Text 5. Present stereotypes in America and Russia

In my view here are the most realistic and essential stereotypes in America and Russia.

1. Americans are always in such a hurry to get things done!

Americans often seem this way because of their tendency to use achievements and accomplishments as a measure of a person's worth. They're in a hurry to get things done because it's only then that they feel they have proven their worth to other people. The more Americans accomplish, the more they feel they are respected.

2. Americans insist on treating everyone the same.

Americans do this because of our cultural roots as a free nation (e.g., "All men are created equal"). Americans have a deep cultural instinct toward social equality and not having a class system. This is a reaction to the European class system as well as the feudal system that existed in Europe. In cultures where inequality between social classes is more accepted, American insistence on egalitarianism, or social equality, may be annoying.

3. Americans always have to say what they're thinking!

Americans believe that being direct is the most efficient way to communicate. It's important to "tell it like it is" and "speak your mind" — to say what you mean and mean what you say. Being direct is often valued over "beating around the bush." Americans value "assertiveness" and being open and direct about one's thoughts and feelings. Not all cultures have this same value. In some cultures, the "normal" way to disagree or to say no is to say nothing or be very indirect.

4. Americans always want to change things.

Americans think things can always be better, and that progress is inevitable. The United States is just a little more than 200 years old, and American culture tends to be an optimistic one. Older cultures are more skeptical because they have been around longer, have experienced more, and have been in situations in which progress was not always made. In American businesses, being open to change is a strong value, because things really do change quickly, and it is necessary to adapt. Many Americans believe it is "good" to initiate change and "bad" to resist it.

5. Americans don't show very much respect for their elders.

Americans believe people must earn by their actions whatever regard or respect they are given. Merely attaining a certain age or holding a certain position does not in itself signify achievement.

6. Americans always think things are going to get better. They are so optimistic!

America, because of its resources and successes, has always had a culture of optimism. Americans believe that they are in control of their own destinies, rather than being victims of fate. Many Americans tend to believe that "the American dream" can be achieved by anyone who is willing to work hard enough. Many Americans believe that the only obstacle to things getting better is "not trying hard enough." Americans also believe that a personal lack of determination or effort can be "fixed." Other cultures may believe more in fate ("what will be will be"). When something bad happens, some members of these cultures believe it was fated to happen, must be accepted, and cannot be changed.

7. Americans are so impatient!

Americans believe that if things take a long time to do, they won't be able to do enough of them. Many Americans believe that more and faster is better. They do not like to stand in line and wait, and they originated "fast food." Americans believe that "getting things done" (and doing them quickly) may be more important than other things. Many other cultures believe that slower is better and that building and maintaining relationships takes priority over "getting things done" at the expense of relationships.

These observations are not meant to describe or categorize all Russians. They are things that stand out and seem to be general patterns to outsiders.

1. Style of dress for women — dressy/feminine/revealing clothes, high heels, colored hair & make-up. Many Russian women seem to dress for fashion and to make themselves objects of beauty, rather than to dress for comfort or, freedom of movement. Many American women prefer less formal, more comfortable clothing & shoes, sportswear & sneakers. They marvel at Russian women walking quickly on icy sidewalks in stilettos!

A note on fur: as a general rule, it is not in fashion to wear fur in the USA these days because of beliefs about animal rights and endangered species. Some people think that wearing fur is immoral. In Russia, it would seem that fur is not only or simply a fashion, but a defense against the bitter cold of winter.

2. Style of dress for men — black leather jackets, dark colors, clothes that "blend in" / Among young men shaved heads are common, there are some but not many ponytails, and not many beards.

Many Russian men wear dark colors, especially black, and appear to "blend in," to not stand out from the crowd by showing an excessively original, colorful or unusual sense of style. As a contrast to the dark colors preferred by many Russian men, one man from Ohio said he would "stick out like a sore thumb" wearing his black Russian overcoat at home, where brightly colored ski parkas are in fashion.

3. Rules of Hospitality in Russia

ALWAYS offer a guest something to drink AND to eat. If you serve tea, you must offer at least a cookie or chocolate too. (Russians visiting the USA noticed that they were not immediately or automatically offered food & drink when visiting American homes).

There will be lots to eat and drink. The host or hostess will ask guests to eat more and drink more, & will ask more than once. (Many Americans do not like to be asked to eat more or drink more again and again. An American host or hostess will typically ask only once if a guest wants more food. The guest is expected to answer, "yes, thank you," if he or she wants more. If a guest says, "no thank you," the host or hostess will not persist — the guest knows what the guest wants and has said so. Many hosts or hostesses will instruct guests to make themselves at home & help themselves to whatever they tike. The host or hostess will then leave the guests to make their own choices and will not attempt to serve them. Many Americans praise and are touched by Russian warmth and generosity, they do not necessarily expect it, & they can find it a bit overwhelming.)

To make a guest really feel at home, invite him or her into the kitchen! (Americans entertain guests at the dining room table as a sign of the visit being a special occasion, or in the tiding room as a sign of informality and "being one of the family." The kitchen in an American home does not share the same special place it has in the Russian home, heart & imagination.)

