2+American+Cultural+Values

In class you will have discussed with your classmates cultural habits in America. [|Customs – Culture check.doc] Some of the habits will be the same in your country, but some will be different. After you discuss them, think about how these habits and customs can reflect certain Values. Look at the following document when comparing Values in your country to American Values.

Here are the 13 Commonly held American Vaules as defined by L.Robert Kohls

http://globalsojourns.com/imagedump/Giving%20Circle/travelarticles/American_Traits.pdf

13 Commonly Held American Values By L. Robert Kohls www.uku.fi/~paganuzz/xcult/values/Amer_values.htm 1. **Personal control over the environment** **-** Americans do not generally believe in the power of fate; they see this as superstitious and reflective of an unwillingness to take initiative. Life’s problems tend to be viewed as coming from one’s laziness or unwillingness to take responsibility, rather than from bad luck. 2. **Change** **-** Americans tend to see change as good, leading to development, improvement, and progress. More traditional cultures see change as destructive; they value stability and tradition. 3. **Time** **-** Time is of utmost importance to Americans. Time is something to be on, kept, filled, saved, lost, wasted, and even killed. Americans tend to be more concerned with getting things done on time than they are with interpersonal relationships. Americans stop discussions abruptly in order to make appointments on time and to be productive. 4. **Equality and fairness** **-** Equality is so valued in American culture that it is seen as having a religious basis. At least in theory, Americans believe that all people are created equal and that everyone should have equal opportunities. 5. **Individualism and interdependence** **-** Americans tend to view themselves as highly individu- alistic and resist being thought of as part of any homogenous group. Individualism leads to privacy, which most Americans highly value. It is interesting to note that the word for “privacy” does not even exist in many non- Western languages. 6. **Self-help and initiative** **-** Americans tend to take credit for accomplishments as individuals, and they tend to value the “self-made” man or woman. 7. **Competition** **-** Americans tend to believe that competition brings out the best in people, and “free enterprise” is valued in many areas of life. 8. **Future orientation** **-** Americans tend to value the future, devalue the past, and to an extent, are unaware of the present. Many Americans work so hard and think so much about their future that a perfectly happy present often goes unnoticed. 9. **Action/work orientation** **-** Americans tend to see any action as superior to inaction. Americans tend to schedule an active life and schedule in time for relaxation. Often the first question people ask each other when meeting is, “What do you do?” meaning what is their profession. 10. **Informality** **-** Americans are more informal than many other cultures. For example, many Americans call their bosses by their first names, dress is more casual attire, even at formal events, and even greetings are www.globalsojourns.com casual (e.g., “Hi” rather than, “Hello, how are you?”). 11. **Directness, openness, and honesty** **-** Americans tend to prefer the direct approach to deliv- ering information, no matter how unpleasant. Americans tend to see honesty as most important, and anyone who uses an intermediary to deliver unpleasant information is seen as manipulative and untrustworthy. 12. **Practicality and efficiency** **-** The reputation of Americans is practical and efficient. They tend to value rational and objective decisions over emotional and subjective ones, and the pragmatic approach is the overwhelming philosophy. 13. **Materialism and acquisitiveness** **-** Foreigners tend to consider Americans to be very materi- alistic. Americans tend to give high priority to obtaining, maintaining, and protecting material objects, and they value newness and innovation. www.globalsojourns.com

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= I.What do the following American Expressions tell you about Americans? Can these expression be applied to your country? =

= American Expressions = Time is Money It’s not whether you win or lose, its how you play the game Winner takes all Nothing succeeds like success Just do it Go for it  Every man for himself There is more than on way to skin a cat Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone If you think money can’t buy happiness, you’ve been shopping in the wrong places Good things come to those who wait

What do the following American Expressions tell you about Americans? Can these expression be applied to your country? ** What expressions do you have in your country? **

HOMEWORK:

Cultural Values: American Values and Assumptions

HW: Imagine you are a member of a government agency that helps immigrants adapt to your country. You have been asked to speak to a large group of new arrivals.


 * The topic of your presentation is:**
 * How to Better Understand your New Homeland.**

welcoming the immigrant s to your country and discussing the major values and assumptions they should be aware of in order to adapt more easiyl and avoid cross-cultural misunderstandings.
 * Give a short speech**

For example, you could talk about: Greeting customs Dressing for certain situations Eating tips Addressing people of different ages Tipping The concept of time The concept of gift giving Taboos in Romantic relationships Going out to dinner and paying with friends, women, men, colleagues Friendship and how it is displayed Taboo topics Smoking and other habits Bribes Honesty Polite habits for men vs. for women

Don’t worry if you are from the same culture and on the day of your presentation, you have the same points to make. The point is for you to give a “speech” indicating what your advice would be for these immigrants.

**Note:** In your presentation, don’t forget to greet your classmates as if they were the new immigrants and to finish your speech with a farewell of some kind.