American Center and Corners

Kore Gleason, DirectorAmerican Center – Moscow

What are American Centers?

• U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)

• U.S. Embassy (Public Affairs Section)

• Goal: Develop long-term mutual understanding between the United States and host country

Russia• 5 American Centers (Moscow, Yekaterinburg,

Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don and Tomsk)

• 23 American Corners – and more soon!

• 200,000 patrons a year

Library

– U.S. public library system – More than 12,000 books– Reference Desk (non-fiction, research)– 70 U.S. periodicals– Databases: ProQuest and JSTOR– Free access to the Internet

Cultural Center• Events free to public focusing on aspects of U.S. life (i.e. politics,

economics, arts, sports, education…)– Guest Speaker series– Conversation Café: U.S. Embassy officials– Films– Concerts– Art exhibits – Discussion groups: literature club, public speaking club, art therapy – English 1:1 courses– Education Advising Center– Business workshops: resume writing, grants proposals, non-profit management– Professional exchanges, youth exchanges, sports exchanges, leadership exchanges

American Stereotypes and

Values

Что такое « skit »

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Common Stereotypes About Americans

• Always SMILING• Boastful/arrogant• Hardworking• Informal• Lazy• Wealthy• Impatient• Extravagant/wasteful• Ignorant/dumb

• Insensitive• Loud/obnoxious• Racist• Rude/immature• Always in a hurry

Is it true?

Well, it depends.

Common Stereotypes About Russians

• NEVER smile• Always drink vodka• Rude• Don’t work at all• Have no desire to

cooperate• Olympics athletes• Scientific

• Wear fur hats all the time

• Best friends are bears• Mafia-like men:

wearing black leather jackets

Is it true?

Well, it depends.

_____________________________

• The problem with a stereotype is that it makes an over generalization about an entire people – based on interaction with only a few people.

• There are far more differences within one particular group than between two groups– Americans vs. Russians– Americans vs. Americans

Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance

• Desire and the ability to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church, or any other organized authority

• The cost of this freedom: self-reliance– Learn to rely on themselves– Solve their own problems and “stand on their own

two feet”– Achieving financial and emotional independence• Many leave parents/family as early as possible, by ages

18-21

Equality of Opportunity and Competition

• Generations of immigrants have traditionally been drawn to the United States in the belief that everyone has a chance to succeed

• Each individual should have an equal chance for success

• Result: competition

Hard Work and Material Wealth

• Many Americans are offended by the word materialistic – Only think about things and not deeper values (i.e.

religion)• At the same time, most people strive for the

“American Dream” – House, car, family

• High work ethic: hours, days, not-for-pay

Generosity• Volunteering• Charity• Working for causes/mission, not profit

Personal Space/Privacy• Circle of trust• Close doors, individual rooms

Punctuality• Arriving late is frowned upon• Arrive early by 10-15 minutes

Casual• Independent style• Comfort• Jeans, jeans, jeans