PRESENTATION ON ‘AMERICAN VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS’GARY ALTHEN

Group Members

Ayushman Tamrakar - LeaderRaeesha Shrestha - EditorNikesh TodiAshika SharmaRashik KhadkaSanjina Shakya

Table of Contents: Intercultural Communication Gary Althen American Values and Assumptions Introduction to The Text Values and Assumption Individualism Competition Privacy Equality Informality The Future, Change and Progress Time Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism Directness and Assertiveness Conclusion

Intercultural Communication

Synonymous to cross cultural communication

Seeks to understand how people - Act - Communicate

- Perceive

Gary Althen

Served for 30 years as a foreign

student adviser (University of Iowa)

Received Marita Houlihan Award

for his contributions to the field of

international educational exchange.

President of NAFSA, the

Association of International

Educators.

American Values And AssumptionsExcerpted from American Ways: A Guide for Foreigners in the United States

Writings:

 The Handbook of Foreign

Student Advising (1983)

American Ways: A Guide

for Foreigners in the

United States (1988)

Introduction to The Text

Personal experiences. Difference in values and assumptions Beliefs and customs Seems normal in one and strange in another Problems resulting from cross-cultural variation

Values and Assumptions

Values: Ideas what are right or wrong, desirable or

undesirable, normal or abnormal and proper or improper

Assumptions: The unquestioned standards about people

and life; what we suppose or think

Individualism

Devotion to individualismConsider themselves separate individuals Responsible for the consequencesNot trained to see themselves as members

of an interdependent family or religious group.

Competition

Pervades the society

Attainment of superiority

Maintaining uniqueness.

Privacy

Love their privacy Friend seekers are considered weak and

dependentWhen the boundary is crossed they become

aloof.

Equality

‘All men are created equal’ ‘One man one vote’ Basic level of respectful treatment Unaware of status differences

Informality

Democratic approach to other people Use of slang and idiomatic speechExtravagant friendliness Informality is normality

Future Change and Progress

Look aheadSetting goals and working systematicallyNew things are better than old thingsBelieve in work rather than in fate

Time

Time is moneyAdmire well organized peopleHuman interactions are truly importantConstructive future oriented activities

Achievement, Action, Work And Materialism

Admiration of achievers - People judged by their jobsMaterialistic in nature -Earning is must for evaluation of

success

Directness And Assertiveness

Straight forward and frankSpeak up the mindGuarding emotional responsesConsiderate

Conclusion

Individualism vs. Family Equality vs. InequalityPunctuality vs. Unpunctuality Informal vs. Formal

The Floor is Open For Questions…..

THANK YOU!