Asian Studies Home Schools of Thought Art Lunar New Year Explore

Why study another culture?

Everyone who lives in the United States is either an immigrant or the descendant of immigrants. Today, many people in our country practice the customs of their homelands. From the earliest time, America has been a land of many peoples. This rich mix of cultures shapes every part of life in the United States today.

Knowledge of another culture includes understanding how that culture thinks and behaves; it gives you the ability to look at situations from another perspective. Studying another culture helps you understand the world around you.

Why study Asian culture?

Asian regions of the world have long been areas of exploration, trade, and cultural exchange. Asia is home to almost two-thirds of the world's population, and the birthplace of several of the world's major civilizations. China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

CULTURE is the patterns of behavior and thinking that people living in social groups learn, create, and share. In other words, culture is a way of life.

A peoples culture includes their beliefs, rules of behavior, language, rituals, art, technology, styles of dress, ways of producing and cooking food, religion, and political and economic systems.

Culture distinguishes one human group from others.

Welcome to the 5th grade Asian Studies site.
China
Japan
Malaysia
Thailand
Vietnam
Staggeringly vast and a land of great diversity, China, the world's most populous and third largest nation is more like a continent in itself than a country. The nation comprises five autonomous regions and twenty-two provinces, as well as Hong Kong, which is now titled a 'Special Administrative Region'. With a population of 126 million, Japan is one of the world's most densely populated nations. Japanese people are renowned the world over for their strong work ethic, a trait supported by the intense cooperation between government and industry. The Japanese culture is filled with ceremony, respect, and politeness. The richness of Vietnam's origins is evident throughout its culture. Today there are about 75 million people in Vietnam. The most important festival of the year is Tet, a week-long event in late January or early February that heralds the new lunar year and the advent of spring. Celebration consists of both raucous festivity (fireworks, drums, gongs) and quiet meditation. One of the wealthiest and best developed countries in South East Asia, Malaysia's ethnically diverse mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian people make it a fascinating country. The nation's impressive infrastructure, coupled with beautiful scenery, make travelling more of a pleasure than a chore. The Kingdom of Thailand is a country rich in culture and heritage, famed for its wealth of temples, mines and artifacts. The Thai people, though independent (Thailand has never been colonized) are renowned for their charm and friendliness. Because of this, their homeland is often referred to as 'The Land of Smiles'.

According to the Freeman Foundation

  • Asia is of increasing importance to America's economic well-being and global security, making knowledge of Asia increasingly vital to our future success.
  • American familiarity with the unique cultures of Asia is severely lacking in comparison with Asians' familiarity with American culture. In contrast to the approximately 5,000 Americans studying in East and Southeast Asia, there are over 250,000 students from East and Southeast Asia studying in the United States.
  • There are not enough Americans who can communicate effectively in the less commonly taught languages of East and Southeast Asia. Only through first-hand experience can one acquire the level of language fluency necessary to communicate effectively in a global environment.
  • American business is deeply involved in Asia yet there are not enough American professionals who are knowledgeable about Asia.
  • The 21st century will demand that Americans have international experience and expertise in order to advance in the workplace.
  • Understanding the differences between Asian and American cultures helps each of us see our own culture with greater clarity.