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In clear language and with numerous examples, this book describes the basic characteristics of American culture: values, style of communication, patterns of thinking, customary behaviours, and underlines how they are different from the ways of other cultures. It then shows how these characteristics are reflected in the many aspects of American life which the foreigner encounters (including politics, social relations, personal hygiene, public behaviour, studying and business). The book also offers concrete suggestions on how to learn more about American culture and how to respond most effectively to the Americans one meets.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Preface to the Second Edition(p. xi)
• Acknowledgments(p. xvii)
• Introduction(p. xix)
• On Understanding(p. xx)
• How Much Generalizing Is Acceptable?(p. xxii)
• On Asking "Why?"(p. xxvi)
• How Americans See Themselves(p. xxvii)
• How Americans See Foreigners(p. xxix)
• On Describing Americans(p. xxxi)
• Part I General Ideas about American Culture(p. 1)
• Chapter 1 American Values and Assumptions(p. 3)
• Individualism, Freedom, Competitiveness, and Privacy(p. 5)
• Equality(p. 14)
• Informality(p. 16)
• The Future, Change, and Progress(p. 18)
• Goodness of Humanity(p. 19)
• Time(p. 22)
• Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism(p. 24)
• Directness and Assertiveness(p. 27)
• Chapter 2 The Communicative Style of Americans(p. 33)
• Preferred Discussion Topics(p. 34)
• Favorite Forms of Interaction(p. 37)
• Depth of Involvement Sought(p. 40)
• Channels Preferred(p. 42)
• Level of Meaning Emphasized(p. 53)
• Chapter 3 Ways of Reasoning(p. 55)
• The Context(p. 56)
• The Point(p. 58)
• The Organization(p. 60)
• The Evidence(p. 61)
• The Cause(p. 65)
• Chapter 4 Differences in Customs(p. 67)
• Part II Specific Aspects of American Life(p. 75)
• Chapter 5 Politics(p. 77)
• The Rule of Law(p. 80)
• The Ideal of Compromise(p. 81)
• Politics Apart(p. 82)
• Chapter 6 Family Life(p. 85)
• What Foreigners Notice(p. 86)
• The Changing Family(p. 88)
• Raising Children(p. 90)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 98)
• Chapter 7 Education(p. 101)
• Guiding Ideals(p. 102)
• Social Forces Affecting American Education(p. 110)
• Issues Facing American Schools(p. 113)
• Advantages and Disadvantages(p. 115)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 117)
• Chapter 8 Religion(p. 119)
• The General Context(p. 120)
• Religion and Individual Americans(p. 124)
• Exceptions(p. 125)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 127)
• Chapter 9 The Media(p. 129)
• What Is American about the American Media?(p. 130)
• Americans' Views of Their Media(p. 133)
• Misconceptions the Media Promote(p. 136)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 139)
• Chapter 10 Social Relationships(p. 141)
• Meeting New People(p. 143)
• The American Concept of Friendship(p. 145)
• Relationships Prescribed by Roles(p. 148)
• Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts(p. 150)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 153)
• Chapter 11 Racial and Ethnic Diversity(p. 155)
• What Foreign Visitors See(p. 156)
• How Americans View Race and Ethnic Relations(p. 162)
• Austin, Texas: A Case Study(p. 167)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 169)
• Chapter 12 Male-Female Relationships(p. 173)
• Influences on Male-Female Relationships(p. 174)
• Male-Female Relationships in Various Settings(p. 179)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 186)
• Chapter 13 Sports and Recreation(p. 187)
• Sports(p. 188)
• Recreation(p. 191)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 193)
• Chapter 14 Driving(p. 195)
• General Information(p. 196)
• Traffic Laws(p. 197)
• Attitudes about Driving(p. 198)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 201)
• Chapter 15 Shopping(p. 203)
• Advertising(p. 204)
• Pricing(p. 206)
• Customer-Clerk Relationships(p. 206)
• Sales Tactics(p. 208)
• Procedures for Returning and Exchanging(p. 209)
• Private Sales(p. 210)
• Precautions for Shoppers from Abroad(p. 210)
• Chapter 16 Personal Hygiene(p. 213)
• The Basics(p. 214)
• Variations(p. 217)
• Other Issues Concerning Hygiene(p. 218)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 219)
• Chapter 17 Getting Things Done in Organizations(p. 221)
• Misconceptions(p. 222)
• Characteristics of U.S. Organizations(p. 224)
• Suggestions for Dealing with U.S. Organizations(p. 226)
• Chapter 18 Behavior in Public Places(p. 229)
• Rules for Behavior in Public Places(p. 229)
• Communication Behaviors(p. 232)
• Suggestions for Foreign Visitors(p. 234)
• Chapter 19 Studying(p. 235)
• Assumptions Underlying the Higher Education System(p. 236)
• Student-Student Relationships(p. 237)
• Student-Professor Relationships(p. 239)
• Roommate Relationships(p. 241)
• Plagiarism(p. 244)
• Suggestions for Foreign Students(p. 245)
• Chapter 20 Business(p. 247)
• Doing Business in the United States(p. 250)
• The Global Economy(p. 256)
• Suggestions for Foreign Businesspeople and Future Businesspeople(p. 257)
• Part III Coping with Cultural Differences(p. 259)
• Chapter 21 Some Helpful Ideas(p. 261)
• Expectations(p. 262)
• Personality Characteristics(p. 262)
• Traits and Situations(p. 264)
• Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustment(p. 265)
• D-I-E(p. 267)
• Chapter 22 Activities for Learning about American Culture(p. 271)
• Ask Questions(p. 272)
• Learn and Practice Local English(p. 273)
• Take Field Trips(p. 274)
• Talk with Experienced Foreigners(p. 280)
• Keep a Journal(p. 281)
• Learn the Names of Local and Institutional VIPs(p. 281)
• Read, Reflect(p. 282)
• View Yourself as a Teacher(p. 284)
• Conclusion(p. 285)
• Bibliography(p. 289)
• About the Author(p. 295)

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Gary Althen served for thirty years as a foreign student adviser at the University of lowa, many of them as director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. He has been president of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and received its Marita Houlihan Award for his contributions to the field of international educational exchange.