Basic American Values Beliefs

Basic American Values and Beliefs基本的美国价值观和信仰Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance个人自由和自力更生The earliest settlers came to the North American continent to establish colonies which were free from the controls that existed in European societies. They wanted to escape the controls placed on their lives by kings and governments,priests and churches,noblemen and aristocrats. To a great extent,they succeeded. In 1776 the British colonial settlers declared their independence from England and established a new nation,the United States of America. In so doing,they overthrew the king of England and declared that the power to govern would lie in the hands of the people. They were now free from the power of the king. In 1789,when they wrote the Constitution for their new nation,they separated church and state so that there would never be a government-supported church. Also,in writing the Constitution they expressly forbade titles of nobility to ensure that an aristocratic society would not develop. There would be no ruling class of noblemen in the new nation.最早的定居者来到北美大陆建立殖民地是自由的控制存在于欧洲社会。

Basic American Values and AssumptionsHow does American culture differ from others? The way to address this question is to consider the values and assumptions that Americans live by. As people grow up, they learn certain values and assumptions, which will influence and mode their way of life. "Values" are ideas about what is right and wrong, desirable and undesirable, normal and abnormal, proper and improper. "Assumptions'' here are the postulates(基本观点), about people, life, and the way things are. Most people who grow up in a particular culture share certain values and assumptions. These values and assumptions overlap and support each other. They fit together. A culture can be viewed as a collection of values and assumptions that go together to shape the way a group of people perceive and relate to the world around them. American culture refers to the dominant patterns of thinking and behaving of mainstream Americans.The United States probably has a greater diversity of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups than any other nation. Most early Americans recognized this diversity as a fact of life. The large variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious groups meant that accepting diversity was the only practical choice. However, many Americans came to see strength in their country's diversity and there is more recognition of the value of cultural diversities than at any other time in the history. The Declaration of Independence reflect American beliefs, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."The core American assumptions and values organized into form of activity, form of social relations, perception of the world, perception of self and the individual,etc. Assumptions and values discussed in this part are the dominant values commonly associated with the American middle class.1) Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance2) Equality of Opportunity and Competition3) Material Wealth and Hard Work4) Goodness of Humanity and Improvement5) Time and Efficiency6) AssertivenessBasic American Values and AssumptionsHow does American culture differ from others? The way to address this question is to consider the values and assumptions that Americans live by. As people grow up, they learn certain values and assumptions, which will influence and mode their way of life. "Values" are ideas about what is right and wrong, desirable and undesirable, normal and abnormal, proper and improper. "Assumptions'' here are the postulates(基本观点), about people, life, and the way things are. Most people who grow up in a particular culture share certain values and assumptions. These values and assumptions overlap and support each other. They fit together. A culture can be viewed as a collection of values and assumptions that go together to shape the way a group of people perceive and relate to the world around them. American culture refers to the dominant patterns of thinking and behaving of mainstream Americans.The United States probably has a greater diversity of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups than any other nation. Most early Americans recognized this diversity as a fact of life. The large variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious groups meant that accepting diversity was the only practical choice. However, many Americans came to see strength in their country's diversity and there is more recognition of the value of cultural diversities than at any other time in the history. The Declaration of Independence reflect American beliefs, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."The core American assumptions and values organized into form of activity, form of social relations, perception of the world, perception of self and the individual,etc. Assumptions and values discussed in this part are the dominant values commonly associated with the American middle class.1) Individual Freedom and Self-RelianceThe belief in the freedom of the individual is probably the most basic and most strongly held of all American beliefs. The most important thing to understand about Americans is probably their devotion to "individualism". They have been trained since very early in their lives to consider themselves as separate individuals who are responsible for their own situations in life and their own destinies.The earliest settlers came to the North American continent to establish colonies that were free from the controls that existed in European societies. They wanted to escape the controls placed on their lives by kings and governments, priests and churches. To a great extent, they succeeded. In 1776 the British colonial settlers declared their independence from England and established a new nation, the United States of America. In doing so, they overthrew the original control anddeclared that the power to govern would lie in the hands of the people. In 1789, when they wrote the Constitution for their new nation, they separated Church and the state so that there would never be a government-supported church. This greatly limited the power of the church. Also, in writing the Constitution they expressly forbade titles of nobility to ensure that an aristocratic society would not develop. There would be no ruling class of noblemen in the new nation. The historic decisions made by those first settlers have had a profound effect on the shaping of the American character. By limiting the power of the government and the churches and eliminating a formal aristocracy, they created a climate of freedom where the emphasis was on the individual. The United States came to be associated in their minds with the concept of individual freedom. This is probably the most basic of all the American values.Perhaps the word "freedom" is one of the most respected popular words in the United States. By "freedom", Americans mean the desire and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church, or any other organized authority. The desire to be free of controls was a basic value of the new nation, and it has continued to attract immigrants to this country. We can see this in the way Americans treat their children. Even very young children are given opportunities to make their own choices and express their opinions: The child's preference will normally be accommodated. Through this process, Americans come to see themselves as separate human beings who have their own opinions and who are responsible for their own decisions.However, there is a price to be paid for this individual freedom: self-reliance. Americans believe that individual must learn to rely on themselves of risk 'losing freedom. This means achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible. It means that Americans believe they should take care of themselves, solve their own problems, and stand on their own feet. They are apt to imagine that their whole destiny is in their own hands. This strong belief in self-reliance continues to today as a basic American value. Americans believe that they must be serf-reliant in order to keep their freedom. If they rely too much on the support of their families, of the government or any organization, they may not be free to do what they want.Self-improvement and self-help seem at the core of American ideology. Americans are trained to conceive of themselves as separate individuals, and they assume everyone else in the world is too. When they encounter a person from abroad who seems to them excessively concerned with the opinions of parents, with following traditions, or with fulfilling obligation to others, they assume that the person feels trapped or is weak, indecisive, or overly dependent. They assume all people must resent being in situations where, they are not free to make up their own minds. They resume that after living for a time in the United States people will come to feel liberated from constraints arising outside themselves and will be grateful for the opportunity to