Het College Name:

Vilvoorde Class:
English Date:
School year Teacher: L. Michielsen / L. Malbrain

CA4: Who am I and what is it to you? Part 2

Step 1: Stereotypes

1. Read the article on Belgian stereotypes. Answer the questions beneath.

Belgian cultural clichés

Belgian people are the subject of a huge amount of jokes and clichés - they eat fries at every meal, have beer
running through their veins and only read comic books. This article explores the main Belgian stereotypes,
helping you understand more about this tiny country.

The Belgians are very quickly stereotyped by people all over Europe, who make an incredible amount of jokes
and satirical films about its peculiar political system, different languages, and gastronomy. The funny thing is
that Belgian people play right along, and feed those stereotypes.

As with any stereotype, those regarding Belgian people exist for a reason. However, to fully immerse
themselves in the Belgian culture, foreigners must understand that Belgium goes far beyond its clichés. To help
you tell fact from fiction about this small country, we will address the main clichés you might find.

Belgian people, the subject of all jokes

Despite all the land and food clichés, it's the Belgian population that has to put up with the most stereotypes. In
the mind of foreigners, the typical Belgian is as follows: they often have a strong and heavy accent (whether
speaking French or Flemish), are stupid and passionately in love with fries.

But when it comes to Belgian people, the Dutch and the French have a lot to say with regards to language. The
Belgian accent and expressions (especially in French) are very different from what is perceived to be the “right
Dutch” or “right French”. This results in jokes and mockeries from the Dutch and the French towards the
Belgians.

And while Belgian people are surely not stupid, they have a great, self-deprecating sense of humor. Let's face it,
what's not to laugh about? Belgium is a small country with two different communities that can't get along and a
lot of people make fun of them; so why not have fun with the situation? With this humorous attitude, Belgian
people are now also famous for their great, self-deprecating sense of humor.

Another well-known (and possibly exaggerated) fact about Belgium is the rivalry between its French and
Flemish communities. The argument goes that that French people are lazy, monolingual, football fans. In
contrast, the Flemish are hard-working, bilingual and ambitious. So, cliché? Yes of course! It is obvious that
classifying people because of their language is absurd and too simple!

For such a small country, Belgium sure has its fair share of stereotypes. The country is a source of great jokes,
clichés, movies and of course articles but it is important for those moving to the country to be able to tell fact
from fiction when it comes to Belgium's stereotypes. Otherwise, they risk not being able to fully integrate in
their new home. If you're in a hurry, and need to take one main lesson from this article is that Belgians sure
love their beers and fries, but most of all, they love sharing their peculiar culture with any foreigner who's
willing to learn about them.
https://www.justlanded.com/english/Belgium/Belgium-Guide/Culture/Belgian-cultural-cliches (12.10.15)

a) Indicate the words that are new to you. (reading) p / F

b) Copy the meaning of at least two of these words using

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english/ . Do so as in the example.
P / F

c) State your opinion on the text, also using the info on the source (JustLanded) underneath. Do you
think this description will help newcomers get a good idea of us? Why (not)? ( 0 1 2 )

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

About us

Just Landed was created in 2003 to help people moving from their country. The challenges of
moving, settling in and making a new life in a new place can be difficult, we aim to help make this
easier. Whether you're an exchange student, professional or pensioner - our information,
resources and services will help you settle abroad. Our country guides explain every aspect that
goes along with a move abroad.

Step 2: Preparing the discussion

Every so often you will end up in a conversation on identity and in an international setting English is
commonly used. In groups of four you will talk about your identities in a Belgian context. To keep
things going, you will be confronted with three types of questions:

(i) one on national stereotypes

(ii) one on expats in Flanders and
(iii) questions you personally have to answer.

WHAT TO STUDY / PREPARE?

Revise the exercises on nationalities in our course book. It’s important to use a passive
construction for (i). The Swedes are said to… They are believed to….

For (ii) you should watch all twelve (short!) episodes of Fans of Flanders: Home and Away
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G49n2SPoyg&list=PLqQ3HktkARMh08TtUUfrXAQSehf9jI3ag)
and focus on the experience they have with living in Belgium. Use reported speech when
summarizing what somebody said.

