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Friendliness of the natives | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| staf250 Pentaglot Senior Member Belgium emmerick.be Joined 5699 days ago 352 posts - 414 votes  Speaks: French, Dutch*, Italian, English, German Studies: Arabic (Written) | Message 10 of 32 21 May 2009 at 1:45pm | IP Logged | ||
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Remember the movie of American tourists coming out the pullman saying:"When it's wednesday than this is
Brussels!" 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| pmiller Account terminated Groupie Canada Joined 5676 days ago 99 posts - 104 votes Speaks: English* | Message 11 of 32 21 May 2009 at 2:34pm | IP Logged | ||
I think these are all excellent points. I got really upset in Korea and mainland China when people cut in front of me in a line. One tough-looking middle aged guy in Korea did this to me in a small shop - there was only 1 person ahead of me, I think. I was so shocked and pissed off, and after a minute or so I went around him and cut back in front of him. Then he did it again! The second time I let it go, thinking maybe the guy is a plainclothes cop or something, and in any case tougher than me. But it probably wasn't personal, and probably had nothing to do with the fact that I was a foreigner, white, American, or whatever. That's just how locals treat each other all the time in some countries. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| pmiller Account terminated Groupie Canada Joined 5676 days ago 99 posts - 104 votes Speaks: English* | Message 12 of 32 21 May 2009 at 2:42pm | IP Logged | ||
OK, I'm fully aware there is a lot of vehement anti-Americanism around, especially in countries like France and Russia. But I really don't think that's what this is about. I don't even look "typically American" - people tell me I look European (whatever that is) or German. And even if I did look "American", how would people know I wasn't Canadian? By the way, how does a typical American tourist act these days? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| GoingGoingGone Newbie United States Joined 5670 days ago 28 posts - 39 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, French, Swedish, Mandarin | Message 13 of 32 21 May 2009 at 4:32pm | IP Logged | ||
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Even though I decided to learn French again (I took it in school many years ago), I found that in Paris SOME (not all!) people were so offended that my accent was not perfect that they preferred that I speak English. (I went many years ago while I was taking the language in school).
I don't understand this. When I hear someone speak English with a foreign accent, even incorrectly, I am flattered that they wanted to learn my language and that they respect it enough to try. I am never offended. I don't understand why it isn't more offensive if a tourist has refused to learn the foreign language. Obviously a non-native speaker who learns as an adult is not going to have perfect pronounciation (or perfect grammar unless they've studied for years). A French person who learns English as an adult is not going to have perfect pronounciation of English either. Isn't it better that I respected their language enough to choose to learn it - especially considering how many foreign languages I had to choose from to learn? I just want to add that not everyone is like this, just that I have encountered some. Also that when I was in Quebec I never found anyone like that and people were happy to speak with me with my imperfect French. Edited by GoingGoingGone on 21 May 2009 at 4:39pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Russianbear Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 6777 days ago 358 posts - 422 votes 1 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, Ukrainian Studies: Spanish | Message 14 of 32 21 May 2009 at 5:05pm | IP Logged | ||
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As someone who lives in a big city (NYC) I agree with a lot of what cordelia0507 wrote. There is nothing like a family of tourists -who look like they are in slow motion- fumbling with their maps and cameras and blocking the only entrance/exit from a train station during rush hour. New Yorkers are actually quite patient - and by "patient" I mean I am yet to see them lynch any tourists :) Many actually have the courtesy to walk around people taking pictures so that they don't ruin the shot, etc. But yes - most people mind their own business and are usually in a hurry.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| GoingGoingGone Newbie United States Joined 5670 days ago 28 posts - 39 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, French, Swedish, Mandarin | Message 15 of 32 21 May 2009 at 5:33pm | IP Logged | ||
I just want to say something about the "typical American" stereotypical tourist. Personally, I am ashamed of most of the Americans that travel overseas. But frankly any American who knows enough of a foreign language to be speaking it in a foreign country, imperfect or not, is definitely NOT a "typical American tourist". Most of them expect everyone to speak English and are too arrogant to consider the idea that learning another language is wise. It is VERY unfortunate how many Americans show no interest in foreign languages the day they leave school. So I would think it would come as a very pleasant surprise when an American tourist communicates in a foreign language, and that the person would not be viewed as a "typical American tourist". 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| cordelia0507 Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5840 days ago 1473 posts - 2176 votes Speaks: Swedish* Studies: German, Russian | Message 16 of 32 21 May 2009 at 5:50pm | IP Logged | ||
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First of all, just because somebody doesn't adore the US doesn't mean they are 'vehemently anti-american"!
I like some things about the US very much, but some things I don't like. But I don't think I am anti-American. You mentioned Russians, well if you think about what Russians have been through during the 90s, and see it from their perspective, then there is NO reason why they would like America! I don't want to go on a rant about all the reasons. But if I was Russian and had seen the assets of my country getting sold off for peanuts (often to American backed interests) and Nato started carrying out provocative exercises at my border while my country was constantly critisized... Then I'd not feel that great about America and what it represents either! There is a lot more to say about this, but I'll spare you. In the case of France it's not so much that they are anti-American as being pro-French and doesn't care what other countries thinks about this! It's just that this irritates Americans a bit more than Europe (which is used to the French and their particular charm, lol..) Plus they have some legislations that could be labelled 'socialist' but which citizens have democratically voted for. I think that's all there is to their "anti-Americanism." I don't know why America has such a huge need for the whole world to like it's policies and culture; If this is important then why does it do so many deplorable things? For example America thinks nothing of openly supporting the most disgusting regimes when it suits it economically, then turn against the regime in "indignation" when the wind changes. Why should any non-native love a country that behaves in this way? It's lucky for America that its citizens are generally quite likeable and that they have a good entertainment industry. Else "anti-americanism" would be a lot stronger. Plus the American film industry @Hollywood is better propaganda than any slogans that dictatorships come up with. This also helps the US cause.. Edited by cordelia0507 on 21 May 2009 at 5:53pm 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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