Making an impression
After a whole term of teaching ‘British Culture’ to my students, it seems I’ve still got my work cut out to dislodge some pretty deep seated ideas among the Chinese about us Brits. Here, for example, are some extracts from essays the students wrote entitled ‘My Impression of the UK’:
“Britain is a tea drinking nation. They drink tea in the afternoon every day. People drink tea with a piece of sugar and some milk. Their tea is sweet and when they drink tea they will eat some delicious cake – especially sandwiches.”
“In Europe there are many coffee houses in the open. But in England, because of the weather, they have bars.”
“In England the ladies are very beautiful and guarded. The men are so gentle who inherit ‘lady first’ and respect ladies most.”
“The English think that food is for nutrition and Chinese think it is for tasting.”
“The fog in London is famous but I don’t know exactly how it comes; maybe the reason is the air pollution.”
“The fog in London is much better now. It’s a splendid city.”
“The Chinese seldom talk to strangers when they are waiting for a bus… but the English may start a conversation about the changeable weather.”
“The English do not like discussing man’s ages and woman’s age or even the value of his family’s furniture. The English does not like bargaining back and forth…”
“I feel that education is more concerned about the United Kingdom’s actual ability as well as creativity…”
“People told me that Scottish people are better than English people. However, when my sister experienced Scotland she discovered it is a strange country.”
“My first impression of Scotland is death… it is full of memory to dead people. My sister said she only felt death in the air of Edinburgh. Although the Scottish people always do smile with strangers I do not think they will be your friends.”
“England has the world’s most perfect football league system…”
“Prince Edward isn’t really famous for anything…”
“The London Underground extends in all directions. People always get on it sitting comfortably on the soft chair, taking out a newspaper or reading a book during a long time.”
“English men have good manners, they are so modest and elegant but the most important is that they have a warm smiling expression.”
“Driving is to the English what flying is to birds.”
“Most British students don’t like to borrow their class notes to classmates. But in China it is very natural that classmates share the class notes together.”
“Everyone [in Britain] between 16 and 25 is fond of smoking.”
Well, at least they were right about Scotland!
“Britain is a tea drinking nation. They drink tea in the afternoon every day. People drink tea with a piece of sugar and some milk. Their tea is sweet and when they drink tea they will eat some delicious cake – especially sandwiches.”
“In Europe there are many coffee houses in the open. But in England, because of the weather, they have bars.”
“In England the ladies are very beautiful and guarded. The men are so gentle who inherit ‘lady first’ and respect ladies most.”
“The English think that food is for nutrition and Chinese think it is for tasting.”
“The fog in London is famous but I don’t know exactly how it comes; maybe the reason is the air pollution.”
“The fog in London is much better now. It’s a splendid city.”
“The Chinese seldom talk to strangers when they are waiting for a bus… but the English may start a conversation about the changeable weather.”
“The English do not like discussing man’s ages and woman’s age or even the value of his family’s furniture. The English does not like bargaining back and forth…”
“I feel that education is more concerned about the United Kingdom’s actual ability as well as creativity…”
“People told me that Scottish people are better than English people. However, when my sister experienced Scotland she discovered it is a strange country.”
“My first impression of Scotland is death… it is full of memory to dead people. My sister said she only felt death in the air of Edinburgh. Although the Scottish people always do smile with strangers I do not think they will be your friends.”
“England has the world’s most perfect football league system…”
“Prince Edward isn’t really famous for anything…”
“The London Underground extends in all directions. People always get on it sitting comfortably on the soft chair, taking out a newspaper or reading a book during a long time.”
“English men have good manners, they are so modest and elegant but the most important is that they have a warm smiling expression.”
“Driving is to the English what flying is to birds.”
“Most British students don’t like to borrow their class notes to classmates. But in China it is very natural that classmates share the class notes together.”
“Everyone [in Britain] between 16 and 25 is fond of smoking.”
Well, at least they were right about Scotland!
posted by PatRawle at
3:52 pm
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