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Paul Sparks
- Online English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas for "Culture of
English Speaking Countries Lessons" for Xiangtan Normal University...
WESTERN CULTURE AND SOCIETY: THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA (USA) -
American Education Systems
THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM:
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The structure of
U.S. education includes 12 years of regular school.
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Duration of school
lasts 12 years, until around age 18 (depending on the age at entry).
Each of the school years is called a grade, so that 12th grade
corresponds to the 12th year, etc.
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Infant school,
pre-school, and the first or second year of formal schooling are
collectively termed Early Childhood Education in the United States.
Formal primary education is called Elementary Education and ranges from
first grade through grade 4, 5, or 6, depending on state and district
regulations. The upper level of primary education is often organized
separately into a unit called Middle School, which begins at grade 4, 5,
or 6 and ends at grade 6, 7, or 8. Likewise, the lower grades of
secondary education (years 7, 8, or 9 depending on state and district
regulations) are sometimes organized separately into what is called
Junior High School. Regular (including upper) secondary education is
called High School, beginning in grade 8, 9, or 10 and ending at grade
12, again depending on state and district regulations.
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Compulsory schooling
ends by law at age 16 in 30 states, at age 17 in 9 states, and at age 18
in 11 states plus the District of Columbia. Students may drop out of
school if they have reached the age set in their state's law for the end
of compulsory schooling, but dropouts are not considered to have
completed school and no certificate or award is issued at this stage.
The U.S. dropout rate is just over 11 percent of secondary-level
students age 16 and older.
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Two basic school
leaving certificates are awarded for completing school, the High School
Diploma, awarded to graduates of secondary school, and the GED (General
Educational Development) Certificate, awarded to adults who left school
but then complete a special supervised study and examination program.
High School Diplomas represent a variety of different curricula and
standards.
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No national
education system or national curriculum exists in the United States. The
federal government does not operate schools.
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Each of the 50
states has its own Department of Education which sets guidelines for the
schools of that state. Public colleges and universities receive funding
from the state in which they are located.
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Most of the control
of American schools lies in the hands of each local school district.
Each school district is governed by a school board, a small committee of
people elected by the local community. The school board sets general
policies for the school district. Students do not pay tuition for
schools (under the age of 16).
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High school students
take a wide range of courses. All students are required to take English,
math, science, and social studies courses. They also might be required
to take a foreign language and/or physical education. A course can be
one semester or two semesters long.
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Usually, a student
graduates after he or she has successfully passed all of the required
courses. Grades are given to students for each course at the end of
every semester or term. Grades are: A = Excellent B = Above Average C =
Average D = Below Average F = Failure
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Admission to a
College/University - A student’s high school grade point average (GPA)
is also considered. A GPA is a quantitative figure representing a
student’s accumulated grades. Each letter grade is assigned a number
of points: A=4 points, B=3, C=2 , D=1, and F= 0 points. A GPA is
calculated by adding all of the points earned for each course grade and
dividing the total points by the total number of courses taken. For
example, a GPA of 3.0 means a “B” average for all of the courses
taken.
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Most colleges and
universities set a minimum SAT score that a student must achieve in
order to gain admission. The SAT is the Scholastic Aptitude Test, a
standardized quantitative examination taken by high school students
throughout the United States. Each college or university decides the
minimum SAT score it will accept.
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Higher Education:
After finishing high school (twelfth grade), U.S. students may go on to
college or university. College or university study is known as
"higher education."
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Study at a college
or university leading to the Bachelor's Degree is known as
"undergraduate" education. Study beyond the Bachelor's Degree
is known as "graduate" school, or "postgraduate"
education. Advanced or graduate degrees include law, medicine, the
M.B.A., and the Ph.D. (doctorate).
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Church-related
School: Many U.S. colleges and universities were founded by religious
groups. The relationship, however, between the school and the religious
organization may be very flexible. Sometimes, these schools prefer to
admit students who are members of the sponsoring religious group. Nearly
all these schools welcome students of all religions and beliefs.
SCHOOL EDUCATION:
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PRESCHOOL (or
nursery schools) these specialize in teaching very young children (ages
3-5) to adjust to groups outside home and family and prepare them for
the routine of formal schooling.
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There are basically
two levels of education. The elementary level begins with the first
grade when the child is about six. This level extends to the eighth
grade when the child is about thirteen. The secondary level begins with
the ninth grade when the child is about 14 and continues to the twelfth
grade when the child is about eighteen.
