Why are Americans so good with their geography knowledge?

I don't know what Willowthewitchuk is on about, I loved Geography at school. I learned where countries and that were in Primary school.

Obviously, some Americans need a lesson in where some places are...

That's a good question. I was a geography major in college. The current Iraq war started during my junior year, and in a communications class a professor asked the class to label a map of approximately 10 Middle Eastern countries. Myself and maybe one or two other people (out of about 28 total students) were the only ones to get all of them right. Why do many Americans not know a lot about geography? I still can't figure that one out. Part of it may be how everything is worked into the "social studies"curriculum. I remember getting a little geography here and there but not much compared to some foreign exchange students I knew in college. I really hope that this is something that can be improved upon.

Depends a lot on what you measure their knowledge against . There are all sorts of subjects and questions that can be related to geography ,some easy ,some more difficult.Also the age of the pupils wi ll be a factor For example to ask a 14 year old what is the capital of France and he answers correctly Paris, although the pupil is correct it is not marvellous .. It should be common knowledge by 9 or 10. Also most kids do their homework via the Internet so can answer questions without really knowing the answers.How many retain this knowledge in their brains..

As you've touched on a subject I'm very passionate about, I feel compelled to say my piece. That Americans (and noted by Betty D) tend to think that England is an Island but what about Scotland and Wales, aren't they attached? Therefore, England cannot be an island - Great Britain is!

I hate that most, if not all, Americans think that Scotland and Wales is in England and that the whole Island is England. Even more annoying was that I was watching the coverage of the Glasgow Airport attack on an American network and shocked that the map they displayed showed Scotland even outside Great Britain. England and Wales is for the network in Great Britain, which they also showed together with all of Ireland is UK.

I hate that when they talk about British people they are only referring to the English when British and English are not the same thing. They don't see Scottish and Welsh people as British. Some Americans say British and Scottish when referring to the 2 countries in conversations, which annoys me to end. I also find it unfair that Americans refuse to acknowledge that Northern Ireland is part of the UK, after all Great Britain and UK is not the same thing either. UK is Great Britain and Northern Ireland. However, as attached to ROI and part of the UK the people of Northern Ireland can be classed as British and Irish.

The US is so insular and influential in the UK that I hate the American spelling that has infected us due to the US made computers. How many know that words ending, or sounding as 'ize' is actually Americanised and correct UK spelling would be to replace the 'z' with an 's'? e.g. Organise, Analyse, Hypnotise etc. are correct UK spellings

I apologise (UK spelling) for my digression but you've hit one of my many Pet Peeves.

From experience I would say the Americans are not too good on geography. One adult

asked me if England had a coast anywhere

with beaches.When I stopped laughing and

realised they were serious,I said well of course

we have, we are an island. The reply was oh!!

I'm so glad you were being sarcastic or I would have subjected you to episodes of "The Chaser's War On Everything". Americans though Australia was in the Middle East. So glad we're fighting Iraq together.

It is the old Isolationist USA. Those that don't know don't care. it frightens me that people like GWB seem not to know either.

Before we Brits look down our noses too much I don't think we are much or any better. How many of us could point to Iraq & Afganistan with any accuracy before the invasions or indeed now. jjust think on it a little i

Most american are infact useless at geography as demonstrated by a mock-news broadcast.

Most Americans couldn't even name a country beginning with U even though their own country does, and many of them couldn't point to australia on a world map. lol.

Most Americans no little or Nothing of the World!!!

No One Pushes them and We Think We are it!!!

That includes the USA!!!

Sad But True!!!

WAhoo!!!

It's amazing how many of them still manage to find their way to Europe and annoy all the locals.