Major Concepts/Content: The culture course is designed to acquaint students with the host nation's culture and values. It is also intended to expose students to the skills Involved in learning foreign languages. Students study key events in the history of the host nation with special attention given to the local environment, such as cities, historical monuments, and particular geographical features. Elements of art, music, religion, education, and recreational activities of the host nation are studied. Other areas of the host nation to be studied are the industrial aspects (imports, exports, etc.) as well as other unique U.S. customs and traditions of the host nation. Students learn about the agriculture and foods of the host nation. In addition to learning to appreciate and value the host nation's culture, students learn some of the host nation's language. Students gain enough basic, functional language to be able to communicate in their foreign environment. Useful idiomatic phrases and brief sentences and questions are understood and spoken. Students are able to read and write simple phrases, sentences, and brief paragraphs. The skill of simple translations is also practiced. 

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will provide the study of many aspects of the host nation's culture. Students will learn by doing projects; taking study trips; eating in the host nation's restaurants; visiting monuments, museums, and art galleries; taking part in student exchange programs; and becoming acquainted with special U.S. customs and traditions of the host nation. Teachers will use officially adopted basic materials supplemented with videos, filmstrips, postcards, magazines, and records (music) representative of the host nation to help students achieve the goals and objectives of the course. Students will also use textbooks, workbooks, cassettes, and other language materials to acquire basic functional usage in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing the host nation's language. Choral exercises and other oral repetitive drills will be used for reinforcing difficult sounds and structures of the host nation target language. 

Major Evaluative Techniques: Students will be required to take part in simple oral dialogues in the host nation's language. They will also take written tests, make oral reports, and present ideas and information showing knowledge of the host nation's U.S. customs and culture. Simple dictations and translation exercises using familiar vocabulary will be used. 

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the culture course, students should be able to:

• Identify a few of the leading host nation historical figures and political leaders. 
• Discuss the roles of men and women in the host nation's country.
• Describe some health improvement activities in the host nation's country.
• Compare patterns of adolescent behavior in today's host nation society with those in the United States.
• Identify the natural resources and geographic features of the host nation.
• Identify geographical regions of the host nation based on climate, topography, location, economics, culture, and politics.
• Identify examples of ecological problems in the host nation.
• Name key events in the history of the host nation
• Participate in holidays. Festivals, and student exchanges
• Participate in study trips to significant host nation sites.
• Discuss the roles of men and women in the host nation's culture,
• Identify host nation persons who have made important cultural, technological, and historical contributions to their own country and the world.
• Explain how the knowledge of foreign languages can broaden career opportunities.
• Demonstrate improved communication skills in the host nation's language.

Last Revised: July 18, 2005