How to Teach Boys and Girls – Cultural Differences
I’m always interested in hearing what you guys think. No matter what you think. I think sharing a variety of opinions is a healthy thing, both for English learning AND just in general. Please keep throwing in your “2 cents”. Ie. Your opinion in the comments section.
Today I want to talk about how we teach young kids in different cultures, AND how you think we SHOULD be teaching young kids.
I think most countries in the world have realized that history has been unfair to women in very many ways. In history, it’s usually men who went to school, men who earned the money, men who had the power etc. Even today, we see that it’s often easier for men to get promotions at work (Not all of the time, but often).
We’ve made a lot of progress. We now see huge companies, like Yahoo, with female CEO’s. We see women who are presidents of countries. Times have really changed a lot in most places throughout the world.
I have some questions for you:
What more needs to be done to help women have more opportunities in the world? Is it already “fair” or do we still have a lot of work to do in order to make things more fair to women?
SHOULD we be treating men and women in the same ways when they are children? In your opinion, do you believe that there are naturally some jobs that are better for men and some jobs that are better for women? Do you think this idea is total BS? For example, do you think that being a police officer is more of a “man job” and being a nurse is better for women? Is that crazy?
If a couple gets married and has 2 kids and the mom stays home and takes care of the house and kids while the father “brings home the bacon” (That means earns the money for the family) is that ok? Should we respect a woman’s choice to do this? Is being a “housewife” ok?
What about if the father stayed home and the mom worked? Should we think that is normal too? Should people respect a man for staying home with the kids while his wife works? Is this “manly”? Is being a “house husband” ok? Why or why not?
Should we try to forget words like “manly” or “womanly” in our languages? Are there some types of attitudes and behaviours that are more suitable to men and women?
Should we teach our sons and our daughters the EXACT same things ALL the time? Should there be any difference in how we teach men and women to behave? What is the difference between men and women in this world in your opinion?
Please share where you are from and why you think the way you do. Thanks so much!
By the way, here is a video I just made. I’d love to hear what you think of this style of video. If you like it, please subscribe for free to our English Learning Videos I’m going to be making very many! There will be awesome stuff for free and even cooler stuff in the VIP section! Great news for all. Here is the video on the phrasal verb put down
April 2nd, 2013 at 7:54 am
Hi..All!!
all people different
especially woman and man totally different
one come from mars , the other from venes!!
man shoud be like man
woman shoud be like man
the trouble is it’s very hard to define
what man shold be like and what woman should be like?
that’s the question!!
don’t try to insist equal..same…no they are all different
that’s why the world is beautifule!!!
thanks!!! /////
April 2nd, 2013 at 8:26 am
Hey thanks Sung,
I agree with your views. Equal but different! Makes sense.
I’m curious, did you watch the video? What did you think?
Andy
April 2nd, 2013 at 8:30 am
BTW,
Here is our new Facebook fan page for the video site. I think you guys will love this one. Thanks for “liking” the page. We’re really excited about this project. The new site design should be ready in less than a week. You’ll see it soon. I’ll make sure to announce it when it’s ready to go. Here is the Facebook page “for starters”.
