Stereotypes

I was surfing the net in search of information on this topic when I found this definition of stereotype:
“a single statement or attitude about a group of people that does not recognize the complex, multidimensional nature of human beings.”
Even though we, human beings, must simply accept that stereotypes are mainly negative and have to agree that they are generally unjust and deceptive, we still persist in proving how unfair is “a simplified and fixed image of all members of a culture or group”; and when trying to show that, only from time to time, we encounter examples that make us wonder.
Last year the CNNNY TV offered their viewers a video of American people answering “general knowledge” questions in the middle of the street. I am not going to describe what purpose they had in mind when they made the video, you can judge yourselves.

While watching the video, you were probably amused and astonished to see all those passers-by unable to articulate correct answers. Most of the questions were quite basic and obvious, but others were not so evident. I suggest that you should try to answer them, but keep in mind that you will be under no pressure, so you can do that at your own pace.

Name a country that begins with U.
Who is in the coalition of the willing?
What is the religion of Israel?

What religion are Buddhist Monks?

Who won the Vietnam War?

Who is Fidel Castro?

How many sides does a triangle have?

What is the currency used in the United Kingdom?

Koffee Annan is a coffee drink, true?
Who is Tony Blair?
Which countries are in the Axis of Evil?
Who was the first man on the moon?

What is a Mosque?

How many kidneys does a person have?

What is collateral damage?

How many World Wars have there been?

Which state does KFC come from?

Star Wars is based on a true story, true?

What are Hiroshma and Nagasaki famous for?

Where is the West Bank?

How many Eiffel Towers are in Pairs?

What is Al-Qaeda?

Where was the Berlin Wall?

The language spoken in Latin America is Latin, true?

Now you can compare your own ideas with these video-answers.

However, if you think that something like that could only have happened in USA, watch these two other videos where European citizens are asked quite elementary questions and are not able to give the right answers, either.

I really believe that making genalizations about countries and nationalities does not help to understand each other better, and I complete agree with this person’s opinion that “we all stereotype and sometimes the stereotype image is true, partially true and sometimes it is false. Many nationalities share similar traits and behaviors that lead to stereotyping. Is this bad? No I do not think so, but the problem is that many people stop there. The human animal is complex and is changing faster as technology and communication spreads. We are becoming more homogeneous than before. Is this bad? I think not, as long as we can appreciate our cultural heritage.
If we find ourselves stereotyping, we must also take the effort to look beyond, all people are unique, even though they may share certain stereotypical behaviors.” (taken from  englishclub.com forum)

A week for past memories

This has been the week of anniversaries, celebrations and memories of the past:

from the sad 5th anniversary of  the death of the writer Stieg Larsson (9 November, 2004), the author of the popular Millenium trilogy.

or the joyous celebration of the start of the TV programme for children Sesame Street (10 November, 1969)

to the commemoration of two important historical events in the last century: the fall of the Berlin Wall (9 November 1989)

and the end of the First World War (11 November, 1918)

I have been a distant witness of some of these happenings and, although I was not  aware of their relevance at the time, I feel now sort of proud that I saw them on the go. I haven’t forgotten the music of Sesame Street, which I still manage to sing in my head again and again and, strangely enough, what I best remember about the fall of the Wall is the image on a screen of a spectacular concert that took place in Postdamer Platz, Berlin, 8 months later.

Twenty years have passed since the World was  witness of that momentous event: Berlin citizens from the Two Germanies climbing the infamous ‘Wall of Shame’ to greet each other. It was the climax of a pacific anti-opression movement that had been taking place for the last months. It was a bloddless revolution where people used their arms, not those that hurt others in wars but the ones that human beings can use to climb walls, hold to other people’s hands and embrace each other.

As for the First World War, although  further back in time, we should not forget that it meant a terrible loss of human lives (the death of more than 15 million people) and had worldwide consequences.

Pruebas de Certificación de Idiomas 2009

If you want to take the exams to get the EOI Basic, Intermediate or Advanced level Certificate, you should read the information below.

Remember you will have to fill in an examination enrolment form and pay a  fee from 4 May to 15 May to be able to do the test.

The exam

Dates and enrolment

A potty-mouthed record

Do you think there is a direct link between computer games and violence? Well, this is what experts usually try to find out when there is a violent incident like the one that took place in Winnenden, Germany, on March 11.

According to investigators, the young criminal owned numerous computer games showing random killings and other violence.

Controversy over the influence of this kind of games and violent behaviour has been aroused again. However, I doubt whether all these experts will come to an agreement this time.

Nevertheless, there are aspects about computer games that none could have doubts about. That is, the direct link between swear words and many of these games. A good example of that is The House of the Dead: Overkill, which has been awarded a Guiness World Record as the ‘most profane game ever’.

The vulgar-mouthed video game features the word f*** 189 times, which equals the three per cent of all the game dialogue!

Personally, I’m definitely dubious about the honour of such a record.

BACK to school!

Dear students,
After this unexpected “break”, I’m glad to tell you I’ll be back in class next Monday 23th.
I’m sorry for the inconvenience of the last days, but I’m sure we’ll catch up on our lessons soon.
I’m really looking forward to coming back to normal life and meeting you all again!
Elena E

P. S. I’ve thought you might enjoy this funny clip about speaking English. These two young men are either the perfect stereotype of false modesty or just completely crazy fools!

