American Culture 2

Culture of the US 2

Culture of the United States 2 Source: Wikipedia Annotations: Nguyễn Minh Tâm

TECHNOLOGY AND GADGETS1 Americans, by and large, are often fascinated by new technology and new gadgets. There are many within the United States that share the attitude that through technology, many of the evils in the society can be solved. Many of the new technological innovations in the modern world were either first invented in the United States and/or first widely adopted by Americans. Examples include: the lightbulb, the airplane, the transistor,2 nuclear power, the personal computer, and online shopping, as well as the development of the Internet.3 The iPod,4 the most popular gadget for portable digital music, is also American. By comparison with Japan, however, only a small fraction of electronic devices make it to sale in the US, and household items such as toilets are rarely festooned5 with remotes6 and electronic buttons as they are in Asia. AUTOMOBILES Automobiles play a great role in American culture, whether it be in the mundane7 lives of private individuals or in the areas of arts and entertainment. Lower energy and land costs favor the production of relatively large, powerful comfortable cars, of which the Ford Crown Victoria is one of the last surviving examples. The culture in the 1950s and 1960s often catered to the automobile with motels8 and drive-in9 restaurants. Americans tend to view obtaining a driver's licence as a rite of passage, and outside of dense urban areas such as New York City, most Americans of all ages and genders expect to own and drive cars. DRUGS The drug culture of the United States is distinguished sharply between legal, illegal and prescription drugs. The three main legal drugs are alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.10 The use and 1

gadget = [ñồ dùng] a usu. small mechanical or electronic contrivance or device; any ingenious

article. 2

transistor = [bóng bán dẫn] a compact solid-state device consisting of a semiconductor with three or more electrodes: performs the primary functions of an electron tube, as amplification, switching, and detection, but uses less power. 3 Internet = [mạng ñiện toán] A large network of numerous computers connected through a number of major nodes of high-speed computers having high-speed communications channels between the major nodes, and numerous minor nodes allowing electronic communication among millions of computers around the world; -- usually referred to as the internet. It is the basis for the World-Wide Web 4 iPod = Intelligent Portable Over Device 5 festoon = connect 6 remote (control) = [thiết bị ñiều khiển từ xa] a device used to control the operation of an apparatus or machine, as a television set, from a distance. 7 mundane = [bình thường] common; ordinary 8 motel = [lữ quán cho khách có ô tô] a hotel designed for motorists, typically having rooms adjacent to an outside parking area. 9 drive-in = [quầy ăn / bãi chiếu bóng phục vụ khách ngồi trong ô tô] being, pertaining to, or using a facility or business designed to accommodate patrons in their automobiles: a drive-in restaurant; drive-in customers; (n.) such a facility or business, esp. an outdoor motion-picture theater for patrons in cars. 10 caffeine = [cafêin] a white, crystalline, bitter alkaloid, C8H10N4O2, usu. derived from coffee or tea, used medicinally as a stimulant. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 1 of 10

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sale of illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin and cocaine carries heavy penalties (see Controlled Substances Act); the U.S. expends significant resources in combating the enterprises that produce and import such commodities, in what is termed the War on Drugs. Nevertheless, illicit13 drugs remain immensely popular. Antidepressant14 drugs are widely prescribed, as are stimulants15 such as Ritalin, a methylphenidate used to improve concentration. ALCOHOL The sale and consumption of alcohol was banned completely for a period in the first half of the 20th century (Prohibition); today, alcohol is legal but restricted (for example, in many places stronger beverages may only be purchased from specialist shops). The drinking age, 21 in most places, is widely enforced and there is little tradition of consumption of alcohol in a family context. Some American (particularly Californian) wine is highly regarded, as is bourbon,16 a type of whiskey with roots in the state of Kentucky. Most beer consumed in the US is mass-produced rice lager,17 and is regarded by the international community as being "watery" and lacking in flavor. In the 1990s, a variety of smaller, local brewing companies carved out profitable niches18 for themselves by producing more robust,19 upmarket20 brews. Many foreign brands of beer, such as Heineken and Becks, have a strong presence in the American market. Today, many Americans celebrate the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo,21 in part due to a massive publicity campaign by Corona beer. TOBACCO The use of tobacco has decreased sharply among Americans in recent years. There is a strong correlation between smokers and educational levels, with tobacco use at only 10 percent among the college educated and rising to 40 percent among high school dropouts.22 Users smoke cigarettes; a fraction smoke cigars or pipes. Fewer and fewer public places, or business places, permit smoking. Those who persist in the habit must often resort to smoking outside. Some cities and even some states, such as Ohio, California, New York, New Jersey, Utah, Washington, Florida, Rhode Island, Georgia, Montana, Massachusetts, and Indiana prohibit smoking in public establishments. Recently, Middle Eastern Americans have begun to introduce hookah23 smoking 11

