American Ways

by Althern, Gary; Bennett, Janet

• ISBN13: 9780984247172
• ISBN10: 0984247173
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-14
• Publisher: HACHETTE

Summary

Whether you're a businessperson beginning to work in the United States or a foreign student visiting for a semester, this new edition of American Ways will help you navigate America's diverse and changing culture. From the deep-seated attitudes that mark the American character to customs and everyday activities, American Ways explores the tapestry of the country's life, providing invaluable information on cultural values, politics, education, religion, and relationships.

Author Biography

Gary Althen served for 30 years as a foreign student adviser at the University of Iowa, as well 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. He has lived and worked in Peru and Malaysia. Janet Bennett, PhD, is the executive director and cofounder of the Intercultural Communication Institute (ICI). She is the director of the ICI/University of the Pacific Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations, a nonresidential graduate program for professionals and other nontraditional students. Dr. Bennett also teaches training and organizational development as an adjunct faculty member of the Portland State University Department of Education.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Third Edition	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
Introduction	p. xix
On Understanding	p. xix
How Much Generalizing Is Acceptable?	p. xxi
On Asking ôWhy?ö	p. xxiv
How Americans See Themselves	p. xxvi
How Americans See Foreigners	p. xxvii
On Describing Americans	p. xxix
General Ideas About American Culture	p. 1
American Values and Assumptions	p. 3
Individualism, Freedom, Competitiveness, and Privacy	p. 5
Equality	p. 12
Informality	p. 14
The Future, Change, and Progress	p. 15
Goodness of Humanity	p. 17
Time	p. 19
Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism	p. 21
Directness and Assertiveness	p. 23
The Communicative Style of Americans	p. 27
Preferred Discussion Topics	p. 28
Favorite Forms of Interaction	p. 30
Depth of Involvement Sought	p. 33
Channels Preferred	p. 35
Level of Meaning Emphasized	p. 43
Ways of Reasoning	p. 45
The Context	p. 46
The Point	p. 48
The Organization	p. 49
The Evidence	p. 50
The Cause	p. 53
Differences in Customs	p. 55
Variations in Customs	p. 57
U.S. Americans and Their Customs	p. 57
Customary Behaviors	p. 59
Specific Aspects of American Life	p. 63
Politics	p. 65
The Rule of Law	p. 67
The Ideal of Compromise	p. 68
Politics Apart	p. 69
Fundamental Fault Lines in American Politics	p. 70
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 73
Family Life	p. 75
What Foreigners Notice	p. 75
The Changing Family	p. 77
Parenting	p. 80
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 86
Education	p. 89
Guiding Ideals	p. 90
Social Forces Affecting American Education	p. 97
Issues Facing American Schools	p. 100
Advantages and Disadvantages	p. 102
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 103
Religion	p. 105
The General Context	p. 106
Religion and Individual Americans	p. 109
Exceptions	p. 111
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 112
The Media	p. 115
What Is American About the American Media?	p. 116
Americans' Views of Their Media	p. 119
Misconceptions the Media Promote	p. 121
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 123
Social Relationships	p. 125
Meeting New People	p. 126
The American Concept of Friendship	p. 128
Relationships Prescribed by Roles	p. 131
Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts	p. 134
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 136
Racial and Ethnic Diversity	p. 139
What International Visitors See	p. 140
How Americans View Race and Ethnic Relations	p. 145
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 150
Male-Female Relationships	p. 153
Influences on Male-Female Relationships	p. 154
Male-Female Relationships in Various Settings	p. 158
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 164
Sports and Recreation	p. 165
Sports	p. 165
Recreation	p. 168
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 170
Driving	p. 171
General Information	p. 172
Traffic Laws	p. 173
Attitudes About Driving	p. 174
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 177
Shopping	p. 179
Advertising	p. 180
Pricing	p. 181
Customer-Clerk Relationships	p. 182
Sales Tactics	p. 183
Procedures for Returning and Exchanging	p. 184
Private Sales	p. 185
Precautions for Shoppers from Abroad	p. 186
Personal Hygiene	p. 189
The Basics	p. 190
Variations	p. 192
Other Issues Concerning Hygiene	p. 192
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 193
Getting Things Done in Organizations	p. 195
Misconceptions	p. 196
Characteristics of U.S. Organizations	p. 198
Suggestions for Dealing with U.S. Organizations	p. 199
Behavior in Public Places	p. 203
Rules for Behavior in Public Places	p. 203
Communication Behaviors	p. 206
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 207
Studying	p. 209
Assumptions Underlying the Higher Education System	p. 209
Student-Student Relationships	p. 211
Student-Professor Relationships	p. 213
Roommate Relationships	p. 214
Plagiarism	p. 216
Suggestions for International Students	p. 218
Business	p. 219
Doing Business in the United States	p. 222
The Global Economy	p. 229
Suggestions for International Businesspeople	p. 229
Healthcare	p. 231
Cultural Underpinnings	p. 232
Political Ramifications	p. 233
Suggestions for International Visitors	p. 235
Coping with Cultural Differences	p. 237
Some Helpful Ideas	p. 239
Intercultural Competence	p. 239
Expectations	p. 241
Personality Characteristics	p. 241
Traits and Situations	p. 242
Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustment	p. 244
D-I-E	p. 246
Activities for Learning About American Culture	p. 249
Ask Questions	p. 249
Learn and Practice Local English	p. 250
Take Field Trips	p. 252
Talk with Experienced Expatriates	p. 256
Keep a Journal	p. 257
Learn the Names of Local and Institutional VIPs	p. 258
Read, Reflect	p. 259
View Yourself as a Teacher	p. 260
Conclusion	p. 261
References and Suggested Readings	p. 263
American Culture	p. 263
Intercultural Relations	p. 265
Readings for Students	p. 267
Readings for Business and Professional People	p. 267
English-as-a-Foreign-Language Texts	p. 268
About the Authors	p. 269
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