Posted on 09/30/2005 2:40:33 PM PDT by Hildy
I'm taking beginning Spanish this year, for my own enrichment. I'm sitting here doing my homework, which involves workbook assignments. I'm being shown an opinion poll "Lo que opinan unos de otros" What Spanish people think of Americans. Here's what my Spanish workbook, meant for STUDENTS tells me:
Question: What do Spaniards think about Americans:
Materialistic: 55%
Think they are superior 48.9%
Racist 48.7%
Posess an imperialistic mentality 44%
Practical and realistic 29%
Intelligent 19%
Simple 9%
Idealist 9%
Have a sense of humor 3%
Have high morals 2%
Here's the best one:
GENEROUS 2%
Am I being overly sensitve to think that this was not necessary for a workbook, printed in the US, about the US? I'm really, really mad.
Cuál es la casa publicadora?
However I employ a new techiques for those textbooks I must buy....I write my own conservative comments and actual facts in the margains..for the next student
Consider the school and who selected the work book. Perhaps you should look into learning the language without the brain washing.
On the other hand, perhaps its a valid survey, I would try to find out who was interviewed. Was it latinos in this country or Spaniards from Spain?
Just use this as an experience about the opinion of the authors and expect more of the same in later chapters.
They are doing you a favor Hildy. Of course Americans are stupid, immoral, cheap and materialistic. I know that after being sheltered from the Truth during your earlier school days, the Truth can be shocking, but it's all part of growing up.
Just be thankful you aren't studying French!! :)
McGraw Hill. Puntos De Partida 7
Folks in Northern and Western Europe have a favorite saying about Spain anyway ~ it goes "African begins at the Pyranees", the implication being that Spain and Portugual have much more in common with Africa than with Europe.
Americans have a different opinion of Spain, Spaniards and other Spanish speaking people ~ for one thing we tend to differentiate among them ~ for Europeans they are considered all the same thing.
BTW, don't you live in formerly Mexican territory anyway?
Yes. It probably is a true reflection of what Spaniards think. Not they they are correct by any means.
Are you in a class with other students? Maybe you could bring this up, in a polite way.
48,9% of Spanish people think Americans are superior, that's a step in the right direction. LOL
Oh, well. Let me know if you need any help with your Spanish.
I'm from Puerto Rico and I particularly think that some Spaniards can be arrogant, racist, imperialistic...
"Viva La Migra!"
One might wonder why so many people would be trying to reach a land they think so poorly of...?
The press in Spain, as in all of Europe, is not kind to the U.S. The Spaniards read and listen to a lot of news, but all of their sources give them the same negative view of us. So, it is not surprising that that is their opinion.
Add to that the fact that the Spaniards, French, Germans, Dutch, etc., all think that their country is superior to the other European countries, and FAR superior to the U.S., and you have an audience ready to hear and believe the worst about us.
It's probably a realistic survey. I wouldn't be too concerned about it.
BTW, don't you live in formerly Mexican territory anyway?
Actually..........it is a former Native American terrirory.
That's a great idea. However, this is a workbook that I must write in answers, meaning I can't resell it for future students to you. I just feel stupid having to answer questions about how horrible I am. You know what i mean? Questions are "What percentage think Americans are immoral? 48.7% think Americans are Racist. I'm ashamed to even be answering questions like this. Am I just being overly sensitive?
LOL!
I've decided not to do that part of the workbook, writing in the margin I feel it is offensive. That's all.
I've decided not to do that part of the workbook, writing in the margin I feel it is offensive. That's all.
The reference was to a survey of Spaniards, not Spanish speaking people. Some of those guys speak Catalan anyway, and then there are the North Africans all over the place who generally speak English and poor Arabic!
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