marijuana = [cần sa] the dried leaves and female flowers of the hemp plant used esp. in cigarette form as an intoxicant. 12 heroin = [hêrôin] a white crystalline powder, C21H23NO5, derived from morphine, that is narcotic and addictive: manufacture or importation is prohibited in the U.S. and many other nations. 13 illicit = [trái phép; không hợp pháp] not legally permitted; unlawful. 14 antidepressant = [thuốc chống suy nhược] used to relieve or treat mental depression. 15 stimulant = [chất kích thích] a drug or other agent that temporarily quickens some vital process or the functional activity of some organ or part: a heart stimulant; any food or beverage that stimulates, esp. coffee, tea, or, in its initial effect, alcoholic liquor. 16 bourbon = [whisky ngô] Also called bourbon whiskey, a straight whiskey distilled from a mash [hạt ngâm nước nóng] having 51 percent or more corn: orig. the corn whiskey produced in Bourbon County, Kentucky. 17 lager /!k@9f?/ = [bia nhẹ ðức] a light beer aged at low temperatures from six weeks to six months. Also called lager beer. 18 niche = [hốc tường; chỗ thích hợp] a recess in a wall or the like, usu. semicircular in plan and arched, as for a statue or other decorative object; a suitable place or position: to find one's niche in the world. 19 robust = [mạnh; ngon; có nhiều chất cốt] rich and full-bodied 20 upmarket = [loại sang] appealing or catering to high-income consumers 21 Cinco de Mayo = May 5, observed by Mexican communities in Latin America and MexicanAmerican communities in the United States in commemoration of the 1862 defeat of French troops at the Battle of Puebla. 22 dropout = [h/s s/v bỏ học giữa chừng] a student, as in high school, who withdraws before completing a course of instruction. 23 hookah = [tẩu; ống ñiếu] a water pipe with a long flexible tube by which the smoke is drawn through a jar of water and thus cooled. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 2 of 10

Culture of the US 2 to the American audience, with hookah lounges becoming increasingly popular in urban areas, and some Americans purchasing their own hookahs and hosting hookah parties as well. CAFFEINE Coffee is used as a stimulant and in a social context. America's take on the coffee shop has proved particularly successful, with Starbucks (founded in Seattle)24 having spread across the world as a symbol of American capitalism. Caffeine isn't usually viewed in the same light as other drugs, and is rarely seen as a serious health hazard. This is reflected in the fact that caffeine is often an ingredient in candies and beverages marketed toward children. SPORTS

An Army-Navy basketball game in 2004 American sports are quite distinct from those played elsewhere in the world. The top three spectator team sports are baseball,25 American football26 and basketball,27 which are all popular on both the college and professional levels. Baseball is the oldest of these. The professional 24

Starbucks Corporation

Wake up and smell the coffee -- Starbucks is everywhere. The world's #1 specialty coffee retailer, Starbucks has over 13,000 coffee shops in more than 35 countries. The outlets offer coffee drinks and food items, as well as beans, coffee accessories, and teas. Starbucks owns about 7,500 of its shops, which are located in about 10 countries (mostly in the US), while licensees and franchisees operate more than 5,500 units worldwide (primarily in shopping centers and airports). The company also owns the Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia coffee brands. In addition, Starbucks markets its coffee through grocery stores and licenses its brand for other food and beverage products. 25 baseball = [bóng chày] a game involving the batting of a hard ball, played by two teams usu. of nine players each on a large field with a diamond-shaped circuit defined by four bases, to which batters run and advance to score runs; the horsehide-covered ball used in this game. 26 football = [bóng ñá Mỹ] any of several games in which each of two teams tries to get a ball across a goal, orig. by propelling it with the feet, esp. a game in which two opposing teams of 11 players each defend goals at opposite ends of a field, with points being scored chiefly by carrying the ball across the opponent's goal line or by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponent's goal posts. cf. soccer = [bóng ñá] a form of football played by two 11-member teams, in which the ball may be kicked or bounced off any part of the body but the arms and hands: only goalkeepers may use their hands to maneuver the ball. [1890-95; Association football] 27 basketball = [bóng rỗ] a game played on a rectangular court by two teams usu. of five players each, who attempt to score points by tossing a ball through a goal on the opponent's side of the court. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 3 of 10