The Latvians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2-pMeEIzao&t=54s

 The Japanese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq7FX3zV3qs&t=3s

The new Zealanders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaberMb4tIM&t=137s

The Congolese:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=XmWo9NXc5R8&list=PLqQ3HktkARMh08TtUUfrXAQSehf9jI3ag&index=12

The Danish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4xZBc4jzz0&t=1s

The Polish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G49n2SPoyg&t=50s

The Americans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwkoluCM4io&t=81s

The Italians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhT5OIpYrLk&t=75s

The Mexicans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9kwWuyEdcs

The Finnish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThvE-EopgVg&t=20s

The Bolivians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETPLjzEGpGo&t=88s

The Irish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JxnGYaaGOw&t=62s

The Canadians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMJWA3q5FPg&t=69s

The French: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Eb-G8camms&t=79s

(https://www.youtube.com/user/Fansofflanders/videos)

For (iii) you prepare 3 questions you are going to ask one of your fellow pupils (of your group of
four). As you will also have to answer questions and talk about this topic, you might want to think
about that beforehand. Use the questions below as a guideline:

What is the easiest way for a foreigner to blend in in Belgium?

Are men and women really equal in this country?

Belgians are considered to be hard workers. True or not?

Which local dish would you recommend?

I've heard there are many great music festivals in Belgium. Which one should I really visit?

After all this info you should be prepared for the speaking exercise. Make sure you run over the
criteria before you start talking.

A B C D

Contents The speaker did not prepare The speaker is prepared, The speaker uses the The preparation fits the
for this task. but this doesn’t support the preparation in the task task perfectly. It makes the
/5 task. satisfactorily, but does not topic come alive.
exceed the requirements.

Use of The speaker makes no use of The speaker tries to use the The speaker uses the The speaker uses the
the prepared material. material, but can’t without material individually and material individually,
material
help. fluently. fluently, but also embeds it
 /2 into the task.

Attitude The speaker doesn’t partake The speaker tries to partake The speaker partakes and The speaker partakes and
in the conversation, doesn’t and share, but in a one- shares, but also asks shares, and keeps the
/3 want to share ideas on sided fashion. questions. conversation going in a
identity and/or repeatedly natural way.
interrupts.

Accuracy There are more than four There are only four errors There are no errors in the There are no errors in the
errors in the conversation in the conversation that conversation that detracted conversation and the
/2 that detracted from the detracted from the from the speaking process appropriate structures
speaking process. speaking process. and the appropriate were fluently used.
structures were used.

Fluency There are too many There are many problems There are no speaking There are no speaking
problems that not only concerning articulation, problems that detract from problems. Well-articulated,
/1 detract from the listening tone, stress. the listening process. pleasant tone, well-placed
process, but also limit the stress.
understanding of the general
outline.

Vocabulary VERY POOR: essentially FAIR TO POOR: limited GOOD TO AVERAGE: EXCELLENT TO VERY GOOD:
translation; little knowledge range; frequent errors or adequate range; occasional sophisticated range;
/3 of English vocabulary, word/idiom form, choice, errors of word/ idiom form, effective word/ idiom
idioms, words forms OR not usage; meaning confused choice, usage but meaning choice and usage; word
enough to evaluate. or obscured. not obscured form mastery; appropriate
register

Grammar: VERY POOR: a lot of FAIR TO POOR: quite some GOOD TO AVERAGE: overall EXCELLENT TO VERY GOOD:
grammatical mistakes grammatical mistakes good use of grammar; used no grammatical mistakes
focus on:
AND/OR no use of passive AND/OR hardly any use of at least one passive and AND god use of passive and
- use of and/or reported speech passive and/or reported form of reported speech forms of reported speech
speech
passive
voice
- use of
reported
speech

/3

Audience There are too many There are some problems There are no problems There are no problems
problems related to eye related to eye contact, related to eye contact, body related to eye contact,
directed
contact, body language and body language and language and interaction body language and
(group) interaction with the interaction with the with the audience that are interaction with the
audience. audience. These are noticeable to the audience. audience.
/1
noticeable to the audience,
but do not hamper the task.

Comments:
A: 0

Intermediate: 1-2

B: 3-4

Intermediate: 5

C: 6-8

Intermediate: 9

D: 10
 Extra: Momondo

This step is compulsory for MT and optional for nt-MT. Watch this clip on DNA
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYnutf0rqeY) and answer these questions.

1. Why is this man so special? ( 0 1 2 )

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Which of his origins were you most surprised with? Explain briefly. ( 0 1 2 )

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the goal of this clip, you think? ( 0 1 2 )

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Surf Momondo’s website (http://www.momondo.co.uk/). What is Momondo? ( 0 1 2 )

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. The clips don’t feature on the website. Do you believe there’s a link between the Momondo-clips and the
Momondo-website? Explain in your own words. ( 0 1 2 )

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________