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The traditional
division is:
Elementary school =
grades 1 to 3/4
Middle school = grades 4 to 6/7
Junior high school = grades 6/7 to 8/9
Senior high school = grades 9/10 to 12
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PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(government supported). They provide tax-supported schooling free of
charge to students beginning with kindergarten at age 5 and continuing
from 1st to 12th grades, when students receive a high-school diploma.
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Different schools
divide the 12 years into various stages. Most common are the 6-3-3,
consisting of 6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high, and
3 of high school; and the 6-2-4, consisting of 2 years of junior high
and 4 years of high school. These years are referred to as freshman
(9th), sophomore (10th) , junior (11th), and senior (12th). There is no
division into academic or vocational A streams. Instead, junior and
senior high schools offer a wide variety of courses, some of which are
required of all students, the others elective (elected by the student).
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PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
They do not receive tax monies and therefore charge tuition fees. These
schools provide for a number of special needs not always met adequately
in the public schools. For instance, many private schools are supported
by churches or synagogues and provide religious education as opposed to
the secular education provided by public schools. The Catholic Church
operates the largest number of schools outside the public school system.
These parochial schools are open to children of all faiths, but they
give preference to Catholics. There are also schools associated with
various Protestant churches, Seventh-Day Adventists and Society of
Friends (Quakers), as well as schools serving those of the Jewish and
Muslim faiths.
COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES,
AND INSTITUTES:
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Degree-granting
institutions in the United States can be called by any of these terms,
and colleges and institutes are in no way inferior to universities. As a
general rule, colleges tend to be smaller and usually offer only
undergraduate degrees, while a university also offers graduate degrees.
An institute usually specializes in degree programs in a group of
closely related subject areas, so you will also come across degree
programs offered at institutes of technology, institutes of fashion,
institutes of art and design, and so on.
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Within each college
or university you will find schools, such as the school of arts and
sciences or the school of business. Each school is responsible for the
degree programs offered by the college or university in that area of
study.
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One of the most
attractive features of the bachelor's degree program in the United
States is that it is highly flexible. You can usually choose from a wide
variety of courses and create your own unique program of study. The
degree is awarded after you complete a specified number of credits.
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The bachelor's
degree typically takes four years to complete. The associate degree
usually takes two years to complete. Associate degree programs may be
"terminal" programs, which lead into specific careers upon
graduation, or "transfer" programs, which correspond to the
first two years of a bachelor's degree and tend to be more liberal arts
based. Associate degree programs are offered at two-year colleges known
as junior or community colleges. Four-year colleges and universities
offer bachelor's degree programs, with a small number also offering
associate degree programs.
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Liberal arts is a
shortened form of the term "liberal arts and sciences," and
the liberal arts philosophy is a unique feature of the U.S. higher
education system. U.S. undergraduate education is based on this concept,
which believes in providing a well-rounded academic education that
develops the student's verbal, written, and reasoning skills. Students
at a liberal arts college, or at a university with a strong liberal arts
program, begin their degree study by taking classes in a wide variety of
courses in the arts, humanities, languages, and the social and physical
sciences. They then choose a subject in which to specialize (called a
major) and take about 25 to 50 percent of their classes in the major
area.
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Professional (that
is, career-oriented) education is included within the U.S. university
system. Large universities tend to be comprised of a college of arts and
sciences and several professional schools - usually business,
agriculture, medicine, law, and journalism.
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There are four types
of degrees:
Associate’s
(completion of a program in a specific career field),
Bachelor’s (conferred after completion of an undergraduate program),
Master’s (first graduate degree)
Doctorate (second graduate degree and final degree).
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State College or
University: A state school is supported and run by a state or local
government. Each of the 50 U.S. states operates at least one state
university and possibly several state colleges. Some state schools have
the word "State" in their names.
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Private College or
University: These schools are operated privately, not by a branch of the
government. Tuition will usually be higher than at state schools. Often,
private colleges and universities are smaller in size than state
schools.
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Two-Year College: A
two-year college admits high school graduates and awards an Associate's
Degree. Some two-year colleges are state-supported, or public; others
are private. Two-year college or "junior" college graduates
usually transfer to four-year colleges or universities, where they
complete the Bachelor's Degree in two or more additional years.
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Community College:
This is a two-year state, or public college. Community colleges serve a
local community, usually a city or county. Many of the students are
commuters who live at home, or evening students who work during the day.
