United States Culture

CULTURE

Poll

Have you ever eaten food that wasn’t part of your family’s usual meals?

• Yes!

• No 😝

• Not Sure

Some people wear saris.  Others wear denim jeans.  Some people eat cereal and milk for breakfast;  others eat pickled fish.  Some people go to church on Sunday morning; others kneel and pray to Allah five times a day.

All these differences are expressions of culture.

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​WHAT IS CULTURE?

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Culture is the way of life of a group of people. It includes the things people believe, do, and create.

Culture can include:

**The language people speak

**The food they eat

**Their clothing and traditions

**The music, dances, and art they enjoy

**Their religions, holidays, and values

Every group of people has a culture, and it can be shared, learned, and passed down from one generation to the next.

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Culture

ELEMENTS OF CULTURE

Language is a big part of culture. It’s the way people communicate with each other—by speaking, writing, or even using signs or symbols.

Language is important because it helps people:

• Share ideas and feelings

• Tell stories and history

• Teach others

• Keep traditions alive

There are thousands of languages in the world. Some people speak more than one language, and that’s called being bilingual or multilingual.

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What is Language in Culture?

Even people who speak the same language might use different words, accents, or slang depending on where they live. For example, in the U.S., some people say “soda” and others say “pop”—but they both mean the same thing!. American French Fries are British Chips, American cookies are British biscuits

Food is more than just something we eat—it’s a big part of culture! Different cultures have different types of food. The food people eat often depends on: Where they live (the climate and land), What ingredients are available, and Their traditions and beliefs.

Food can show what’s important in a culture. For example:

Some cultures eat rice with almost every meal.

Others have special dishes for holidays or celebrations, like turkey on Thanksgiving or dumplings during Chinese New Year.

Some people don’t eat certain foods because of their religion or customs.

Food is also a way people share their culture. When you try food from another culture, you are learning about their way of life.
Cultures also have differences in how people eat. Some people eat with forks and spoons; more people use fingers or chopsticks. In some countries, licking the fingers is polite; in others, licking the fingers is considered impolite.

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Food

TURN AND TALK WITH YOUR SHOULDER PARTNER

Think about a time you tried a food from a culture different from your own. How did it taste, and what did you think about the experience?

• Take Turns Talking – Partner A shares first while Partner B listens. Then switch.

• Use Complete Sentences – Begin with “One time I tried…” or “I think foods from other cultures are…”

• Listen and Respond – After both partners share, respond with something you found interesting about what your partner said.

TURN AND TALK QUESTION

Music is a fun and powerful part of culture. It’s a way people express their feelings, tell stories, and celebrate special times. Every culture has its own kind of music.

Music is often used in:

• Holidays and festivals

• Religious ceremonies

• Weddings and funerals

• Dances and celebrations

Some cultures use drums, others use flutes, guitars, or even their voices in special ways. Even though music sounds different around the world, it’s something every culture has. It brings people together and helps them feel connected.

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​Music

Clothing is more than just what people wear to stay warm or look nice—it’s also a big part of culture.

Different cultures have different types of clothing. What people wear can depend on: The weather or climate where they live, Religious or traditional beliefs, Special occasions or celebrations.

For example:

• In some cultures, people wear bright colors and patterns.

• Others might wear special clothing for holidays, like a kimono in Japan or a sari in India.

Some clothing is worn every day, and some is only for ceremonies, like weddings or coming-of-age events.

Clothing tells a story about who people are, where they come from, and what they value.

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​Clothing

Customs and traditions are the special ways people in a culture do things. They are passed down from parents to children over many years.

A custom is something people do regularly, like a habit or routine. For example: In many cultures, it’s a custom to take off your shoes before entering someone’s home. This shows respect and helps keep the house clean. It’s something people in that culture learn to do from a young age, and it becomes part of their everyday life.

A tradition is a custom that is shared by a group of people and celebrated over time. For example: Decorating a Christmas tree every December during Christmas time. Celebrating birthday parties with cake and singing “Happy Birthday.”

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​Customs and Traditions

Multiple Choice

A way of life shared by a group of people is known as

• culture
• community
• society
• similarities

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of elements of culture? (CHECK 4 CORRECT ANSWERS)

• Food

• Clothing

• Languages

• Religious Practices

• A person's favorite color

You may not have known it, but you interact with other cultures every day.

Eating pizza that originated in Italy, listening to K-Pop music from Korea, or using words from other languages.

Cultural diffusion is when ideas, customs, beliefs, or things from one culture spread to another culture. It’s how cultures share and learn from each other.

This can happen when people: Travel to new places, Trade goods with others, or Use technology like the internet or TV.

Cultural Diffusion

Multiple Choice

What is cultural diffusion?

• When people forget their culture

• When cultures become exactly the same

• When ideas and customs spread from one culture to another

• When people stop celebrating holidays

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of cultural diffusion?

• Taking a walk on a nature trail

• Students try Korean kimchi after seeing it on TikTok.

• 
  Storms in both Canada and Brazil

• Skiing down a mountain

People living in Spanish Harlem in New York City or Little Havana in Miami live in a cultural region.
A cultural region is like a neighborhood where people have similar ways of doing things, like the same holidays, foods, and clothing. It’s a big area where the people share the same culture, which means they have common beliefs, traditions, and practices.

