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The book American Headway is used to teach English in Vietnam as in a number of universities and colleges. Originated in the United States because we communicate with the Americans rather than the British. Consists of four books: American Headway 1, American Headway 2, American Headway 3, American
American Ways GARY ALTHEN with Amanda R. Doran and Susan J. Szmania American A Guide for Foreigners in the United States Ways First published by Intercultural Press. For information con- tact: Intercultural Press, Inc. Nicholas Brealey Publishing PO Box 700 3-5 Spafield Street Yarmouth, Maine 04096 USA London, EC1R 4QB, UK Tel: 207-846-5168 Tel: +44-207-239-0360 Fax: 207-846-5181 Fax: +44-207-239-0370 www.interculturalpress.com www.nbrealey-books.com © 1988, 2003 by Gary Althen Production and cover design by Patty J. Topel All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be re- produced in any manner whatsoever without written per- mission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quo- tations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Printed in the United States of America 06 05 04 03 02 1 2 3 4 5 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Althen, Gary. American ways: a guide for foreigners in the United States/ Gary Althen.—2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) ISBN: 1-877864-99-4 (alk. paper) 1. United States—Guidebooks. 2. United States—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Visitors, Foreign—United States—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 4. Aliens—United States—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 5. Intercultural communication—United States—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 6. United States—Social life and customs—1971– I. Title. E158.A46 2002 973—dc21 2002032741 v ✰✰✰ Table of Contents Preface to the Second Edition . xi Acknowledgments . xvii Introduction xix On Understanding xx How Much Generalizing Is Acceptable? xxii On Asking “Why?” . xxvi How Americans See Themselves xxvii How Americans See Foreigners xxix On Describing Americans xxxi Part I General Ideas about American Culture 1 Chapter 1: American Values and Assumptions 3 Individualism, Freedom, Competitiveness, and Privacy .5 Equality . 14 vi A MERICAN W AYS Informality . 16 The Future, Change, and Progress . 18 Goodness of Humanity 19 Time 22 Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism . 24 Directness and Assertiveness 27 Chapter 2: The Communicative Style of Americans .33 Preferred Discussion Topics .34 Favorite Forms of Interaction 37 Depth of Involvement Sought 40 Channels Preferred 42 Level of Meaning Emphasized .53 Chapter 3: Ways of Reasoning 55 The Context 56 The Point 58 The Organization 60 The Evidence 61 The Cause 65 Chapter 4: Differences in Customs .67 Part II Specific Aspects of American Life 75 Chapter 5: Politics 77 The Rule of Law .80 The Ideal of Compromise 81 Politics Apart 82 Chapter 6: Family Life 85 What Foreigners Notice 86 The Changing Family 88 Raising Children 90 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors .98 Chapter 7: Education .101 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS vii Guiding Ideals 102 Social Forces Affecting American Education .110 Issues Facing American Schools .113 Advantages and Disadvantages 115 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors . 117 Chapter 8: Religion 119 The General Context 120 Religion and Individual Americans . 124 Exceptions 125 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 127 Chapter 9: The Media . 129 What Is American about the American Media? 130 Americans’ Views of Their Media 133 Misconceptions the Media Promote . 136 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 139 Chapter 10: Social Relationships .141 Meeting New People . 143 The American Concept of Friendship . 145 Relationships Prescribed by Roles 148 Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts 150 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 153 Chapter 11: Racial and Ethnic Diversity . 155 What Foreign Visitors See 156 How Americans View Race and Ethnic Relations 162 Austin, Texas: A Case Study 167 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 169 Chapter 12: Male-Female Relationships . 173 Influences on Male-Female Relationships 174 Male-Female Relationships in Various Settings 179 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 186 Chapter 13: Sports and Recreation 187 viii A MERICAN W AYS Sports 188 Recreation .191 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 193 Chapter 14: Driving 195 General Information 196 Traffic Laws 197 Attitudes about Driving . 198 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 201 Chapter 15: Shopping .203 Advertising .204 Pricing .206 Customer-Clerk Relationships . 206 Sales Tactics .208 Procedures for Returning and Exchanging 209 Private Sales .210 Precautions for Shoppers from Abroad . 210 Chapter 16: Personal Hygiene 213 The Basics 214 Variations . 217 Other Issues Concerning Hygiene .218 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors . 219 Chapter 17: Getting Things Done in Organizations 221 Misconceptions 222 Characteristics of U.S. Organizations 224 Suggestions for Dealing with U.S. Organizations . 226 Chapter 18: Behavior in Public Places 229 Rules for Behavior in Public Places . 229 Communication Behaviors 232 Suggestions for Foreign Visitors 234 Chapter 19: Studying . 235 Assumptions Underlying the Higher T ABLE OF C ONTENTS ix Education System . 236 Student-Student Relationships 237 Student-Professor Relationships . 239 Roommate Relationships 241 Plagiarism .244 Suggestions for Foreign Students .245 Chapter 20: Business 247 Doing Business in the United States .250 The Global Economy . 257 Suggestions for Foreign Businesspeople and Future Businesspeople 258 Part III Coping with Cultural Differences . 259 Chapter 21: Some Helpful Ideas 261 Expectations 262 Personality Characteristics . 262 Traits and Situations 264 Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustment . 265 D-I-E 267 Chapter 22: Activities for Learning about American Culture . 271 Ask Questions . 272 Learn and Practice Local English . 273 Take Field Trips 275 Talk with Experienced Foreigners 280 Keep a Journal 281 Learn the Names of Local and Institutional VIPs 281 Read, Reflect 282 View Yourself as a Teacher 284 Conclusion 285 Bibliography .289 About the Author 295 . American Ways GARY ALTHEN with Amanda R. Doran and Susan J. Szmania American A Guide for Foreigners in the United States Ways First published. lasting impact on the way Americans live. But the immediate aftermath seemed char- acteristically American in several ways: • Americans wanted to know exactly