America: Help Describe It

I got an interesting email today.  It was from a former student and friend in Việt Nam who is finishing up her Master’s degree in English at the University of Huê.  She is also an English teacher at the College of Foreign Language.  Though she was in a class I taught, I remember Ngoc mainly for shepherding me though the process of getting a Vietnamese driver’s license.

(Be sure to click on her picture - you will be able to see a larger photo.)

And Ngoc has a new assignment:  create the curriculum for a new course titled “Issues in American Population and Economy.”   She asked for some input and ideas for this new course.

So – I sent her an email.  Some of the ideas I gave her (along with a few links I found through Google) included:
•    The diversity of the American population.  The Vietnamese have only a small minority of hill tribes who make up only 15% of the population, and they are seldom found in a city.  That means Vietnamese only know other Kinh people. (Kinh are ethnic Vietnamese.)  I pointed out that in many school districts in America, there are large numbers of students who don’t speak English as their native tongue.  Where I live in deep south Texas, 85% of the population speaks Spanish as their primary language. 
•    I pointed out that America has a low birth rate, as many developed countries do, but that lately, the birthrate is picking up as more recent immigrants continue their traditional pattern of having large families.
•    I encouraged her to look at past patterns of assimilation of immigrants into the American population.  As an example, I pointed out Betty Nguyen, an anchor reporter for CNN, speaks no Vietnamese and looks more European than Asian primarily due to her makeup and clothing.
•    On the economy, I asked her to have students examine the true nature of the American economy.  Is it truly “capitalist”, or has it been modified a bit to protect the average person and the poor?  It certainly isn’t socialist and it certainly is market-driven, but raw, unbridled capitalism does not exist in America.
•    I urged Ngoc to examine what a “growth economy” really is.  Besides the fact that such an economy is based on consumerism, are there good and bad aspects of a growth economy?  Is the American economy a “growth economy?”  Is the Vietnamese economy becoming a “growth economy?”

Okay – that seemed to be a good start, and I clicked the “Send” button.  Then it occurred to me that some readers might be able to help Ngoc put together a curriculum.  Okay folks – post your comments and let Ngoc know what your ideas would be for a course in issues of American population and the economy?

(Hint:  The World Trade Organization recently admitted Việt Nam – is there something in there about the American economy?”)

Comments

The issues you mentioned are plentiful for the course entitled “Issues in American Population and Economy.” However, I think the issue of racism is too important an issue in American history to be ignored. This is somewhat different from racial diversity. I think Vietnamese has something to learn from this issue such as the stereotypes that they have about "white" or "black" people. Another issue worth mentioning is gender equality, or the lack thereof, in American population and economy. I think it's about time Vietnamese students talk about women's role in the work place and the salary gap between men and women workers.
Binh

[Peter]

I suggest Ngoc to have a look at the different policies in Canada and the USA on welcoming immigrants, refugees and other 'aliens'. Whilst the Americans go for 'assimilation', the Canadians have chosen for 'integration'. An interesting topic and easily researchable on the internet.

[MGB]

I think the topic has lots of possibilities. Your students might find it interesting to explore how Americans spend their money. That would lend itself to digging into a lot of statistical information - how much $$ different levels of society and occupations make per year (and what % of the population is in this level), and by %, what they spend their $$ on - car payments, rent or house payments, utilities (electric, gas, water, trash collection), day care, groceries, taxes.

But then some weeks of the class could be very specific as in including how Americans select a car when they are ready to buy one, and how that is done. What other costs should be factored in when thinking of buying a car - license, insurance, price of gas, maintenance, parking costs, and who will be driving it.

Do American women keep a grocery budget and use coupons (what are coupons, right?) and a grocery list when they shop? Do they plan meals, or just buy what they see that looks appealing or is a special price this week? How many days of food do they buy when they grocery shop?

How expensive is good day care for the woman who decides to go back to work after having a baby? She will have to earn more than day care costs in order to not spend more than she earns. What characteristics should she look for in a day care? What should she watch out for? What options are available other than day care?

What % of Americans save for their retirement or the cost of sending children to college, or do they spend all of their $$ as they go, hoping somehow there will be a way to pay when they reach that time of life? What options are available to cover the cost of college other than savings?

You could more than fill 30 periods, AND stay on your topic!

I think the students should study big-picture trends (what % of Americans do a certain thing a certain way), but surveys of Americans would be revealing to show details of every-day-life in America. I would be willing to be interviewed by or fill out a survey for your students - how about other readers of this blog??

See you in a few weeks, Ngoc!! I am looking forward to your showing us a new cafe - you always know the newest, coolest ones!!

xoxo

[Tom]

As a teacher educator I believe one of the major issues in the USA is "Culture of Poverty". Many see the USA as the land of plenty. It may be for many, but the fact is that the percentage of the USA population in poverty is growing. It may be the biggest challenge a teacher faces.

The USA has so many elements in it's safety net, however, the system for the poorest among us is not working.

Thanks for all your comments on my curriculum design