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Stereotypes
Stereotypes

Learn English meaning of stereotypes

Date: May 20 2020

Themes: Friend

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Intro

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There are many different types of people in the world. Where we live and what we look like makes us special. Because of this, people from Europe will often act differently than people from Asia. But if we take those differences, and say they are always true, we are making a stereotype.

Some stereotypes are harmless, but many stereotypes can be very mean. Placing many people into one category, just because they look or act a certain way, is unfair. Stereotypes often give us an incorrect understanding of other people. A common phrase in English is don’t judge a book by its cover. We should get to know people before we decide what they are like.

Kellie is sad because one of her friends was stereotyped. Find out what Brian thinks in today’s English lesson about judging people.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kellie

Kellie

Brian

Brian

Kellie:  Hey Brian. I’ve just had a really bad day. A friend of mine, somebody was stereotyping her, and I feel really bad for her. It’s just so unfair.

Brian:  Yeah, it’s really hard when people just generalize you based on your background or they way you look. You never think about it, but it goes both ways, that judgment. I had a friend who really liked me because I was Asian. But he didn’t really know who I was. He just thought that was a fun thing.

Kellie:  So, he didn’t dig deeper and get to know you?

Brian:  No, and he was trying to be positive about the stereotype. But at the same time, he was just characterizing me as someone else.

Kellie:  Oh, I never thought about that. Actually, people rely way too heavily on stereotypes.

Brian:  Yeah, it’s those preconceived notions that just get stuck in their head.

Kellie:  And generalizing is just not a good thing.

Brian:  Really just getting to know people is way more important than just assuming.

Kellie:  I agree.

Brian:  Because you know what they say about assuming?

Kellie:  Yes.

Brian:  It makes an ass out of you and me.

 

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Kellie is sad because her friend was the victim of a stereotype. She thinks it is important to dig deeper into people’s lives and get to know them. She doesn’t like that people rely so heavily on stereotypes.

Brian doesn’t like it when people generalize others just because of the way they look. He knew a person who only liked him because he’s Asian. Brian thinks getting to know people is much better than assuming things about them.

Have you ever been stereotyped? What are some unfair stereotypes about people in your country?

 

Comments

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WobblyJoe

WobblyJoe

United States

We are all the same at birth, but over our lives, different people learn different ways.


What was dimissed as propaganda years ago can now be watched live on directly posted media outlets like youtube. It’s possible to see actual people, thousands of them, actually chanting for the deaths of others.


What I meant was that some stereotypes are based in reality, in real fears, and not only in false attempts to guide our opinions.  Sometimes the stereotype exists for a reason.

12:31 AM May 21 2015 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

Stereotypes do exist. It is shaped by propaganda, by news, by habit. People don’t leave in the forest, they’re exposed to daily news, daily talks within their own country whose politics, moral issues more or less rubs of of the nation. It can be positive like in democratic countries where the rights of the citizens are very much respected and can be negetive like in dictatorship regime where most suck up to their leader, put monuments for him and all that lie. Only few, can think on their own and oppose that. These people are heroes! But let’s believe in that we’re all human that is one common thing among us. At least that’s what what was given to us at our birth…there’re some basics that destroys stereotypes- love to each other, respect each each other and living in harmony and peace. Isn’t that simple!
? People, c’mon!

11:55 PM May 20 2015 |

WobblyJoe

WobblyJoe

United States

Hey Mahtab.


“But there are many different characters in my country and we dont have the same believes or behaviors but many generalize us!”


We’ve seen footage of THOUSANDS of Iranians chanting in your streets for our deaths, have you EVER seen thousands of Americans chanting for yours?


Don’t blame us for how you are seen, you do that to yourselves.

10:17 PM May 20 2015 |

1 person likes this

S&W

S&W

China

I had got some stereotypes about Muslim,i am sorry to say this but hope i didn’t offended people here.Because i was influenced by international news,When you open TV ,everyday all about terrorist attack,nuclear wapon,how many innocent people were died from terrorist attack.Regarding to Muslim i had alarms in my head and subconciously protect myself from getting hurt.It like advertisement affect you don’t wanna rely too heavily on stereotypies on the contrary it backfired on you.