Often, community colleges welcome international students.
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Professional School:
A professional school trains students in fields such as art, music,
engineering, business, and other professions. Some are part of
universities. Others are separate schools. Some offer graduate degrees.
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Institute of
Technology: This is a school which offers at least four years of study
in science and technology. Some institutes of technology have graduate
programs. Others offer shorter courses.
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Technical Institute:
A technical institute trains students in fields such as medical
technology or industrial engineering. Although the course may prepare
you for the career you want, the degree may or may not be equivalent to
a college or university degree. Some colleges and universities do not
accept credits from students who have attended technical institutes and
want to transfer. If you are considering a technical institute, find out
if your government, and U.S. colleges and universities, accept the
school's degree.
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Distance education
is an increasingly popular way to study for everything from a short
professional course to a graduate degree in the United States, and there
are numerous institutions offering undergraduate degree programs using
distance education teaching methods. Under the distance education model,
students no longer attend classes in a classroom on a campus; instead,
classes are delivered "from a distance" through the use of
technologies such as the Internet, satellite television, video
conferencing, and other means of electronic delivery.
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U.S. students
usually study a wide variety of subjects while in college. Many students
do not specialize exclusively in one field until graduate school.
Students in the first year are called "freshmen," and they are
"sophomores" in the second year. Some schools require freshmen
and sophomores to take courses in different areas of learning:
literature, science, the social sciences, the arts, history, and so
forth. Freshmen and sophomores are known as "underclassmen."
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The
"junior" and "senior," or third and fourth years,
are the "upper classes." Students in these years are known as
"juniors" and "seniors"- "upperclassmen."
When they enter their junior year, they must choose a "major"
field of study. They must take a certain number of courses in this
department, or field. In some schools, students also choose a
"minor" field. There is usually time for students to choose
several other "elective" (extra) courses in other subjects.
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Classes range from
large lectures for several hundred students to smaller classes and
"seminars" (discussion classes) with only a few students.
Students enrolled in lecture courses are often divided into smaller
groups, or "sections." The sections meet separately to discuss
the lecture topics and other material.
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Professors usually
assign textbook and other readings each week. They also require several
written reports each semester (term). You will be expected to keep up to
date with the required readings in order to join in class discussions
and to understand the lectures. Science students are also expected to
spend time in the laboratory.
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The school calendar
usually begins in August or September and continues through May or June.
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The academic year at
many schools is composed of two terms or semesters. Other schools use a
three-term calendar known as the "trimester" system. Still
others divide the year into the "quarter" system of four
terms, including a summer session which is optional.
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Credits: Each course
is considered to be worth a number of "credits" or
"credit hours." This number is roughly the same as the number
of hours a student spends in class for that course each week. A course
is typically worth three to five credits.
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Transfers: If a
student enrolls in a new university before finishing a degree, usually
most credits earned at the first school can be used to complete a degree
at the new university. This means a student can transfer to another
university and still graduate within a reasonable time.
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Professors give each
student a mark or "grade" for each course. The marks are based
upon:
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Classroom
participation: Discussion, questions, conversation; Students are
expected to participate in class discussions, especially in seminar
classes. This is often a very important factor in determining a
student's grade.
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A midterm
examination: Usually given during class time.
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One or more research
or term papers, or laboratory reports.
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Possible short exams
or "quizzes.": Sometimes the professor will give an
unannounced "surprise quiz." This doesn't count heavily toward
the grade but is intended to inspire students to keep up with their
assignments and attendance.
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Final examination:
Held some time after the final class meeting.
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Most universities
will also offer some sort of honors degree. To qualify for an honors
degree, you must fulfill additional credits or write an honors thesis;
precise details depend upon the university and/or academic department.
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The individual
courses that make up the degree program can be divided into the
following types:
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· Core courses:
These provide the foundation of the degree program and are required of
all students. Students take a variety of courses in mathematics,
English, humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences. Some
colleges require students to take many core courses, while other schools
require only a few.
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· Major courses: A
major is the subject in which a student chooses to concentrate. Most
students major in one subject; however, some colleges offer the option
of pursuing a double major with a related subject. Your major courses
represent one-quarter to one-half of the total number of courses
required to complete a degree.
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· Minor courses: A
minor is a subject in which a student may choose to take the second
greatest concentration of courses. The number of courses required for a
minor tends to be half the number of major courses.
