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1、 American Culture and EducationHe LianzhenJuly, 2006American Culture A methor“A melting pot” or “A bowl of salad”?Some cultural characteristics of America (Americans)ReligionTransportationSports (baseball, basketball)The two-party systemA strong court systemRespect for people speaking other language
2、s like French, German, etc.)Tax levelThe way of writing dates (cf. British way of writing dates)Address formPlastic moneyWay of measuring things (feet, pounds, and gallons) (to be continued)(continued)Knowledge about other countries and attitudes towards other nations (Canada)Sense of timeSense of s
3、paceBusiness appointmentAmerican HolidaysNew Years Day, January 1st. Birthday of Martin Luther King, third Monday in January. Inauguration Day, January 20th every four years, starting in 1937; March 4th every four years, pre-1937. Washingtons Birthday/Presidents Day, third Monday in February since 1
4、971; prior to that year, it was celebrated on the traditional date of February 22. Memorial Day, last Monday in May since 1971; from 1868 to 1970 it was celebrated on May 30, and was called Decoration Day for part of that time. United States of Americas Independence Day, July 4. (since 1894)Labor Da
5、y, first Monday in September. Columbus Day, second Monday in October (federal holiday since 1971). Election Day, Tuesday on or after November 2. Veterans Day, November 11th (except from 1971 to 1977, inclusive, when it was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October; formerly known as Armistice). Tha
6、nksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November. Christmas Day, December 25th. I have finally included this since it is a federal holiday, although it is not based on a secular holiday. Halloween, October 31. Other widely celebrated holidaysGroundhog Day (土拨鼠日土拨鼠日), February 2. Lincolns Birthday, Februar
7、y 12. Valentines Day, February 14. St. Patricks Day, March 17. April Foolss Day, April 1. Flag Day, June 14th. (Stars and Stripes) (Continental Congress, June 14, 1777)Administrative Assistants Day, which once upon a time was Secretaries Day, is the Wednesday of the last full week of April (that is,
8、 the Wednesday before the last Saturday in April) since 1955.Arbor Day (植树节) is often the last Friday in April (since 1872), but since planting conditions vary, it may occur from September to May. （US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.）Mothers Day, second Sunday in May. Fathers Day, third Sunday
9、in June. Parents Day, fourth Sunday in July. Grandparents Day, Sunday after Labor Day. United Nations Day, October 24. American EducationPrimary & Second EducationAge 6-18 (1st grader-12th grader) (5-6 yrs of primary school; two 3-year programs or a 3-year and a 3-year program );Public vs. private s
10、choolsSAT (Scholastic Assessment Tests)SATSAT(Scholastic Assessment Tests)测验是由美国大約3,900所大学共同组成的文教组织，美国大学委员会(The College Board)委托教育测验服务社(Educational Testing Service，简称ETS)定期举办 的世界性测验，做为美国各大学申请入学的参考条件之一。SAT测验分为SAT I 和SAT II两种。SAT ISAT I 主要在测验考生的英文程度及数学推论能力，作为预测考生进入大学后成绩的参考资料，同时也可做为比较不同学校毕业生程度的参考；每种能力的
11、最高得分为800分。 SAT I 的测验共分为七個部份，其中有五个部份的测验时间各三十分种，另二部份的测验时间各十五分钟，而全部测验时间共三小时整。SAT IISAT II主要在测量考生在某一学科的知识和运用这些知识的能力，共有英文写作、文学、数学、生物、化学、语言及听力测验等二十二种学科。考生每一次最多可报考三科。SATII的测验，每一学科各一小時，每次的测验时间最多为三小时整。ACTTheACTisAmericasmostwidelyacceptedcollegeentranceexam.Itassesseshighschoolstudentsgeneraleducationaldevel
12、opmentandtheirabilitytocompletecollege-levelwork.*Themultiple-choicetestscoverfourskillareas:English,mathematics,reading,andscience.* TheWritingTest,whichisoptional,measuresskillinplanningandwritingashortessay.TheACTisadministeredonsixnationaltestdateseachyear.Participatingcollegesmayusetheresidualt
13、estingprogramfortheirenrolledoradmittedstudentswhowereunabletotestonanationaltestdate.ThroughACTReportingServices,collegesandagenciesdesignatedbythestudentreceivetheinformationcollectedontheACT.Facts about the ACT.docCollege EducationTypers of colleges (universities)1.State College or University 2.P
14、rivate College or University 3.Two-Year College 4.Community College 5.Professional School:6.Institute of Technology 7.Technical Institute 8.Church-related School Undergraduate (College) YearsFreshmen and Sophomores (underclassmen )Juniors and Seniors (Upperclassmen) - Major - Minor - Faculty advisor
15、 - International Student Advisor - Classroom learning - Academic year - Credits - Transfers - Marks Postgraduate (Graduate) EducationMasters degree (Masters Thesis) (MA, Msc, MBA, MPA, etc.)Doctorate (Ph.D.) Some comments from students:The American education system offers international students the
16、widest choice of study options. Just think of all of the products, services, and processes invented in the USA! This innovation is the result of the American education system which allows a student to study so many different fields. I am so glad I chose to study in the USA and obtain and American ed
17、ucation. -Diann Manjulik- Former international student* I chose to study in the United States after looking at different countries and different options. I truly believe that the American education system is the very best in the world since it offers so many choices, and the schools are the best in the world. If you want to gain an edge, I would definitely recommend enrolling in a top university, college, or school in the American education system. -Andrew Lim- Former international student