Here was a perfect place to know people as you dig deep the truth was most Muslims are kind and nice.

01:00 AM May 20 2015 |

Mahtab.bp

Mahtab.bp

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Thanks Sienceboy!


Now I feel better!


Of course I think we all have the same feelings about some nations while in every country you can find good or bad people! 


Welcome back!


I hope you dont have crazy weeks anymore! ;-)

02:19 PM May 19 2015 |

ScienceBoy

ScienceBoy

Turkey

Thanks Shoba, I am finally back :D I had a few crazy weeks. 


Mahtab, it’s same for all Muslim countries, not just Iran. People believe what they see in movies and on the news and then generalize all Muslims as terrorists. Not fair, not fair at all. But I don’t blame them, I blame he media.

Shoba

Shoba

Sri Lanka



Aw, thanks, ScienceBoy. I’m happy to know that you have no doubts about my eating habits. 


It was nice to hear from you after a long time. Take care!



 

04:16 AM May 19 2015 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

I wish to all of us to be stereotyped only in good sense. :)


To find good things of the nation are much harder than to shout out about the shortcomings of the nation. 


Let’s generalize each other only in positive way. IMHO ;)

s11211s

s11211s

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

One of the outstanding characteristic our brain is classifying and making everything in groups, so the people is not an exception of this! We make group of people with some True or false characteristics.



We want it or not, we do that and most people in different situations are victims of a stereotype, most of our belief about people is unfair, hope we manage our nature and finally people live in peaceful world without stereotypes!

Mahtab.bp

Mahtab.bp

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hmmm!


I can say we are streotyped by other people in the most of countries because of our religion and politics background!


The global preconceived notions based on News makes many problems for my people who live in other countries!


But there are many different characters in my country and we dont have the same believes or behaviors but many generalize us!


On the other hand people judge eachother here too based on appearance and the kind of wearing specially about women!


Anyway this lesson was useful to me because I will try to dig deeper to know the people I meet in virtual or real world! :-)



Oluna

Oluna

Russian Federation

On the one hand,  stereotypes make us to see the difference… we can see some common features which help us to size up about something…it is just only about surface idea.


But on the other hand, I can’t get full idea, for example, of a person based only on stereotypes.. because when you get to know someone closer stereotypes break..

wzf282q

wzf282q

China

i cant express myself in english,but actually  i have a lot of words aboat srereotye. respect different stereotypes and we must learn to tolerance the diffrence,then u will find we are all the same…..All of people have the same feelings and emotions,another saying is ONE WORLD,ONE DREAM.

NIJ321655

NIJ321655

United States

i agree

01:47 PM May 18 2015 |

1 person likes this

NIJ321655

NIJ321655

United States

yes it ot a cat

01:18 PM May 18 2015 |

NIJ321655

NIJ321655

United States

Sterotypesare hard so I like it.

01:04 PM May 18 2015 |

1 person likes this

Lejla123

Lejla123

Serbia and Montenegro

I can say that Muslims in our country are in big percentage victim of stereotypes, and because of that we must to work much harder than
Christians, to make some succes

ScienceBoy

ScienceBoy

Turkey

Shoba we all know you know how to eat.  We have no doubt ;)


12:42 PM May 18 2015 |

Shoba

Shoba

Sri Lanka



Well, generally, we are stereotyped as superstitious, backward thinking and over-sentimental people. 


And in our community women are generalized as a species that knows only how to cook and take care of the children. This type of stereotyping infuriates me because I know how to eat too. Haha! 



asef

asef

Afghanistan

Considering to the above expression (Stereotype) As an humanbeing we must respect to every people around the globe, no matter what are their religions,skin,tradition,Accent and whatever.

05:51 AM May 18 2015 |

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