Culture of the US 2 game dates from 1869 and had no close rivals in popularity until the 1960s; though baseball is no longer the most popular sport it is still referred to as the "national pastime."28 Also unlike the professional levels of the other popular spectator sports in the U.S., Major League Baseball teams play almost every day from April to October. American football (known simply as "football" in the U.S.) attracts more viewers within the country than baseball nowadays; however, National Football League29 teams play only 16 regular-season games each year, so baseball is the runaway30 leader in ticket sales. Basketball, invented in Massachusetts by the Canadian-born James Naismith, is another popular sport, represented professionally by the National Basketball Association. Most residents along the northern tier31 of states recognize a fourth major sport - ice hockey.32 Always a mainstay33 of Great Lakes34 and New England-area culture, the sport gained tenuous footholds35 in regions like the Carolinas36 and Tampa Bay, Florida in recent years, as the National Hockey League pursued a policy of expansion. The top tier of stock car37 auto racing, NASCAR,38 has grown from a mainly Southern sport to the second-most-watched sport in the U.S. behind football. It has largely outgrown a previously provincial image; it is now avidly followed by fans in all socioeconomic groups and NASCAR sponsorships in the premier39 Nextel Cup division are highly sought after by hundreds of the U.S.'s largest corporations. Unlike in Europe, Africa, and Latin America, soccer has a relatively small following, and is mostly popular in the more international cities with large immigrant populations, like New York and Los Angeles. Generally few non-Hispanic American adults appear to be attracted to soccer as spectators, but the sport is widely played by children of affluent backgrounds (giving rise to the

28

pastime = [thú tiêu khiển] something, as a game, sport, or hobby, that serves to make time pass agreeably. 29 league = [liên ñoàn] a group of athletic teams organized to compete chiefly among themselves: a bowling league. 30 runaway = [rất dễ thắng] easily won 31 tier = [tầng; bậc] a layer; level; stratum: a wedding cake with six tiers. 32 ice-hockey = [bóng gậy trên băng] a game played on ice between two teams of six skaters each, the object being to score goals by shooting a puck into the opponents' cage using a stick with a wooden blade set at an obtuse angle to the shaft. cf. field hockey = [bóng gậy trên cỏ] a field game in which two teams of 11 players each use hockey sticks to try to drive a small ball into a netted goal. 33 mainstay = [rường cột] a person or thing that acts as a chief support or part. 34 Great Lakes = [Vùng ðại Hồ] a series of five lakes between the U.S. and Canada, comprising Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior; connected with the Atlantic by the St. Lawrence River. 35 foothold = [chỗ ñể chân; chỗ ñứng; vị trí chắc chắn] a place or support for the feet; a place where a person may stand or walk securely; a secure position, esp. a firm basis for further progress or development. 36 the Carolinas = North Carolina and South Carolina. 37 stock car = [xe ñua có máy tăng tốc cho va chạm tối ña] a standard model of automobile changed in various ways for racing purposes. 38 NASCAR = National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing From 1972 through 2003, NASCAR's premier series was called the Winston Cup Series. It was sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco (RJR) as an advertising mechanism to bring attention to its Winston brand of cigarettes. In its later years, RJR's sponsorship became more controversial in the wake of U.S. legislation that sharply restricted avenues for tobacco advertising.... In 2003, RJR dropped its sponsorship of the top series, and NASCAR obtained a sponsorship from NEXTEL, a telecommunications company. The contract was not renewed for several reasons; one, because of the steady decline of revenue of RJR, and two, because cigarette and other forms of tobacco advertising were deemed illegal by the U.S. Congress in 2002. In 2003, the Cup series became known as the NEXTEL Cup. 39 premier = [thượng hạng] first in rank; chief; leading. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 4 of 10

