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Preface to the Third Edition | |
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Acknowledgments | |
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Introduction | |
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On Understanding | |
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How Much Generalizing Is Acceptable? | |
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On Asking �Why?� | |
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How Americans See Themselves | |
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How Americans See Foreigners | |
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On Describing Americans | |
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General Ideas About American Culture | |
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American Values and Assumptions | |
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Individualism, Freedom, Competitiveness, and Privacy | |
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Equality | |
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Informality | |
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The Future, Change, and Progress | |
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Goodness of Humanity | |
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Time | |
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Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism | |
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Directness and Assertiveness | |
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The Communicative Style of Americans | |
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Preferred Discussion Topics | |
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Favorite Forms of Interaction | |
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Depth of Involvement Sought | |
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Channels Preferred | |
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Level of Meaning Emphasized | |
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Ways of Reasoning | |
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The Context | |
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The Point | |
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The Organization | |
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The Evidence | |
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The Cause | |
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Differences in Customs | |
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Variations in Customs | |
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U.S. Americans and Their Customs | |
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Customary Behaviors | |
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Specific Aspects of American Life | |
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Politics | |
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The Rule of Law | |
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The Ideal of Compromise | |
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Politics Apart | |
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Fundamental Fault Lines in American Politics | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Family Life | |
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What Foreigners Notice | |
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The Changing Family | |
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Parenting | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Education | |
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Guiding Ideals | |
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Social Forces Affecting American Education | |
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Issues Facing American Schools | |
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Advantages and Disadvantages | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Religion | |
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The General Context | |
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Religion and Individual Americans | |
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Exceptions | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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The Media | |
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What Is American About the American Media? | |
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Americans' Views of Their Media | |
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Misconceptions the Media Promote | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Social Relationships | |
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Meeting New People | |
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The American Concept of Friendship | |
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Relationships Prescribed by Roles | |
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Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Racial and Ethnic Diversity | |
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What International Visitors See | |
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How Americans View Race and Ethnic Relations | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Male-Female Relationships | |
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Influences on Male-Female Relationships | |
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Male-Female Relationships in Various Settings | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Sports and Recreation | |
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Sports | |
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Recreation | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Driving | |
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General Information | |
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Traffic Laws | |
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Attitudes About Driving | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Shopping | |
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Advertising | |
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Pricing | |
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Customer-Clerk Relationships | |
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Sales Tactics | |
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Procedures for Returning and Exchanging | |
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Private Sales | |
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Precautions for Shoppers from Abroad | |
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Personal Hygiene | |
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The Basics | |
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Variations | |
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Other Issues Concerning Hygiene | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Getting Things Done in Organizations | |
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Misconceptions | |
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Characteristics of U.S. Organizations | |
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Suggestions for Dealing with U.S. Organizations | |
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Behavior in Public Places | |
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Rules for Behavior in Public Places | |
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Communication Behaviors | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Studying | |
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Assumptions Underlying the Higher Education System | |
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Student-Student Relationships | |
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Student-Professor Relationships | |
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Roommate Relationships | |
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Plagiarism | |
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Suggestions for International Students | |
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Business | |
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Doing Business in the United States | |
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The Global Economy | |
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Suggestions for International Businesspeople | |
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Healthcare | |
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Cultural Underpinnings | |
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Political Ramifications | |
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Suggestions for International Visitors | |
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Coping with Cultural Differences | |
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Some Helpful Ideas | |
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Intercultural Competence | |
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Expectations | |
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Personality Characteristics | |
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Traits and Situations | |
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Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustment | |
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D-I-E | |
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Activities for Learning About American Culture | |
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Ask Questions | |
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Learn and Practice Local English | |
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Take Field Trips | |
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Talk with Experienced Expatriates | |
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Keep a Journal | |
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Learn the Names of Local and Institutional VIPs | |
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Read, Reflect | |
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View Yourself as a Teacher | |
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Conclusion | |
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References and Suggested Readings | |
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American Culture | |
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Intercultural Relations | |
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Readings for Students | |
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Readings for Business and Professional People | |
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English-as-a-Foreign-Language Texts | |
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About the Authors | |