What Do Israeli University Students Know About Canada?

Abstract

Between March 1996 and October 2000, six groups of students in a second- and third-year, optional, semester course in the Department of Geography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, were asked to complete a general knowledge questionnaire about Canada. The questions examine the respondents’ knowledge of Canadian geography, culture and society, population, and economic indicators. Analysis of the questionnaires found that compared with American students living “next door” to Canada, the level of Israeli university students’ knowledge about that country is quite high. Israelis know more about Canadian geography, sports, and economics, and about the flag of Canada than about other aspects of life there. They are familiar with Canadian pop culture figures, although they may not recognize them as Canadian. Israeli students’ awareness of Canada is eclipsed by their knowledge of the United States, which occupies a central role in the Israeli consciousness.