Goodness Gracious Me is a British comedy sketch show featuring four prominent British South Asian comedians: Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir, and Nina Wadia. The show began as a radio programme on BBC Radio 4 before transitioning to television on BBC Two, where it gained widespread popularity throughout the late 1990s until its conclusion in 2001.
The sketches created by Goodness Gracious Me offered much more than laughs - they provided a sharp, humorous commentary on the everyday experiences of the British South Asian community, playing with stereotypes and cultural expectations. They tackled issues such as generational conflict, identity struggles, cultural assimilation, culture clashes and the challenges of living in a multicultural society from the perspective of the South Asian diaspora in Britain.
Set in India, the sketch Going for an English is a comic reversal of situations,depicts a group of Indian friends going out to eat at an "English" restaurant, imitating the exaggerated behaviour of some British people when they dine at Indian restaurants. The diners speak loudly, rudely mispronounce the waiter's English name, and make inappropriate comments—all while insisting they want the “blandest thing on the menu.” This role reversal is both funny and biting, as it highlights cultural ignorance, entitlement, and condescension that can emerge when people interact with cultures they don’t fully understand.
By placing the British viewer in the role of the cultural “other,” the sketch encourages self-awareness. It cleverly uses humour to expose serious issues around cultural misunderstanding, prejudice, and the lack of mutual respect that can occur in multicultural societies.
The benefits of a reversal of cultures situation for intercultural learning
A reversal of cultures can be valuable for intercultural learning in several ways:
A situation based on a reversal of cultures allows learners to gain a new perspective by experiencing situations and interactions from a different cultural point of view. This can help to challenge preconceptions, prejudices and stereotypes.
It can also help learners to recognise the limitations and dangers of assumptions and generalisations, thus encouraging more open-minded attitudes. By putting themselves in someone else's shoes, learners can also develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding for different cultural perspectives, lifestyles and behaviours.
Finally, a reversal of cultures situation can increase learners’ awareness of their own communication style and behaviour, which can be crucial to communicating and working more effectively across cultures.
The sketch Going for an English is suitable for learners from a B2 level of English. The following questions can be asked after watching the sketch:
- What cultural aspects does the sketch Going for an English address?
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What are some moments in the sketch where miscommunication or misunderstanding occurs?
- Are there any instances in the sketch that you find particularly relatable or that you have experienced in your own intercultural encounters?
- Were there any aspects of the sketch that you found offensive or inappropriate? If so, why?
- How does the sketch use humour to address serious issues related to intercultural communication?
- What lessons or insights can we draw from the sketch about dealing with cultural differences and promoting effective intercultural communication?
Further sketches by Goodness Gracious Me featuring a reversal of cultures situation are:
The Delhi Students - Backpacks: Rough Guide To The United Kingdom, Jonathon, and
Meeting of the Indian Broadcasting Corporation.
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