Brief Introduction of the US.doc

Teaching BackgroundHigh School students know little about the English-speaking countries though theyve learnt English for several years. Language dates from its culture. America, as an English-speaking country, is super developed country in the world. So, if students want to learn English better, they should learn some culture first. Teaching TitleBrief Introduction of the USTeaching AnalysisThis article introduces American culture in six aspects: location, politics, education, some major cities, holidays and scenic spots, which shows students the generalization of America. While learning, students should pay attention to the features of each aspect as well as the combination of the six aspects. The exercise is to check students grasp of this class and the discussion is to consolidate the understanding of the culture deeply.Teaching MethodsGroup-work Explanation Discussion Exercise Teaching ProceduresStep1 Lead-in1) What is your first impression on the US?2) Can you give some words to describe the US?Melting potDevelopedAdvancedFreeAmbitiousIndividualismSelf-reliantStep2 Main Contents: American location American politics American education American major cities American holidays American scenic spotsAmerican location1) The fourth largest country in the world2) American Flag-stars and strips50 stars stand for 50 states of USThirteen strips stand for the thirteen states which won in the independence war in the early time.3) National songAmerican politics1) Capitalism society(资本主义国家)2) Separation of three powers（三权分立）Legislation 立法Congress is the legislative branch which makes the law. It is composed of Senate and the House of Representatives(参议院与众议院).Execution执法The president represents the executive branch and enforces the law.Justice司法The system of courts or judicial branch explains the law3) Bipartisanship（两党制）The two major political parties in the US are the Republican and the Democratic Parties. Ex-president Bush Republican President :Obama Democrat 4) Primary campaign（主竞选）The parties in the United States choose all their candidates for election at “primary campaign”, which is considered the first step and part of the formal voting process and it has many forms. Once the party candidates have been chosen, the primary campaign between the parties begins. Sometimes a lot of money is needed for a primary campaign.American Education Public School: free education supported and controlled by local officials. It educates 88% of American children. Private school: charge tuition, more expensive, better teaching and learning conditions2)Famous universities: Yale（耶鲁大学） Princeton （普林斯顿大学） Harvard(哈弗大学) Columbia（哥伦比亚大学） MIT（麻省理工学院） Stanford（斯坦福大学） Berkeley（伯克利大学）Harvard CampusAmerican major cities1) Washington D.C.: the capital of the nation, named after the first American president 2) New York: city of world(世界之城). 3) Chicago: the second Largest city in the US. It is called the “ Great Center Market of the US”.4) Boston: the capital of Massachusetts. Harvard and MIT are here.5) San Francisco: It is a center for financial, trade, corporation and other diversified services. The Golden Gate Bridge is located here.6) Los Angeles: the manufacturing Center. Hollywood and Disneyland are located here.7) Houston: “ the pearl in the Gulf” and “ the space city of the US” 8) Detroit: “ Motor City”Los AngelesThe status of liberty in New YorkGolden Bridge in San FranciscoAmerican Holidays Easter(复活节):基督教纪念耶稣复活的一个宗教节日每年春分过去第一次月圆后的第一个星期日。复活节源于古挪威的春天太阳节，滚彩蛋是最初复活节的传统，至今仍每年在白宫的草坪上举行，彩蛋和野兔被看作室多产和新生活的象征，是复活节的象征物。 Independence Day（独立日）：July 4th, 纪念1776年7月4日大陆会议通过的独立宣言。在这一天，全美的教堂钟声齐鸣，首先敲响的是费城自由钟，各地居民自发进行庆祝游行。 Halloween（万圣节）: October 31st万圣节除夕是孩子们的节日夜晚，“你想挨捉弄还是款待我们”是万圣节孩子们常说的话。万圣节前夜，孩子们装扮成妖魔鬼怪，手提杰克灯，跑到邻居家门前，高喊“Trick or treat”,不给糖果的邻居就会遭到小孩的恶作剧，人们也会开化妆晚会来庆祝万圣节。 Thanksgiving Day：感恩节的主题是和平、丰收、健康和快乐。它是美国人合家欢聚的节日，因此美国人 提起感恩节总是倍感亲切。人们还要按习俗前往教堂做感恩祈祷。火鸡是家人团聚吃感恩节大餐的传统主菜。Turkey Christmas 圣诞节Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, is the biggest and the best-loved holiday in the US, In many areas, after the Thanksgiving Day, it is the biggest shopping day of the year-the first day of Christmas gift shopping. It is on December 25. Veterans Day 休战日Veterans Day, which was called the Armistice Day before, originally Celebrated the signing of the 1918 Armistice.退伍军人节日，以前称作休战日，最初是为了纪念年第一次世界大战停战协议的签订。Scenic spots in the US National park: the Grand Canyon(大峡谷) Niagara falls(尼亚加拉大瀑布) Las Vegas（拉斯维加斯）(Gambling City) Hawaii（夏威夷）科罗拉多大峡谷位于美国亚利桑那州西北部的凯巴布高原上，是地球上最为壮丽的景色之一。科罗拉多河在科罗拉多高原上共切割出19条主要峡谷，总面积2724.7平方公里，其中最深、最宽、最长的一个就是科罗拉多大峡谷它全长446公里，是世界最长的峡谷之一。峡谷顶6至28公里，最深处1800米。谷底水面不足 1000米宽，夏季冰雪融水*，水深增至18米。山石多为红色。尼亚加拉瀑布位于加拿大安大略省和美国纽约州的交界处，是北美东北部尼亚加拉河上的大瀑布，也是美洲大陆最著名的奇景之一。平均流量5,720立方米秒，与伊瓜苏瀑布、维多利亚瀑布并称为世界三大跨国瀑布。尼亚加拉瀑布一直吸引人们到此度蜜月、走钢索横越瀑布或者坐木桶漂游瀑布。但美丽独特的自然景观渐渐成为尼亚加拉瀑布引人入胜的地方。Step3 Exercise1.( )Which of the following is NOT the characteristic of American Characters? A ambition B individualism C consideration D self-reliance2.( )Hollywood is often used as a symbol for_. A American films B American forest industry C Christians in the US D American advertising industry3 ( )To the west of mainland America lies the _ A Atlantic Ocean B Pacific Ocean C Indian Ocean D Arctic Ocean4 ( )Detroit, a US city bordering Lake Erie, is famous for its_.A automobile industry B textile industryC iron and steel industry D aircraft industry5 ( ) Washington D.C. is named after_ A the US President George Washington B Christopher Columbus C both George Washington and Christopher Columbus D none of themStep4 HomeworkDiscussion: 1.What do you think of American national song?2.What do you like best in the US? Can you give some reasons?Teaching ReflectionThis class arous