USA: Regional Stereotypes

What do you think of when you hear “America”?

Write down any stereotypes that you have of the US.

To start…

Boastful and arrogant Extravagant and wasteful Ignorant of other countries and cultures Informal Insensitive Lazy Loud and obnoxious Racist Rich Rude Think they know everything Thinks every country should imitate the US Uninformed about politics

Did you come up with any of these?

West

South

Midwest East

California:◦ Laid back surf culture◦ Superficial (blond, plastic

surgery)◦ “Valley Girls”◦ Liberal (San Francisco)◦ Rich - Hollywood

The Rest:◦ Wide open space, desert◦ Health conscious

Western Stereotypes

Laid back: entspanntSuperficial: oberflächlich

Clueless

“Fly-over Country” Friendly, happy Farming No fashion Slow paced, casual

Midwestern Stereotypes

casual: locker, beiläufig

Snobby, pretentious

Loud, rude Fashionable

(European) Fast paced Rich Politics very present

East Coast Stereotypes

Snobby/pretentious: arrogant(Snobby-Umgangssprache)

the “Dirty South” “Rednecks” Racist Slow, stupid Cowboys Hospitable,

polite Hot, humid Backwards BIG, fat

(“Everything is bigger in Texas”)

Southern Stereotypes

Hospitable: gastfreundlich

RodeoCountry Music!

Get into groups of 3-4 students Pick a region: West, Midwest, East, or South Think of 2-3 sentences

◦ Include your name, what people think of you◦ Don’t give away the region, your classmates will

guess where you are from.

Discuss: What are some stereotypes of Austrians/Austria?

Group Activity