do their own thing and have their own way. It is this concept of themselves as individual decision makers that blinds at least someAmericans to the fact that they share a culture with each other. They have the idea that they have independently made up their own minds about the values and assumption they hold. Americans consider the ideal person to be an individualistic, self-reliant, independent person. Americans admire people who have overcome adverse circumstances and succeeded in life. The blind and deaf author and lecturer Helen Keller is an example.The individual that Americans idealize prefers an atmosphere of freedom, where neither the government nor any other external force of agency dictates what the individual does. For Americans, the idea of individual freedom has strong, positive connotations. Foreigners who understand the degree to which Americans are imbued with the notion that the free, serf-reliant individual is the ideal kind of human being will be able to understand many aspects of American behavior and thinking.It is not unusual for Americans who are beyond the age of about twenty and who are still living with their parents to pay their parents for room and board. Elderly parents living with their grown children may do likewise. Paying for room and board is a way of showing independence, self-reliance, and responsibility for oneself. By being dependent, not only do they risk losing freedom, but they also risk losing the respect of their peers. Even if they are not truly serf-reliant, most Americans believe they must at least appear to be so. In order to be in the mainstream of American life, individuals must be seen as serf-reliant. Although receiving financial support from charity, family, or the government is allowed, it is never admired. Many people believe that such individuals are setting a bad example that may weaken the American character as a whole.2) Equality of Opportunity and CompetitionEquality of opportunity and competition is another basic American value. Americans believe in the ideal, as stated in their Declaration of Independence, that "all men are created equal". Although they sometimes violate the ideal in their daily lives, Americans have a deep faith that in some fundamental way all people are of equal value, that no one is born superior to anyone else. This is the second important reason why immigrants have traditionally been drawn to the United States, which is the belief that everyone has a chance to succeed in the United States. Generations of immigrants from the earliest settlers to the present day have come with this expectation. They have felt that because individuals are free from excessive political, religious, and social controls, they have a better chance for success. Particularly important is the lack of a hereditary aristocracy, Because titles of nobility were forbidden in the Constitution, no formal class system developed in the United States. In the early years of American history many immigrants chose to leave the older European societies, believing that they had a better chance to succeed in America than in "the old country," where their place in life was determined largely by the social class into which they were born. They knew that in America they would not have to live among noble families whopossessed great power and wealth inherited and accumulated over hundreds of years. The hopes of many of these immigrants were fulfilled in their new country. The lower social class into which many were born did not prevent them from wishing to a higher social position. Many found that they did indeed have a better chance to succeed in the United States than in the old country. Because millions of these immigrants succeeded, Americans came to believe in equality of opportunity although there might be exceptions in some situations. The more you advanced in the study of American society, the more you would perceive that equality of condition is the fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived.It is important to understand what Americans mean when they say they believe in equality of opportunity. They do not mean that everyone should be totally equal. However, they do mean that each individual should have an equal chance for success. Americans see much of life as a race for success. For them, equality means that everyone should have an equal chance to enter the race and win. The race for success is a fair one. President Abraham Lincoln expressed: We wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else. When one starts poor, free society is such that he knows he can better his condition; he knows that there is no fixed condition of labor for his whole life.However, there is a price to be paid for this equality of opportunity: competition. If much of life is seen as a race, then a person must run the race in order to succeed; a person must compete with others. If every person has an equal chance to succeed in the United States, then it is every person's duty to try. Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of their neighbors in a competitive contest for success.The pressures of competition in the life of an American begin in childhood and continue until retirement from work. Learning to compete successfully is part of growing up in the United States. In a recent opinion poll, more than 60% of Americans believed that competition and the desire to win are healthy and desirable.The pressure to compete causes an American to be energetic, but it also places a constant emotional strain on him. When he retires at age sixty-five, he is at last free from the pressures of competition. But then a new problem arises. He tends to feel useless and unwanted in a society that gives so much prestige to those who compete well. This is one reason why older people in the United States do not have as much honor and respect as they have in other less competitive societies. In fact, any person who does not compete successfully for whatever reason does not fit into the mainstream of American life as well as those who do.3) Material Wealth and Hard WorkA main reason that immigrants have come to the United States is to have a better life. That is, people wanted to raise their standard of living. For the vast majority of the immigrants who came here, it was probably the most compelling reason for leaving their homeland. Because of its incredibly abundant naturalresources, the United States appeared to be a "land of plenty" where millions could come to seek their fortunes. Of course, most immigrants did not get rich overnight, and many of them suffered terribly, but the majority of them were eventually able to improve upon their former standard of living. Even if they were not able to achieve the economic success they wanted, they could be fairly certain that their children would have the opportunity for a better life. "Going from rags" became a slogan for the great American dream. The dream came true for many of the immigrants. They achieved material success; they became very attached to material things. Material wealth became a value to the American people.Placing a high value on material possessions is called "materialism". Americans are often criticized for being so "materialistic", so concerned with acquiring possessions. Americans do not like to be called materialistic because they feel that this unfairly accuses them of loving only material things and of having no religions values. In fact, Americans do have other values and ideals. Nevertheless, acquiring and maintaining a large number of material possessions is of very great importance to most Americans. For Americans, though, this materialism is natural and proper. Material wealth is the most widely accepted measure of social status in the United States because Americans rejected the European system of hereditary aristocracy and titles of nobility; they had to find a substitute for judging social status. The quality and quantity of an individual's material possessions became the accepted measure of success and social status. Moreover, the American Protestant work ethics associated material success with godliness.However, Americans pay a price for their material wealth, that is, hard work. The North American continent was rich in natural resources when the first settlers arrived, but all these resources were undeveloped. Only by hard work could these natural resources be converted into material possessions and a comfortable standard of living. Hard work has been both necessary and rewarding for most American throughout their history. Because of this, they have come to see material possessions as the natural reward for their hard work. In some ways, material possessions are seen not only as tangible evidence of people's work, but also of their abilities. The difference in material possession reflected a difference in personal abilities. Most Americans believe that if a person works hard, it is possible to have a good standard of living. Over 90% of young Americans think they will achieve what they want in life, and almost eight out of ten think