VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

COURSE SYLLABUS
I. General information

1. Course title BRITISH & AMERICAN IDENTITY AND

LIFESTYLE
2. Course code NVA019.1

3. Type of course (compulsory, optional) Optional

4. Level of course Bachelor

5. Year of study (if applicable) 3

6. Semester when the course is delivered 6

7. Number of course credits allocated 3 credits (1 theoretical credit + 1 practical credit)

Independent study: 60 hours
8. Name of lecturer(s) N/A

9. Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance 10 face-to-face sessions

learning) 2 online sessions

10. Prerequisites Students are expected to have successfully completed the

courses of Language Skills 1, 2, 3 & 4, Introduction to
Culture & Society, and Introduction to Vietnamese Culture.
11. Language of instruction English

12. Work placement(s) N/A

II. Course overview

As a further and more detailed expansion of the course Introduction to Culture & Society, this course is
divided into 2 parts – British identity and lifestyle and American identity and lifestyle. In the first part, we
will examine what constitutes the British identity and focus on the various aspects of the British lifestyle.
The UK is not the leading country in the world in the field of arts, sports or popular culture but this
long-lasting monarchy does have its own charms to offer, especially to foreign students. In the second part,
we will examine what constitutes the American identity and consider different issues such as ethnicity,
gender, social class, political affiliation, religious background and regional varieties as well as how they
affect American identity. In addition, we will focus on the various aspects of the American lifestyle, from
media and communication to sports and entertainment, from food and drinks to fashion and clothing, etc.
III. Course learning outcomes
On completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. investigate the various aspects of the British-American identity and lifestyle;
2. research further and more in-depth into the British-American identity & lifestyle;
3. compare and contrast the British/American identity & lifestyle with those of the Americans/British
and/or the Vietnamese;
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 4. demonstrate positive attitudes to the field of study.

IV. Recommended or required readings: (available at English Resource Center, Faculty of English
Linguistics and Literature)

Part 1: British Identity & Lifestyle

1. Required materials
● Oakland J. (1998). British Civilization. An Introduction. London & New York: Routledge.
● O’Driscoll, J. (1997). Britain - The Country and Its people: An Introduction for Learners of
English. OUP.
2. Supplementary materials
● Crowther, J. (1999). Oxford Guide to Britain and American Culture. Oxford: OUP.
● Fuller, B. (2005). Britain – The Crown of Europe. Singapore: Times Edition.
● Mc Dowall, D. (1999). Britain in Close-up: An In-depth Study of Contemporary Britain.
Longman.
Websites:
● http://www.spearhead.com/0005-jt1.html
● http://www.britishhighereducation.com/Living_in_the_UK/08UK_Lifestyle.asp
● http://www.britishcouncil.org/poland-trenduk-couch_potatoes.htm

Part 2: American Identity & Lifestyle

1. Required materials
● Birkin, C. et al. (2015). Making America: A History of the United States.
● Stevenson, Douglas K. (1998). American Life and Institutions. Stuttgart: Ernst KLETT
Schulbuchverlage GmbHu Co.KG.
2. Supplementary materials
● Bigsby, C. (2010). The Cambridge Companion to Modern American Culture. Cambridge: CUP.
● Datesman, Maryanne K., Crandall, JoAnn, & Kearny, Edward N. (1997). The American ways: An
Introduction to American Culture. New York: Prentice Hall Regents.
● Duncan, R. & Goddard, J. (2003). Contemporary America. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Websites:
● http://www.digital History.com updated in Sept2006
● http://www.lifeintheusa.com/religion/index.html
● http://core.ecu.edu/soci/juskaa/soci2110/Lectures/Gender/sld001.htm
● http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/010/gender.html

V. Course contents and schedules

Sessions Course contents Required readings Planned learning

activities and
teaching methods
1. Course Introduction O’ Driscoll, J. Britain. Chapter 1, 4, Lecture
A. BRITISH IDENTITY 5. Group discussion
Geographical & Regional Identity Quizzes
Ethnic Identity & gender identity
2. Religious and Political Identity 1. O’ Driscoll, J. Britain. Chapter Lecture
1. Religion 12, 13. Group discussion
2. Politics 2. Oakland J. British Civilization. Roleplay
a. Domestic politics – Scotland, Chapter 5, 11. Story telling
Wales & Northern Ireland 3. Fuller, B. Britain. Chapter on
Religion.