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Culture Region

​Spanish Harlem in New York City

Because of its location and history, the Rio Grande Valley has a mix of American and Mexican cultures, making it a unique culture region.
People in this region share many cultural traits, such as:

Language: Many people speak both English and Spanish.

Food: Traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex foods like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales are very popular.

Celebrations: People celebrate Mexican holidays like Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Music and Dance: Styles like Tejano music and folk dances are common.

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​Cultural Region

Dropdown

A part of the world where people share similar culture traits is a ​

Select answer

Some countries are multicultural.
Multiculturalism means many different cultures living together in the same place. People keep their own traditions, foods, languages, and celebrations — and share them with others.

Example:
In a big city, you might eat tacos from Mexico one day, sushi from Japan the next, and celebrate Lunar New Year with friends — that’s multiculturalism!

​Multiculturalism

Needless to say, however, just how people live their lives often varies from culture to culture.

Sometimes these differences are minor. And sometimes they’re great.

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​Cultural Differences

Promotes Respect: Learning about other cultures helps us appreciate and respect different ways of life.
Take, for example, something as basic as food. Across many cultures in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, it is commonplace to eat with one’s hands.

Traditionally, the left-hand is considered unclean or unholy. Therefore, it is customary for one to use their right-hand to eat.

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Why is Understanding Cultural Differences Important?

Even though these differences might seem unusual, they are what make each culture unique and interesting.

Learning about these differences helps us understand and respect each other better! Sometimes not understanding another culture's differences can lead to misunderstandings. Take a look at the commercial for an example.

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​In England, it is impolite not to finish the food on your plate. In China, it's considered rude to eat everything on your plate. That means that the host hasn't done a satisfactory job of providing enough food and can make them feel bad.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a cultural difference?

• Everyone in the world eats sandwiches

• Some people use chopsticks while others use forks

• All people wear the same clothes

• Everyone speaks the same language

Match

Correctly match the following terms with its definition

• The traditions I follow and foods I eat are important parts of my

• I went to a concert that featured music and instruments from many different cultures

• I went to a McDonalds in Jerusalem. The spread of American businesses to Israel is an example of

Culture

Multiculturalism

Culture Diffusion

• Culture

• Multiculturalism

• Culture Diffusion

The culture of the United States is special because it’s made up of many different cultures from around the world. People from many countries have moved to the U.S., bringing their own languages, foods, music, and traditions.

Because of this, U.S. culture is often called a “melting pot” or a “salad bowl”:

• A melting pot means cultures blend together into one.

• A salad bowl means cultures stay unique but live together in one place.

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​American Way of Life

Language: English is the main language, but many people also speak Spanish, Chinese, and others.

Holidays: People celebrate national holidays like the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving, and also holidays from their own cultures.

Food: American food includes things like burgers and hot dogs, but you’ll also find foods from many other cultures—like tacos, sushi, and pizza!

Values: Many Americans value freedom, equality, and individual rights.

Music and Movies: The U.S. is known around the world for pop music, hip-hop, and Hollywood films.

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Common Parts of U.S. Culture

Culture shock is what happens when you go to a new place—like a different country or even a different part of your own country—and things feel really strange or confusing at first.

It’s like this: imagine you’re used to eating with a fork and knife, but then you go somewhere where people eat with chopsticks or their hands. Or maybe you're used to saying “hello” with a wave, but in the new place people bow or hug instead. It can feel surprising, confusing, or even a little uncomfortable.

Culture shock happens because you're used to one way of living, and suddenly you're surrounded by a new way that you don’t understand yet.

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Culture Shock

​The "Lost Boys of Sudan" are a group of youth who fled civil war in their country of Sudan, and were eventually resettled in the United States.

In the United States, the Lost Boys faced many challenges while adapting to their new lives. The next slide is a clip is from the documentary on their experiences. Note that culture shock they go through.

Culture Shock

cultural differences trivia

Multiple Choice

What happens if you praise a object too enthusiastically in Greece?

• You will be blessed with good fortune.
• You will receive a gift from the gods.
• The host will insist on giving it to you.

• You will be invited to a local festival.

Multiple Choice

What’s the right way to ask a chef for ketchup in France?

• Excusez-moi, puis-je avoir du ketchup, s'il vous plaît?
• Can I get some ketchup, please?
• I would like ketchup, thank you.
• There is no right way. Asking for ketchup is rude, meaning you do not like the food the way it was prepared.

Multiple Choice

How do people in the Inuit culture greet one another?

• A bow with a slight nod
• Inuit people greet one another with a nose kiss called 'kunik'.
• A handshake with a firm grip
• A wave from a distance

Multiple Choice

In China, why should you burp after a meal?

• You should burp to show that you did not care for the food.

• You should burp after a meal as a sign of appreciation for the food.
• You can become ill if you do not.

• Burping is a way to signal that you are still hungry.

Multiple Choice

If you’re eating a whole baked fish in Poland, why shouldn’t you flip it over?

• It's a traditional to keep it faced one way.

• The noise it will make will disturb people around you.

• It's a sign of disrespect to the chef.

• it's considered bad luck, believed you will sink the fisherman's boat.

Multiple Choice

How do you show your host you like your meal in Japan?

• Leave a tip for the chef.
• Ask for a second serving immediately.
• Slurp your noodles. It compliments the chef, you couldn't wait to eat your food.

• Compliment the restaurant's decor.