4. Best Loved Russian Foods

Borsch, blini & caviar are perhaps the best known Russian foods outside of Russia. Visitors to Russia notice that Russians eat a lot of sour cream, butter, cheese & mayonnaise. Pickles and salted fish also stand out. An American in Siberia has mentioned smoked fish too.

5. Most Important Russian Holidays

Birthdays —Jubilees are not so common outside of Russia / International Women's Day is not celebrated as a holiday outside of Russia — it is a day to measure progress in and violation of women's rights around the world.

6. Best Loved Russian Writers

In the USA, the best known and loved Russian writers are (1) Dostoyevsky, (2) Tolstoy, (3) Chekhov.

7. Three Russian Folk or Religious Beliefs

There are many superstitions, and outsiders notice that Russians follow them, even if they do not actively believe in them. Russian friends may ask one to sit quietly before taking a long journey, look in a mirror if something has been forgotten, or spit three times over ones shoulder for any number of reasons.

The belief that one should live in the present, and that it is sinful to think too much about the future, seems to have its origins in Russian Orthodox Christianity.

Text 6

Misconceptions about different cultures often prevent people from understanding each other adequately. They create serious barriers in international relations that may result in alienation, stereotyping, and formation of enemy images. People become frustrated if their self-image does not coincide with the way they are seen by others.

The following survey carried out as part of research in intercultural communication allows us to see how Russians and Americans view each other and where intercultural problems can occur. Russians about Americans:

Americans are friendly, hospitable; materialistic; optimistic; businesslike; self-righteous (like to teach others how to live); ambitious; independent; hard working; energetic; patriotic. Americans look fat, smiling but insincere; happy; cheerful; independent; neat; funny; prosperous; comfortable; healthy; the same.

Americans like Coca-Cola; junk food; their country; popcorn; chewing gum; hot dogs; work; money; their family; sports; entertainment; their President; psychoanalysts.

Americans always say "Hi" and smile; interfere with others; wear T-shirts; think they are right; plan their future; consider their own interests; speak a lot; shout; boast; ask silly questions; work hard; care for their rights and privacy.

Americans never cheat; cry; do harm to their health; dream; think; beg; forgive; complain; waste time or money; disclose their real feelings; think about others; keep promises; depend on a person entirely; eat soup; eat much bread; get out of their cars; walk; wash dishes after meals; go to the theater; drink too much; understand or like Russians.

Americans about Russians:

Russians are educated, cultural, intellectual; poor; family-oriented; passionate; involved in interpersonal relations; deeply religious; oppressed; proud; warm; hospitable; harрworking. Russians look serious; sad; ferocious, fierce, threatening, hungry, unhappy; big, even the women; tired; unsatisfied; intimidated, very pale, cold, determined; stern; strict, intense, suspicious. Russians like vodka; greasy food; books; American culture; friends; music; their religion; dancing, art; drama; history; war; cold weather; entertainment; family; instant gratification.

Russians always carry packets and bags; push and shove; compete well in the Olympics; kiss both cheeks; argue; yell; accept life; take care of their families; have to stand in line; say what they think; wear fur and funny-looking hats; drink; help one another.

Russians never have fun; wear shoes inside their homes; stop working; look at the bright side of things; fall on ice; wait their turns; observe personal space; plan ahead; smile at you on the street; appear silly; drink water, live in tropical climates; shrink back in fear; understand Americans. Differences in verbal and non-verbal behavior can become a source of misunderstanding between people from different cultures. Some examples of miscommunication between Russians and Americans, whether amusing or frustrating, can illustrate this point.

Phonetics. Indistinct or incorrect pronunciation of words can be very confusing, especially in intercultural contacts (cf. keys - kiss, New York - Newark). Different accents used within a country are also very meaningful. They tell you about a person's origin, education, social status, etc. But this information is totally lost on people, if they cannot distinguish between accents. American newspapers wrote about President Clinton "with his Arkansas accent and mannerisms," which Russians were not aware of. On the other hand, Mikhail Gorbachev with his Southern Russian pronunciation sounded much more educated to foreigners than to Russians, because the impression of his speech was significantly improved by interpreters.

Graphics can also be a barrier in communication. To begin with, alphabets like Russian or Greek look intimidating to Americans. But figures, which seem to be universal, can also be confusing. For example, Russians indicate the decimal point with a comma, and Americans with a period. Americans use a comma for thousands, and Russians do not. Therefore figures like 0.15 vs. 0,15 or 150,000 vs. 150 000 can be interpreted differently. For Americans 02/09 means February 9 and for Russians September 2, etc.

Abbreviations. English-speaking businessmen rendered the abbreviation GBF (glass bottle factory) in Russian as FSB (fabrika steklyannyh butylok), which was somewhat funny for Russians because it is a common abbreviation for Federal Security Bureau (a Russian equivalent of FBI).

Measures. How much gas does your car use? If you name the quantity in gallons, it would be meaningless for Russians, as they measure gas in liters. Or suppose Americans are flying on an airplane to Moscow and the airhostess tells them that the temperature in the Moscow airport is 12 degrees Celsius - will they know what to wear? If you tell Russians you weigh 130 pounds and are 5'7'' tall, they will have no idea whether you are slim or stout, short or tall, etc.

