1-AMERICAN-CULTURE-AND-GEOGRAPHY POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

American Culture powerpoint presentation gives you an overview about American Culture.
Etiquette
Specially if you are planning to work abroad

1. AMERICAN CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY

2. What is the importance of learning the American Culture and Geography To familiarize students with American Culture and Geography in order that they may understand the immense land area which involves geographical regions, regional characteristics, time zones, and other subtle cultural diversities.

3. NOT KNOWING THIS BASIC INFORMATION WILL LEAD TO Outbound calls (Operator-to-Customer) at odd hours due to lack of knowledge of US Time Zones Confusion over certain habits and behaviors of Americans that may lead to an irate client or losing the customer.

4. American clients are expecting: “an American Brand of Service ” What is an American Brand of Service? Knowing what the customers expect you to know: BASIC KNOWLEDGE of their homeland, in this case, The United States of America; and knowledge of American behavior.

5. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Often referred to as USA, America, United States or simply just US Named after the Italian Amerigo Vespucci. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in October 12, 1492.

6. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Consists of 50 states including the adjacent states of Alaska and Hawaii. Independence was recognized after the signing of the treaty of Paris in 1783. The triumph of America in world wars, it’s growing economy, influence in international affairs and its technological advancements make it the world’s most powerful nation-state.

7. LANGUAGE According to the latest American Community Survey, the top 5 languages spoken are: 1. English – 237.8 million 2. Spanish – 40.5 million 3. Chinese – 3.4 million 4. Tagalog – 1.7 million 5. Vietnamese – 1.5 million

8. LITERACY About 12% of children are enrolled in parochial or nonsectarian private schools. Just over 2% of children are home schooled Of Americans twenty-five and older, 84.6% graduated from high school 52.6% attended some college 27.2% earned a bachelor's degree 9.6% earned graduate degrees The basic literacy rate is approximately 99%

9. SEASONS IN USA SPRING SEASON Spring Festival is greeted with inherent to American nation joy and enthusiasm. Nature usually starts to wake between the ending of March and the beginning of April. The rich flora and fauna easily shakes off the compacted snow blanket and enjoys a gentle sun.

10. SEASONS IN USA SUMMER SEASON The summer period is considered the best time of the year, especially in the regions between Portland and Connecticut. Comfortable climatic conditions are created by favorable combination of high air temperature and humidity.

11. SEASONS IN USA AUTUMN SEASON Americans can enjoy a climatic event called "Indian Summer". In some southern states this is even the occasion for themed festivities. Also autumn is a time for celebration of Thanksgiving and Halloween.

12. SEASONS IN USA WINTER SEASON Winter is the time for Christmas Celebrations. Locals are having a special joy during winter holidays. This is the time for presents, exciting trips to unique places and lots of other entertainment. This period is a real fairytale on the vast continent.

13. US TIME ZONES STANDARD TIME – NOVEMBER TO MARCH DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME – APRIL TO OCTOBER 1:PM 2:PM 3:PM 4:PM 5:PM 6:PM Hawaii Alaska DST Pacific DST Mountain DST Central DST Eastern DST 1pm 2pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm

14. US TIME ZONES The United States uses eight time zones. From east to west they are the : Atlantic Standard Time (AST) Eastern Standard Time (EST) Central Standard Time (CST) Mountain Standard Time (MST) Pacific Standard Time (PST) Alaskan Standard Time (AST) Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HST) Samoa Standard time

15. US TIME ZONES There are four time zones in the contiguous states of the United States: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific .

16. DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME Known as DST Called “Summer Time” in some parts of the world Modern DST was first proposed in 1907 by William Willett. It maximizes the use of sunlight It helps save energy Help prevents accidents

17. DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. local time on the first Sunday in April. On the last Sunday in October areas on Daylight Saving Time return to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. Adding daylight to afternoons generally benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours. but it can cause problems for farmers and others whose hours depend on the sun. Extra afternoon daylight appears to reduce traffic fatalities; its effect on health and crime is less clear. An early goal was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting, formerly a primary use of electricity

