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ISD 200: International Student Development Week 2. Mari Acob-Nash Ryan Packard Dana Brolley Arlette Fellores Support: John Belmont. Agenda for Today. 2:00 Question time 2:05 What is Culture: The Iceberg Theory of Culture 2:40 Break (10 minutes) 2:50 American Stereotypes (20 minutes)
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ISD 200:International Student DevelopmentWeek 2 Mari Acob-Nash Ryan Packard Dana Brolley Arlette Fellores Support: John Belmont
Agenda for Today 2:00 Question time 2:05 What is Culture: The Iceberg Theory of Culture 2:40 Break (10 minutes) 2:50 American Stereotypes (20 minutes) 3:10 Stereotypes about your country (20 minutes) 3:30 Debrief (5 minutes) 3:35 Writing assignment
What is culture? • Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving. • Taken from: http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/choudhury/culture.html
Your Cultural Identity • Dateline –class mixer • Partner off- discuss your identity. • -What do you identify with? • -What differences do you have with your partner?
What do we do with this knowledge? • We are different, we are the same. • They are not right or wrong, less than me in any way just different. • Peace and acceptance.
Stereotypes versus Generalizations • Stereotypes • –negative • -not based on actual experience • -not really everyone Generalizations -based on personal experience -not for EVERYONE involved
The “Ugly American” Stereotype The Practical Guide to Overcoming Anti-American Sentiment
How are Stereotypes and Anti-American Sentiment Formed? “The Ugly American” • The Ugly American is the title of a 1956political novel (and movie) by Eugene Burdickand William Lederer. It became a bestseller, was influential at the time, and is still in print. For some reason, the people I meet in my country are not the same as the ones I knew in the United States. A mysterious change seems to come over Americans when they go to a foreign land. They isolate themselves socially. They live pretentiously. They're loud and ostentatious. The phrase “Ugly Americans" came to be applied to Americans behaving in this way.
Unfortunately, many foreigners see US government policy and actions as representative of the character and beliefs of all the American people.
How Stereotypes and Anti-American Sentiment Are Formed (continued) • American films and television exaggerate in order to generate excitement, and so present a rather distorted picture of what life in the United States is really like. Wednesday Line up on Australian TV The Biggest Loser The Big Bang Theory Fear Factor Judge Judy Jimmy Kimmel Live Desperate Housewives CSI Breaking Bad The Hangover Twilight
How Stereotypes and Anti-American Sentiment Are Formed (continued) • People in many countries feel left out; they feel that they can never be a part of, or enjoy the benefits of, the globalization movement led by U.S. business expansion. • Many people in other countries believe their local and national cultural values are being threatened by the values promoted by American companies and brands and/or the pervasiveness of our cultural product.
How Stereotypes and Anti-American Sentiment Are Formed (continued) • American tourists are not always on their best behavior. Americans are broadly perceived by others as arrogant, ignorant, lacking in humility, loud and unwilling to listen.
WHY ARE WE HERE? Your Role in Changing the Way People from Other Countries Perceive Americans • Ambassador • Change Agent • The Representative • The Example
Quotes from American Tourists in Mexico • High School girls: Oh my God, can you believe the toilet paper dispenser was OUTSIDE the stall? • Restaurant patron: I asked for a "real" taco. • Taxi passenger: I want "real" money in change and not pesos. • Student: Are all the Mexican women this fat? • Texas housewife: Do you realize just how corrupt your government is here? • American male: I can't believe you Americans (expats) who want to live in such a poor country • Hotel patron: Why don't you get ESPN?
Your Country’s Stereotypes Write out what you believe are stereotypes for your country or culture Select a partner or small group Discuss these with you partner or group Time: 10 Minutes
CHANGING STEREOTYPES BASIC TIPS: To change a person’s view of your stereotype, be consistently different from it. Stereotyping can be reduced by bringing people together. Beware of how your own stereotyping blinds you to the true nature of other individuals.
BEFORE YOU VISIT A COUNTRY OUTSIDE THE U.S. • Educate yourself about your host country and its culture • Read basic factual and historical information on your host country • Learn about current events and try to talk to people who are from the host country or who have extensive experience there. • When you use people as resources, remember that they may give you biased information so listen carefully and try to get people to be objective.
Check Your Behavior • Notice how we are similar first, different second. • Learn about other cultures–join groups that you would not normally join. • Understand the negative impact of stereotypes on yourself and others around you. • Respect the opinions and rights of all human beings. • Treat others the way they would like to be treated–Platinum Rule. • Put yourself in the shoes of others–try to be understanding, sympathetic, compassionate, and empathetic.
Tips for interacting with people who speak different languages or with different accents • Speak clearly and slowly • Seek clarification • Pause from time to time • Use pictures, signs, diagrams • Demonstrate as you explain • Use simple vocabulary • Avoid raising your voice • Never measure a person’s intelligence by his/her accent • Expect the occasional misunderstanding • Get the help of an interpreter • Be open to coaching • Solicit feedback from others when appropriate • Smile and show warmth and friendliness
Drawing project • Draw a picture of your home culture themes. • Draw a picture of your American culture themes. • -what is your house now? • -what is food like? • -who do you live with?
Writing Assignment • Name some things about your culture that are below the water in the ICEBURG theory model. What are some things about your culture that others might not realize? • Write about what you learned were stereotypes for your culture and country. How did these make you feel? • Remember: Must be turned in by email: isd200hw@gmail.com, and must be in the proper format– see syllabus. • Due: Wednesday, January 16, the day before the following class by 5 pm.
Reference Burrello, Kelley, 2005. WorldReach Consulting and Training, Inc. Taken from: http://www.slideshare.net/Worldreach/the-ugly-american-stereotype