http://www.facebook.com/Learnenglish232
April 2nd, 2013 at 8:55 am
I think that we always have been different and we always will be different. There is a lot of things what make us different. And even if I’m women ( verrry veeery smart actually
) I think that men’s decisions are always conscious, concrete and consistent independent of the mood… We women would love to be the same like men but the truth is that it’s impossible. We are pretty emotional and it makes us unstable. I study Mechanical Engineering ( I’m a only women there) and to be honest I see the different. I’m quite good student to be honest but a lot of my friends don’t know that I have to put so much more effort and time to do it well than my male friends. They find it very easy to learn and pick it up very quickly. And funny thing is cos even if my results in index are better.. ( most of the time tbh) than my male friends, I know that there are ONLY results and I’m pretty sure that my male friends know more about it in real life.. not only in the piece of paper like me for example. And I choose this kind of studies for the reason because I wanted to be similar to my brother. Very smart, very “business”. ( I used to arguing with him when we were younger that there is no different between us and I’m able to do the same things as he is doing) But even if I’m doing well with my studies I see VERY big different between women and men. And also at my study I see that I’m a little bit better in the subjects where we have to write, talk about something or “making a good impression”. But the rest of mechanical things where we have to think like a real engineer that’s the side of men. And I have no doubts to it. I just think that our brains are different and I can’t imagine my future husband to earn less money than me or husband who needs my help to use the map or help with putting some petrol to the car or to change the windscreen wipers… Seriously… Or also to make the last important decision in the house. Men should be a real men. Because we women are always lost. And the funny thing is that we always going to be the same or better than men but in the same time we want to men to be real men and we want them to looking after us. (!!!) Ridiculous. We don’t know what we want 
So if we were the same we wouldn’t need anybody to looking after us! But we want it. And that’s the reason why we should accept the differences between men and women I guess.
April 2nd, 2013 at 5:58 pm
I would be delighted if you post more about culture issues
and I would be thankful if you recommend me a website about americans culture
I wish your wishes weren’t wishes…
April 3rd, 2013 at 1:51 am
I really like your you tube lesson. I enjoyed a lot. thanks!!!!
I don’t like to put people down either.
You have such a wonderful and kindhearted mother.You are lucky!!
Have a great day.
April 3rd, 2013 at 2:06 am
Thanks R!
She’ll love to hear about her being a kind hearted mother!! I’m sure you made her day
I’ll try to definitely make more cultural topics like this if you guys like them.
Get ready for many more videos too!
Andy
April 3rd, 2013 at 2:29 am
Hi andy…
Really i’m exciting of your video.
Please bring many more videos for us.
Thank ANDY…
April 3rd, 2013 at 3:30 am
Love your new video, definately a great short lesson. Nothing to complain. This is my first time to write to you. Always love you guys. I just wanna let u know there’s probably a crack in your website system, which every time I clicked on the link in the mails u sent, it always lead me to the page that says “Error 404 –File not Found Sorry, but the page you were looking for could not be found.” I tried it in different browsers but still makes no difference. I don’t know is it only me or some else experienced the same problem.
April 3rd, 2013 at 3:50 am
Hi Andy;
I will be very grateful if you kindly put a link for all the videos you make so that we can download and watch them. Unfortunately, in Iran youtube has been filtered and we don’t have access to your Video clips.
thanks again for your attention.
best regards,
April 3rd, 2013 at 8:06 am
Hey,
Your video is great. It is really helpful for learning phrases. About your questions, sorry I don’t have specific idea since it depends on people culture which is totally different around the word. However, the way you writing is more likely the formal English writing, I more prefer informal language which helps me to talk fluently.I appreciate your efforts. Thank you guys.
April 3rd, 2013 at 8:56 am
I am from Iran and I think that there is still so much gap between men and women in my country. Although in the past decade, we took some sort of good steps and we have a woman minister but I think we still have a long way to go in comparison to other countries such as Australia or Brazil and etc. To be honest, I realize that men are good for tough job such as worker. I think it is too difficult for women to handle this sort of jobs and this turns back to their nature, they have a smooth spirit and also I think they are a little bit fragile and sensitive (NO OFFENCE).
Regarding your video clip I think that the other meaning for ” put down” is this:
I am heading to the gym because I wanna put down some kilos.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Also, I wish to introduce one book to you guys which I found it very useful. The name of this book is ” speak English like an American”. This book contains so many useful slangs that I want to share it with you guys and other members of CHINA232. Please keep me posted if you are interested. PLEASE PLEASE don’t take this the wrong way, I don’t wanna blow your site just I want to help other members like you guys….
Thanks
April 3rd, 2013 at 6:34 pm
I wish I could change our traditional condition. Our culture is prevalent sexist.
I loved your comments.