they can get what they want through hard work. They have been taught that it is a good thing to work hard and acquire more material badges of their success, and that means a better future for them.4) Goodness of Humanity and ImprovementAmericans assume that human is basically good because they believe that the future can't be better if people in general are not fundamentally good and improvable. Foreign visitors will see them doing many things that are based on theassumption that people are good and can make themselves better.There are many aspects to show that Americans manage to make themselves better, First of all, they are getting more education or training. Formal education is not just for young people, but also for everyone. Education institutions offer extension classes for those who have full-time jobs or who live far from a college or university to have the opportunity to get more education. Many post-secondary students are adults who seek to improve themselves by learning more. Moreover, non-formal educational opportunities in the form of workshops, seminars, or training programs are widely available. Through them people can learn about a huge array of topics, from being a better parent to investing money more wisely to behaving more assertively. Secondly, Americans have beliefs in the actions of government for their individualism, freedom, and equality. They assume that people can make life better for themselves and others through the actions of governments they choose. Thirdly, Americans prefer voluntarism. It is not just through the actions of government or other formal bodies that life can be improved, but through the actions of citizen volunteers as well.Americans assume themselves to be improvable. They voluntarily participate in various educational and training programs. They join in number of group activities in order to make themselves better. Americans manage to get better condition, manage their time and money more effectively, become better at their jobs, and improve themselves in countless other ways. Americans who want to make things better can do so if only they have a strong enough motivation.5) Time and EfficiencyFor Americans, time is a resource that can be used well or poorly. Time is money. We only get so much time in this life: we'd better use it wisely. The future will not be better than the past or the present unless people use their time for constructive, future-oriented activities. Thus, Americans admire a well-organized person who has a schedule for doing things. The ideal person is punctual and is considerate of other people's time., Time must be saved whenever possible and used wisely every day. You must make an appointment if you want to see your friends, to see a doctor or in other occasions. Otherwise, you will be refused in most of the time. Because people have a very tight time list and they do not want to be disturbed in following their time schedule. This is one of the most difficult things that foreign people must adjust to in the States.The importance Americans place on efficiency is closely related to their concepts of the future, change, and time. To do something efficiently is to do it in the way that is the quickest and requires the smallest expenditure of resources. The "fast-food industry" can be seen as an example of an American cultural product. Fast-food establishments prosper in a country where many people want to minimize the amount of time they spend preparing and eating meals. The millions of Americans who take their meals at fast-food restaurants can't have much interest in lingering over their food. As fast-food restaurants have spread around the world,they have been viewed as symbols of American society and culture, bringing an emphasis on speed, efficiency.6) AssertivenessAmericans generally consider themselves to be frank, open, and direct in their dealings with other people. They tend to assume that conflicts or disagreements are best settled by means of forthright discussions among the people involved. Americans commonly use the word "assertiveness" to describe the person who plainly and directly expresses feelings and requests. Americans will often speak openly and directly to others about things they dislike. They will try to do so in a manner that the other person will not find offensive or unacceptable. If they do not speak openly about what is on their minds, they will often convey their reactions in non-verbal ways. Their words, the tone of their voices, or their facial expressions will usually reveal when they are feeling angry, unhappy, confused, or content. They do not think it improper to display these feelings, at least within limits. Many Asians feel embarrassed around Americans who are exhibiting a strong emotional response to something.However, there are many restrictions on their willingness to discuss things openly. Americans are reluctant to speak openly when the topic is an area they consider excessively personal, such as unpleasant body odors and personal inadequacies, because the topics are considered too sensitive. Americans might feel especially reluctant to say "no" directly to a foreigner, for fear of making the person feel unwelcome or discriminated against. They will often try to convey refuse indirectly by repeatedly postponing an agreed-upon time for doing something.Americans have limits on their openness even though they see themselves as properly assertive and even though they often behave in mere open, direct ways than people from many other countries and they will not mask their emotions.By and large, in understanding the relationship between what Americans believe and how they live, it is important to distinguish between idealism and reality. American values such as equality of opportunity and self-reliance are ideal that may not necessarily describe the reality of American life. In reality, some people have a better chance for success than others. Those who are born into rich families have more opportunities than those who are born into poorer families. Inheriting money does give a person a decided advantage. Many black Americans have fewer opportunities than the average white Americans, and many women have fewer opportunities than men, in spite of laws designed to promote equality of opportunity for all individuals. Today, many immigrants have fewer opportunities than those who came before them. When there were more high-paying factory jobs, and the economy was growing more rapidly.Americans are strongly affected by those beliefs in their everyday lives although their ideals are only partly carried out in real life. Therefore, if we can understand what these basic traditional American values are and how they haveinfluenced almost every facet of life in the U.S., it will be easier to understand what Americans are thinking and feeling.。

美国文化对中国大学生的影响作者：刘芳刘宗元来源：《科技视界》2015年第33期【摘要】随着美国影视剧作品在全球的广泛传播，美国的生活方式、交往方式、道德观以及价值观也随着其向中国传递，尤其影响着追捧美剧、关注美国电影的中国大学生的行为方式和思想观念，在一定程度上出现了“美国化”现象。

文章通过分析美国文化价值观的特点、美国主流文化的构成因素及其对中国大学生的影响，并在分析其影响的基础上提出对中国大学生进行科学人生观塑造教育的应对策略。

【关键词】美国文化价值观；中国大学生；行为方式；思想观念；人生观教育0 IntroductionThe implementation of China‟s reform and opening up has brought unprecedented opportunities and challenges to all fields of society. It introduces western culture， technology， and advanced productive force and meanwhile there is some negative affect on many fields of our country.Nowadays， America is one of the most developed countries in the world. Its culture greatly influences many other areas all over the world. Obviously， Chinese college students are also influenced by American culture. With the influence of American culture， they become more confidence and independent. Besides， they work hard to compete with others. However， they have not get the real quintessence of the American culture. They blindly pursue individual freedom and pay much attention to their creature comfort （Coben， 25）.The purpose of this paper is to research the effective measures to eliminate the harmful trends of these students. The analysis of the influence shows that it is very important for college students to know the real quintessence of American culture. Then adopt it to build college students‟ character. Now， the society needs talented persons who have high qualities. Facing with unprecedented challenges and opportunities， College students should cultivate themselves to be all-round talents.The paper consists of five parts. Part one is “an introduction of some parts of American culture”. Part two is “influence of American culture on Chinese college students”. Part three is “an analysis of the influence of American culture on college students”. Part four is “character education”. Part five is “conclusion”.1 Analysis1.1 An Introduction of Some Parts of American Culture“Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge， belief， art， morals， law，custom and members of capabilities and habits acquired by a man as a member of society” （Deng，2）. As we know， American culture， especially American values， beliefs and characteristics，has influenced many other areas all round the world.1.1.1 Some Basic American Values and Beliefs1）Individual Freedom and Self-relianceAmericans love freedom. Freedom is so much a part of American life that it is often taken for granted.But this is not the freedom of the individual is probably the most basic and most strongly hold of all American belief. By “freedom”， Americans mean the desire and ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government， a ruling noble class，the church or any other organized authority.The desire to be free of controls was a basic value of new nation 1776， and it was continued to attract immigrants to this country.Besides， Americans believe that one must learn to rely on oneself or risk losing freedom. This means achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible，usually by age 18 or 21. “It means that Americans believe they should take care of themselves， solve their own problems and “stand on their own two feet”（Deng， 33）.This strong belief in self-reliance continues toady as a basic American value. It is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of the American character to understand， but it is profoundly important. Americans believe that they must be self-reliant in order to keep their freedom. If they rely too much on support of their families or the government or any organization， they may not be free to do what they want.