Welcome! In this class, we will be taking a virtual 80 day trip around the world. I am so excited that you have joined us for this journey and I look forward to learning about other cultures with you along the way. We will begin our journey by learning about culture in general; first by analyzing our own culture, then discussing the different elements of culture together, and finally we'll go on to explore other cultures and compare and contrast them with our own.
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Culture & aMericaBefore we begin our journey, we will discuss the various definitions, layers, and elements of culture. Additionally, students will learn about the Clutural Iceberg concept and brainstorm visible vs. invisible elements of culture. Finally, we will learn about how national cultures can be analyzed per Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions.
Next, we will analyze American culture and discuss concrete examples of cultural elements (clothing, language, music, etc.) in America. We will also talk about respecting different "perspectives" and using respectful descriptions of culture (not stereotypes). This will form our foundation for comparing and contrasting American culture with the other cultures that we explore along our journey. Middle EastDuring this unit, we will discuss the various world belief systems, we will learn some Arabic (speaking and writing) and we will discuss the various political conflict.s and how they have shaped and continue to shape the cultures of the people in this region of the world.
South AmericaAs we make our way back to the Americas, we will focus mostly on Brazil, Argentina, and Peru, but will also highlight other areas as well. We will compare and contrast the cultural ideas about ancestry, clothing, folk art, language, music, and dance during this unit.
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Australia & OcEaniaOur first "stop" along our journey will be in Australia and Oceania. We'll talk about how language is influenced by culture and compare Australian English with American English. We will also learn about the Maori people in New Zealand (Cultural Elements: Language, Legends, & Crafts).
EuropeDuring our study of Europe, students will be able to explore a country of their choice and present information about that culture to their classmates. We will focus our classroom exploration on the cultural elements of art, architecture, food, and sports during this unit.
North America:
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asiaOur second stop along the way will be in Asia. We will focus mostly on Japan, China, India, and Tajikistan, but will also highlight other areas as well. We will compare and contrast the cultural ideas about education, clothing, family dynamics, and age during this unit.
AFricaAs we tour this diverse continent, students will be briefly exposed to various cultures. They will also learn about the movement of people from one country to another due to the various political and ethnic conflicts over the past several decades. We will explore cultural ideas about gender equality, education, superstitions and gestures. Finally, students will research what it would be like to live for a month in a specified country in Africa with only the average monthly salary in that country at their disposal.
Festivals Around the WorldStudents will have the opportunity to research a culture of their choice for their final unit and present information about that culture to their peers in a unique and intriguing way.
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