US history and culture for language teachers

obligatory courses

The main objective of the course is to provide students with a general knowledge of American history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present (focusing on the culture-shaping events, figures, and phenomena) and to present key issues in American culture, crucial for understanding modern American identity - as relevant to the 1st and 2nd educational stages (primary school). Coursework leads to practical application in teaching English as a foreign language to young learners.

Course conducted in English (B2+ to C1), develops language skills above B2 level in oral communication, presentations, vocabulary, structures, and use of sources.

Blended learning

The main objective of the course is to provide students with general knowledge of American history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present (focusing on the culture-shaping events and phenomena). It also presents key issues in American culture, crucial for understanding modern American identity. The applied comparative and transatlantic perspectives accentuate links between the home country of the learners and the USA, which develops intercultural competences and thus expands the didactic means of future teachers. The role of Poles in the development of the USA as well as the influence of the USA on Poland are noteworthy aspects of the course. Coursework leads to practical application in teaching English as a foreign language to learners in primary school.

The main objective of the course is to provide students with general knowledge of American history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present (focusing on the culture-shaping events and phenomena). It also presents key issues in American culture, crucial for understanding modern American identity. The applied comparative and transatlantic perspectives accentuate links between the home country of the learners and the USA, which develops intercultural competences and thus expands the didactic means of future teachers. The role of Poles in the development of the USA as well as the influence of the USA on Poland are noteworthy aspects of the course. Coursework leads to practical application in teaching English as a foreign language to learners in primary school.

Course content encompasses:

1. Native American civilizations

2. Contact between Europe and America: Geographical discoveries and exploration

3. The colonial era: Pocahontas/Jamestown/Plymouth/Thanksgiving

4. Struggle for independence

5. The young republic

6. Towards an empire

7. Overview of cultural regions

8. Political institutions and public life

9. Education

10. Religion

11. Basic concepts connected with ethnicity/race and an overview of waves of immigration to the US

12. Native Americans: their history and role in American culture; Black Americans: their history and role in American culture

13. Hispanics: overview of their presence and importance in the US; Asian Americans: overview of their presence and importance in the US

14. American women

Boyer, Paul S. American History: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2012.

Lemert, Charles, ed. Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. 3rd ed. Boulder: Westview Press, 2004.

O'Callaghan, Bryn. An Illustrated History of the USA. Longman.

Mauk, David, and John Oakland. American Civilization: An Introduction. 5th ed. London: Routledge, 2009.

Rozbicki, Michał J., and Krzysztof Michałek, eds. A Selection of Sources on the History and Culture of the United States of America: From Colonization to 1945. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 1994.

Takaki, Ronald. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. Boston: Back Bay Books, 1993.

Tindall, George B., and David E. Shi. America: A Narrative History. 2 vols. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996.

US History in Brief. https://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/30145/publications-english/learner_english.pdf

Khan Academy. pl.khanacademy.org

PBS. www.pbs.org

US History. www.ushistory.org

www.history.com

The graduate knows and understands:

- to an advanced degree selected facts, theories, institutions, processes, and phenomena related to the study areas culture and religion studies, and history relevant to the field of studies - teaching foreign languages, which have practical application in teaching foreign languages in kindergartens and at the first and second educational stages or teaching social studies at the second educational stage (K_W01)

- essential terminology related to: history, culture and religion studies, relevant to teaching foreign languages (K_W02)

- the social structures and institutions in society and their relationships to one another with a particular emphasis on those countries whose language is being taught (K_W05)

- the core curriculum regarding the content of teaching English and, optionally, French or German, or social studies, in kindergarten and at the first and second educational stages and associated typical learning difficulties (K_W19)

Graduate is able to:

- search, analyze, evaluate, select and use information, using a variety of sources and methods, in Polish and English and, optionally, in French or German (K_U01)

- prepare, and deliver in public, oral presentations in another language, for specific purposes, using basic theoretical approaches, as well as a variety of sources (K_U14)

- use language skills at CEFR level C1 in English and French or German, including the specificity of academic language and that of classroom communication*, or in English at C1 level and the second foreign language (lektorat) at CEFR level B1 (K_U17)

- perform the various roles required for working as a team, is willing to accept and assign tasks, and possesses the elementary organizational skills necessary in designing and implementing professional educational activities (K_U20)

Graduate is ready to:

- take responsibility for the promotion and preservation of the cultural heritage of the region, country and Europe (K_K03)

- interact and work in a group, performing various roles (K_K05)

- participate in cultural life through the use of a variety of media (K_K05)

A class grade consists of continuous assessment (current preparation and active participation in class), grades for tasks below, attendance record (two absences are allowed per semester),

At the end of the semester student obtains a class grade consisting of:

- group presentation grade - 3o points (very good content and technical/presentational side together with originally made materials – 30 p.; fair quality and content – 25 p.; basic quality and content, containing errors and mistakes – 20 p.; poor quality and multiple errors and mistakes – 0 p.) (KW_01,02,05,019; KU_01,02,14,17,20; K_K03,05, 08)

- final test covering the basic course content - 30 points (up to 30 p. - grade 5.0; up to 25 p. - grade 4.5; up to 20 p. - grade 4.0; above 15 pkt. - grade 3.0, below 15 p. - grade 2.0) (K_W01,02,05, K_U01)

- active course involvement in class (20 points) and on the platform (20 p. for 4 mandatory tasks - each for max. 5 p.). Student is obliged to complete all platform assignments and tasks in the course of the classes. (KW_01, 02, 05; K_U01,17; K_K03, 08)

Lack of presentation, required attendance level, failing the final test, obtaining less than 10 p. for platform tasks and scoring below 60 points for the entire course will result in failing the course.

Students earn max. 100 points for the course (up to 100 p. - grade 5.0; up to 90 p. - grade 4.5; up to 80 p. - grade 4.0; up to 70 p. - grade 3.5; up to 60 p. - grade 3.0, below 60 p. - grade 2.0).

Practical tasks resulting from the course can be applied during Teaching Practice.