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"soccer mom" stereotype). Dramatic growth in youth participation has fueled the national team's steady rise in caliber of play over the last two decades of the 20th century and the 2000s. Almost as many girls as boys play youth soccer in the U.S., contributing to the women's national team becoming one of the world's premier women's sides. The extent in America to which sports are associated with secondary and tertiary education is unique among nations. In basketball and football, high school and particularly college sports are followed with a fervor equaling or exceeding that felt for professional sports; college football games can draw six-digit crowds,41 many prominent high school football teams have stadiums that seat tens of thousands of spectators, and the college basketball championship tournament42 played in March draws enormous attention. For upper-tier schools, sports are a significant source of revenue.43 Though student athletes may be held to significantly lower academic requirements than non-athletes at many large universities, minimum standards do exist. The U.S. is also known for endorsing of many newer or less popular sports, such as paintball,44 lacrosse,45 volleyball,46 etc. FASHION

An "aloha47 shirt," popular in Hawaii and temperate western states Dress was moderately formal until the 1960s, when a revolution took place that stressed casual and informal, and in the Western tradition of pants and a shirt. Exceptions are major cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, where many residents wear expensive stylish clothes. Social and business situations may call for tailored suits or other more elegant outfits. Tuxedos48 and evening dress occasions have become much less common since 1960. The top 40

soccer mom = [mẹ bóng ñá] An American mother living in the suburbs whose time is often spent transporting her children from one athletic activity or event to another 41 six-digit crowds = hundreds of thousands of people 42 tournament = [loạt thi ñấu] a trial of skill in some game, in which competitors play a series of contests 43 revenue = [thu nhập] an amount of money regularly coming in. 44 paintball = [bóng vẽ] A game in which players on one team seek to eliminate those on an opposing team by marking them with a water-soluble dye shot in capsules from air guns. 45 lacrosse = [bóng vợt] a game, originated by Indians of North America, in which two 10member teams attempt to send a small ball into each other's netted goal, each player being equipped with a crosse or stick at the end of which is a netted pocket for catching, carrying, or throwing the ball. 46 volleyball = [bóng chuyền] a game for two teams in which the object is to keep a large ball in motion, from side to side over a high net, by striking it with the hands before it touches the ground. 47 aloha = [chào; từ giả] hello; greetings; farewell. 48 tuxedo = [áo smocking; lễ phục chiều] Also called dinner jacket, a man's jacket for semiformal evening dress, traditionally of black or dark blue color and characteristically having satin or grosgrain facing on the lapels; the complete semiformal outfit, including this jacket, dark trousers, often with silk stripes down the sides, a bow tie, and usu. a cummerbund. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 5 of 10