“Stand by Me” performed by musicians around the world, by Andrés 1ºL-NI

Thanks for sending us this emotional version of Ben E. King’s “Stand by me”, performed by musicians from all over the world.

The video has been released by the Playing for Change Foundation, “a community of artists and inspired people who have come together to connect the world through music”. They believe “music can break down the walls and barriers between cultures and raise the level of human understanding and connection”, becoming the key to a better world. Beautiful ideas indeed!

more about ““Stand by Me” performed by musicians …“, posted with vodpod

Here you can read the lyrics of  Ben E King’s original song.

View this document on Scribd

To kiss or not to kiss…

Have you ever come across a sign like this before? Well, now you can see it if you are at Warrington Bank Quay Station, in Warrington, a city between Liverpool and Manchester, in the northwest of England.

What do you think it means? How would you express that using a” modal verb”? You _______ kiss at this point.

According to ITN, the sign was placed by rail bosses at the passenger drop-off point at Warrington Bank Quay station.

“The sign is a light-hearted way of getting people to move on quickly” – Virgin spokesman

Virgin Rail, which runs the station, said if passengers want to share an embrace before they part company, their loved ones should pay to park their cars nearby.

A Virgin spokesman said: “We have not banned kissing in the station.

“But we have put the sign up at the drop off point because it is not a very big area and it often gets busy with lots of traffic.

“The sign is a light-hearted way of getting people to move on quickly.”

He added: “If people wish to spend a little more time with their loved ones before they leave, then they should park in the short-stay car park nearby.”

The no kissing zone was created at Bank Quay’s drop off point ten years ago following a suggestion by the local Chamber of Commerce.

The sign was created and installed as part of a “1 million refurbishment of the station which is currently under way.

(taken from ITN )

Thsi video provides you with more information about the kissing sign.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4638304/Kissing-banned-at-railway-station.html

How weird!

I’ve taken these 25 strange laws from the Times Online. If you can find out why any of them was/were created, send us a comment, please.

25. It is illegal for a cab in the City of London to carry rabid dogs or corpses.

24. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.

23. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside down.

22. In France, it is forbidden to call a pig Napoleon.

21. Under the UK’s Tax Avoidance Schemes Regulations 2006, it is illegal not to tell the taxman anything you don’t want him to know, though you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t mind him knowing.

20. In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle.

19. In Ohio, it is against state law to get a fish drunk.

18. Royal Navy ships that enter the Port of London must provide a barrel of rum to the Constable of the Tower of London.

17. In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants – even, if she so requests, in a policeman’s helmet.

16. In Lancashire, no person is permitted after being asked to stop by a constable on the seashore to incite a dog to bark.

15. In Miami, Florida, it is illegal to skateboard in a police station.

14. In Indonesia, the penalty for masturbation is decapitation.

13. In England, all men over the age of 14 must carry out two hours of longbow practice a day.

12. In London, Freemen are allowed to take a flock of sheep across London Bridge without being charged a toll; they are also allowed to drive geese down Cheapside.

11. In San Salvador, drunk drivers can be punished by death before a firing squad.

10. In the UK, a man who feels compelled to urinate in public can do so only if he aims for his rear wheel and keeps his right hand on his vehicle.

9. In Florida, unmarried women who parachute on Sundays can be jailed.

8. In Kentucky, it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon more than six-feet long.

7. In Chester, Welshmen are banned from entering the city before sunrise and from staying after sunset.

6. In the city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

5. In Boulder, Colorado, it is illegal to kill a bird within the city limits and also to “own” a pet – the town’s citizens, legally speaking, are merely “pet minders”.

4. In Vermont, women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.

3. In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague.

2. In Bahrain, a male doctor may legally examine a woman’s genitals but is forbidden from looking directly at them during the examination; he may only see their reflection in a mirror.

1. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast is legally the property of the King; the tail, on the other hand, belongs to the Queen – in case she needs the bones for her corset.

Musical sentence

Can you imagine a minor offender being sentenced to listen to the kind of music they most loathe?

This is what has just happened to repeat offenders for playing their stereos too loudly or disturbing neighbours with band practices in Fort Lupton, Colorado.

Judge Paul Sacco said that, after noticing the usual practice of fining these offenders was not proving to be a deterrent,  he decided to try something new and give them a dose of their own medicine making them listen to his musical selection at high volume for one hour.

Offenders have to face one-hour sessions of listening to Barry Manilow or the theme tune from the children’s TV show “Barney and Friends” or ther uncool music. However if it turns out that many of the offenders happen to like a particular song, that tune is removed from the playlist.

Apparently, Judge Sacco’s unusual method is proving more effective than the former system of fines, since  it has cut down the number of repeat offenders.

(taken from The Mail Online)

And if you want more activities on the subject of “crime and punishment”, visit Carmen’s blog.

How to get rid of unwanted presents

Something I really detest about this season is going shopping for presents. I find that task quite tiresome and sometimes really disappointing. I seldom know what to get for my beloved ones, and when I finally have a clear idea  what they might like I hate rushing around the ovecrowded shops. It’s such a waste of energy…and money, of course.

The funny thing is that I’ve always liked to receive an “unexpected” present, even though it may be an unwanted one. It’s just that feeling of expectation when I’m unwrapping the gift in my hand what causes me satisfaction, however ephemeral the sensation.

The video below provides  funny useful tips for that unwanted gift everybody has received at least once.

more about “How To Get Rid Of Unwanted Presents “, posted with vodpod