[영어/회화] Stereotypes: Stereotypes about Asians and Americans

Vocabulary

make a fuss

I made a fuss when my younger brother spilled hot chocolate on my white dress.

 

debunk

to show that something is less important, less good, or less true than it has been made to appear:

The writer's aim was to debunk the myth that had grown up around the actress.

 

misperception

a belief or opinion about something that is wrong or not accurate:

We are trying to get away from this misperception that tennis is an elitist sport.

 

assert

to say that something is certainly true:

[ + that ] He asserts that she stole money from him.

 

disingenuous

(of a person or their behaviour) slightly dishonest, or not speaking the complete truth:

It was disingenuous of her to claim she had no financial interest in the case.

 

inscrutable

not showing emotions or thoughts and therefore very difficult to understand or get to know:

an inscrutable face/expression/smile

 

charismatic

used to describe a person who has charisma:

Few were able to resist this charismatic and persuasive leader.

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What do you notice when you communicate with your foreign friends or colleagues? What’s the biggest obstacle? What kind of efforts do you make to get closer to them?

Writing Request:

When I studied abroad as an international student in Spain, the biggest obstacle was attending a party and trying a small talk with people I had never spoken to. Although I am neither shy nor introverted, I had trouble coming up with a good and easy topic for small talk. However, my European friends didn't seem to get any difficulty with that. They even easily got along with the person that they had ever known for the first time.

 

Corrections:

The biggest obstacle that I encountered as an international student in Spain was trying to schmooze with strangers at parties. Although I am neither bashful nor timid, I struggled to come up with light and easy topics for discussion. However, my European friends didn’t seem to face any problems. They got along with strangers and acted as though they had known them for their whole lives, even though they had only met moments earlier.

 

Suggestions: 

When I studied abroad in Spain, the greatest obstacle that I faced was attempting to make small talk with strangers at parties. Although I’m neither meek nor reserved, I found it difficult to initiate light and easygoing conversations. I never knew exactly what I should say! Conversely, my European friends didn’t seem to face any difficulties at all. They easily bonded with all of the people they met for the first time. 

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Discussion

I just - I actually woke up at 8:00 am and I just did my housework.

→ I just completed some chores around the house.

 

 I have not done. I just wash my dishes while listening to the audio on Ringle.

 

I graduated school on february and I just have been job hunting these days even though the coronavirus make the situation difficult.

→ I’m a recent graduate so now I’m in the process of searching for jobs and applying to new positions despite the fact that the coronavirus has complicated this situation.

 

I just do it very hard.

→ Despite these complications, I’ve continued my job search.

 

 Actually, in Korea the outbreak is not really serious now. Some of Korean companies try to host their job opening on the job board.

→ Some Korean companies are actively recruiting again. They have resumed interviews and the prospects of employment seem to be more viable/possible/attainable to me.

 

I majored in international trade and minored in administration, that’s why the language skill is very important for me.

→ Due to my career interests, fluency in multiple languages is incredibly important

→ ...being bilingual or multilingual presents an incredible advantage in today’s job market.

 

I have been practicing speaking other languages. My hobby these days is doing a yoga at home, because I have just followed Youtube channel who teaches the program of yoga and it just price competitive compared to other sports. I can do this at home with a yoga mat.

→ Yoga is more cost-effective than participating in other sports.

 

I think I agree with the asian stereotypes listed in the text.

 

And constantly when the tutors whom with them I have the class on ringle - the Asian tutors with whom I have class on Ringle wear glasses in my experiences.

→ When I’ve met with Asian tutors on Ringle, the majority of them have worn glasses.

 

When I think of the typical type of American Asian, the image is like they wear glasses and they are smart and they study hard in front of the desk.

→ When I think of stereotypical representations of Asian Americans, I envision intelligent people who wear glasses and study diligently at all hours of the day and night. 

 

I think it is related to Asian culture.

 

Even though I’m living in Korea - my parents wanted me to study hard when I was young.

I took the private schooling in the academy. I’m in a bunch of academics.

→ I was enrolled in additional classes at a private academy. I had several academic obligations and a heavy workload.

 

In Korean culture what’s important is education -

→ Education is extremely important in Korean culture.

(Subject → Linking Verb → Adverb → Adjective → Prepositional Phrase)

 

it somehow influence asian culture and Asian people.

→ Those notions have influenced the structure of Asian culture and people.

 

Notions // ideas, concepts

 

I also agree with the personalities - when I met my Japanese friends when I lived in Spain - they seemed very inscrutable and disingenuous. They didn’t want to mess with friends - they wanted to opinion strongly.

→ They kept to themselves. They didn’t often feel comfortable sharing their opinions with others.

 

They are extremely kind - they just conceal their deep thoughts - they wanted to follow others’ opinions.

→ They suppressed their own emotions and opinions to accommodate the views of their peers.

 

I think my Spanish friends didn’t discriminate me ever.

→ My Spanish friends never discriminated against me.

 

We just tried to leave the restaurant - in front of the gates three spanish guys said to us “ching chang chong”.

→ When we tried to exit the restaurant, three Spanish men started to shout derogatory terms at use.

 

Derogatory (adj) // disrespectful (statement or comment); disparaging (use in reference to racially or ethnically insensitive - race, gender, class, sexuality)

 

At that moment I was very fluent in Spanish - ridiculous and they are just shocked with my accent.

→ At that time…

→ They were shocked to hear my accent.

 

They didn’t imagine that one Asian guy could speak Spanish very well.

 

When I passed through seaside walk I just - I met a Spanish couple.

→ I met a Spanish couple on one of my seaside walks.

 

The guy of couple just said to me - just reacted to me like - he was like just wanted to mess with me.

→ The man tried to rile me up and annoy me.

→ He tried to instigate something.

 

He make foolish face and back then - at that moment I didn’t speak Spanish that well

- I just said to him “why?” he just imitated my pronunciation in Spanish. It was uncomfortable.

→ He made a foolish face and mocked my appearance and accent. At that time, I didn’t speak Spanish very well, so I felt insecure and uncomfortable.

 

I tend to watch American teen movies on Netflix.

 

When I see the characters on the movie. I just think the typical American handsome guy like to play games - they are masculine - they have muscles.

→ Male characters in typical Hollywood movies are depicted as hyper-masculine, strong, attractive, suave, and virile men.

 

The girlfriend of him is just cheerleading the game.

→ His girlfriend is often a cheerleader.

 

They often conform to Eurocentric beauty standards.

 

I don’t have any real American friends, but when my sister visited San Francisco, she told me they were very kind and talkative.

→ gregarious, charismatic, bubbly, easygoing, chill

 

They are very curious about her and ask something “where do you want to go?”

→ They were very curious about her and often asked her, “Do you know where you want to go?”

→ They often offered directions to various landmarks in the city.

 

The American people in a city are very kind or curious about foreigners.

→ American city-dwellers are very kind and curious...

 

I think that Americans like to watch baseball game.

→ I believe that baseball is one of the great American pastimes.