Posts Tagged ‘American Culture’
What is it to be an international student in the U.S.?
Saturday, July 31st, 2010If you are coming to the U.S. on a student visa it can be a bit of a challenge and a somewhat tedious process. VOA’s Lisa Vohra talks to a couple of students from Africa who have been through it and has this report.
Watch the stories of two young African students who are busy taking classes and living their lives in the U.S.
If you want to study in the USA, this is the first thing to : meet with an advisor from EducationUSA. It’s your official source on U.S. Higher Education. You will find centers in your own countries here.
For tips and access to local information specific to your projects, please contact us here
What is the most important to you about studying in the the U.S and why do you care?
Why we do What we do?
Monday, July 26th, 2010In 2006, I left my corporate job at HP France to move to Los Angeles as an international student. I wanted to improve my English language skills, learn about the American way of doing business and eventually start my own. More importantly, I was in search of making meaningful changes in my life in order to add value to my own existence while possibly making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Not only was coming to the U.S. difficult, but once I arrived, I experienced a wide variety of both encouraging and negative feelings, such as excitement, surprise, happiness, loss of identity, anxiety, disorientation and confusion, while facing language, academic and integration challenges. I sometimes felt like a child.
Thankfully, some great people both from my university, UCLA, and off campus taught me the skills that I needed, showed me around, helped me adjust to the American culture, and inspired me. Some also provided me knowledge and methods for a better understanding of the ins- and- outs of running a business in this country, encouraged me to challenge the conventional thinking, and helped me discover and articulate my greater purpose.
I believe that the majority of international students and foreign exchange visitors to the United States face the same challenges. However, not all of them are lucky enough to receive the same attention, care and consideration — helping them to improve their experience, develops a better understanding of people of different backgrounds, or even get the tools needed to realize their dreams. For those people, I founded “U in the USA”.
In brief, our mission is to simplify international students’ and foreign exchange visitors’ lives, to help them interact more effectively with Americans, and to assist them in achieving their goals. We also try to encourage them to take advantage of this program to create connections and even make lifelong friends.
To learn more about what we do, and how we do it, please visit us www.uintheusa.com or contact us at www.facebook.com/uintheusa
Jean-Marc Dedeyne
President and Founder of U in the USA
Tel : 1-800-464-7681
What is the American dream?
Monday, July 19th, 2010USA TODAY, Voices, asked tourists in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., What is the American Dream? This great video will you their answers.
Source : USA TODAY
How to Mix with People at Parties?
Saturday, July 10th, 2010This week on Wordmaster, Avi Arditti, Rosanne Skirble and Jeanne Martinet give us some tips about mixing with people– what works?”Jeanne Martinet offers some help in an updated edition of her popular book “The Art of Mingling.”
“Well, what doesn’t work is that you should never walk up to somebody and ask them right away what they do for a living. It’s not only sort of rude, and it’s sort of like ‘who are you, are you worth my time?’ But it’s also bringing up a conversation that you don’t know what you’re bringing up.Read more here
Listen to the story here
Source : VOA News
The Art of Mingling: Proven Techniques for Mastering Any Room
Want more?
The Art of Mingling : Lear How to Be a Party here
Smithsonian Folklife Festival Highlights Asian Pacific Americans
Saturday, July 10th, 2010Every year in Washington, D.C., visitors to the National Mall are treated to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which celebrates the culture and traditions of communities across the United States and the world. This year’s festival in part highlights Asian Pacific Americans.
“This is a program that we talked about for many years,” said James Deutsch, the program curator for the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. “We have done programs on Asian countries. For example in the year 2007 I was the co-curator for a program on the Mekong River which featured five countries – China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. But we have never done a program on Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.”
The program features music, dance, art, cooking and lectures, all presented under large, open air tents on the large grassy expanse between the U.S. Capitol building and the Washington Monument. Continue here
Source : VOA News
2010 Festival Videos here
The traditional Cambodian “Golden Mermaid” Dance is performed by members of a Maryland-based Cambodian organization on Mekong-American Day at the 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution
US Volunteer Travels Cross Country to Help People in Need
Saturday, July 10th, 2010As you might know volunteering is an integral part of the American Culture.
Most Americans believe “that there is an obligation, because of the freedoms that we enjoy, to give something back,” said Desiree Sayle, director of the USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative to expand community service throughout America.
President Barack Obama has been stressing the importance of public service and volunteering.
Here is a great example. Drew Johnson is doing that in 48 U.S. states over 48 weeks. He has done everything from building homes and delivering meals, to cleaning up after a flood.
Drew Johnson, a web designer, considers helping others his passion. He says it occurred to him one day that he should make a road trip to help the needy.
U in the USA is Hiring
Monday, July 5th, 2010U in the USA seeks enthusiastic, organized and global minded interns. You will promote the company, distribute targeted content, recruit students, engage fans, update platforms (website, blogs, social network profiles etc.), establish and manage partnerships (schools, education agents, sponsors) and help International Students & Foreign Exchange Students adapt to life in the USA. You will work approximately 10-40 flexible hours a week remote (from home) or from our corporate “home-quarters” in Los Angeles, CA. More details here
√ Download Job Description and Application here
√ More about U in the USA here
What Difference Does a Preposition Make?
Monday, July 5th, 2010WORDMASTER talks about Prepositions.
The other day, our colleague Julie Taboh told us about a friend of hers, a non-native English speaker. It seems he once tried to tell someone that the person should expect to hear from him again. But instead of saying “I’ll get back to you,” he said “I’ll get back at you.” The wrong preposition sent the wrong message. To get back at someone means to take revenge.
Julie had no idea that we had just gotten off the phone with a retired English professor in Canada. David Thatcher has written a book called “Saving Our Prepositions: A Guide for the Perplexed.” Actually it’s an e-book which you can download free of charge here. Continue to read here
Listen to the story here
Source : VOA News
Mary Lyon, 1797-1849: A Leader in Women’s Education in the 19th Century
Monday, July 5th, 2010People in America in VOA Special English tells the story of someone important in the history of the United States. Today, Steve Ember and Shirley Griffith tell about Mary Lyon. She was a leader in women’s education in the nineteenth century.
During the nineteenth century, women’s education was not considered important in the United States. Supporters of advanced education for women faced many problems.
States did require each town to provide a school for children, but teachers often were poorly prepared. Most young women were not able to continue on with their education in private schools.
If they did, they often were not taught much except the French language, how to sew clothing, and music. Continue here
Listen to the story here
Source : VOA News
Celebrating Independence Day With Parades, Fireworks and Water Balloon Fights
Saturday, July 3rd, 2010Today American Mosaic in VOA Special English tells about Independence Day in the United States. This Fourth of July will mark America’s two hundred and thirty-fourth birthday.
The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence from Britain. During the summer of seventeen seventy-six, American colonists were deeply divided. Almost one in three was loyal to Britain. Yet most were increasingly angry about what they considered unfair treatment by the British government. By June, fighting had already taken place between colonial forces and Britain. The idea of independence was spreading.
Delegates from the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Continental Congress decided that a document declaring separation from Britain should be declared. Thomas Jefferson led a committee chosen to write it. Continue here
Listen to the story here
Source : VOA News
More resources :
-Fireworks in Los Angeles here
- Fourth of July in LA here
- Fourth of July in Washington DC here
- 4th of July Celebrations here
- Bay Area July 4th events here
- 4th of July in New Jersey here