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hat vanished in 1960, along with most other millinery. Skirts and dresses are often worn by women. Men of Scottish or Irish descent wear kilts51 as part of celebrations such as parades, or as part of a family reunion tradition. Jeans, a T-shirt (or a hoody)52 and athletic shoes come close to being a "national uniform". Types of clothing worn often have something to do with which region of the country people live in. Some Texans and residents of the Southwest dress in boots and hats in a style typically associated with traditional cowboys. In the region from New England to New Jersey, preppy53 style clothing is popular. In the South, people sometimes dress more casually, and often their clothes are more modest, although formality in certain contexts is valued. The greatest variations in dress are related to climate. Easterners generally tend to dress more formally than Westerners, though this is also closely connected with cultural history as well. Residents of northern states wear heavy sweaters, warm, water-resistant boots, stocking caps54 and heavy coats or down55 parkas56 in the cold season. In Hawaii, the Aloha shirt as an acceptable item of wear by men has received formal approval by the state legislature. In beach areas and places with relatively warm and consistent climates, especially California, Hawaii, and Florida, skimpy57 or revealing58 clothing is considered acceptable in all but the most formal settings. Cowboy hats, Western boots and large silver belt buckles are found in southwestern and western regions of the United States, particularly Texas and Arizona. However, many from the Southern United States dress in the aforementioned jeans and t-shirt. The trend toward informality has increased among many segments of society. For instance, students at colleges and universities are often noted for wearing flip flops59 or thong60 sandals as well as pajamas to class. EDUCATION In the American educational system children are required to attend school from the age of five or six. Students typically graduate from high school at age eighteen although many states allow students to drop out at age sixteen. The public education systems vary from one state to another but generally are organized as follows: [1885-90, Amer.; short for Tuxedo coat, after country club at Tuxedo Park, N.Y.] 49 top hat = [nón tròn cao] a man's tall, cylindrical hat with a stiff, slightly curved brim, for formal occasions. 50 millinery = [trang phục phụ nữ: mũ, băng, dây nơ] women's hats and related articles. 51 kilt = [váy gấp bằng vải len kẻ ô vuông] a pleated, knee-length tartan skirt worn by Scotsmen in the Highlands or in some military regiments. 52 hoody/hoodie = [áo có nón] a shirt or sweatshirt with a hood and sometimes a zipper up front. Some hoodies also have strings that can be pulled to tighten or loosen the hood 53 preppy = [học sinh dự bị] a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school; a person whose clothing or behavior is associated with traditional preparatory schools; (adj.) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a preppy: preppy clothes. Fashion-wise, the term "preppy" is associated not with dramatic designer fashions, but with conservative clothing and accessory brands ... An example of preppy attire would be a navy blue blazer, button-down Oxford cloth shirt, cuffed khakis, and cordovan loafers. 54 stocking cap = [nón có núm tua/ngù len] a long conical knitted cap, usu. with a tassel or pompom at the tip. 55 down = [lông tơ chim] the under plumage of some birds, as geese and ducks, used for filling in quilts, clothing, etc., chiefly for warmth. 56 parka = [áo da có mũ trùm ñầu] a hooded, usu. straight-cut coat or jacket made of materials that protect against very cold temperatures. 57 skimpy = [không ñủ; thiếu vải] lacking in size, fullness, etc.; scanty. 58 revealing = [hở hang] exposing parts of the body that are usu. covered: a revealing dress. 59 flip flop = [dép tông; dép Nhựt/Lào] a flat backless shoe or slipper, esp. one of rubber with a thong between the first two toes. 60 thong = [dép tông] a shoe or slipper fastened to the foot by a strip of leather or the like that passes between the first two toes and is often attached to another strip, as across the instep. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 6 of 10

Culture of the US 2 • • • •

Age 5: Kindergarten Ages 6-11: Elementary school. Children start in grade 1 and advance to grade 5 or 6. Ages 11-14 or 12-14: Junior high school or middle school (usually grades 6 or 7 through grade 8 or 9). Ages 14-18: High school (usually grades 9-12 or 10-12).

A system also becoming more popular is 4-year schooling segments. Such as: • Ages 6-9 (Grades 1-4) Elementary. • Ages 10-13 (Grades 5-8) Middle. • Ages 14-17 (Grades 9-12) High/secondary. The entire span of primary and secondary education, from Kindergarten to grade 12, is often abbreviated in the US as K-12 or K12, which in spoken American English is rendered as "K through 12" or "K 12." Additionally, many children attend schools before they reach the age of five. These preschools61 are often private and not part of the public educational system although some public school systems include preschools. PUBLIC EDUCATION Public education in the United States is provided by the individual states, not by the federal government (except in the limited circumstances of public schools on military bases, provided for the dependents of members of the armed services). All states provide public school education from kindergarten through Senior62 year of high school (12th grade) free of charge (except for 15 school districts in New Hampshire which do not offer kindergarten); further, the federal government does not establish a standard nationwide curriculum.63 Rather, the curriculum is typically established by state educational departments or local school districts, and teachers in many districts may have wide discretion to determine what is taught in the classroom.

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preschool = [trước tuổi ñi học] of, for, or concerning a child between infancy and kindergarten age; (n.) a school or nursery for preschool children. nursery school = [trường ký nhi] a prekindergarten school for children. day nursery (Brit. crèche) = [trường ký nhi bán trú] a center for the care of small children during the day, esp. while their parents are at work. 62 senior = [hs sv năm cuối] a student in the final year at a high school, college, or university. junior = [hs sv năm ba] a student in the next to the last year at a high school, college, or university. sophomore = [hs sv năm hai] a student in the second year at a high school, college, or university. freshman = [hs sv năm ñầu] a student in the first year at a university, college, or high school. 63 curriculum = [chương trình giảng dạy/ñào tạo] the aggregate of courses of study given in a school, college, etc.; the regular or a particular course of study in a school, college, etc. cf. syllabus = [chương trình học; ñề cương môn học] an outline or other brief statement of the main points of a discourse, the subjects of a course of lectures, the contents of a curriculum, etc.

