American ways
February, 4, 2014
In the United States people have become very sensitive to the language used to describe racial and ethnic groups, and they try to be politically correct, or "P.C." For example, some black American prefer the term African-American instead of black to identify with their African heritage.
In the United States people have become very sensitive to the language used to describe racial and ethnic groups, and they try to be politically correct, or "P.C." For example, some black American prefer the term African-American instead of black to identify with their African heritage.
In California, for example, the test for a driver´s license is given in thirty different languages.
In general, cultural pluralism is more accepted in the United Stated today than it was in the first half of the twentieth century and many of the school system have developed bilingual programs and multicultural curricula.
The immense size of the United States, and its great ethnic diversity. It is difficult to comprehend the size of the country until you have tried to travel form one city to another. If you got in a car in New York and drove to Los Angeles, stopping only to get gas, eat, and sleep, it would take you four or five days. It takes two full days to drive from New York to Florida. On a typical winter day, it might be raining in Washington, D.C., and snowing in New York and Chicago, while it is warm enough to swim in Los Angeles and Miami. It is difficult to imagine how different daily life might be in such different climates, or how lifestyle could vary in cities and tows so far apart.
Different countries have different rules for personal space, that is, when people touch, how close they stand when they are speaking to one another, how close they sit, how they behave on elevators, etc. The rules for personal space sometimes differ according to how well people know each other.
First rule: When they are in a crowd, Americans have a bubble of space around their bodies which is about an inch thick. This bubble of space must not be broken by a stranger. If American strangers touch each other accidentally, they say "pardon me, excuse me, oh I am sorry, sorry".
Second rule: when standing in elevators, American usually face the door and try to avoid touching one another.
Good movies to see American Culture: La Bamba- Based on the true story of Ritchie Valens, a young 1950s rock and roll singer who rose to fame from poverty and brought the Latin American influence to his hit songs. The Terminal- An eastern European immigrant who is not permitted to enter the United States decides to take up temporary residence at a JFK airport terminal. School of Rock- A wanna be rock star in need of cash pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prep school and tries to turn his class into a rock band.
The pressures of competition in the life of an American being in childhood and continue until retirement from work. Learning to compete successfully is part of growing up in the United States, and competition is encouraged by strong programs of competitive sports provided by public schools and community groups. Competitive sports are now popular with both men and women.
Americans still love their country and believe that they can accomplish almost anything.
To some, owing a beautiful house means they have achieved the American Dream.
Americans still love their country and believe that they can accomplish almost anything.
To some, owing a beautiful house means they have achieved the American Dream.
American ways: an introduction to American culture- by Maryanne Kearny Datasman, Joann Crandall and Edward N, Kearny. 3rd edition.
February, 5, 2014
Some important facts about culture are: art, beliefs, cities, climate, customs, houses, dance, food, geography, government, history, holidays, houses, literature, music, religion, business, work, politics, family and education.
It is really important to understand American Culture but we can't forget to understand our own culture. One important point is the weather. The climate of a country is a significant factor in the daily lives of the people.
Ethnic and racial diversity in the USA.
The 2 important factors that affect life in the USA are value and beliefs. They believe that everyone has a chance to succeed here. For them, being American is a big part of who I am. America is not a place, it is a dream.
Important points
Is cultural awareness a necessary component to language learning?
Talk about something we don't have in Brazil.
Some gestures are different from our country.
The words are based in culture. Ex: taxi - cab
Call a person: guy- someone close to you. Boy, depending on the situation can be offensive. Boy means black man. It doesn't happen with the girls.
What time is it?
Could you tell me....
Please, ....
Excuse me.....are you wearing a watch?
* There is a line for formal and informal situation. The difference is the formality. If you want to be more direct. For them, time is money, remember?
That's why New York are rude, because they are fast in their speech.
Distrust of authority
Ripe movement - Against Vietnam war. They distrust the police, the teachers, the doctors, the government. They don't trust in them because they are authority. Doctors say: You have to take a vaccine. People say: Really? They see a picture of a man in the moon and they say: This is fake.
There are big cultural differences between the North and South of US.
They have big breakfast, small lunch and small dinner because they don't have time to go back home to have lunch, so they eat something really fast.
Self reliant- you trust yourself. They don't need any help from everybody. You are able to provide by yourself. (selfsuficient) They are completed non dependent. They believe that put more power and autonomy in people's hands.
Renaissance- They can do everything by themselves. Franklin is consider a Renaissance. A negative point about this for me is that they become selfish. They don't care about people's life.
Why are the USA so focus in medicine, science and technology? Because they always look for something new. (an innovation).
What does black means? African decedent. It is not basic in genetic but culture. Slavery is related to black people. Barack Obama is not consider "black" because their history is different. His parents, his background,
his school Education, where was he born.
Separate but equal- There are different restrooms for black white and colored people in South.
Social successful people- Martin Luther King is a great example of a social successful people. His speech was for everybody. The churches don't believe exactly the same. There are 2000 different religions. The Quakers, they seat in silence for one hour connecting for one hour just thinking. The simplicity is the key word. There is no songs and no bible.
February, 5, 2014
Some important facts about culture are: art, beliefs, cities, climate, customs, houses, dance, food, geography, government, history, holidays, houses, literature, music, religion, business, work, politics, family and education.
It is really important to understand American Culture but we can't forget to understand our own culture. One important point is the weather. The climate of a country is a significant factor in the daily lives of the people.
Ethnic and racial diversity in the USA.
The 2 important factors that affect life in the USA are value and beliefs. They believe that everyone has a chance to succeed here. For them, being American is a big part of who I am. America is not a place, it is a dream.
Important points
Is cultural awareness a necessary component to language learning?
Talk about something we don't have in Brazil.
Some gestures are different from our country.
The words are based in culture. Ex: taxi - cab
Call a person: guy- someone close to you. Boy, depending on the situation can be offensive. Boy means black man. It doesn't happen with the girls.
What time is it?
Could you tell me....
Please, ....
Excuse me.....are you wearing a watch?
* There is a line for formal and informal situation. The difference is the formality. If you want to be more direct. For them, time is money, remember?
That's why New York are rude, because they are fast in their speech.
Distrust of authority
Ripe movement - Against Vietnam war. They distrust the police, the teachers, the doctors, the government. They don't trust in them because they are authority. Doctors say: You have to take a vaccine. People say: Really? They see a picture of a man in the moon and they say: This is fake.
There are big cultural differences between the North and South of US.
They have big breakfast, small lunch and small dinner because they don't have time to go back home to have lunch, so they eat something really fast.
Self reliant- you trust yourself. They don't need any help from everybody. You are able to provide by yourself. (selfsuficient) They are completed non dependent. They believe that put more power and autonomy in people's hands.
Renaissance- They can do everything by themselves. Franklin is consider a Renaissance. A negative point about this for me is that they become selfish. They don't care about people's life.
Why are the USA so focus in medicine, science and technology? Because they always look for something new. (an innovation).
What does black means? African decedent. It is not basic in genetic but culture. Slavery is related to black people. Barack Obama is not consider "black" because their history is different. His parents, his background,
his school Education, where was he born.
Separate but equal- There are different restrooms for black white and colored people in South.
Social successful people- Martin Luther King is a great example of a social successful people. His speech was for everybody. The churches don't believe exactly the same. There are 2000 different religions. The Quakers, they seat in silence for one hour connecting for one hour just thinking. The simplicity is the key word. There is no songs and no bible.
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