Word meanings. Even the fact that words are derived from the same source may be misleading. If for Americans the word cottage means a small one-story house, Russians use it to refer to a big two-story private home. The word Doctor used in Russian academic circles denotes a higher academic status than a Ph. D. in the United States and is usually associated with professorship. As a result, Russian scholars are sometimes frustrated when their importance is underestimated by Americans.

For adequate understanding it is not only necessary to attribute a word to a thing, but also to know how the thing is used. Very often, when we are abroad, we stand stupidly in front of the simplest things and have no idea how to handle them. When Lars mother in the famous screened version of Doctor Zhivago puts a thermometer in her mouth, it immediately feels foreign, because Russians would consider this behavior inadequate: they measure temperature only under the arm. Americans coming to Russia have a great difficulty using blanket cases. Some students crawled inside and slept in them instead of putting them on blankets.

Things do not exist on their own: they function within a context, in relation to other objects. If a GPA of 4.0 is the highest grade in the U.S., Russians would not appreciate it, as they use a 5-point grading system. Russians do not know what cum laude is; their equivalent is the so called Red Diploma.

Scripts or scenarios of behavior also differ from one culture to another. For example, buying things in a store or using public transportation can be a nightmare for an inexperienced foreigner. Strategies of communication. Americans are very proud of their directness as an important trait of the American character. But, "while Americans are often puzzled and frustrated by what appears to be a Russian inability to 'get down to business,'" Russians often see American behavior as "disturbingly pushy, greedy, and short-sighted" (Steven D. Jones). Americans believe that Russians in the street or on public transportation look unfriendly, whereas Russians find American openness and readiness to smile as not altogether sincere. Russians always wonder how to understand American ambiguous statements, such as "Let's have lunch sometime" - is the speaker just being polite or should a date be set? And they may be offended if the promised lunch never takes place. When Russians invite people home, the usual thing after kissing, hugging, and handshakes is for the hosts to invite you straight to the table, which often surprises Americans. On the other hand, Russian visitors often go hungry because, after they politely decline the first offer, the food is not offered again, and they never have the courage to

Text 7 Nationality Stereotypes

A stereotype is a fixed set of ideas that is generally held about the characteristics of a particular type of person which are wrongly believed to be shared by all the people of that type. In my opinion it is a dangerous thing to judge about a people or a group of people by existing stereotypes but nevertheless a certain stereotype does exist.

Every nation has its own stereotypes. English are said to be prim. Weather is the most important topic in the land. In English this is an ever interesting, even thrilling topic and you must be good at discussing the weather. You must never contradict anybody when discussing the weather. Should it hail and snow, should hurricanes up root the trees, should someone remark to you "Nice day, isn't it?" – answer without hesitation "Isn't it lovely?" On the continent people either tell you the truth or lie, in Britain they hardly ever lie but they don't tell you the truth either. The British like people of every country tend to be attributed with certain characteristics which are supposedly typical. However you should be cautious about accepting such characterizations too easily. Societies change over time while their reputations lag behind. Many things which are often regarded as typically British are no longer representative of modern life. One example of this is the popular belief that Britain is a land of traditions. This is what most tourist brochures claim. The claim is based on what can be seen in public life. And at this level – the level of public life it is undoubtedly true. However in private everyday lives the British as individuals are probably less inclined to follow traditions than other people of most other countries. According to the stereotypes English are also thought to be reserved, conservative, shy of strangers, suspicious of change and slow to accept new ideas, responsible, honest and unemotional. But I think this stereotype pictures are far from true, especially in today's world.

I also would like to say stereotypes are a part of human life though they may present one sided exaggerated view of religion, racial ethnic groups of people as well as of classes of people. Stereotypes are certainly not reliable description of individual people but they still exist.

1. Pair-work. Think of some stereotypes about people of different nationalities. The person sitting next to you will challenge each stereotype finding a polite way to point out that it is a mistaken idea.

2. Discuss the following questions.

1. In what way can stereotypes be harmful or dangerous?

2. What can we do to act against stereotypes?

3. Summarize all that you have learnt about cultural differences at this lesson. What problems connected with resolving cross-cultural misunderstanding would you like to discuss with schoolchildren? Arrange a discussion on the topic “So Many Countries, So Many Cultures”.

WRITING

4. Would the world be better if we all were alike? Write an essay about it.

5. The world we live in may be called multicultural. To prove it render the main points of the text below into English. Pay attention to the English words denoting different phenomena of world culture:

The Labors of Hercules (Heracles); Hydra; the temple of Artemis; Ephesus; Herostrates;

Achilles’ heel; Cassandra; Les Miserables; Victor Hugo; Brussels; The Barber of Seville; Rossini; Stravinsky; Petrushka; Vienna;

Shintoists; a Christian style of wedding; kimono;

Wiener schnitzel; Czech knedliki; goulash; paprika; Brie; Camembert; Roquefort; foxtrot; lambada; mazurka; polka; tango; samba;

Great Fast; Jewish Passover; Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year).