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Culture of the US 2 Most states have adopted reforms based on the Outcome-based education64 movement. Rather than the traditional approach that all students would be expected to achieve at different levels, the focus of education would be to increase achievement, and insure through testing that all graduates must achieve one high standard, though some critics argue such a goal is not realistic. As of 2005, there is increasing state and federal pressure to quantify teaching efficacy using results from standards-based tests (cf. No Child Left Behind),65 which tends to lead to a more uniform curriculum. This trend toward educational standardization, which has been attributed with a concomitant decline in flexibility in teaching, and other reforms—such as the use of whole language66 methodology for teaching reading in primary school, instead of the more traditional phonics-based67 approach—promoted in recent years have been controversial. Another controversy has arisen over the adoption of new math standards which many critics charge has largely omitted the teaching of basic arithmetic as it has been understood over history rather than merely improve understanding. Other criticisms of recent educational trends include an increasing lack of post-secondary scholarships and subsidies.68

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OBE = Few educational concepts have sparked as much interest, enthusiasm, misunderstanding, and controversy during the 1990s as Outcome Based Education (OBE). In one form or another, and sometimes against their political wills, educators the world over are increasingly focusing their efforts on what are variously being called outcomes, results, performances, competencies, or standards. Objective based education's four power principles. The spirit and intent of the NOBS operational philosophy was to convince educators that they could dramatically improve student learning success and their professional effectiveness by consistently, creatively, and simultaneously applying four key operating principles in their schools and classrooms. These power principles are: 1. clarity of focus on culminating outcomes of significance, 2. expanding opportunity and support for success, 3. high expectations for all to succeed, 4. designing down from ultimate outcomes. Over time the network's members became convinced that if any form of OBE was to exist, it needed to consistently embody these four principles because without them educators would lose the leverage these principles gave them in expanding what NOBS called the conditions of success - the basic ground rules around which learning and learning opportunities are fundamentally structured.

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No Child Left Behind

The "No Child Left Behind" law requires states to give students in grades 3-8 an annual test in reading and math. In 10 years, all students are supposed to test as "proficient." Test scores at individual schools must improve for all students and for minorities, low-income students and other subgroups. If a school receiving federal Title I funding misses the target two years in a row, students must be offered a choice of other public schools to attend. If a school fails to improve three years in a row, students must be offered vouchers good for extra help, including private tutoring. Teachers in core content areas must be "highly qualified," certified and knowledgeable about the subject matter taught. The law funds "research-based" reading programs for elementary students 66 whole language = [phương pháp dạy ñọc bằng từ] A method of teaching children to read by emphasizing the use and recognition of words in everyday contexts and books that are not textbooks 67 phonics = [phương pháp dạy ñọc và ñánh vần theo âm] A method of teaching elementary reading and spelling based on the phonetic interpretation of ordinary spelling. Method of reading instruction that breaks language down into its simplest components. Children learn the sounds of individual letters first, then the sounds of letters in combination and in simple words. Simple reading exercises with a controlled vocabulary reinforce the process. Phonicsbased instruction was challenged by proponents of "whole-language" instruction, a process in which children are introduced to whole words at a time, are taught using real literature rather than reading exercises, and are encouraged to keep journals in which "creative" spelling is permitted. A strong backlash against whole-language teaching polarized these two approaches to reading instruction. Many schools have since come to use a combination of the two techniques. 68 subsidy = [tiền trợ cấp] any grant or contribution of money. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 8 of 10

Culture of the US 2 Funding of the public school systems is most often provided primarily at the local level, with money obtained from county or city property taxes used to fund the public schools (in conjunction with additional funds from the state and federal governments). PRIVATE EDUCATION Private school education in the United States at the primary and secondary levels generally receives little or no governmental support in the form of direct funding or subsidies, although non-profit bodies running private schools may receive favorable tax status. Conversely, because of the constitutional prohibition regarding governmental establishment of religion, most private religious schools are in fact barred from such direct governmental support. Most of the private institutions have traditionally been religious institutions funded by, for example, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities. Some private secular69 schools, military schools, and multi-lingual schools also exist. Private secular and multi-lingual elementary and secondary education may cost $10,000 to $20,000 per year per student in large metropolitan areas, placing these schools out of reach of all but the wealthiest of middle- and upper-class families. However, many of these schools provide academic scholarships and need-based assistance. Religious schools vary in price, from nearly free to costs on par with private secular schools. Poorer families may send their children to these lower-priced schools for a religious education, or because they consider the schools better than the available public schools. Homeschooling70 is allowed in all states (with varying degrees of regulation) and is an alternative for a small minority of households. The motivation for home schooling is often religious or political. Many times, home schooling is used because of particular sports. HIGHER EDUCATION

