American culture

1. Who am I Laura Mendoza Born and raised in Espoo, Finland Studied and worked in Seattle, USA for 10+ years English lecturer (Language Centre, TKK) Finland  USA Mexico  Finland American culture

2. Objective: To deepen our understanding of the American culture • What do we think we know about Americans? • 13 American values (Robert Kohls)

3. Groupwork: ListfivestereotypicalcharacteristicsthatdescribeAmericans. Usedescriptiveterms and notevaluativeterms (uninterested in worldpolitics vs. ignorant) • ……………………… • ……………………… • ……………………… • ……………………… • ……………………… • Whatdoyoubasetheseobservations on?

4. The Iceberg Model of Culture

5. American culture: a surprise • Multicultural: food, traditions, friendships • Varies from region to region • Quite liberal and tolerant (coastal regions) • Is it possible to describeAmerican culture as it is so diverse and vast?

6. RoberthKohls(Washington International Center) has conducted research on American cultural values • He found 13 values according to which almost every American lives

7. “If the foreign visitor really understood how deeply ingrained these 13 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 society.” Robert A. Kohls

8. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by Groupwork: • Work in groups of two to three people (teacher assigns) • Take a look at the list of the 13 American values. • As a group, discuss what each value could represent by elaborating examples of behavior you may have observed in Americans (by visiting, through media, from hearsay, etc.)

9. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 1. Personal control over environment • Do not believe in fate • Do not accept limitations!“The sky is the limit” Space exploration, moon • Nature can be controlled Hurricane Catrina: who was blamed?

10. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 2. Change seen as natural andpositive • Change = Progress = a good thing • Stability, continuity, tradition, & ancient heritage are not as important. • “Think outside the box” • Old concepts thrown out easily in business and replaced by new methods • Workers are comfortable and used to more change

11. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 3. Time and its control • Time can be saved, wasted, spent, killed,used wisely, managed • More concerned with getting things done on time not with developing deep relationships • Productivity is important • Being late is unforgivable • Agendas – organizational skills valued

12. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 4. Equality and fairness • Given equality a religious basis: “All men are created equal” • All people have an equal opportunity to succeed in life, but disagreement about putting this ideal into reality.

13. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 5. Individualism / Independence • Americans see selves as highly individualistic in their thoughts and actions(independent thinker) • Resist being considered representatives of any homogeneous group. (“I am different from those guys…”) • Express “different” opinions anywhere and anytime. • Individualism leads to privacy, which Americans see as desirable!

14. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by • One’s own efforts determine the outcome of your life (not luck) • “Make your bed and lie in it” • Concept of “self-made man” • “From rags to riches • Ideal of the ”self-made man or woman” → quantities of words with ”self” (self-expression, self-improvement, self-interest…) • Their own sacrifice and hard work will bring success! • American system allows people to move up the ladder. 6. Self-help/ Initiative

15. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 7.Competition • Competition brings out the best in the individual (starts in elementary school) • Free enterprise is best. • Competition is seen in the job market, education, and ideas. • Competition of ideas  the art of using language to communicate effectively and persuasively • Poor listening skills? • Debate is OK – playing the devil’s advocate

16. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 8.Future Orientation • Less focus on past or present, more focus on future • The future will bring even more happiness… • Like new technologies and ideas

17. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 9.Action / Work Orientation • Action superior to inaction (Don’t just stand there – do something!) • What do you do? • Kehityskeskustelu = ? • Holidays? • ”Work to live” vs. ”Live to Work” • Retirement age Performanceappraisal

18. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 10.Informality • First names (boss, professor) • Casual Dress (work, opera, etc.) • Rank and position not important! • → service industry attitude “casual” • → informal and casual speaking OK no matter who

19. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 11.Directness / Openness/ Honesty • Direct in delivering negativeevaluations. • Anything other than direct approach to be dishonest and insincere. • Causes problems in face-saving cultures • Can be viewed as confrontational. • Can directly say no.

20. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 12.Practicality / Efficiency • Practicality has highest priority in decision-making. • Not interested in theories or philosophies – applied / practical.What do I gain from it? • What problem does it solve? • Academic world: emphasis on the practical

21. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by 13.Materialism / Acquisitiveness • Benefits of hard work: “I deserve the best.” • Material existence benefits man more than spiritual improvement. • Higher priority given to obtaining, maintaining, and protecting material objects. • Because value newness means they throw away old possessions and replace with new.

22. Kohl’s 13 Values that Americans live by Reflecting on the stereotypes Let’s take a look at the stereotypes generated in the beginning of the class Which value(s) help explain the stereotypes? Is there a quality you would now take off the list?