View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Almería (Spain) [Society, Culture and Tradition in the US through Four Filmic Versions ] de [Manuel Doñas Salinas] TRABAJO PARA EL TÍTULO DE MÁSTER Entregado en la Secretaría de Humanidades de la Universidad de Almería como requisito parcial conducente a la obtención del título de MÁSTER EN ESTUDIOS INGLESES: APLICACIONES PROFESIONALES Y COMUNICACIÓN INTERCULTURAL 2011 ITINERARIO: Investigación y Docencia Manuel Doñas Salinas José R. Ibáñez Ibáñez Nombre estudiante y D.N.I. Nombre director TFM y D.N.I. Firma estudiante Firma director TFM 14 de junio de 2011 Almería 14 de junio de 2011 Almería Fecha Ciudad Fecha Ciudad CONTENTS SUBJECTS ABSTRACTS Strategies for Communication in English ............................................................ 1 British and American Culture and Tradition ........................................................ 3 Oral Communication, Social, Cultural, Linguistic and Psychological Aspects ...................................................................................................... 4 English as an Intercultural Vehicle ...................................................................... 6 Research Methods in Applied Linguistics ........................................................... 8 Computer Resources for Teaching and English for Translation ......................... 9 Methods in Linguistic Research .......................................................................... 11 Methodology for Teaching English ..................................................................... 12 English for Specific Purposes ............................................................................. 14 Research in the English Classroom: Theory and Practice .................................. 15 Linguistic Analysis and Cultural Analysis of Print Advertising in English ............ 17 Art, Literature and the Mass Media in English Studies ....................................... 18 Landmarks in Contemporary English and American Literatures ......................... 20 Cultural Studies: Narrative, Identity and Genre .................................................. 22 Other cultures in English speaking countries ...................................................... 23 New Trends in Literature Written in English........................................................ 25 […] ii RESEARCH 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... Pg. 28 2. American Values and Beliefs: A Brief Introduction ......................................... Pg. 32 2.a. Where American Beliefs and Values Come From ............................... Pg. 32 2.b. Society and Values in the US .............................................................. Pg. 36 2.c. Social Structure ................................................................................... Pg. 37 3. The Documentary: Michael Moore .................................................................. Pg. 41 3.a. Bowling for Columbine ........................................................................ Pg. 41 3.b. Fahrenheit 9/11 ................................................................................... Pg. 54 3.c. Conclusions ......................................................................................... Pg. 66 4. Racism............................................................................................................ Pg. 72 4.a. Crash (2004) ....................................................................................... Pg. 72 4.b. Gran Torino (2008) .............................................................................. Pg. 82 4.c. Conclusions ......................................................................................... Pg. 91 5. Final Conclusions ........................................................................................... Pg. 93 Works Cited ........................................................................................................ Pg. 97 […] iii Subjects Abstracts 1. Strategies for Communication in English Lecturers: García Sánchez, María Elena and Bretones Callejas, Carmen María 1.a. Objectives. The main objectives of this subject were for students to develop and acquire the skills and techniques necessary to communicate themselves in the English language at an upper-intermediate level (according to the Common European Framework of Languages, at a B2/C level). By obtaining these objectives, students will be able to improve their comprehension and expression of the communicative skills in both oral and written levels and they will be able to apply them in practical fields such as academic and professional. 1.b. Methodology. The methodology followed in this subject was a mixture of theoretical explanations on the different skills involved in the English language, i. e., writing, reading, listening and speaking, powered with the use of visual material used to clarify the comprehension and understanding of those explanations. Several practical activities were done during the sessions by both lecturers. 1.c. Commentaries on the subject. During the teaching of this subject, the so-called four skills were developed beyond the limits of practice field until reaching the most important and relevant theoretical points nowadays. Apart from the most theoretical explanations, we had the 2 Manuel Doñas Salinas opportunity to learn some important traces in order to create and perform any type of production in the English language. One of the most important points of the first part of the subject (the one which was taught by Mrs. García) was the different types of genres involving the writing skill and the importance of Academic Writing for the future investigations and research done by students. The other part of this very first part was about the speaking skill and the most important points were related to the abilities within that skill: the Production Skills. Although they can be applied in both skills (writing and speaking), their importance increases in the oral field, for example with negotiation skills. On the other part of the subject, the one which was taught by Mrs. Bretones, we saw the different points involving the two remaining skills: reading and listening. Apart from the most theoretical aspects of each skill, the most interesting point in this part of the subject was the one related to cognitive issues in both skills. The most recent tendencies in linguistics applied to communicative strategies marked an important part of the subject. Regarding to the process of evaluation, students did some short practices about the specific theoretical points which were being acquired at that time. These short activities helped students to set the knowledge previously learnt and they were quite positive for the future tasks we had to do: an essay about writing and speaking and an examination about the theoretical aspects of reading and listening. For the essay I chose to develop an analysis of oral speeches (particularly one given by John F. Kennedy) from the point of view of Academic Writing and the importance of speaking skills in order to obtain a wished purpose. I personally have found this subject very interesting in terms of how to produce a proper academic piece of paper. Taking into account that I decided to study the part of this master which was attached to investigation and teaching, the theoretical explanations and the traces for producing a piece of paper according to the academic style have been very useful. Apart from that, the sessions dedicated to cognitive linguistics in reading and listening were also of much interest. In summary, the possibility of learning the basic traces for the production of an academic work and the new material involving cognitive linguistics, apart from the extended information “Society, Culture and Tradition in the U.S. through Four Filmic Versions” 3 received about reading, writing, speaking and listening are crucial for our future as researchers and/or lecturers. 2. British and American Culture and Society Lecturers: Fernández Sánchez, José Francisco and Ibáñez Ibáñez, José Ramón. 2.a. Objectives The main objective of this subject was to develop the students’ knowledge about the two most important and influential countries in the English speaking world. The context and background contemplated general and specific aspects of both countries very useful in order to make the students become aware of the most important points of the history, culture and society of these countries in the last 30 years. 2.b. Methodology In both parts, the methodology included theoretical explanations on each country divided in certain topics involving politics, religion, communications or race and ethnicity (each of the topics belonged to a specific country, not to both). These theoretical explanations were supported with audiovisual content and powerful quotations which reinforced the content of the units. 2.c. Commentaries on the subject Each country (UK and the US) starred four different units involving the most important facts in the last three decades. Immigration, the Northern Ireland issue and Mass Media belonged to the theoretical content of UK. Religion, Race and Ethnic Groups and the US Foreign Policy belonged to the theoretical content of the US as well. Both countries shared the same topic about Politics, paying special attention to the last