18. THE 50 STATES OF USA

19. 50 STATES OF USA Alabama (AL) – Montgomery Georgia (GA) - Atlanta Alaska (AK) – Juneau Hawaii (HI) - Honolulu Arizona (AZ) – Phoenix Idaho (ID) - Boise Arkansas (AR) – Little Rock Illinois (IL) - Springfield California (CA) – Sacramento Indiana (IN) - Indianapolis Colorado (CO) – Denver Iowa (IA) - Des Moines Connecticut (CT) – Hartford Kansas (KS) - Topeka Delaware (DE) – Dover Kentucky (KY) - Frankfort Florida (FL) – Tallahassee Louisiana (LA) - Baton Rouge

20. 50 STATES OF USA Maine (ME) – Augusta Nevada (NV) - Carson City Maryland (MD) – Annapolis New Hampshire(NH) - Concord Massachusetts (MA) – Boston New Jersey (NJ) - Trenton Michigan (MI) – Lansing New Mexico (NM) - Santa Fe Minnesota (MN) – St. Paul New York (NY) - Albany Mississippi (MS) – Jackson North Carolina (NC) - Raleigh Missouri (MO) – Jefferson City North Dakota (ND) - Bismarck Montana (MT) – Helena Ohio (OH) - Columbus Nebraska (NE) – Lincoln Oklahoma (OK) - Oklahoma City

21. 50 STATES OF USA Oregon (OR) – Salem Virginia (VA) - Richmond Pennsylvania (PA) – Harrisburg Washington (WA) - Olympia Rhode Island (RI) – Providence West Virginia (WV) - Charleston South Carolina (SC) – Columb ia Wisconsin (WI) - Madison South Dakota (SD) – Pierre Wyoming (WY) - Cheyenne Tennessee (TN) – Nashville Texas (TX) - Austin Utah (UT) - Salt Lake City Vermont (VT) - Montpelier

22. THE CAPITAL OF USA – WASHINGTON DC (DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA)

23. WASHINGTON DC Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. It is coterminous with the District of Columbia (abbreviated as "D.C."). The city and the district are located on the banks of the Potomac River and bordered by the states of Virginia (to the west) and Maryland (to the north, east and south). The White House; Washington Monument; Jefferson Memorial; Lincoln Memorial; JFK Performing Arts Center; Capitol Hill; The Smithsonian Institute; The Vietnam Memorial

24. ATTRACTIONS The White House is the official home and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America.

25. ATTRACTIONS The Washington Monument is a large, tall white-colored obelisk at the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is a United States Presidential Memorial constructed to commemorate George Washington.

26. ATTRACTIONS The Lincoln Memorial , in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential memorial built to honor 16th President Abraham Lincoln. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior murals was Jules Guerin.

27. ATTRACTIONS The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center located on the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C.. It opened in 1971.

28. ATTRACTIONS Capitol Hill , aside from being a metonym for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington D.C. stretching easterly behind the U.S. Capitol along wide avenues.

29. ATTRACTIONS The Smithsonian Institution ( is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazine.

30. ATTRACTIONS The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall-USA) is an on-line Vietnam War memorial. It was started in 1996 by the veteran Alan Oskvarek who became disabled in the Vietnam War.

31. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

32. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FEDERAL -Governs the country as a whole and makes the laws that the entire country abides. STATE - Governs the state. The governor is the highest ranking official in this government. It acts as a government on its own, as a state, but it still falls under certain rules and regulations under the federal government. It has a system just like the federal government but works at a local level.

33. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT The Three Branches of the American Government LEGISLATIVE – Known as Congress , it consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It’s responsibility is to propose and pass laws. In the system of checks and balances , Congress can refuse to approve Presidential appointments. EXECUTIVE – This branch consists of the President of the United States of America, the Vice President, the cabinet and the thirteen departments and independent agencies. It’s responsibility is to enforce laws. JUDICIAL – It consists of the Supreme (highest) Court, 11 Circuit of Appeals and 94 District Courts. This branch explains and interprets laws. It has power over the other two branches because it can declare laws and actions unconstitutional.

34. FAMOUS US PRESIDENTS George Washington – 1789-1797, Led America’s continental Army to victory Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), and was elected the first president of the United States.

35. FAMOUS US PRESIDENTS Abraham Lincoln – 1861-1865 – was an American politician who was elected the 16 th President of the United States and was the first president from the Republican Party.

