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living in the USA

individual work Individual achievements, rather than group accomplishments, are highly valued in the United States. Students are expected to submit work they have done themselves unless otherwise stated by the instructor. Any work students are asked to do will have to be completed by a certain date. You are required to submit the work by this deadline date.

plagiarism Because individual work is highly valued, you must be sure that when you are researching an academic paper, you note whose ideas you are expressing. Copying the work of a classmate or using references without citing them are both considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is a form of cheating and a very serious offense in the United States. If you are caught cheating at Johnson & Wales, you may be dismissed from your class or suspended from the University.

examination In many countries, students must pass rigorous university entrance exams, but tend to have a relaxed university system once enrolled. The opposite is true in the United States. Almost all students are eligible for a university degree, but once enrolled, students are required to work hard to excel. Most exams in the United States are written rather than verbal and will occur throughout the term.

student/teacher relationships Relationships between students and teachers are vastly different than in other countries. The American classroom is usually very interactive with discussion between students and the professor. Generally, Americans prefer informality and some professors may even ask you to call them by their first name. Professors expect students to question their ideas and will often base a portion of your grade on class participation. Students are encouraged to participate and ask questions. In addition, professors will hold office hours when students are able to visit and ask additional questions.

some helpful advice on american life Activities such as picnics and outings to historical sites provide excellent opportunities to learn about the American way of life and make friends with people in the community. Since customs in America may differ greatly from customs in your country, it is important to be aware of the differences and to take the opportunity to learn from your hosts, as they will learn from you. By educating and sharing our customs and cultures with each other, we will all be contributing to greater understanding among people around the world. Listed below are a few basic American customs.

invitation When invited to a specific event (time, date, and place is stated), it is polite to respond with a definite answer. If you agree to attend and later find that you are unable to go, it is expected that you notify the host/hostess as soon as possible. If you plan to bring along someone else who was not invited, ask for your host's permission first.

time Americans are very time conscious. When invited somewhere or when meeting someone at a designated area, it is very important that you arrive exactly on time or even a few minutes early. Most Americans have little patience for people who are consistently late.

introductions and greetings It is proper to shake hands when introduced with both men and women. Look them in the eye and smile when doing so. Greetings such as "How are you?" and "What's up?" should not be taken literally. These expressions mean the same as "Hello." Also, when people say "See you later,"  they really mean "Good-bye."

thank you notes A written thank you note sent a few days after a visit or receipt of a gift is always appreciated.

visiting Unless instructed otherwise, it is always a good idea to call before visiting.

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