April 4th, 2013 at 8:05 am
Hi, guys! I’m from Russia and now the situation for women here is better than ever, though there are still so much sexism here. Many men, for no reason, think that they are more intelligent and generally better than women. Of course, that’s BS. For example, I’m a girl and I have several degrees- in ingeneering, economy and management. At the same time, there are so many stupid men around that I want to kill myself or even better to kill them while talking to these creatures. And I admit, that even for me with my accomplishments, it’s difficult to find a really good job in this world of men.
I think man and woman must be different, but they must be so in their personal relationships. I noticed that man have started to act so womanly with women lately. They are not gentlemen anymore. They stopped to do romantic and beautiful things. I hate that. As for me, the most important thing in men is not money, not phisical attractiveness, it’s dignity, generosity and respect to women.
Also I don’t like that many people are trying to distort the idea of gender equality – they say- well, then women must pay for themselves on the romantics dates, women can work as the porters, miners or in other fields with heavy physical activity, women must court men and take the first steps.
I think this is exactly what prevents us from achieving harmony between men and women.
April 4th, 2013 at 9:33 am
Hi,
It’s my First to write to U and very glad with it I’ve been reading ur blog since 2 years BUT I’d never ever tried or think to leave a comment PLZ 4give me I;m very very SORRY, because I’m not a good in comment SO 4give me>>>> any way
I luv U guy I like the way that U present us ur ideas and ur thought keep up guys Buy the way nice good video I like it
about the topic< I think MAN and WOMEN ARE totally different and with Val in her thought
about the men and women, I'm from Palestine my country is an Conservative society SO here the is the dominant it's barely that you can see woman in man's job!!!!
in my society they have the thought that woman place house not work most of them think like this Even though we are in progress and develop BUT this IDEA IS STILL REMAIN!!!
Thanks A lot again
April 4th, 2013 at 11:18 am
Equal gender opportunities vary from country to country. In democratic countries women have more rights and more independent than in countries with totalitarian governments. But, have you noticed that feminism does not make people any happier? There is an example: if you look at the divorce rate statistics in different countries it would be higher in developed countries. Why is that? Because women work as hard as men, but they also have a house and children to take care of, which means they work 3 times harder than men. Eventually, any woman would feel that she contributes more and therefore more important than her man, and that would create many family problems. What we should understand is that men and women are different, both physically and mentally, and this is NORMAL. We do not need to compete, we do not have to try to be the same. We should accept the difference and complete each other!
April 5th, 2013 at 12:50 am
Hello Everyone! Hi Andy ! I think it is such a important theme not only for now but for the next generation relationships…. Looking at the comments above seems that the majority agree there are many differences between Men and Women…. and me too… Personally I love women the way they are… women… and I love being man… I really hope women keeps walking for developing your potecial as part of human kind, in many fields of life….as professionals, mothers, wifes, lovers and so on…… but ever being WOMEN. The point in this matter, I think, is LOVE and RESPECT to each other…. We must to be as one! As been know, the differences complete each other! God bless all!
April 5th, 2013 at 12:54 am
Almost forget to say… I liked the last video very much Andy !!
April 5th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Hy Andy,
Technically speaking, I prefer this kind of video, with a camera at the same level then your head. It give a better picture then when the camera is below, recording to something or someone higher. You being standing up, give a more dynamic video, more then when laying on your chair
but both are pleasant, some cools videos, being on a couch, others more formal near the white board… you are mixing up differents attitudes, that’s a good way to not being boring.
My 2cents
August 2nd, 2013 at 9:59 am
at very beginning i should thank you ,two bros, for all of free English learning stuff you provide us with.
if i want to share you my point of view , i should tell you that I do believe that women and men are totally different ,but these differences shouldn’t lead us to the theory of inequality. in my opinion,they have different natures and skills and,consequently, some jobs are better for men and some others are more appropriate for women.however,differences shouldn’t make us not pay attention to the very important note that in all categories we have some kind of exceptions ,so we shouldn’t force women or men to do some certain kind of careers and avoid them from some others.
about the video ,i’d rather tell you that it was so handy and precious. I will be so glad of you if you continue publishing this type of videos.