Cambridge's Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the U.S. The United States leads the world in higher education, with many foreign elites choosing to educate their children there. The United States boasts more than 1,500 universities,71 colleges,72 and other institutions of higher learning. Almost all institutions of higher learning in the United States use the German system of designation for academic degrees.73 Common postgraduate74 69

secular = [thường; không thuộc tôn giáo] concerned with nonreligious subjects: secular

schools. 70 71

homeschooling = [học ở nhà] the practice of teaching one's own children at home. university = [trường ñại học tổng hợp/ña ngành] an institution of learning of the highest

level, comprising a college of liberal arts, a program of graduate studies, and several professional schools, and authorized to confer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. 72 college = [trường ñại học chuyên ngành; trường chuyên nghiệp] an institution of higher learning that provides a general education in the liberal arts and sciences and grants a bachelor's degree; a constituent unit of a university offering instruction in a particular field of study; an institution for vocational, technical, or professional instruction: a business college. 73 degree = [học vị; bằng cấp] an academic title conferred by universities and colleges upon the completion of studies, or as an honorary recognition of achievement. cf. diploma = [văn bằng] a document given by an educational institution conferring a degree or certifying the successful completion of a course of study. cf. certificate = [chứng chỉ] a document providing evidence of status or qualifications, as one attesting to the completion of a course. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 9 of 10

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degrees are master's degrees, Ph.D.s, and specialized professional degrees such as a J.D.77 for a lawyer, an MBA78 for a businessperson, a Pharm.D.79 for a pharmacist or an M.D.80 for a physician. As with the lower level public education system, there is no national public university system in the United States; each state has its own public university system. There are also many privately run colleges, universities, and trade schools, some of them religiously affiliated. State university tuition ranges from nearly free on up, but is generally significantly lower than at private schools, and is often lower for state residents than for out-of-state students. The U.S. federal government provides some federal grants and loans for higher education to many families. Most universities offer academic scholarships and need-based aid; however, many students assume some of the cost of their own education through work and loans. Students seeking officership81 in the United States Military may enroll in ROTC82 courses at most colleges and universities, or in one of service academies, such as West Point83 or Annapolis.84


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postgraduate = [sau ñại học; sau tốt nghiệp] a student who is taking advanced work after graduation, as from a high school or college. 75 MA = a master's degree given in the humanities. MS = a master's degree given in the sciences; a recipient of this degree. Abbr: M.S., M.Sc., S.M., Sc.M. 76 Ph.D. = Doctor of Philosophy = a doctor's degree awarded for advanced studies in the humanities or the social, behavioral, or pure sciences. 77 J.D. = Doctor of Jurisprudence; Doctor of Law(s) 78 MBA = Master of Business Administration. 79 Pharm.D. = Doctor of Pharmacy. 80 M.D. = Doctor of Medicine.[< NL Medicinae Doctor]. 81 officer = [sĩ quan] a person who holds a position of rank or authority in the armed services, esp. one holding a commission. cf. NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) = [hạ sĩ quan] an enlisted person, as a sergeant or corporal, holding a rank below commissioned or warrant officer in a branch of the armed forces. CO (Commanding Officer / Commissioned Officer) = [sĩ quan] an officer having command of a military unit, installation, etc. 82 ROTC = Reserve Officers’ Training Corps = [Trường Huấn luyện Sĩ quan Dự bị] a training program to prepare college students to be commissioned officers A Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program is a college-based, commissioned officers recruitment tool. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics 83 West Point = a military reservation in SE New York, on the Hudson: location of the U.S. Military Academy; the Academy itself. 84 Annapolis = the capital of Maryland, in the central part, on Chesapeake Bay: U.S. Naval Academy. 33,360. Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 10 of 10