A useful way of organizing global history survey courses for undergraduate students is to emphasize the theme of long-distance trade across cultural or civilizational frontiers. Three analytic models accentuate the importance of long-distance trade: (1) the typology of exchange by Karl Polanyi; (2) the concept of the trade diaspora as defined by…

This paper suggests that the study of holidays presents an opportunity for elementary school teachers to employ a range of social science disciplines and to teach their students the fundamentals of inquiry and critical thinking. The study of holidays from a cross-cultural perspective helps students to understand that peoples of all cultures find…

This paper examines universalism and particularism in the context of following traffic rules and cross-cultural communication in Taiwanese and U.S. adults. A universalist culture such as the United States emphasizes rules; the particularist culture of Taiwan emphasizes relationships. Universalists follow the rules no matter what; particularists…

It has been suggested that the learning of a second language is not only a practical matter, as is commonly emphasized in discussion about language teaching, but is equally an experience of cultural initiation, particularly through the appreciation of literary texts in that language. The first part of this paper reviews educators' ideas about…

The integration of pluralism into the general education curriculum has long been a goal of the community college. The audiovisual resources of the college library can be particularly useful in examining and exploring other cultures, and in breaking down the barriers between members of one culture and "the other," that is, those on the other side…

It is predicted that the apparent trend toward the reinstatement of literature within language courses will continue, and student involvement in the creative process is advocated. A small project carried out at the Guangzhou Institute of Foreign Languages in China is described. (19 references) (LB)

Even as community college instructors increasingly find their classrooms filled with students who lack the most basic knowledge about other countries, they are confronted with questions about the need for community college students to become involved in intercultural education. Changes in global economics, population composition, and international…

Group communication and processes may be affected by differing cultural and racial backgrounds of group members. To assess these influences and to evaluate course offerings in group dynamics, six foreign and non-white student participants in the Group Practicum at Columbia University were interviewed individually for 1 hour. To balance the…

Rationale and techniques for incorporating global environmental education into second language instruction are discussed. The approach suggested combines infusion of environmental issues into the curriculum and presentation of a global perspective on environmental problems and their solutions. Six concepts of global education are outlined:…

A study of the influence of the writer's social and cultural background and training on the organization of his or her writing was studied in essays written by two groups of students: Chinese students at the Beijing Institute of International Relations and the Xian Foreign Language Institute and foreign students in the United States. The essays…

As recently as the early 1980's, the overwhelming majority of community college presidents and trustees were far from endorsing international education on their campuses. However, the increased involvement of the United States in the global economy, growing numbers of foreign students, and interest in community colleges from government officials…

This guide seeks to provide a closer look at the diversity found within central Texas and the borderlands and offers a good general background to understanding some of the challenges facing the region. The book is divided into two parts with articles and lesson plans written by several authors. Part 1, "Views and Viewpoints," includes:…

This paper documents the development of community mental health (CMH) in New Zealand and makes comparisons with the United States. It is argued that the present New Zealand situation bears some similarity to that existing in the United States during the 1960's. The ideology of 'community mental health' is gaining popularity among professional and…

Current approaches to teaching culture which have adapted the anthropological model to contemporary life situations can serve as a guide to the organization of traditional civilization course material, from which exercises can be developed. Culture instruction should incorporate a cross-cultural dimension, be authentically contemporary, and be…

References and scenes from literature that portray objectively the social elements and patterns of a culture are recommended to teach readers about typical situations and modes of behavior. This is a way of introducing the reader not only to common sociocultural patterns, but also to the cultural traits peculiar to situations that are…