Ask an "Amurican"

#401

The most ridiculous one’s I’ve seen are the Canadian ones, which have graphically violent death scenes - they were all over the internet last year. I forget what drug they were propagandizing, but it was crazy over the top. Back in the day US cable had a PSA with stoners going to a drive-thru and then running over a kid on a bike, which coincidentally was fucking hilarious if you happened to be intoxicated while watching it.

If I had my druthers, we’d have PSA propaganda about things other than smoking, like vegetarianism or recycling.

#402

That’s strange because I’ve never seen that Canadian one on TV only on the tubes.

#403

From what I’ve seen the english have some of the most graphic drunk driving ads. I haven’t seen many over here as of late but in our school we have a lot of (repetative and annoying) stuff on the usual: Don’t do cocaine, marijuana, meth, don’t drink underage, have safe sex if any, don’t get addicted to anything, etc.

EDIT: English have pretty graphic anti-knife PSAs as well.

#404

Me too.

#405

whatever - i don’t watch TV in the US, let alone Canadian TV

#406

All ya’ll other Amuricans here.

Do you see the Meth Project commercials very often? It started in Montana, and here in Idaho we get a lot of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHGTqR9cLqs

I see them a lot, practically every commercial break. They tend to be pretty graphic/disgusting.

#407

I see one at least twice every day.

#408

What’s the level of knowledge you guys get at High School?

Not to stereotype again, I know everyone isn’t like this, but just citing my personal experiences with Americans; the Americans I’ve met seemed to have really low knowledge in a few areas (if not all at times), and yet they say that they had no problems in getting through High School (read: did not fail/got summer school or whatever).

By “low knowledge”, I mean as far as not knowing the difference between viruses/bacteria/fungi, or not knowing why viruses aren’t cells, in Bio, for instance, and stuff of the sort, which are like, really basic around here.

It seems you guys get to choose a few classes when going into High School, so you get some sort of specialization already, is that true? Around here, you have to take all classes in High School, so it’s pretty general; you only start specializing when you get into uni or choose an alternate “technical” High School course (don’t know how you guys call these, but basically you get ALL the classes from regular High School, plus a few specific of the area you choose to specialize in).

#409

Classes I’ve had so far (I’m a sophomore)
Geometry
algebra (halfway through)
Physics (taken freshman physics, taking AP physics)
chem (halfway through)
Ancient world history
US history (halfway through)
english (will have 4 years worth)
latin (will have 4 years worth)

will take before graduating:
Bio
Psych/neuro
modern world history
precalc
calc

there’s also stuff like art classes, music classes, engineering classes, etc.

will that really prepare me for the real world? Probably not.

#410

I’m not even in High school yet and I know this.

#411

Yeah, I learned that stuff in middle school. :wink:

#412

Not really. There is some emphasis on what you like doing, but it’s not like there is a course map laid out that will guide you into certain Uni majors.

When I was in 7th grade (2001) we had a “class wheel” where you would take pretty much every single “elective class” over the course of the school year, this wheel was to introduce you do every basic department there was. I found I was really good in the Tech class with the Drafting, design and manufacturing aspects.

By 9th grade (Freshman year of High School) I was taking the more advanced tech classes, it was a class for only about 20-25 or so students every year that went to a state tournament (called TSA) for various things like Computer Aided Drafting, Graphic Design, Architectural Home Modeling, Construction…basic stuff. The year I did it I came home with a few 1st place medals in the Construction, Graphic Design and Architectural Model.

So when I went into my Sophomore and Junior years I was taking Drafting classes. By my Junior year I was the teachers aid, which pretty much meant I taught the class, as the teacher was a lazy bastard.

Also in that same junior year I taught myself how to use Autodesk Inventor and Solidworks (Both 3D drafting programs) for a robotics class.

Now, I’m an Engineering Major at my Uni (Construction Management with a Business minor).

I take everything from Chemistry (done with that thank god) and Computer Science to Micro/Macro Economics.

What my little narrative is trying to say is, a student takes everything that’s needed to graduate (which includes X number of credits in physics and chemistry, X credits in maths, english, Physical Education…ect) the only classes a student REALLY gets to choose are the ones that may end up being completely worthless (like walking…yes my High School offered a walking class) to something awesome like Drafting.

A student chooses their focus on their own accord.

#413

I don’t know about you, but I had learned about fungi, cells, viruses, bacteria, genus and species, etc., in the 7th grade. (As said before, before high school)

America’s educational system is not one you will be able to find worse (in terms of what we learn, how much we learn, and when we learn it,) than that of most other industrialized nations.

#414

Were are.

I’m sorry, but someone had to point it out. Carry on.

#415

Oh I see then, it’s probably me only meeting the useless assholes then haha, it seems to be a good system :slight_smile: .

Another thing, do you, personally as an American, think Americans in general are somewhat restricted when it comes to languages? By this I mean, they get too comfortable, knowing that English is pretty much the international language nowadays, and therefore are not really interested in learning other languages?

Also, do you have to get foreign language classes in Middle/High School? (Around here we have obligatory English and Spanish classes, and the optional French/German etc.).

#416

Were I live we have to have at least two years of foreign language classes taken before we graduate, it doesn’t matter if we take it in Middle School or High School. As for us being limited in what we speak I’d say for the most part we aren’t. I’ve known kids who can speak fluent German or Spanish, sometimes both. One thing I have noticed though is that in the area I used to live in Las Vegas, Nevada, there are a crap-ton of people who don’t speak English at all.

#417

A lot of it is geographical.

Over in America, the only language that is a necessity other than thier native language is spanish, because it is bordering Mexico. A lot of Americans speak spanish

Over in Europe, there is a lot of different language speaking countries in close proximity to one another, making it more common for them to speak many different languages.

#418

Are they any good? Because even though we have obligatory Spanish and English classes around here, they’re pretty much crap.

What I know from those two is pretty much self-taught, can’t really rely on learning them at school around here (unless you’re rich and are able to pay for the best schools).

#419

I was required to take at least a semester of a foreign language to graduate. I took a year of Spanish. German and French were also offered. As America has a big Spanish speaking population, particularly in rural farm areas. It’s a no brainer to take Spanish. I don’t know enough Spanish to write it, but I can carry a basic conversation or at least understand a basic question. Hell I worked at a Wal*Mart in electronics for 3 months, Spanish really came of use there.

#420

What’s it like to live somewhere that isn’t blisteringly hot day after day?

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