Cultural education approaches and outcomes

¶ … Values Americans Live by." This is a reflection should include how you relate or not to the concepts suggested in the article. I understand that the article was written in 1988, however, many of the topics still are present today.

After reading the article "Values Americans Live By," which was written by L. Robert Kohls in 1988, I found myself thinking about what the term "values" truly means. I believe Dr. Kohls is referring to the customs, beliefs and attitudes which drive a culture's behavior. Kohl confirms this in the article when he states "the different behaviors of a people or culture make sense only when seen through the basic beliefs, assumptions and values of that particular group" (1988). In the case of American society, Kohls makes it clear that the most important value for Americans is perhaps their lack of values, which simply means Americans believe themselves to be independent from national or cultural influences. While I'm not sure I agree entirely with this assertion, I understand how the author could come to that conclusion. For foreign visitors to America, the concept that each person believes that their individuality to be their most important value can be confusing, because the majority of Eastern cultures place a great emphasis on the collective well-being of the entire society. I particularly enjoyed Kohls' discussion about how foreign visitors to America can better understand their hosts by attempting to understand their particular set of 13 values, because I would hope Americans visiting other countries and cultures would do the same.

2.) You are an instructor in a course to prepare re-entry adults for the workplace. You have a student, Lee, who is interviewing for a receptionists position. Lee asks you for advice on interviewing techniques and any suggestions you may have on making the interview a success.

Lee has a very strong accent and, at times, uses cultural slang in her speech.

Do you mention this when advising Lee on her interview techniques? What stereotypes do we assume when someone speaks with an accent?

For anybody struggling to learn a new language, the matter of a distinct accent can often leave them feeling insecure and afraid to speak unless necessary. As job interviews are obviously a necessity for people hoping to secure long-term employment, it is important for Lee to balance her issues with a heavy accent with the need to succeed in her job interview. Therefore, I would mention the issue to Lee, while respecting her cultural heritage and understanding that an accent is simply the sign of somebody trying hard to speak a new language correctly. Unfortunately, the common stereotype held by native-language speakers is that people with strong accents are not intelligent, lacking in education, or simply unwilling to improve their English language skills. As an instructor, it would be my responsibility to mention these stereotypes to Lee in an objective way, in order to provide her additional motivation to master English without the presence of a heavy accent. I would also be sure to remind her that the majority of interviewers do not hold these stereotypes, and that for the most part her chances of success while searching for a job will depend on her qualifications and ability to perform the work. Simply put, Lee should feel motivated to shed her strong accent, but she should also be calmed by the knowledge that even if she doesn't do so immediately, she is still quite capable of securing employment as an adult reentering the workplace.