очень сердечный и откровенный. 4. Это частная собственность и я не могу туда войти. 5. Наши водители очень беспечные и невнимательные. 6. Он всегда яростно её защищает, хотя она не права. 7. Я не буду колебаться и скажу всю правду. 8. Билеты в кино и в театр широко доступны всем людям. 9. Этот дом, выставленный на продажу, очень дорогой. 10. У нас у всех хорошие общие знания. 11. Война – это всегда серьёзный урон для страны. 12. У нашей страны богатая история и глубокие культурные корни. 4. Make a list of stereotypes about your country and tell what you like or dislike and why.