36. FAMOUS US PRESIDENTS Theodore Roosevelt – 1901-1909 – also known as T.R and to the public as the Teddy, (namesake of the “teddy” bear

37. FAMOUS US PRESIDENTS Ronald Wilson Reagan – 1981- 1989 – was the 40 th President of the United States (1981-1989) and the 33 rd governor of California (1967-1975). Reagan’s persuasive quotable speaking style earned Reagan the title “The Great Communicator”.

38. FAMOUS US PRESIDENTS William Jefferson Clinton – 1993 - 2001 – During the administration of Bill Clinton, the US enjoyed more peace and economic well-being that at any time in history. Clinton call for a great national initiative to end racial discrimination.

39. FAMOUS US PRESIDENTS George W. Bush Jr. – 2001- 2009 – Bush was first elected in the 2000 presidential election, and reelected for a second term in the 2004 presidential election. He previously served as the forty-sixth Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000 and is the eldest son of former United States President George Herbert Walker Bush.

40. FAMOUS US PRESIDENTS Barack Hussein Obama II – 2009 - 2017 The 44 th President of the United States. He is the first African-American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned after his election to the presidency in November 2008.

41. FAMOUS PRESIDENTS Donald John Trump – 2017 - 2021 is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in 1968.

42. FAMOUS PRESIDENTS Joe Biden – 2021 - Present Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 under Barack Obama and represented Delaware in the United States Senate from 1973 to 2009.

43. BASICS IN AMERICAN CULTURE

44. AMERICAN CULTURE The culture of the United States is a Western culture, and has been developing since long before the United States became a country. Today the United States is a diverse and multi-cultural nation.

45. AMERICAN CULTURE Its chief early influence was British culture, due to colonial ties with the British that spread the English language, legal system and other cultural inheritances. Other important influences came from other parts of Europe, especially countries from which large numbers immigrated such as Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Italy; the Native American peoples; Africa, especially the western part, from which came the ancestors of most African Americans; and young groups of immigrants. American culture also has shared influence on the cultures of its neighbors in the New World.

46. SAYINGS TO DESCRIBE AMERICAN CULTURE Live and Let Live… Americans love freedom and privacy. In a way that means they love to be left alone You Can’t Argue with Success Success is probably the most praised thing in American life. It relates to so many other characteristics of American life. Time Flies when You’re Having Fun Americans try to have as much fun as possible. Much of their fun comes from various kinds of entertainment, especially TV. Shop Till You Drop Most Americans shop as a form of recreation. Even if they are not shopping for anything in particular.

47. AMERICANS LOVE… THEIR COUNTRY - Americans are very patriotic. THEIR FREE TIME - Americans may not have much free time compared to people in some countries, but they value what they have. THE OUTDOORS - The US government protects large sections of land from development and preserves them for their enjoyment of all. SPORTS - The US probably has more professional athletes participating in a greater number of professional sports than any other country.

48. CULTURE AND VALUES EDUCATION Americans view education in a practical way that it is not just something learned within the confines of the classroom. Americans believe in lifelong learning that there are many continuing education programs offered by different schools and institutions.

49. EDUCATION Preschool KG-5th grade (Elementary School) 6th-8th grade (Middle School) 9th-12th grade (High School) Associate Degree (2 years) Bachelor’s Degree (4 years) Post Graduate Degrees

50. MONEY Penny Nickel Dime Quarter One Dollar Bill Five Dollar Bill 10 Dollar Bill 20 Dollar Bill 50 Dollar Bill 100 Dollar Bill

51. HOLIDAYS DAY CELEBRATION PURPOSE January 1 New Years Day December 25 Christmas Day October 31 Halloween 3 rd Monday of January Martin Luther King Jr. Day The world was shocked when Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Ever since, special memorial services have marked his birthday on January 15. 3 rd Monday of February President’s Day In the 1970s, Congress declared that in order to honor all past presidents of the United States, a single holiday, to be called Presidents' Day, would be observed on the third Monday in February.

52. HOLIDAYS DAY CELEBRATION PURPOSE Last Monday of May Memorial Day Memorial Day is a day for families and individuals to honor the memories of their loved ones who have died. Church services, visits to the cemetery, flowers on graves or even silent tribute mark the day with dignity and solemnity. This day also signals the beginning of summer with a three-day weekend to spend at the beach, in the mountains or at home relaxing.

