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Student's pathway

Step One
Understanding
Stereotypes
Step Two
Raising Cultural Awareness

Step Three
Cultural Awareness
 in Use
Step Four
Testing others
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Developing Cross Cultural Awareness in Business

Understanding Stereotypes - Step One
In this part, you will watch a video about stereotypes and Chinese people, but before, ask yourself about the stereotypes most commonly associated with them.
  • They are poor drivers ?
  • They are very stingy ?
  • It doesn't take much for them to get drunk ?
  • They all know kung-fu or other martial arts ?
  • They can all cook an excellent stir-fry ?
  • They are very good at mathematics ?
  • They are rather lazy people ?
  • Chinese men are effeminate ?
  • They speak out loud in public ?
  • Any other stereotypes you can think of?
Where do you think stereotypes originate from?
  • Sheer ignorance
  • Historical factors
  • Generalisation of cultural patterns
  • Reliable scientific experiments
  • Others?

Now watch the video and check whether your assumptions were right.
See whether you can remember what was said in the video. Click here to check!
Discuss the following questions :
  • Do you think the author of the video has achieved his point, showing where stereotypes come from and whether they are true? What conclusion does he reach?
  • Did you find his demonstration convincing or not? What would you have done differently?
  • What stereotypes are attached to your nationality/sex? To other nationalities or ethnic groups?
  • Do you think they are true? Can they be harmful? What are the other consequences?
Write a short comment about the video and post it on the site! Before posting it, email it to your teacher for proof reading.
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A Webquest For EFL Business Learners

by Lynda Lecaudey
Last update : December 2008
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