Help me answer questions my students have about Americans.

I'm working on a little project that tangentiated (this isn't a real word, but it should be) from a lesson I gave about stereotypes in Oral English. We talked about stereotypes that Americans have about Chinese people compiled from my own experiences and conversations with people in America and from a list that was in their Oral English textbooks. I had them write letters to Americans who believe these stereotypes about Chinese people, and I got some great responses. While reading through a few of them before class was over I got an idea and shared it with them. I told them I would type up some of their letters and post them online on my blog. I want to give them a chance to tell Americans how they feel about stereotypes and to teach Americans about China and Chinese people. I'll post these up in a later post.

Then I had them write any questions they have about Americans on the back of their letters. I told them I would answer them throughout the semester. After reading through them, I decided that perhaps I shouldn't be the only American to answer these questions. After all, mine represents only one perspective, and since I've spent a large part of my life living abroad, it doesn't represent the majority.

So, I'd like your help in responding to some of these questions. I've typed them up exactly how they wrote them, and I numbered them in no particular order. If you'd like to respond to one, please type the number of the question you're answering or repeat the question. Multiple responses to one question are welcome, as it would also demonstrate the diversity in American thought. Remember that none of these students have met more than a few (if any) Americans in their entire lives. What they know comes from American movies, TV shows, pop music, and their fallacious textbooks and Chinese news media. Throughout the rest of the semester, I'll take some time in class each week to share your answers with my students.

To respond, leave a comment on the blog post or to this Facebook post or email me at mkeel09@gmail.com. Sui bian, dou keyi.

Thanks!

Questions about America and Americans:

1. Do American youth study hard in high school to pass the examination to college?

2. Will you be my guide if one day I come to America?

3. Do you like Chinese people?

4. Do you like to marry Chinese?

5. Do all of you accept homosexual?

6. In my opinion, you are outgoing. Are you all good at building social relationship?

7. Do you have a good time and have fun a lot in your childhood, or even when you enter the high school?

8. Do you feel you are under too much pressure even you have entered college and still find many things to do in college?

9. You think American government have right to influence policy of other country?

10. Do you like being in touch with foreign culture?

11. Would you blindly believe the newspaper?

12. Do you still live with your family when you are 18?

13. Do you have to pay your college expense instead of your parents?

14. Do you think China is a good country?

15. What's your habits in daily life?

16. Why do you like rugby?

17. When you parents become old, do you look after your parents like Chinese do?

18. When you fall in love with others as a teenager, are your parents and teachers against it?

19. Do they have guns?

20. Does most of the American like dance such as streets?

21. Is it hard to get along with black American?

22. Do Americans like the lifestyle of Chinese?

23. How old do Americans usually marry?

24. Do Americans like vampires and werewolves?

25. What do you think about China?

26. Do all the American are so open?

27. Do all the American aggressive?

28. Do all the students are relaxed in high school?

29. Do all the Americans like Chinese?

30. Do all the Americans don't like the Britain people?

31. Do all the American have a bad impression about Chinese?

32. How can Americans make cartoon movies so attractive?

33. What do you think of China and Chinese?

34. What's your government attitudes towards the wars and the peace? Do you really think that national interests is more important than peace or other things?

35. Does everybody own a gun?

36. Do all Americans fond of fast food?

37. What's your opinion about Chinese policy? After some years, do you think China will over America and become the first in the world?

38. How do you think Chinese lifestyle?

39. Does America have a high crime rate?