Culture Wars in the USA

culture wars international
1. Germany
  1. 1870 - struggle between German nation-state and Roman Catholic Church
2. culture war is not an American invention
3. if society is polarised between two extremes
  2. for or against
  3. good or bad
4. Canada
  1. conservatism versus liberalism
Political debate in the last quarter of the 20th century and now (in the 21th century)
1. Does a woman have a right to demand an abortion or is the right to life more important?
2. Does the state have a right to take a life, to execute an individual with a lethal injection or similar means, or does the right to live have much higher value?
3. Should affirmative action or positive discrimination be the guiding principle in ensuring greater equality for black people and women, or should individuals only be chosen for jobs on the basis of individual merit?
4. Should two people of the same sex be entiteld to get married, or should the concept of marriage be limited to heterosexual couples?
5. Should guns be regulated and controlled like the use of cars?
  1. Cars are controlled: users need a license and they have to prove their driving skills
  2. "A well regulated militia being neccessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." American Constitution 1791
  3. Members of the NRA (National Rifle Association) own on average more than 50 guns per houshold
Helpful hint and tricks for the oral exam
1. Don't write down complete sentences
2. Pay attention to key words
3. Examiners
  1. There will normally be just one person who asks the questions (although the others can also join in)
  2. The other two have clearly defined roles as chairperson (who will give you the result of the examination when it is all over) and secretary (who keeps a record of everything that happens).
4. When you are asked to listen to a text close your eyes as you listen the first time. This will actually help you concentration because you will then be focusing only on what you hear and not thinking about the design of the playback equipment, or the dirty windows behind the examiners ...
5. Right at the end of your examination, leave the room with a polite word
  1. Thank you, I've enjoyed sharing my thoughts with you
  2. Thank you, I've found this exchange really stimulating
  3. Thank you, I enjoyed the whole experience more than I thought I would
  4. Thank you, have a nice day
6. If you make a mistake - correct it immediately
  1. I'm sorry, that's wrong. I should have said ...
  2. I don't think that's quite right. What I meant to say is ...
  3. Can I just come back to something I said before ...
7. You may not be able to put your finger on the precise word you want to use, but describe in a more general way what you had in mind
  1. I can't quite recall the exact word, but it's a bit like ...
  2. I don't know the correct expression for this in English but let me describe the situation for you ...
8. The examination is a dialogue. Therefore it is normal to interrupt the person who is speaking if you have something relevant to say or if you misunderstood something.
  1. Sorry to interrupt you, but ...
  2. Can I just correct that point ...
  3. I'm sorry to jump in here, but I just wanted to say that ...
9. As long as you are speaking, you keep the initiative. Don't be afraid to introduce any references that you consider relevant: a film, television documentary, repors in the media (e.g. radio, TV, Internet)
  1. That reminds me of ...
  2. I'd like to tell you about something else that might be relevant here ...

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Culture Wars in the USA

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	Created by Julia Standke about 6 years ago