“By being dependent， not only do they risk losing freedom， but they also risk losing the respect of their peers”（Deng， 33）. Even if they are not truly self-reliant， most Americans believe they must at least appear to be so. In order to be in the mainstream of American life， to have power and respect， one must be self-reliant. Although receiving financial support from charity，family， or the government， which is allowed. However，“many people believe that such individuals are settling a bad example， which may weaken the American character as a whole” （Deng， 35）.2）Equality of Opportunity and CompetitionIt is important to understand what American mean when they say they believe in equality of opportunity. “They do not mean that everyone is， or should be， equal. However， they do mean each individual should have an equal chance for success. For them， equality means that everyoneshould have an equal chance to enter the race and win”（Deng， 34）. In other words， equality of opportunity may be a thought of as an ethical rule. It helps ensure that the race for success is a fair one and that a person does not win just because he or she was born into a wealthy family.If much of life is regarded as a race， then a person must run the race in order to succeed； a person must compete with others.“If every person has an equal chance to succeed in the United States，then it is every person‟s duty to try. Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of their neighbors in a competitive co ntent for success”（Deng， 34）.“The pressures of competition in the life of an American begin in childhood and continue until retirement from work. Learning to compete successfully is part of growing up in the United States”（Deng， 36）.3）Material Wealth and Hard Work“The heart of the argument of individualism concerned the growth of the concept of private individual property，and ownership”（Macafarlane， 192）. Materialism means placing a high value on material possessions. But Materia lism is a word that most American find offensive. “To say that a person is …materialistic‟ is an insult. To an American this means this person values material possession above all else”（Deng， 35）. Americans do not like to be called materialistic because they feel that this unfairly accuses them of loving only material things and of having no religious values. In fact， Americans do have other values and ideals. Nevertheless acquiring and maintaining a larger number of material possessions is of much importance to most Americans.Probably material wealth is the most widely accepted measure of social status in the United States. Because Americans rejected the European system of hereditary aristocracy and titles of nobility， they had to find a substitute for judging social status. “The quality and quantity of individual material possessions became the accepted measure of success and social status”（Deng，35）.As we know， Americans almost hard work. The North American continent was rich in natural resources when the first settlers arrived， but all these resources were undeveloped. Only by hard work could these natural resources be converted into material possessions and a comfortable standard of living. Hard work has been in those necessary and rewarding for most Americans throughout their history. Because of this， they have come to see material possessions as the natural reward for their hard work. In some ways，material possessions are seen not only as tangible evidence of people‟s work， but also of their abilities. Most Americans believe that if a person works hard， it is possible to have a good standard of living. There is， however， considerable social pressure not only to maintain a good standard of living but also to improve it .It is easier to understand what Americans are thinking and feeling if we can understand what these basic values are and how they influences almost every facet of life in the United States. The sixbasic values presented in this part-- individual freedom， self-reliance， equality of opportunity，competition， material wealth and hard work--can help us understand some aspects of American character and they strongly influence life in the United States and that in China.1.2 Influence of American Culture on Chinese College Students1.2.1 Possitive Influence of American CultureDuring college students‟ studying of the their courses， they have learned more and more knowledge and culture. Among them，“the most influenced culture is American culture”（Collins，5）. “With the influence of American culture， Chinese college students have become more independent and self-reliance”（Waites， 25）. Most of them try to live by their hands. They utilize their spare time to earn some money instead of being supported by their parents. They usually work as tutors or do some part-time jobs， and so on. With the working experience， besides money， they have benefited a lot.Besides，“nowadays college students are more confident and most of them believe equality of o pportunity”（Waites， 26）. At the beginning of the first term of their college‟s life， most of them made a speech to campaign for being a monitor or some other posts. They cherish every opportunity and try their best to run for it. They believe every one should have an equal chance to compete with others.And consciousness of competition and hard work has greatly appeared in students‟ minds，especially for the graduating students. With the encourage of some American youths‟ successful experience， for example， when Bill Gates was 19 years old， he set up his Microsoft company.20-year-old Dell created Dell company…etc.， Chinese college students begin to carve out career for themselves. Indeed， there is great influence of American culture on Chinese college students. However， there also is some negative affect.1.2.2 Negative Affect of American CultureCollege students who are the representatives of advanced Chinese culture are regarded as the successor of the country‟s construction. Howeve r， with the negative affect of American culture，present cultural situation in many colleges is not optimistic. “Some college students are uninterested in Chinese culture and even sniff at it”（Waites， 31）. “Many students pay more attention to American cult ure instead of Chinese culture”（Stroey， 162）. Now the college students except students majored in Chinese classicism music， few of them are willing to learn Chinese classicism music， Chinese literature， and Chinese history. Indeed， traditional Chinese culture is facing great challenge.Besides， many college students blindly adore nearly everything from America. They like fast food， such as KFC，Macdonald‟s instead of Chinese food， although Chinese food is muchhealthier than fast food. And some of them are the crazy fans of films of Hollywood. They become lost facing American culture. “They persist in pursuing individually and freedom”（Storey， 256）. They become self-centered. They believe they are the best and do not want to cooperate with others. They have nearly no sense of discipline. What is worse， gradually they seldom respect and care about the collective and others.So college students， facing American culture， please consider carefully what is the real quintessence of American culture. Otherwise， you will be misled by some negative factors.1.3 An Analysis of the Influence of American Culture on College Students1.3.1 Real Quintessence of American CultureCulture is the incarnation of a national power， which is the important symbol of both a nation and a country. Any nation has its own culture. To develop his own culture， people from any country should learn others‟ quintessence. What the most important is that you must know the real quintessence. American is a country that respect individuality