Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
There are many different types of people in the world. Where we live and what we look like makes us special. Because of this, people from Europe will often act differently than people from Asia. But if we take those differences, and say they are always true, we are making a stereotype.
Some stereotypes are harmless, but many stereotypes can be very mean. Placing many people into one category, just because they look or act a certain way, is unfair. Stereotypes often give us an incorrect understanding of other people. A common phrase in English is don’t judge a book by its cover. We should get to know people before we decide what they are like.
Kellie is sad because one of her friends was stereotyped. Find out what Brian thinks in today’s English lesson about judging people.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
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Kellie: Hey Brian. I’ve just had a really bad day. A friend of mine, somebody was stereotyping her, and I feel really bad for her. It’s just so unfair.
Brian: Yeah, it’s really hard when people just generalize you based on your background or they way you look. You never think about it, but it goes both ways, that judgment. I had a friend who really liked me because I was Asian. But he didn’t really know who I was. He just thought that was a fun thing.
Kellie: So, he didn’t dig deeper and get to know you?
Brian: No, and he was trying to be positive about the stereotype. But at the same time, he was just characterizing me as someone else.
Kellie: Oh, I never thought about that. Actually, people rely way too heavily on stereotypes.
Brian: Yeah, it’s those preconceived notions that just get stuck in their head.
Kellie: And generalizing is just not a good thing.
Brian: Really just getting to know people is way more important than just assuming.
Kellie: I agree.
Brian: Because you know what they say about assuming?
Kellie: Yes.
Brian: It makes an ass out of you and me.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Gerunds vs. Infinitives" from this lesson
Quizzes
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Discussion
Kellie is sad because her friend was the victim of a stereotype. She thinks it is important to dig deeper into people’s lives and get to know them. She doesn’t like that people rely so heavily on stereotypes.
Brian doesn’t like it when people generalize others just because of the way they look. He knew a person who only liked him because he’s Asian. Brian thinks getting to know people is much better than assuming things about them.
Have you ever been stereotyped? What are some unfair stereotypes about people in your country?
Comments
United States |
Japan |
United States |
China |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Turkey |
Sri Lanka |
Belarus |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Russian Federation |
China |
United States |
United States |
United States |
Serbia and Montenegro |
Turkey |
Sri Lanka |
Afghanistan |