53. DAY CELEBRATION PURPOSE 4 th of July Independence Day Independence Day is regarded as the birthday of the United States as a free and independent nation. Most Americans simply call it the "Fourth of July." It is a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks. The flying of the American flag is widespread. 1 st Monday of September Labor Day Its purpose is to honor the nation's working people. In many cities the day is marked by parades of working people representing the labor unions. Most Americans consider Labor Day the end of the summer, and the beaches and other popular resort areas are packed with people enjoying one last three-day weekend. For many students it marks the opening of the school year. HOLIDAYS

54. DAY CELEBRATION PURPOSE 2 ND Monday of October Columbus Day This day commemorates Italian navigator Christopher Columbus' landing in the New World on October 12, 1492. Most nations of the Americas observe this holiday on October 12, but in the United States, annual observances take place on the second Monday in October. The major celebration of the day takes place in New York City, which holds a huge parade each year. 2 nd Monday of November Veteran’s Day It honors veterans of all wars in which the United States has fought. HOLIDAYS

55. DAY CELEBRATION PURPOSE 4 th Thursday of November ThanksGiving Day The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts. After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, they turned for help to neighboring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion. HOLIDAYS

56. AMERICANS DINING HABITS What is American Food? Breakfast Lunch Dinner Eating Out Cooking In

57. TRANSPORTATION Cars Public Transportation Airlines Road System Driving System

58. HOW AMERICANS SHOP Grocery Shopping Shopping Malls Catalog Shopping On-line Shopping Super Stores (Walmart, Target) Payments made via Cash Check Credit card

59. POP CULTURE The state of California (particularly the Los Angeles area) is the center of a thriving motion picture industry, commonly referred to as Hollywood, with prominent film studios such as Warner Brothers, Paramount, and MGM annually creating high budget films that are widely distributed internationally and are popular with global audiences. Due to the worldwide popularity of American films, American actors are often among the world's most popular and easily identified celebrities. The popularity of American celebrities also tends to attract foreign actors and directors, many of whom, such as actor Russell Crowe and director Ang Lee become arguably as famous and successful as American-born stars.

60. HOLLYWOOD ICONS Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson ; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe award winning American actress, model, Hollywood icon, and sex symbol. She was known for her comedic skills and screen presence. She became one of the most popular movie stars of the 1950s and early 1960s. Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935–August 16, 1977), was an American singer, musician and actor. He is a cultural icon, often known as " The King of Rock 'n' Roll ", or simply " The King ".

61. HOLLYWOOD ICONS James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933) – December 25, 2006), commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business," was an entertainer recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music. He was renowned for his shouting vocals, feverish dancing and unique rhythmic style. James Dean - James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American film actor. Dean's status as a cultural icon is best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled high school rebel Jim Stark.

62. HOLLYWOOD ICONS Grace Kelly - Grace, Princess of Monaco née Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an Academy Award-winning American film and stag e actress who, upon marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in 1956, became Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, but was generally known as Princess Grace of Monaco. Angelina Jolie (born Angelina Jolie Voight on June 4, 1975) is an American film actor, a former fashion model, and a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. She is often cited by popular media as one of the world's most attractive and beautiful women and her off-screen life is widely reported. She has received three Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and an Academy Award.

63. HOLLYWOOD ICONS Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American pop music singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and author. Her debut album ...Baby One More Time , released in January 1999, propelled her to international stardom. It spawned its five singles, including "...Baby One More Time", which topped the Billboard Hot 100. She released her second studio album Oops!... I Did It Again in May of 2000 with similar success. Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16, 1958), better known as Madonna, is an American pop singer-songwriter, dancer, record, film producer, actress and a fashion icon. She is a multiple Grammy and Golden Globe-award winner, known for her ambitious music videos, stage performances and use of political, sexual, and religious themes in her work. Madonna is sometimes referred to as "the Material Girl" or "Queen of Pop" in the media.

64. HOLLYWOOD ICONS Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958 - 2009), commonly known as MJ as well as The King of Pop , is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and personal life have been a part of pop culture for almost 40 years.