and advocate individual freedom，individualism. What they emphasize is not to be cold to others and to be self-centered， but to strive and innovate independently. Common people‟s successful stories are the quintessence of t he “American dreams （Coben， 45）Carnegie who used to be a penniless apprentice， has been a steel magnate now. Lincoln is a famous American president， who used to be a common people. They are all nonesuch for common Americans.In many countries all over the world， personal relationship and his family background are the necessary qualifications for his individual success. For example， in Italy， if you want to succeed，first you need the godfather's help. If you are in Africa， people must get the Tribal chief's recommendation. However， in the United States， people will benefit from their relationship， but more important are personal diligent spirit， talent intelligence， and enterprising courage with the friendly personality. America is a country in which people have to do nearly every thing all by themselves. People believe firmly that everyone has equal opportunity. There， your family background does not support your success， and no one can help you succeed Individual progress is only attributive to your endless efforts.Besides，Americans have get a truth from their country‟s great change： since the wilderness can become the good farms， villages can become the cities. So， in the world， if you work unremittingly， you can achieve anything. Anything is possible. That is optimistic spirit. And the quintessence of optimistic spirit is that anything depends on human effort.Facing the future， they are full of confidence， make great efforts to innovate， and pursue the victory.These are the real quintessence of American culture， from which is the right thing we should learn to cultivated ourselves.1.3.2 Some harmful trendsChinese culture has been contributing greatly to the development of human being， whose language and character， literary quotation， literature and art， science and technology， arts and crafts， philosophy and religions，and moral theory all show Chinese culture‟s great witchery.However， with the affect of many foreign culture， especially American culture， some college students are lost themselves. They begin to adore American culture blindly， instead of learning the essence American culture to develop and innovate our culture. What is worse， some of college students have little interest in traditional Chinese culture. Some good traditional arts are nearly facing a crisis of no successor. However， many college students are busy with studying occidental arts， musical instruments， and western culture. Obviously we are following others without our own minds. As we know，Indian science and technology lags far behind China‟s. However，India‟s industry of software is quite developed， we still have a long way. The reason to the problem is that Hindus refuse to use the foreign software products， such as： IBM， while we accept them. We go after others and use others‟ culture to consider instead of mine. Such a serious situation， let we have to face it and think about our own way.1.4 Character EducationIn American history， the educational system had ever met the similar problems， like ours，which caused lots of social problems. After pursuing a new program--character education， there was a virtuous circle in the educational system. So it is high time that we introduced this program to our educational system， firstly to our class （Ryan， 16）.1.4.1 The Importance of Character Education“Good character is known the good， loving the good，and doing the good”（Ryan， 5）. These three ideals are intimately concerned. We are born both self-centered and ignorant， with our primitive impulses reigning over reason. The point of a nurturing upbringing and education is to bring our inclinations； feelings， and passions into harmony with reason.“Knowing the good includes coming to un derstand good and evil. It means developing the ability to sum up a situation， deliberate， choose the right thing to do，and then do it” （Ryan，5）.“Loving the good means developing a full range of moral feelings and emotions， including a love for the good and contempt for evil，as well as a capacity to empathize with others” （Ryan，6）.“Doing the good means that after thoughtful consideration of all the circumstances and relevant facts we have the will to act” （Ryan， 6）.Character education helps stu dents “know the good， love the good，and do the good”， which involves the head， the heart， and the hand， in an integrated way. It needs our obligation，patience to achieve students‟ character，and we must take the responsibility for students‟ character education. If we compare the society to a big building， then， the students are like the bricks. If all the bricks are not qualified enough， the society will also be destroyed sooner or later.1.4.2 Views， Values or VirtuesView， values and virtues， which is the most important part in character education？ Let us analyze the differences. “Virtues are cultivated from within the individual and actually improve character and intelligence. Views are simply intellectual positions， and values evoke neither a moral commitment nor the promise of leading a good life. Additionally unlike views and values， virtue is not passive. Virtue is both the disposition to think， feel， and act in morally excellent ways， and the exercise of this disposition”（Ryan， 45）. So the facts show that virtue should be the key point in character education.1.4.3 Building a Community of VirtueEvery kind of plant has a kind of environment to grow， so does virtue. In order to carry out character education， we must build a community of virtue where responsibility， hard work，honest and kindness are modeled， taught， expected， celebrated， and continually practiced （Ryan， 56）.We should realize the teaching power of a school ethos and take actions that support a community of virtue. We should spare no effort to advocate traditional virtues of the two cultures，and aim higher， create resonance， institute meaningful service encourage students ownership，remember the little things， build close relationship and care enough to correct others. Community of virtue is very necessary for the character education entering a virtuous circle.1.4.4 Cultivating Character through a CurriculumAs teachers，we should cultivate students‟ character in the class. First， the colleges must add character education to the curriculum. In class， we can teach them from little things to the philosophy of life. We must bring the moral heritage of the two cultures into focus. “We have the responsibility to increase students‟ moral literacy， ignite the moral imagination， promote the moral discourse，and foster moral integrity in class”（Ryan， 114）.1.4.5 Engaging Parents in Character EducationIt is not enough to do these above all for character education. One point this paper intends to add is to engage parents in this program. What we should do is to make them create a community of goodexamples and consciously build their family. Besides， we should persuade them of becoming involved in their children‟s school life， although they are very busy.These are the five points in character education. We really hope that the introduction of character education will bring a great change to our teaching system. If we will make it， we will have full confidence to help our students to know the good， love the good， and do the good.2 ConclusionNowadays， human material civilization has been developing at a fast speed. However， we should not forsake the moral heritage of human cultures， because they are the spiritual treasure that we must pass from generation to generation. Fortunately， character education is a big help to our education system， to our nation， or even to the whole world. Looking into the future， we are full of boundless confidence. We believe that we will develop our students to be international communicators with high qualities who will keep pace with times and represent the orientation of advanced culture.【reference】[1]Chambers， Iain. Popular Culture： The Metropolitan Experience[M]. London：Routledge， 1986.[2]Coben， Stanley， and Lorman Ratner， eds. The Development of An American Culture[M]. 2nd ed. New York：St. Martin‟s Press， 1983.[3]Collins， Stanley， and Lorman Ratner， eds. The Development of An AmericanCulture[M]. 2nd ed. New York：St. Mantin‟s Press， 1983.[4]Day， Gary， ed. Readings in Popular Culture： Trivial Pursuits[M]. London：Macmillan， 1990.[5]Fiske， John. Understanding Popular Culture[M]. Winchest： Unwin Hyman，1989.[6]Gans， Herbert， J. Popular Culture and High Culture： An Analysis and Evaluation of Taste[M]. New York： Basic Book， Inc， Publishers， 1974.[7]Macfarelan， Alan. The Culture of Capitalism[M]. New York： Basil Blackwell Ltd.， 1987.[8]Storey， John， ed. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture： A Reader[M]. 2nd ed. London：Prentice Hall， 1998.[9]Waites， Bernard， Tony Bennett and Graham Martin， eds. Popular Culture： Past and Present[M]. London： Routledge， 1982.[10]邓炎昌，主编.现代美国社会与文化第一卷[M].上海：高等教育出版社，1988.[责任编辑：杨玉洁]。

