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Gary Althen Intercultural Press, Inc., |
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Gary Althen Intercultural Press,
Inc., |
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CONTENTS |
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PAGE |
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Preface to the second edition |
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xi |
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Acknowledgements |
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xvii |
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Introduction |
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xix |
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On understanding |
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xx |
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How much generalizing is acceptable? |
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xxii |
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On asking “Why?” |
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Xvi |
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How Americans see themselves? |
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xxvii |
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How Americans see foreigners |
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Xxix |
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On describing Americans |
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xxxi |
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Part I: General Ideas
about American Culture |
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1 |
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Chapter 1: American values and assumptions |
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3 |
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Individualism, freedom, competitiveness, and privacy |
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5 |
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Equality |
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14 |
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Informality |
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16 |
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The future, Change, and progress |
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18 |
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Goodness of humanity |
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19 |
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Time |
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22 |
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Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism |
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24 |
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Directness, and assetiveness |
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27 |
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Chapter 2: The Communicative style of Americans |
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33 |
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Preferred discussion topics |
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34 |
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Favorite forms of interaction |
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37 |
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Depth of involvement Sought |
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40 |
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Channels preferred |
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42 |
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Level of meaning emphasized |
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53 |
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Chapter 3: Ways of Reasoning |
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55 |
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The context |
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56 |
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The point |
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58 |
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The organization |
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60 |
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The evidence |
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61 |
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The Cause |
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65 |
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Chapter 4: Differences in Customs |
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67 |
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Part II: Specific
Aspects of American Life |
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75 |
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Chapter 5: Politics |
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77 |
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The rule of law |
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80 |
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The Ideal of compromise |
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81 |
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Political Apart |
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82 |
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Chapter 6: Family life |
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85 |
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What foreigners notice |
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86 |
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The Changing Family |
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88 |
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Raising Children |
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90 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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98 |
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Chapter 7: Education |
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101 |
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Guiding Ideals |
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102 |
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Social Forces Affecting American Education |
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110 |
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Issues Facing American Schools |
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113 |
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Advantages and disadvantages |
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115 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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117 |
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Chapter 8: Religion |
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119 |
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The general Context |
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120 |
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Religion and individual Americans |
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124 |
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Exceptions |
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125 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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127 |
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Chapter 9: The Media |
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129 |
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What Is American about media ? |
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130 |
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Americans’ views of their media |
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133 |
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Misconceptions the media promote |
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136 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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139 |
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Chapter 10: Social relationships |
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141 |
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Meeting New People |
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143 |
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The American concept of friendship |
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145 |
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Relationships prescribed by roles |
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148 |
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Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts |
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150 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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153 |
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Chapter 11: Racial and Ethnic Diversity |
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155 |
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How American view Race and Ethnic Relations |
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162 |
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167 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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169 |
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Chapter 12: Male-Female Relationships |
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173 |
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Influence on Male-Female Relationships |
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174 |
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Male-Female Relationships in various settings |
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179 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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186 |
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Chapter 13: Sport and Recreation |
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187 |
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Sports |
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188 |
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Recreation |
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191 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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193 |
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Chapter 14: Driving |
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195 |
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General information |
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196 |
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Traffic Laws |
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197 |
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Attitudes |
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198 |
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Suggestions for Foreign visitors |
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201 |
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Chapter 15: Shopping |
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203 |
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Advertising |
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204 |
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Pricing |
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206 |
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Customer-clerk Relationships |
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206 |
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208 |
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Procedures for Returning and Exchanging |
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209 |
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Private Sales |
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210 |
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Precaution for shoppers from Abroad |
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210 |
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Chapter 16: Personal hygiene |
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213 |
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The basics |
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214 |
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Variations |
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217 |
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Other Issues Concerning Hygiene |
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218 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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219 |
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Chapter 17: Getting Things in Organizations |
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221 |
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Misconceptions |
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222 |
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Characteristics of |
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224 |
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Suggestions for dealing with U.S. Organizations |
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226 |
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Behavior in Public places |
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229 |
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Rules for behavior in public places |
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229 |
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Communication behaviors |
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232 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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234 |
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Chapter 18: Behavior in Public Places |
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229 |
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Rules for Behavior in Public Places |
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229 |
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Communication behaviors |
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232 |
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Suggestions for foreign visitors |
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234 |
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Chapter 19: Studying |
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235 |
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Education system |
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236 |
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Student-Student relationships |
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237 |
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Student-Professor relationships |
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239 |
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Roommate relationships |
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241 |
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Plagiarism |
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244 |
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Suggestions for foreign students |
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245 |
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Chapter 20: Business |
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247 |
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Doing in the |
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250 |
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The global Economy |
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256 |
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Suggestions for foreign Businesspeople and future Businesspeople |
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257 |
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Part III: Coping with
Cultural Differences |
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259 |
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Chapter 21: Some helpful ideas |
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261 |
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Expectations |
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262 |
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Personality Characteristics |
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262 |
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Traits and situations |
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264 |
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Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustments |
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265 |
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D-I-E |
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267 |
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Chapter 22: Activities for Learning about American culture |
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271 |
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Asks Questions |
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272 |
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Learn and Practice Local English |
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273 |
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Take field trips |
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274 |
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Talk with Experienced foreigners |
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280 |
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Keep a journal |
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281 |
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Learn the names of Local and Institutional VIPs |
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281 |
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Read, Reflect |
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282 |
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View yourself as a teacher |
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284 |
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Conclusion |
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285 |
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Bibliography |
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289 |
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About the Author |
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295 |