- •Module 2. Modern realia of the united states of america (usa) geography of the usa
- •1. Geographical position of the usa
- •2. State symbols of the usa
- •2.1. The flag of the usa
- •2.2. The us Great Seal
- •2.3. The usa bird symbol
- •2.4. The usa national anthem
- •3. The usa physical geography
- •3.1. The usa major rivers and lakes
- •3.2. The usa major mountains ranges
- •3.3. The usa major cities
- •3.4. Weather and climate in the usa
- •3.5. Mineral resources of the usa
- •3.6. Demographics of the United States
- •4. The usa economic geography
- •5. Washington, d.C. – the capital city of the United States
- •Major sights of Washington, d.C.
- •Glossary
- •Comprehension
- •State and political system of the usa
- •1. The usa legislature. The parliament of the Unites States – the Congress
- •1.3. Procedure for passing laws in the United States of America
- •3) House Floor consideration:
- •4) Senate stage:
- •5) Presidential action:
- •2. The usa executive
- •2.1. The President of the United States
- •2.2. The Vice-President of the United States
- •2.3. The President’s Cabinet
- •2.4. Government departments and agencies
- •3. Presidential elections in the United States
- •4. Political parties in the usa
- •5. The usa judiciary
- •5.1. The System of State and Federal courts in the usa
- •5.2. The Supreme Court of the usa
- •Comprehension
- •Further Reading
- •Education system in the usa
- •1. Preschool in the usa
- •2. Compulsory schooling in the usa
- •1.2.1. Elementary school
- •2.2.2. Junior and senior high school
- •2.3. Electives
- •2.4. Extracurricular activities
- •3.2.5. Educational standards in the us
- •2.6. Types of schools in the usa
- •3. Post-secondary (higher) education in the usa
- •3.2. University level studies
- •3.3. Learning process in American universities
- •3.3.1. Academic callendar
- •2.Semesters:
- •3.Quarters:
- •1.3.3.2. The us credit system
- •3.3.3. Teaching and learning styles
- •3.3.4. System of grading
- •3.3.5. Cost of tuition in American universities
- •3.3.6. Scholarships and financial aid for students
- •3.3.7. The student body
- •3.3.8. The faculty
- •3.3.9. Administrative staff
- •3.3.10. Campus
- •3.3.11. Graduation ceremony
- •4. Teacher training in the usa
- •4.1. Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
- •4.2. Training of secondary school teachers
- •4.3. Training of higher education teachers
- •Glossary
- •Comprehension
- •Self-Assessment
- •Further Reading
- •4.Higher education in the United States: An encyclopedia / [ed. James Forest and Kevin Kinser]. – n.Y. Abc-Clio, 2002. – 831 p. Holidays in the usa
- •1. Federal holidays in the United States
- •New Year’s Day
- •Martin Luther King’s Day
- •George Washington’s Birthday
- •Memorial Day
- •Independence Day
- •Labor Day
- •Columbus Day
- •Veteran’s Day
- •Thanksgiving
- •Christmas
- •2. Other holidays in the usa
- •3. Ethnic and religious observances
- •Glossary
- •Comprehension
- •Further Reading
2.3. Electives
Many high schools offer a wide variety of Elective courses, although the availability of such courses depends upon each particular school’s financial resources and desired curriculum emphases. An Elective is an additional course which is not compulsory, thus not needed for graduation. Students choose electives according to their perceived abilities and talents. Though electives are not compulsory students are encouraged to participate in them.
Common types of electives include:
Visual arts (drawing, sculpture, painting, photography, film).
Performing arts (drama, band, chorus, orchestra, dance).
Technology education (“Shop”; woodworking, metalworking, automobile repair, robotics).
Computers (word processing, programming, graphic design).
Athletics (cross country, football, baseball, basketball, track and field, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, water polo, soccer, wrestling, cheerleading, volleyball, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, boxing, skiing/snowboarding).
Publishing (journalism/student newspaper, yearbook/annual, literary magazine).
Foreign languages (Spanish, French are common; Chinese, Latin, Greek, German, Italian, Arabic, and Japanese are less common).
2.4. Extracurricular activities
Besides electives US students participate in a large number of extracurricular activities – activities performed by students that fall outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school or university education. Extracurricular activities exist at all levels of education, junior high/middle school, high school, college and university education. On average, in the United States, many students participate in a minimum of one extracurricular activity throughout the course of one school year.
As an extracurricular activity one can watch basketball, baseball, track, gymnastics, tennis, aerobics, volleyball, and weight lifting on ESPN, or one can get out and enjoy them by joining the school team. If a student is not into team sports, there’s French club, the debating team, chess club, student government, radio, newspaper, yearbook, environmental club, 4-H*, drama, choir, photography, Students Against Destructive Decisions, jazz band, Business Professionals of America, computer club, and more.
3.2.5. Educational standards in the us
High schools maintain a school “transcript” for each student, summarizing the courses taken, the grades attained** and other relevant data. If a student wishes to go on to college or university, his/her high school submits copies of his transcript to the college. College or university acceptance is also based upon personal recommendations from teachers, achievements outside school (e.g. extra-curricular and sports achievements), and college aptitude tests.
Students planning to go to college take national college aptitude tests during their last two years in high school, set by various independent institutions. Some colleges also require students to take Achievement (Ach.) Tests. Tests are of the multiple-choice type and aren’t based directly on school work, but are designed to measure aptitude and verbal and mathematical skills rather than knowledge (tests are often accused of testing nothing but a student’s ability to take the test itself).
The best known and widely used tests are the American College Testing (ACT) programme and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), both of which are recognized by accredited universities to evaluate potential students.