[键入文字]美国人的价值观American Values_2000 字Americans sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that American values areuniversalones. We can't always see that our values are actually typical American values. Instead,we assume the things Americans value are obviously what everyone should believe in.But we should remember the saying: when you assume, you make an ass out of u and me.We only need to look at what happens when Americans go as advisors to developingcountries to see how wrong our assumptions can be. Some Americans go thinkingthey're sharing pearls of wisdom with the backward natives about how to get thingsdone right. They assume that stimulating competition and giving financial incentives forindividual achievement will naturally change people's behavior and lead to success.When their projects barely get off the ground, they can't understand what went wrong.They mistakenly think that people must just be lazy or that they don't really want ahigher standard of living.So the advisors wind up getting discouraged and going home, grateful to be surrounded byhardworking Americans again.In these situations, we should realize that American values may come fromAmerica'sunique position as the land of opportunity. We are brought up with the American dream thateveryone can work hard and get ahead. But we should realize that in countries with a different1[键入文字]history and different opportunities, other values might be more important, like avoidingconflict or saving face.tips:感谢大家的阅读，本文由我司收集整编。

THE VALUES AMERICANS LIVE BYby L. Robert KohlsINTRODUCTIONMost Americans would have a difficult time telling you, specifically, what the values are whichAmericans live by. They have never given the matter any thought.Even if Americans had considered this question, they would probably, in the end, decide not toanswer in terms of a definitive list of values. The reason for this decision is itself one very Americanvalue – their believe that every individual is so unique that the same list of values could never be appliedto all, or even most, of their fellow citizens.Although Americans may think of themselves as being more varied and unpredictable than theyactually are, it is significant that they think they are. Americans tend to think they have been only slightly influenced by family, church or schools. In the end, each believes, "I personally chose which values Iwant to live my own life by."Despite this self-evaluation, a foreign anthropologist could observe Americans and produce a list of common values which would fit most Americans. This list of typically American values would stand in sharp contrast to the values commonly held by the people of many other countries.We, the staff of the Washington International Center, have been introducing thousands of international visitors to life in the United States for more than a third of a century. This has caused us to try to look at Americans through the eyes of our visitors. We feel confident that the values listed in this booklet describe most (but not all) Americans.Furthermore, we can say that if the foreign visitor really understood how deeply ingrained these thirteen values are in Americans, he or she would then be able to understand 95% of American actions -actions which might otherwise appear strange, confusing, or unbelievable when evaluated from the perspective of the foreigner's own society and its values.The different behaviors of a people or a culture make sense only when seen through the basic beliefs, assumptions and values of that particular group. When you encounter an action, or hear a statement in the United States which surprises you, try to see it as an expression of one or more of the values listed in this booklet. For example, when you ask Americans for directions to get to a particular address in their own city, they may explain, in great detail, how you can get there on your own, but may never even consider walking two city blocks with you to lead you to the place. Some foreign visitors have interpreted this sort of action as showing Americans' "unfriendliness." We would suggest, instead, that the self-help concept (value number 6 on our list), is so strong in Americans that they firmly believe that no adult would ever want, even temporarily, to be dependent on another. Also, their future orientation (value 8) makes Americans think it is better to prepare you to find other addresses on your own in the future.Before proceeding to the list itself, we should also point out that Americans see all of these values as very positive ones. They are not aware, for example, that the people of many Third World countries view change (value 2) as negative or threatening. In fact, all thirteen of these American values are judged by-many of the world's citizens as negative and undesirable. Therefore, it is not enough simply tofamiliarize yourself with these values. You must also, so far as possible, consider them without the negative or derogatory connotation which they might have for you, based on your own experience and cultural identity.It is important to state emphatically that our purpose in providing you with this list of the most important American values is not to convert you, the foreign visitor, to our values. We couldn't achieve that goal even if we wanted to, and we don 't want to. We simply want to help you understand the Americans with whom you will be relating -from their OW1J value system rather than from yours.L. Robert Kohls, Executive DirectorThe Washington International CenterWashington, D.C.April 1984THE VALVES AMERICANS LIVE BY1. Personal Control Over the EnvironmentAmericans no longer believe in the power of Fate, and they have come to look at people who do as being backward, primitive, or hopelessly naive. To be called "fatal istic" is one of the worst criticisms one can receive in the American context; to an American, it means one is superstitious and lazy, unwilling to take any initiative in bringing about improvements.In the United States people consider it normal and right that Man should control Nature, rather than the other way around. More specifically, peopl e believe every single individual should have control over whatever in the environment might potenti ally affect him or her. The problems of one's life are not seen as having resulted from bad luck as much as having come from one's laziness in pursuing a better life. Furthermore, it is considered normal that anyone should look out for his or her own self-interests first and foremost.Most Americans find it impossible to accept that there are some things which lie beyond the power of humans to achieve. And Americans have literally gone to the moon, because they refused to accept earthly 1in1itations.Americans seem to be challenged, even compelled, to do by one means or another (and often at great cost) what seven-eighths of the world is certain cannot be done.2. ChangeIn the American mind, change is seen as an indisputably good condition. Change is strongly linked to development, impro vement, progress, and growth.Many older, more traditional cultures consider change as disruptive, destructive force, to be avoided if at all possible. Instead of change, such societies value stability, continuity, tradition, and a richancient heritage - none of which are valued very much in the United States.These first two values - the belief that we can do anything and the belief that any change is good-together with an American belief in the virtue of hard work and the belief that each individual has aresponsibility to do the best he or she can do have helped Americans achieve some greataccomplishments. So whether these beliefs are "true" is really irrelevant; what is important is that Americans have considered them to be true and have acted as if they were thus, in effect, causing them tohappen.3. Time and Its ControlTime is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seemto be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule)than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to beplanned and then followed in the smallest detail.It may seem to you that most Americans are completely controlled by the little machines theywear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time. .IAmericans' language is filled with references to time, giving a clear indication of how much it i s valued. Time is something to be "on," to be "kept," "filled," "saved," "used," "spent, "wasted," "lost," “gained,” “planned,” "given," "made the most of," even “killed."The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late - even by ten minutes -for an appointment in the United States. (Whenever it is absolutely impossib1e to be on time, you should phone ahead and tell the person you have been unavoidably detained and will be a half hour or -whatever -late.)Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly accomplish more than if one “wastes” time and does not keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in the United States. Many American proverbs stress the value in guarding our time, using it wisely, setting and working toward specific goals, and even expending our time and energy today so that the fruits of our labor may be enjoyed at a later time. (This latter concept is called "delayed gratification.")4. Equality/EgalitarianismEquality is, for Americans, one of their most cherished values. This concept is so important for Americans that they have even given it a religious basis. They say all people have been "created equal." Most Americans believe that God views all humans alike without regard to intelligence, physical condition or economic status. In secular terms this belief is translated into the assertion that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed in life. Americans differ in opinion about how to make this ideal into a reality. Yet virtually all agree that equality is an important civic and social goal. The equality concept often makes Americans seem strange to foreign visitors.Seven-eighths of the world feels quite differently. To them, rank and status and authority are seen as much more desirable considerations -even if they personally happen to find themselves near the bottom of the social order. Class and authority seem to give people in those other societies a sense of security andcertainty. People outside the United States consider it reassuring to know, from birth, who they are and where they fit into the complex system called "society."Many highly-placed foreign visitors to the United States are insulted by the way they are treated by service personnel (such as waiters in restaurants, clerks in stores, taxi drivers, etc.). Americans have an aversion to treating people of high position in a deferential manner and, conversely, often treat lower class people as if they were very important. Newcomers to the United States should realize that no insult or personal indignity is intended by this lack of deference to rank or position in society. A foreigner should be prepared to be considered “just like anybody else” while in the country.5. Individualism and PrivacyThe individualism which has been developed in the Western world since the Renaissance, beginning in the late 15th century, has taken its most exaggerated form in the 20th century United States. Here, each individual is seen as completely and marvelously unique, that is, totally different from all other individuals and, therefore, particularly precious and wonderful.Americans think they are more individualistic in their thoughts and actions than, in fact, they are. They resist being thought of as representatives of a homogeneous group, whatever the group. They may, and do, join groups -in fact many groups- but somehow believe they're just a little different, just a little unique, just a little special, from other members of the same group. And they tend to leave groups as easily as they enter them.Privacy, the ultimate result of individualism, is perhaps even more difficult for the foreigner to comprehend. The word "privacy" does not even exist in many languages. If it does, it is likely to have a strongly negative connotation, suggesting loneliness or isolation from the group. In the United States, privacy is not only seen as a very positive condition, but it is also viewed as a requirement which all humans would find equally necessary, desirable and satisfying. It is not uncommon .for Americans to say -and believe -such statements as "If I don't have at least half an hour a day to myself, I will go stark raving mad!"Individualism, as it exists in the United States, does mean that you will find a much greater variety of opinions (along with the absolute freedom to express them anywhere and anytime) here. Yet, in spite of this wide range of personal opinion, almost all Americans will ultimately vote for one of the two major political parties. That is what was meant by the statement made earlier that Americans take pride in and credit themselves with more individualism than, in fact, they really have.6. Self-Help ConceptIn the United States, a person can take credit only for what he or she has accomplished by himself or herself. Americans get no credit whatsoever for having been born into a rich family. (In the United States, that would be considered "an accident of birth.") Americans pride themselves in having been born poor and, through their own sacrifice and hard work, having climbed the difficult ladder of success to whatever level they have achieved -all by themselves. The American social system has, of course, made it possible for Americans to move, relatively easily, up the social ladder. .Take a look in an English-language dictionary at the composite words that have the word “self” as a prefix. In the average desk dictionary, there will be more than 100 such words, words like self-confidence, self-conscious, self-contented, self-control, self-criticism, self-deception, self-defeating, sel f-denial, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-expression, self-importance, self-improvement, self-interest, self-reliance, self-respect, self-restraint, self-sacrifice -the list goes on and on. The equivalent of these wordscannot be found in most other languages. This list is perhaps the best indication of how seriously Americans take doing things for one's self. The "self- made man or woman" is still very much the ideal in20-th century America.7. Competition and Free EnterpriseAmericans believe that competition brings out the best in any individual. They assert that it challenges or forces each person to produce the very best that is humanly possible. Consequently, the foreign visitor will see competition being fostered in the American home and in the American classroom, even on the youngest age levels. Very young children, for instance, are encouraged to answer questions for which their classmates do not know the answers.You may find the competitive value disagreeable, especi ally if you come from a society which promotes cooperation rather than competition. But many U.S. Peace Corps volunteers teaching in Third World countries found the lack of competitiveness in a classroom situation equally distressing. They soon learned that what they had thought to be one of the universal human characteristics represented only a peculiarly American (or Western) value.Americans, valuing competition, have devised an economic system to go with it -free enterprise. Americans feel very strongly that a highly competitive economy will bring out the best in its people and ultimately, that the society which fosters competition will progress most rapidly. If you look for it, you will see evidence in all areas -even in fields as diverse as medicine, the arts, education, and sports -that free enterprise is the approach most often preferred in America.8. Future OrientationValuing the future and the improvements Americans are sure the future will bring means that they devalue the past and are, to a large extent, unconscious of the present. Even a happy present goes largely unnoticed because, happy as it may be, 'Americans have traditionally been hopeful that the future would bring even greater happiness. Almost all energy is directed toward realizing that better future. At best, the present condition is seen as preparatory to a later and greater event, which will eventually culminate in something even more worthwhile.Since Americans have been taught (in value #1) to believe that Man, and not Fate, can and should be the one who controls the environment, this has made them very good at planning and executing short-term projects. This ability, in turn, has caused Americans to be invited to all corners of the earth to plan and achieve the miracles which their goal-setting can produce.If you come from a culture such as those in the traditional Moslem world, where talking about or actively planning the future is felt to be a futile, even sinful activity, you will have not only philosophical problems with this very American characteristic, but religious objections as well. Yet it is something you will have to learn to live with, for all around you Americans will be looking toward the future and what it will bring.9. Action/Work Orientation“Don't just stand there,” goes a typical bit of American advice, "Do something!" This expressionis normally used in a crisis situation yet, in a sense, it describes most Americans' entire waking life, where action -any action -is seen to be superior to inaction.Americans routinely plan and schedule an extremely active day. Any relaxation must be limited in time, preplanned, and aimed at "recreating" their ability to work harder and more productively once the recreation is over. Americans believe leisure activities should assume a relatively small portion of one's total life. People think that it is "sinful" to "waste one's time," "to sit around doing nothi ng," or just to "daydream."Since a "no-nonsense" attitude toward life has created many people who have come to be known as "workaholics," or people who are addicted to their work, who think constantly about their jobs and who are frustrated if they are k ept away from them, even during their evening hours and