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 b. Foreign policy, the Commonwealth
& EU
3&4 B. BRITISH LIFESTYLE 1. Fuller, B. Britain. Chapter on Lecture
Social Life Social Life, pp. 66 – 76. Group discussion
1. Family life 2. O’ Driscoll, J. Britain. Chapter Roleplay
2. Education 18, 19. Quizzes
3. Healthcare 3. O’ Driscoll, J. Britain. Chapter
4. Social Welfare 20, 23.
5. Food and Drink 4. Fuller, B. Britain. Chapter on
6. Fashion & Clothing Festivals & Food, pp. 116 – 132.
7. Holidays and Special Occasions

Presentation Assignment:
Some Comparisons with Vietnamese
Identity
5. Media, sports & entertainment 1. O’ Driscoll, J. Britain. Chapter Lecture
1. The press 16. Group discussion
2. Radio 2. Oakland J. British Civilization. Roleplay
3. Television Chapter 10. Film review
4. Music Read:
5. Theatre 1. Fuller, B. Britain. Chapter on
6. Film The Arts, pp. 92 – 104.
7. Sports 2. O’ Driscoll, J. Britain. Chapter
22.
3. Oakland J. British Civilization.
Chapter 12.
4. O’ Driscoll, J. Britain. Chapter
21.
6. - In-class midterm test (Or: School
visits + written report)

- Presentation Assignment
Comparing American, British and
Vietnamese Lifestyles
7. C. AMERICAN IDENTITY
Race & ethnic identity
Gender identity
1. Stevenson, American Life & Lecture
Institutions. Chapter 1, 2. Group discussion
2. Bigsby, C. The Cambridge Roleplay
Companion to Modern American Film review
Culture. Chapter 10, 11.
Short stories:
1. La Gringuita – On losing a
native language by Julia Alveraz
2. Everyday Use by Alice Walker
3. Who’s Irish by Gish Jen

Homework: watch the movie

Crash

Homework: watch the movie The

kids are all right.
8 Political & religious identity Discuss the readings and the Lecture
movie The kids are all right. Group discussion
Homework: watch the movie New News reading
in Town Film review
9. Geographical & Regional identity Cultural Regions of America – Lecture

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 Social class Raymond Gastil from Making Group discussion
America Quizzes
American Manners – Neil Harris
from Making America.
Discuss the readings and the
movie New in Town.
10 D. AMERICAN LIFESTYLE Stevenson, Douglas K. American Lecture
Social life in the US Life and Institutions. Chapter 9, Group discussion
10. Roleplay
Film review
Home assignment: watch the
movie Social network
11 Media, sports & entertainment Stevenson, Douglas K. American Lecture
Fashion & clothing Life and Institutions, Chapter 8, Group discussion
11 News reading
Discuss the readings and the Film review
movie Social Network
Discuss the readings and the
movie The fighter or The devil
wears Prada

Home assignment: watch the

movie The fighter or The devil
wears Prada
Home assignment: watch the
movie Julie & Julia
12 Food & drinks Discuss the readings and the Lecture
Holidays & festivals movie Julie & Julia Group discussion
Roleplay
Questionnaire
Review and reflection Checklist

VI. Assessment scheme

Assessment tasks Scores Weighting

A1. Midterm exam/ Group project 100 pts Mid-term score 30%

A2. Quizzes/Exercises 20 pts Final score 70%

A3 Presentation/Role Play/Talk show 30 pts
A4. Final test 50 pts
100 pts
100% (Passing Grade: 5/10)

(See detailed rubrics attached.)

VII. Course alignment matrix

Course learning Programme learning Teaching and learning Assessment tasks

outcomes (CLOs) outcomes (PLOs) activities
CLO 1 - Investigate the PLO2 – L2 Lecture Background knowledge
various aspects of the Discussion probe
Quizzes Preconception check
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British-American identity Game show Classroom opinion polls
and lifestyle. Analyzing films Empty outline
Telling stories Memory matrix
Minute paper
Categorizing grid
CLO 2 - Research further PLO4– L2 Research project Application cards
and more in-depth into the Student-generated test
British-American identity questions
& lifestyle. Project prospectus
Group-work evaluation
CLO 3 - Compare and PLO2 – L2 Roleplay/ Class modeling
contrast the Talk show/ Invented dialogues
British/American identity Presentation
& lifestyle with those of
the Americans/British
and/or the Vietnamese.
CLO 4 - Demonstrate PLO6- L3 Discussion Project
positive attitudes to the Presentation Quizzes/Exercises
field of study. Practice Presentation
Role Play/Talk show
Final test

VIII. Course policies

1. The course will be conducted in different modes including lecturing, discussion, practice, and
group presentation.
2. Attendance in all sessions is strongly recommended. Participants are required to give advance
notice of their absence in case of illness or any other situations. 80% is the minimum attendance
required for a student to take the final test.
3. Participants are expected to be well prepared and take an active role in class discussions and work
collaboratively with their peers.
4. Slides for presentation should be emailed to the instructor at least three days before the presentation
date.
5. For late submitted work, 5% of the component grades will be deducted per day.
6. Slides for presentation should be emailed to the instructor at least three days before the presentation
date.

Date of approval: January 2021

Approved by Designed by
Department of American-British
Culture and Literature

Nguyen Dang Nguyen, Ph.D.

Dean, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature