Goal:
Exploring what students consider to be typical U.S. cultural values while comparing them to their perceptions.
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
- Become aware of what are considered typical U.S. cultural values
- Develop critical thinking when comparing them to their own perception of U.S. culture
Time:
30 minutes
Materials:
- Board or flip-chart ready with the take-home assignment guidelines (see below)
- Copies of Exercise Chart – PDF: 1 for each student
- Copies of Contrasting Values Chart – PDF: 1 for each student
Common Core Standards:
CCSS ELA-LITERACY 9-10.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.
AFS Educational Goals:
- Understand the concepts of “Culture” and intercultural adaptation
- Cultural knowledge and awareness: To become more aware of their own cultural values and recognize their culture’s influence on their behavior
Activity:
1. Give each student an Exercise Chart and ask them to fill out the chart as indicated.
2. Once they are done, go through each row and ask your students what they answered. This process should ideally start a class discussion. Be sure to touch on all items of the list.
3. Once you’ve covered all the points, hand out the Contrasting Cultural Values Chart.
4. Ask your students to prepare a short essay in which they discuss the differences and similarities between their responses and the chart.
Take-home assignment guidelines (to be written on the flip-chart)
Item per Item, please describe:
1. The difference (if any) between what you wrote in the Exercise Chart and what the Contrasting Cultural Values Chart shows.
2. The similarity (if any) between what you wrote in the Exercise Chart and what the Contrasting Cultural Values Chart shows.
3. Which one of the two, if any, you consider the right one.
4. Explain why you consider that the right one: please do this giving a real life example to support your statement.