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· Elective courses:
These courses may be chosen from any department. They offer
opportunities to explore other topics or subjects you may be interested
in and help make up the total number of credits required to graduate.
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An important
indicator of the quality of any U.S. college or university is its
accreditation status. Unlike many other countries, the United States
does not have a central government office that approves educational
institutions. Instead, it relies on a system of voluntary accreditation
carried out by non-governmental accrediting bodies to ensure that
schools meet standards.
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Most U.S. colleges
offer students a variety of social, cultural, and sports activities in
addition to their academic programs. The level to which each is
emphasized will determine the social environment you will find on your
campus. You should also consider whether the majority of the students
live on or off a university campus. At colleges referred to as commuter
schools, most students live off campus and commute to classes.
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A unique feature of
U.S. campus life is the Greek system, which offers students the choice
of joining a fraternity or sorority. (The term "Greek" is used
because the names of fraternities and sororities are composed of two or
three Greek letters.) Fraternities (male) and sororities (female) can be
the focus of undergraduate social life on many U.S. campuses. However,
as well as holding parties, fraternities and sororities often sponsor
activities.
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U.S. universities
offer many opportunities for students to develop skills through
extracurricular activities such as sports teams, academic clubs,
university newspapers, drama productions, and other rewarding programs.
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Rankings - There is
no official list of the top 10, 20, 50, or even 100 universities in the
United States. The U.S. government does not rank universities. Rankings
that you come across are usually produced by journalists and are likely
to be subjective.
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Internship or
Overseas Study Programs - Many U.S. universities have incorporated into
their curriculum internship (voluntary or paid work placements) or
overseas study ("study abroad") programs.
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Master's Degree:
This degree is usually required in fields such as library science,
engineering, or social work. The M.B.A., or Master of Business
Administration, is an extremely popular degree that usually takes two
years. Some Master's programs, such as journalism, only take one year.
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Doctorate (Ph.D.):
Many graduate schools consider the Master's Degree as the first step
towards attaining the Ph.D. (doctorate). But at other schools, students
may prepare directly for the doctorate without also earning a Master's
Degree. It may take three years or more to earn the Ph.D. Degree.
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For the first two
years, most doctoral candidates enroll in classes and seminars. For at
least another year, students will conduct firsthand research and write a
thesis or dissertation. This paper must contain views, designs, or
research that have not been previously published.
Class Format:
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The Lecture - This
is perhaps the most common university class format. In a lecture
class, the professor usually teaches according to a prepared outline
(syllabus). During the lecture, which may be supplemented by films
or other visual materials, it is important for you to take notes and
write down the information emphasized by the professor. This
information will most likely be included on the course examination.
Since lecture classes are usually large (ranging in size from 25-50 or
more students), any questions you ask should be directly related to the
content being discussed.
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The Independent
Study - This type of course is usually available to upper-classmen or
graduate-level students. You decide what you want to study and
design a plan with a faculty member. You must find a faculty
member to supervise and evaluate your activity. The requirements
of the independent study most often include extensive reading, research
or experimentation on a specific subject which will lead to a written
report at the end of the semester. This, however, is an individual
decision between you and a faculty member.
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The
Lecture/Discussion - Many large lecture courses offer you smaller
once-a-week discussion groups which provide you with the opportunity to
ask more detailed questions and to discuss the topics being covered in
class. This discussion group is usually led by the professor or a
graduate assistant and is designed to help you understand the material
covered in the lecture.
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The Lab - The
laboratory (lab) classes are important part of many science and computer
courses. The lab is used to apply the theories learned in the
classroom to practical problems. A lab usually meets once a week
for several hours during which time you work on various projects and
experiments. Since the lab is conducted in addition to the regular
class, you usually receive one extra academic credit for this work.
The lab is usually kept separate for registration, testing and grading
process.
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The Seminar - A
Seminar consists of a small group of students (usually fewer than 20)
and is primarily designed for upper-division and graduate-level courses.
This type of class involves open discussions and you are often required
to prepare presentations for the seminar based on your independent study
or research. Another type of seminar is one which involves
listening to a speaker and is for personal enrichment. In this
instance, all that is required is your attendance.
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Grades
A-
Superior
B- Above average
C- Average
D- Passing but below average
F- Failure-no credit give
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Regular class
attendance is required by the University. You are responsible for
class attendance and any work you miss due to absence.
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