Ольга Кравцова - Английский язык для специальных и академических целей: Международные отношения и зарубежное регионоведение. Часть 1

LISTENING 3 American 'Exceptionalism' an Outdated Concept http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ4vtkeO-sc

1. Psyche /'sAiki/ — the human soul, mind, or spirit

2. Belligerent — inclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive

3. Righteous /'rAitfss/ — morally good, virtuous

4. To assert — cause others to recognize (one's authority or a right) by confident and forceful behaviour

How is American exceptionalism manifested in international relations?

1. In what context did President Obama mention American exceptionalism in his speech at the UN General Assembly?

2. What meaning does the political analyst see behind the idea of American exceptionalism?

3. To what end did Obama, in the analyst's opinion, use the rhetoric?

4. Are ‘national pride' and ‘exceptionalism' similar notions?

5. How do ordinary Americans feel about their country's foreign policy?

6. What does the idea of collective global leadership embrace?

7. Does the analyst find it realistic?

8. In what way do modern wars differ from conventional wars, in the analyst's opinion?

9. What approach, in his view, can ensure a lasting peace in various regions of the world and globally?

1. Which of the views expressed by the political analyst do you share? On what points do you disagree?

2. Do you think his appearance on the Russia Today channel broadcast allowed him to stay evenhanded?

Unit II. US: from Democracy to Empire?

Individual work 1

STAGE 2

Write an abstract of the article (~100-120 words) for peer reviewing. See the Manual for guidelines.

Unit II. US: from Democracy to Empire?

STAGE 3

Team work

Form teams of two-three reviewers. Assign two (three) articles to each team. Make sure reviewers do not get the articles they have submitted! Each team is responsible for reading the abstracts of the articles and writing reviews of each article chosen.

Individual work 2

Read and analyse the article assigned to you. Write a short review based on the following criteria:

The article (or a text out of a book, etc.) should

1. be relevant to the topic;

2. contain information of a more enduring nature rather than “a one-day sensation”;

3. be appropriate in terms of the language (level of difficulty and useful vocabulary).

STAGE 4

Individual work 3

Peer reviewing

Read the abstracts and the reviews; make your suggestions on the inclusion.

Class work

As a class compare your suggestions and come up with the final list.

Ex. 10. Fill in the gaps with prepositions if necessary.

1. The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent ____ the people; that

... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed. (Thomas Jefferson)

2. We have always been deferential _____ the trial court as the fact finder, as the determiner of

the credibility of witnesses, and as the sole and final authority in all areas of life.

3. Many persons may reach adult age without having built protective immunity and are thus

susceptible ____ malaria.

4. About 100 U.S. soldiers have been confined _____their barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

near Tacoma, Washington.

5. Developing countries that are well endowed _____natural resources should use the revenues

to increase wages and employment, boost private and public sector.

6. Jefferson observed that a well-informed public is indispensable _____democracy's success.

7. On Monday the court observed that the action taken by the then government was not _____

conformity ____ the law.

8. Enlightened monarchs embraced ____ the principles of the Enlightenment, especially its

emphasis upon rationality, and applied them to their territories.

9. Management monitoring of employee network usage is something that does not easily conform _____ European ideas of data privacy.

10. The scientific community has too long invested time and attention in lamenting that policy is not relevant ____ science.

11. The factors that have inhibited ____ the promotion of women and minority faculty members

in the past will presumably continue to operate.

12. Norwalk city officials continue to tinker ____ legislation involving minimum water and sewer

usage rates.

Privacy is also important to Americans. The notion of (1)_______ privacy may make it difficult to make friends. Because Americans (2) ______ one's privacy, they may not go much beyond

a friendly “hello.” Ironically, it is usually the foreigner who must be more assertive if a friendship is to develop.

The rugged individualism valued by most Americans (3)_______ from our frontier heritage. For

much of our country's (4)_______, there was a frontier. That experience greatly (5)_______ American attitudes. Early (6)_______ had to be self-sufficient which forced them to be inventive. Their

success gave them an optimism about the future, a (7)_______ that problems could be solved. This

positive spirit (8)________ Americans to take risks in areas where others might only dream, resulting in tremendous (9)________ in technology, health and science.

The American frontier also created our (10)________: the self-reliant, strong-willed, confident

individual who preferred action to words and always tried to treat others (11)________. Many of

these characteristics are represented by the myth of the American cowboy, and the more modern versions personified in movies by John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Sylvester Stallone.

In addition to such basic American values as individual freedom, self-reliance, equality of (12)________, hard work, (13)________ wealth, and competition, we see a trend toward conserva

tion with an emphasis on recycling and preserving the environment. Also there is a greater sensitivity to cooperation on a more global (14)________.

No matter what changes the next century brings or whether you agree with American values, the opportunity to visit the United States and to (15)________ Americans first-hand is an experi

ence well worth the effort.

Unit II. US: from Democracy to Empire?

1. Специалисты предупреждали, что признание независимости края Косово вполне может вызвать эффект домино.

2. Закон о неправительственных организациях (The Non-Governmental Organisations Act)

угрожает свободе ассоциаций в Замбии, создавая ограничительный регулятивный режим для неправительственных организаций, и наверняка окажет неблагоприятное

влияние на развитие гражданского общества.

3. Кажется, люди не всегда улавливают разницу между «хорошо образованными» и «ум-

ными» людьми.

4. Как может страна, щедро наделенная природными ресурсами и человеческим капиталом, растранжиривать свое богатство?

Unit II. US: from Democracy to Empire?

5. Томас Джефферсон однажды заметил, что хорошо информированная общественность является необходимым условием успешной демократии.

6. Книга Уоррена Дина (Warren Dean) «Первая Волна» опровергает миф о мирных индейцах, живших в гармонии с природой до появления португальцев.

7. Безусловно, эта программа способствует обучению студентов, помогая их социальному и эмоциональному развитию.

8. Семья последнего императора России почитается Русской Православной Церковью как великомученики.

9. Некоторые европейцы считают, что россиянам присуще чувство патриотизма, при этом они подвержены влиянию имперской пропаганды.

10. Существует ряд факторов, которые препятствуют экономическому росту в Европе.

11. Многие американцы являются сторонниками (т.е. принимают эту идею) международного сотрудничества в космосе, особенно в области пилотируемых полетов (manned missions).

12. Подросток был заключен в тюрьму для малолетних преступников с ужасными условиями содержания (1 word).

1. By the end of January, the soldiers' supplies had come to an end. (RUN)

By the end of January, the soldiers ________________________supplies.

2. I'm sure he put his life at risk to save them. (HAVE)

He _________________________________at risk to save them.

3. I didn't mean to alarm you unnecessarily. (INTENTION)

I ___________________________________ yo u unnecessarily.

4. I have a feeling that I should stop exercising so much. (DOWN)

I have a feeling that I should _________________________ exercising.

5. As far as I know the company is still run by the man who founded it. (KNOWLEDGE)

To ________________________, the company is still run by the man who founded it.