American-Ways.docx

AmericanWaysAGuideforForeignersintheUnitedStatesBYGARYA1.THENwithAmandaR.DoranandSusanJ.SzmaniaTableofContentspageIntroduction1OnUnderstanding1HowMuchGeneralizingIsAcceptable?2OnAskingfcWhy?"3HowAmericansSeeThemselves4HowAmericansSeeForeigners4OnDescribingAmericans5PartIGeneralIdeasaboutAmericanCultureChapter 1: AmericanValuesandAssumptionsIndividualism.Freedom.Competitiveness,andPrivacyEquality9Informality10TheFuture.Change,andProgress11GoodnessofHumanity12Time13Achievement.Action.Work,andMaterialism14DirectnessandAssertiveness14Chapter 2: TheCommunicativeStyleofAmericans16PreferredDiscussionTopics16FavoriteFormsofInteraction17DepthofInvolvementSought.18ChannelsPreferred191.evelofMeaningEmphasized23Chapter 3: WaysofReasoning23TheContext24ThePoint25TheOrganization25TheEvidence25TheCause27Chapter 4: DifferencesinCustoms2830,3031,3232,33,333334,373S404142PartIlSpecificAspectsofAmerican1.ifeChapter 5: PoliticsTheRuleof1.awTheIdealofCompromise.PoliticsApartCh叩ter6:Family1.ife.,WhatForeignersNotice.TheChangingFamilyRaisingChildrenChapter 7: Education.GuidingWeals,SocialForcesAffectingAmericanEducationIssuesFacingAmericanSchoolsAdvantagesandDisadvantages43,4345,45,4646,4748,4950,50.51,52,5354,56,57,58,58,60,63,63a65,65,6666,6768,6868,69.69.69.70,71.72.72Chapter 8: ReligionTheGeneralContextReligionandIndividualAmericansExceptionsChapter 9: TheMediaWhatIsAmericanabouttheAmericanMedia?,Americans'ViewsofTheirMediaMisconceptionstheMediaPromoteChapter 10: SocialRelationshipsMeetingNewPeopleTheAmericanConceptofFriendshipRelationshipsPrescribedbyRolesCourtesy.Schedules.GiftsChapter 11: RacialandEthnicDiversityWhatForeignVisitorsSeeHowAmericansViewRaceandEthnicRelationsAustin.Texas:ACaseStudyChapter 12: Male-FemaleRelationshipsInfluencesonMale-FemaleRelationshipsMale-FemaleRelationshipsinVariousSettings.Chapter13:SportsandRecreationSportsRecreationChapter 14: DrivingGeneralInformationTraffic1.awsAttitudesaboutDrivingChapter 15: ShoppingAdvertisingPricingCustomer-ClerkRelationshipsSalesTacticsProceduresforReturningandExchangingPrivateSalesChapter 16: PersonalHygieneTheBasicsVariationsOtherIssuesConcerningHygieneChapter 17: GettingThingsDoneinOrganizationsMisconceptionsCharacteristicsofU.S.OrganizationsSuggestionsforDealingwithU.S.OrganizationsChapter 18: BehaviorinPublicPlacesRulesforBehaviorinPublicPlacesCommunicationBehaviorsChapter 19: StudyingAssumptionsUnderlyingtheHigherEducationSystemStudenl-StudentRelationships.Stixtent-ProfessorRelationshipsRoommateRelationshipsIntroductionMostAmericansseethemselvesasopen,frank,andfairlyfriendly.Ifyouaskthemaquestion,theywillanswerit.Theyhavenothingtohide.Theycannotunderstandwhypeoplefromotheruntriesshouldhaveanydifficultyunderstandingthem.Unless,ofurse,therearelanguageproblems.ButmostforeignersdohavetroubleunderstandingAmericans.EveniftheyhaveagoodcommandofEnglish,mostforeignershaveatleastsomedifficultyunderstandingwhattheAmericanstheyencounterarethinkingandfeeling.Whatideasandattitudesunderlietheiractions?Whatmotivatesthem?Whatmakesthemtalkandactthewaytheydo9Thisbkaddressesthosequestions.ThebookisintendedtohelpforeignvisitorsboththosestayingforalongtimeandthosehereforshortVisits-Understandthenatives.OnUnderstandingThisbookisnotintendedtoencourageforeignerstolikeAmericansorwanttoimitatethem.SomevisitorsfromabroadwillhavepositivefeelingstowardmostoftheAmericanstheymeet.Otherswillnot.SomewillwanttoremainforalongtimeintheUnitedStates,otherswillwanttogobackhomeassoonaspossible.Peopleinboththesegroups,however,willbemorelikelytobenefitfromtheirstaysintheStatesiftheyunderstandthenatives.Understandheremeanshavingareasonablyaccuratesetofideasforinterpretingthebehaviortheysee.1.etslookatanexample,onethatcausesmanyforeignerstohavenegativefeelingstowardAmericans.TariqNassarisEgyptian.Inhissociety,peopleplaceahighpremiumonfamilyloyalty.Obligationstoparentsandsiblingsareanimportantpartofdailylife.TariqhasmetotheUnitedStatestoearnamaster'sdegreeincivilengineering.ThroughtheU.S.universityheisattending,hehasa'hostfamily."alocalfamilythatperiodicallyinviteshimtotheirhomefordinnerorsomeotheractivity.Thefamily'snameisWilson.Mr.Wilsonisamiddle-agedengineer.Hiswilev/orkshalf-timeinalawyer'sofficeTeirtwochildren,adaughterwhoistventy-voandasonwhoisnineteen,arebothuniversitystudents,andoneofthemisattendingauniversityinadistantstate.Mr.Wilsonsfatherdiedtwoyearsago.Hismother,TariqIearns1livesinanursinghomeOneSundayafterhavingdinnerwiththeWilsons,TariqgoeswiththemtovisitMr.Wilson'smother.Thenursinghomeisfulloffrail,eWerlypeople,mostOfwhomaresittingsilentlyinloungeareasorlyingintheirrooms.Afewareplayingcardsordominoesinthe-gameroom"orarewatchingtelevisionMrWilsonsmotherisobviouslyold,butshecanmovearoundreasonablywellandca