I guess it’s nice that they’re trying to introduce some diversity into the show, with people from other countries. However, they’re just tossing in complete caricatures now. I would maybe find it more amusing if I weren’t already half-convinced that Japanese people actually believe these stereotypes.
Wien at least is amusing, although I have no idea why he’s trying to feed the squirrels. Not understanding the rules of Japanese etiquette is something I can sympathize with.
But as for the Spanish guy— where are these stereotypes even coming from? I mean, everyone knows that Spanish people are lazy as shit. But this guy’s not lazy— he sprints after a girl on a bike. And where did the pig on a leash come from? I don’t even know what these stereotypes are supposed to be. Kudos to the creators for actually attempting to speak Spanish though. I mean, the accent was off, but hey, it’s better than 90% of “English” in anime.
Of course, no appearance by a foreigner would be complete without our characters attempting to speak with them in English! Who cares if he’s Spanish, all foreigners speak English. I still don’t understand how English students in anime can be so awful at English as to not even be able to identify it. They’re all required to take English class, right? What do they do at school then? If they’re seniors, I presume they must have taken at least three years of English, if they don’t start earlier. After one year of Japanese class, I could communicate with them in Japanese much better than they could with me in English. If they don’t even know “I don’t money” makes no sense, what are they learning in school?
I like how the principal here expresses what every teacher has most likely kept to themselves.
So even though the last episode felt like the end of the show, the adventures of the choir club go on. Perhaps they made a bigger deal out of that concert than they should have.
Actually I find the average anime high school student’s broken English quite charming. I’m not a native speaker myself and I sometimes find myself imitating it spontaneously.
My favourite scene in this respect is in episode 3 of Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou (very entertaining show btw) when Koyomi, the young heroine, accidentally bumps into Yumiko, another character. Koyomi infers from Yumiko’s silver hair and chest size that she can’t be Japanese and says: “Hello I’m sorry” even though Koyomi speaks in Japanese to her.
I don’t know, it’s so broken that I find it hard to believe. Even after taking just one year, how could you not even be able to say simply sentences?
I’ve been watching Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou, but very, very slowly. I’m at episode 6 I think after several years. Oh well, I’ll finish it eventually.
My own favorite broken English scene is the one with the teacher in Azumanga Daioh. Some foreigner tries to talk to her, asking how to get somewhere. She completely panics and has no idea what to say. And if I remember correctly she was the English *teacher*.
Feeding squirrels? That’s awesome. Who wouldn’t try to do that!?
Anyone who had actually seen squirrels before. I mean, didn’t everyone else try this many times when they were a kid, or is this just me? Most people tend to learn something from the experience.