weekends.The workaholic syndrome, in turn, causes Americans to identify themselves wholly with their professions. The first question one American will ask another American when meeting for the first time is related to his or her work: "What do you do?," "Where do you work?," or "Who (what company) are you with?"And when such a person finally goes on vacation, even the vacation will be carefully planned, very busy and active.America may be one of the few countries in the world where it seems reasonable to speak about the "dignity of human labor," meaning by that, hard, physical labor. In America, even corporation presidents will engage in physical labor from time to time and gain, rather than lose, respect from others for such action.10. InformalityIf you come from a more formal society, you will likely find Americans to be extremely informal and, you will probably feel, even disrespectful of those in authority. Americans are one of the most informal and casual people in the world, even when compared to their near relative -the Western European.As one example of this informality, American bosses often urge their employees to call them by their first names and even feel uncomfortable if they are called by the title "Mr." or "Mrs."Dress is another area where American informality will be most noticeable, perhaps even shocking. One can go to a symphony performance, for example, in any large American city nowadays and find some people in the audience dressed in blue jeans and tieless, short-sleeved shirts.Informality is also apparent in American's greetings. The more formal "How are you?" has largely been replaced with an informal "Hi." This is as likely to be used to one's superior as to one's best friend.If you are a highly placed official in your own country, you will probably, at first, find such informality to be very unsettling. Americans, on the other hand, would consider such informality as a compliment! Certainly it is not intended as an insult and should not be taken as such.11. Directness, Openness and HonestyMany other countries have developed subtle, sometimes highly ritualistic ways of informing otherpeople of unpleasant information. Americans, however, have always preferred the direct approach. They are likely to be completely honest in delivering their negative evaluations. If you come from a society which uses the indirect manner of conveying bad news or uncomplimentary evaluations, you will be shocked at Americans' bluntness.If you come from a country where saving face is important, be assured that Americans are not trying to make you lose face with their directness. It is important to realize that an American would not, in such cases, lose face. The burden of adjustment, in all cases while you are in this country, will be on you. there is no way to soften the blow of such directness and openness if you are not used to it, except to tell you that the rules have changed while you are here. Indeed, Americans are trying to urge their fellow countrymen to become even more open and direct. The large number of "assertiveness" training courses which appeared in the United States in the late 1970s reflects such a commitment.Americans consider anything other than the most direct and open approach to be dishonest and insincere, and will quickly lose confidence in and distrust anyone who hints at what is intended rather than saying it outright. Anyone who, in the United States, chooses to use an intermediary to deliver the message will also be considered manipulative and untrustworthy.12. Practicality and EfficiencyAmericans have a reputation of being an extremely realistic, practical and efficient people. The practical consideration is likely to be given highest priority in making any important decision in the United States. Americans pride themselves in not being very philosophically or theoretically oriented. If Americans would even admit to having a philosophy, it would probably be that of pragmatism.Will it make any money? Will it "pay its own way?" What can I gain from this activity? These are the kinds of questions which Americans are likely to ask in their practical pursuit, not such questions as: "Is it aesthetically pleasing?" "Will it be enjoyable?," or "Will it advance the cause of knowledge?"This practical, pragmatic orientation has caused Americans to contribute more inventions to the world than any other country in human history. The love of "practicality" has also caused Americans to view some professions more favorably than others. Management and economics, for example, are much more popular in the United States than philosophy or anthropology, law and medicine are more valued than the arts.Another way in which this favoring of the practical makes itself felt in the United States is a belittling of "emotional" and "subjective" evaluations in favor of "rational" and "objective" assessments. Americans try to avoid being too sentimental in making their decisions. They judge every situation "on its merits." The popular American "trial and error" approach to problem-solving also reflects the practical. This approach suggests listing several possible solutions to any given problem, then trying them out, one by one, to seem which is most effective.13. Materialism/AcquisitivenessForeigners generally consider Americans much more materialistic than Americans are likely to consider themselves. Americans would like to think that their material objects are just the natural benefits which always result from hard work and serious intent. a reward, they think, which all people could enjoy were they as industrious and hard-working as Americans.But by any standard, Americans are materialistic. This means that they value and collect morematerial objects than most people would ever dream of owning. It also means they give higher priority to obtaining, maintaining and protecting their material objects than they do in "developing and enjoying interpersonal relationships.The modern American typically owns:- one or more color television sets- an electric hair dryer- an electronic calculator- a tape recorder and record player- a clothes washer and dryer- a vacuum cleaner- a powered lawn mower (for cutting grass)- a refrigerator, a stove and a dishwasher- one or more automobiles- a telephone -many also own a personal computer.Since Americans value newness and innovation, they sell or throwaway their possessions frequently and replace them with newer ones. A car may be kept for only two or three years, a house for five or six before trading it in for another one.SummaryNow that we have discussed each of these thirteen values separately, if all too briefly, let us look at them in list form (on the left) and then consider them paired with the counterpart values from a more traditional country (on the right):VALVES CONTINUUM Robert KohlsTHE MER1DlAN INTERCULTURAL ORIENTATION PROGRAMThe Meridian Intercultural Orientation Program (formerly the Washington International :enter (WIC)), located in Washington, D.C., Miami, Florida, and Seattle, Washington, offers intercultural preparation for international employees working in the United States and for U.S. citizens relocating abroad. The programs set a framework for learning how to function to maximum efficiency in a new culture, providing strategies for successful decision making; analysis of customs, behaviors, and values that impact on life in the new culture; and copi ng mechanisms for culture shock symptoms that affect productivity.Using methodologies that combine practical information with immersion experiences, and with an array of publications and video tapes, the programs stimulate individuals to rethink cultural assumptions, enhance skills, and broaden perspectives to help them function more effective interculturally.Intercultural preparation, for relocating citizens of both the U.S. and other nations, short study programs for international visitors of U.S. establishments, and courses on managing the new pluralistic workforce, are among the many programs offered by this institution of forty years. For more information, contact Carole Gaillard Watt, Executive Director, WIC, (202)939-5587, Fax (202)667-1475.。

英语国家社会与文化下册选择题：UNIT 11、The two main land masses in New Zealand are _____。

B. The North Island and the South Island2、New Zealanders have adopted their name from the kiwi, ______。

A. which is a native flightless bird3、Which of the following factors does NOT contribute to New Zeal and’s environ mental achievement?D. The ozone hole over Antarctica.4、New Zealand’s three largest ethnic groups in terms of population are ___________.C. New Zealanders with European ancestry, Maori and people from the Pacific Islands5、Which of the following statements is not true about Maori population?B. Non-Maori women tend to have children earlier than Maori women.6、In the Maori language the word “Marae” means . D. meeting house7、The first settlers of New Zealand were ____________. A. voyagers from East Polynesia8、In 1769, visited New Zealand and claimed it for Britain. B. James CookUNIT 21、The Head of State of New Zealand is 。