The American Culture and History Course

General data

Course ID:	4101-4SKHSZO
Erasmus code / ISCED:	05.1 The subject classification code consists of three to five digits, where the first three represent the classification of the discipline according to the Discipline code list applicable to the Socrates/Erasmus program, the fourth (usually 0) - possible further specification of discipline information, the fifth - the degree of subject determined based on the year of study for which the subject is intended. / (unknown)
Course title:	The American Culture and History Course
Name in Polish:	Kultura i historia Stanów Zjednoczonych 2
Organizational unit:	University College of English Language Teacher Education
Course groups:
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores):	(not available) Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles: the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS; the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h; 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes; weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS; work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load. view allocation of credits
Language:	English
Type of course:	obligatory courses
Short description:	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 and phenomena) and to present key issues in American culture, crucial for an understanding of modern American identity. Coursework leads to practical application in teaching English as a foreign language to young learners.
Full description:	The summer semester is focused on American heritage, government, system of education, religious freedom and diversity, geographical regions and regional identities. Also, questions and ideas about the plurality and diversity of American culture are addressed. A comparison with the cultural phenomena of the mother country is encouraged, which develops the intercultural competence of the student teachers. Historical analysis leads to practical application of course content to teaching English as a foreign language to young learners. Semester four: 1. Overview of geographical and cultural regions in the US 2. Political institutions and public life 3. Education 4. Religion 5. Basic concepts connected with ethnicity/race and an overview of waves of immigration to the US 6. Native Americans: their history and role in American culture 7. Black Americans: their history and role in American culture 8. Hispanics: overview of their presence and importance in the US 9. Asian Americans: overview of their presence and importance in the US 10. Women
Bibliography:	Gołębiowski, Marek. Dzieje kultury Stanów Zjednoczonych. Warszawa: PWN, 2004. Kottak, Conrad P., ed. Researching American Culture: A Guide for Student Anthropologists. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1998. Lemert, Charles, ed. Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. 3rd ed. Boulder: Westview Press, 2004. Mauk, David, and John Oakland. American Civilization: An Introduction. 5th ed. London: Routledge, 2009. Rothenberg, Paula S. ed. Race, Class, and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study. New York: Worth Publishers, 2001. 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. Sollors, Werner, ed. Theories of Ethnicity: A Classical Reader. New York: New York University Press, 1996. 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. Wolfe, Alan, ed. America at Century’s End. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992. Khan Academy. pl.khanacademy.org PBS. www.pbs.org US History. www.ushistory.org
Learning outcomes:	KNOWLEDGE K_W01 the student has a basic knowledge of US history and culture in the teaching of foreign languages, which have practical application in foreign language teaching at pre-school and the first and second stages of education H1A_W10 K_W02 the student has a comprehensive knowledge, covering US history and culture, which have practical application in foreign language teaching. H1P_W01 K_W03 the student has an understanding of the basic academic terms within US history and culture appropriate for teaching foreign languages H1P_W03 SKILLS K_U01 the student is able to search, analyse, evaluate, select and use information using a variety of sources and methods H1P_U01 K_U02 the student has the necessary level of self-study skills to use a variety of sources (using their first and any other language/ new technologies (ICT) to acquire knowledge and develop their professional competences in teaching foreign languages, H1P_U02 K_U12 the student has the ability to prepare oral presentations, in Polish and English for specific purposes, using basic theoretical approaches, as well as a variety of sources H1P_U13 K_U27 the student possesses language skills at CEFR level C1 for the main specialisation (and any additional specialisation) in accordance with the requirements specified in the standards of teaching H1A_U10 H1P_U14 SOCIAL COMPETENCES K_K02 the student is able to interact and work in a group H1P_K02 K_K05 the student is aware of their role in the promotion and preservation of the cultural heritage of the region, country and Europe H1P_K05
Assessment methods and assessment criteria:	A class grade consists of continuous assessment (current preparation and active participation in class), attendance record (two absences are allowed per semester), mandatory student group presentations. At the end of the semester student obtains a class grade consisting of: - presentation grade - 50% (very good content and technical/presentational side together with originally made materials – 5.0;fair quality and content – 4.0; basic quality and content, containing errors and mistakes – 3.0; poor quality and multiple errors and mistakes – 2.0) - active course involvement (50%) in class (and on the platform). Student is obliged to complete all platform assignments and tasks in the course of the classes. Lack of presentation, failing to meet required attendance level or not completing all platform assignments and tasks will result in failing the semester. The exam grade is the average of two positive exam tests results covering the two semesters.

This course is not currently offered.

Course descriptions are protected by copyright.
Copyright by University of Warsaw.