Bachelor
2021/2022
America Through Foreign Eyes
Type:
Elective course (Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication)
Area of studies:
Linguistics
Delivered by:
School of Foreign Languages
Where:
School of Foreign Languages
When:
2 year, 1 module
Mode of studies:
distance learning
Online hours:
2
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Alina Budnikova
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
2
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The United States has always been a source of fascination— both attraction and repulsion — for the people of France, Mexico, China, and African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan. America Through Foreign Eyes is a rich, interdisciplinary, international course that features Rice faculty from a variety of disciplines and area studies. Focused on perceptions of America abroad, the course is a cross between World Cultures and American Studies. The course features four modules, each covering the perceptions and interactions of particular regions with America, Americans and Americanization.
Learning Objectives
- Gain and apply knowledge and understanding of the way people perceive other cultures: genesis of Generalizations, Essentialisms, and Stereotypes
- Analyze foreign cultural outlook on the U.S., Americans, and the process of Americanization
- Gain insight into the way France, Mexico, China, Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan perceive the USA
- Study key African, Chinese, French, and Mexican intellectual and artistic works devoted to the United States and Americans
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Examine historical and contemporary perceptions of Africa, China, France, Mexico, and Russia through American eyes.
- Examine historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans through the lens of African writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, public opinion
- Examine historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans through the lens of Chinese writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, public opinion
- Examine historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans through the lens of French writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, public opinion
- Examine historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans through the lens of Mexican writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, public opinion
- Examine historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans through the lens of Russian writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, public opinion
Course Contents
- America through African Eyes
- America through Chinese Eyes
- America through French Eyes
- America through Russian Eyes
- America through Mexican Eyes
- Reversing the Gaze
Assessment Elements
- Online course completionThe screenshots with the results of online course completion containing (a) the date of completion; (b) the student's name; (c) the final result; and (d) the weekly results are to be submitted online via Smart LMS platform. Deadline - October 15, 2021, 23:59. If the attached screenshots do not contain all the required information, the student will be automatically given 0.
- Exam
- Survey researchAim of the research: to conduct a survey to identify how Russians view America/Americans. The research is carried out in groups of two-three students. Deadline – October 8, 2021, 23:59 (Moscow time). The project is to be submitted via Smart LMS.
Interim Assessment
- 2021/2022 1st module0.4 * Survey research + 0.4 * Exam + 0.2 * Online course completion
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- A Few Lessons from American History: Reader for Students of English . — Москва : СТАТУТ, 2014. — 80 с. — ISBN 978-5-8354-1011-8. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/61518 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
- Базовые ценности американской культуры. The Basic Values in American Culture: Privacy : учебное пособие / О. Н. Прохорова, О. Д. Вишнякова, И. В. Чекулай [и др.] ; под общей редакцией О. В. Александровой. — 3-е изд., стер. — Москва : ФЛИНТА, 2017. — 112 с. — ISBN 978-5-9765-1471-3. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/119298 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Duchak, Alicia. An a-Z of Modern America, Taylor & Francis Group, 1999. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=168465.