Văn hóa mỹ võ nguyễn hồng lam

AMERICAN CULTURE INTRODUCTION Subject details Subject name American Culture Units of credits Prerequisite Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing Subject structure - Suggested study commitment 90 periods of self-study Subject lecturer Võ Nguyễn Hồng Lam Contact details Email: lamvnh@ntu.edu.vn Cell phone: 0963076417 Theory: 25 periods - Group Presentation: 10 periods - Field trip: 10 periods Goals and objectives • Course Goals and Learning Objectives: Students who complete this course will: • Gain a basic knowledge of American culture • Be able to discuss and analyze American culture from multiple perspectives • Understand written and spoken English at the advanced level (Communication) • Speak and write English at the advanced level (Communication) • Demonstrate knowledge of American culture, which includes the values and attitudes behind certain behaviors and the events, people and places of importance in American culture (Knowledge) • Demonstrate understanding of issues that have caused cultural conflict in the United States (Critical Thinking) Textbook and reference books Textbook: About the U.S A * Reference books: Spotlight on the USA by Randee Falk Outline of the US Economy by Peter Behr Outline of American Geography by Stephen S Birdsall and John Florin British- American Civilization by Le Van Su American Ways (third edition) by Maryanne Kearny Datesman, JoAnn Crandall, Edward N Kearny Evaluation Mid-term test: 50% - Attendance & Participation: 10% - Group Presentation: 20% - Written Report (after the field trip to American Centre in HCMC): 20% Final test: 50% (written) CLASS RULES • • • • • Come on time Come prepared Come ready to participate One person speaks at a time No cell phone use during the lesson INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN CULTURE Think, pair and share If someone asked you to describe your country’s culture, which of these would you mention? Art Beliefs Cities Climate Customs Dance Food Geography Government History Holidays Houses Literature Music Other? How would you define culture? Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts… Today, in the United States as in other countries populated largely by immigrants, the culture is influenced by the many groups of people that now make up the country The U.S Congress at work The Bill of Rights • It is designed to protect specific individual rights and freedom from government interference • It is another statement of the American belief in the importance of individual freedom The U.S has many levels of government • • • • • Federal State City County Town and Village (town meeting) Meeting the needs of the people is seen as the responsibility of the whole community, acting through government Political Parties • There are two major political parties: Republican and Democrat • There are many “third” political parties— the Reform party, the Green party, etc.— each advocating a special cause The Presidential elections • A presidential election is to be held once every four years • The process of electing a president and vice-president, however, begins long before election day • At the national party conventions, traditionally held in the summer, the delegates from the states cast votes to select the party's candidate for president • On election day (the first Tuesday in November of an election year) every citizen of legal age who has taken the steps necessary in his or her state to meet the voting requirements has an opportunity to vote • However, the president is not formally chosen by direct popular vote The constitution calls for a process of indirect popular election known as the electoral college Responsibility of the citizen • • • • • • Obey laws Serve on juries (evidence in a court of law) Be informed about political candidates Vote Pay taxes Do public service—serve in the military, the Peace Corps, volunteer organizations, etc ETHNIC AND RACIAL DIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES So in this continent, the energy of Irish, Germans, Swedes, Poles and all the European tribes, of the Africans, and of the Polynesians- will construct a new race, a new religion, a new state Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803- 1882) Warm- up question: How did people from so many different countries create the American culture? The U.S is a melting pot (Tiger Woods’ mother is Thai, his father is African American and Native American) “The melting pot” - America is often referred to as “the melting pot” due to its unique blend of different cultures, nationalities, and background - America is home to people of every color and every origin - America is a nation of immigrants Native Americans Europeans settlers in the 1600s (British, Spanish, French) African Slaves Hispanic/Latino Migration Asian Americans People from South East Asian countries have been in the Americas since the mid-1700s http://www.pbs.org/ancest orsintheamericas/ ... structure - Suggested study commitment 90 periods of self-study Subject lecturer Võ Nguyễn Hồng Lam Contact details Email: lamvnh@ntu.edu.vn Cell phone: 0963076417 Theory: 25 periods - Group Presentation: