Study With Me : American Studies Course Week 4-7

American Studies Course

Duration : 7 meetings with one final examination
Credits : 1,5 credits

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_{Photo of person studying via pexels by @fotografierende}

For the previous week, check here : Week 1-3

Fourth Week

Topic : Language and accent
Sub topic : different accents and diversity in the USA
Status : Present

There were several topics learned during this class. This time, the was no presentation but only group sharing session of their findings about accent. My group picked southern accent because we thought it was unique. Strangely enough, we also associate that accent with redneck which something we learned in the class as well.

We also got to learn about the difference between dialect and accent. In short, dialect is variety of way to speak of a language. Meanwhile accent is the way we put our tones and syllables.

Further, the class also discussed about language as one of identity marker and there was a question, does it bother you when someone speak their native language in front of you? I will answer this question under commentary. Then, we further learn about stereotypes as well when it comes to language. And the class ended by discussion about stereotypes Indonesian have around when it comes to the different dialects we have here and how it compares to the US.

My Commentary

I was not really interested in this particular class. My interest grew only when I had to answer, does it bother you when someone speak their native language in front of you? Some of the students said yes, some said no.

My answer was, I did not feel bothered at all if someone speaks to me in their native language as long as they don’t talk to me. But if they talk to me, they better speak in language we both understand.

I have particular experience dealing with that kind of situation. I am often mistaken as someone who speaks Chinese or Tagalog perhaps because my appearance is rather questionable. I would fit and assimilate so well if I were in the Philippines or China. But that’s where the problem lies,I don’t speak the language. So, during my travel, some people from those country attempted to speak to me in those languages and no matter how I explain that I speak neither, they would still try. So, I mostly just smile and leave.

Other than that, I don’t care if someone speaks in their native language in front of me. However, during the class, students were showed a video about two Mexican speaking Spanish inside a retailer shop and a man was mad at them for speaking their language. There were similar cases as well but perhaps even the man said that he paid taxes, he shouldn’t care because the conversation did not involve him.

Fifth Week

Topic : Higher Education in the USA
Sub topic : history, system and admission
Status : Present

Recently we are seeing college scandal unveiled in American society. It was also on my timeline news for a while. Hence, the class was a good supplement for myself to understand further about the case.

Here are my notes :

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References

Asbury, C.A. et al. 1996. Encyclopedia of African-American Education. United States of America: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Eckel, Peter D, and Jacqueline E King. (2004, Nov 10).An Overview of Higher Education in the United States: Diversity, Access, and the Role of the Marketplace.Retrieved from: www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/An-Overview-of-Higher-Education-in-the-United-States.aspx.
Helin, J. R., Edward, J. R., & Moyen, E. (2019, March 9). Higher Education in the United States - HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, SYSTEM. Retrieved from STATEUNIVERSITY.COM: http://assets.press.princeton.edu/chapters/s10320.pdf
Higher Education in the U.S. (2019, March 9). Retrieved from Cleary University: https://www.cleary.edu/international/history-of-he/

My commentary

It was interesting because I get to explain to class about the problem with Harvard and Asian-American student issue. I think everyone should be accepted into college based on their merits not their racial background or any so called “privilege” card. Other than that, I don’t have much things to say nor comment about it.