How much do you know about countries other than your own?
By JoelleRenee
@JoelleRenee (131)
Canada
February 10, 2011 7:35pm CST
As a Canadian it is required for us to take history of around the world and we even have American history incorperated into almost all of our course work.
I have realized lately from certain experiences that typically Americans don't know very much about Canada at all. I have been asked questions like " How long does it take me to get to a phone" which is kind of a ridiculous question. I have a have a phone in my house just like everyone else. This American thought I had to "drive a couple miles to get to a pay phone". silly, no?
Do your schools teach students about the world or just your country?
3 people like this
10 responses
@NicoZieg (591)
• Denmark
11 Feb 11
I live in Denmark, and according to danish school system we have to know about other countries. It's mostly historical things we need to know about, so I know a lot about the United States's history. I also know a lot about Germany. Escepially the second world I think it's good that we learn about other nations.
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
11 Feb 11
Well I will admit I don't know a great deal about Canada but that certainly was a dumb thought and a dumb question. I know enough about Canada to know that it is very much like the United States. I have been to Ontario although very briefly. I also know that there are both English speaking and French speaking areas of Canada. I don't know much about Canadian government either but I know it is also similar to ours. I do plan on doing more travel in to Canada some day unfortunately now we have to have a passport to do it.
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
11 Feb 11
i study a lot about canada cause i'm gonna live there, it's a dream but i'll be there before i die, i am sure about it
i know a lot about brazil, japan, united states, china... because of friends, i think we can learn from people that actually been in a place so i want to meet canadian friends now :D
1 person likes this
@Zer0Stats (1147)
• India
11 Feb 11
I'm from India and we have a history in schools at three levels.I mean we have a history of state where we live in,history of our country and world history.But I think learning history in schools here only help us to know their past,not present.And what ever we watch in TV isn't even half-real.So I'd like to say Internet is the best way to know people and their culture.
1 person likes this
@danny_streetlive (60)
• Bulgaria
11 Feb 11
Hi,I am from Bulgaria and yes they teach us about other countries history.It is normal because we should know what happened before.I think knowedge can be useful someday.Human,who don't know his/her own history risks to get back the history.Shame on people who don't know his/her own country history.
1 person likes this
@renxcez (21)
• Philippines
11 Feb 11
hi, i'm from the Phillipines and the education here teaches us BRIEF history of our neighboring countries(asia) but not the whole history of each country and i find it useful information to students planning to visit other country to prevent culture shock.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
11 Feb 11
I must be honest I don't know a lot about Canada, I guess I just assume it is very much like America..I guess today with the internet and such there is no excuse not knowing about other countries..I do know the people must be nice because it seems when my cousins go for a visit there they stay and marry someone over there...
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
16 Feb 11
I live in the United States. We were taught about other countries. I'd say we were taught the most about our own but we were taught about things that happened in history with other countries. Honestly though I never paid attention in school so I do not remember anything that we learned in school pretty much at all. History was the class I hated the most. Current Events would have been a much more helpful type of class then what happened in history. Now that I am older history is more interesting to me then it was when I was young.
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
11 Feb 11
Our schools do have world history in their curriculum. But I don't think it's really enough to know about a country's culture and their people. Usually it focuses only on known historical events that helped shape what the world is today. Well, I guess that's understandable since it would really be impossible to discuss the history and the people of each and every country. We do have elective subjects wherein we could focus on a particular country's history, culture and it's people. Well, there's always the internet :)
1 person likes this
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
11 Feb 11
You know, I really do not know too much about other countries. As I have made friends via internet I have learned a lot about other countries. Some of that was simply thier location! I didn't even know where Pakistan was! That's a shame. But we as Americans do not teach much about other countries.. sad to say..
