Project ''Common and different features of Ukrainian and American teenagers''
1
Radomyshl Lyceum 1
Scientific Society “POSHUK”
Common and different features of Ukrainian and American teenagers
Authors:Vladyslava Zhuk and
Kateryna Kondratyuk
Form 10
Pedagogical Guide:
N. A. Meylakh
2020
PLAN
Introduction………………………………………………………………………..3
- Education …………………………………………………….......................4
- Appearance………………………………………………….........................5
- Relations with the older generation..............................................................5
- Intimate relationship …………………………………………………….…7
- First job ..........................................................................................................7
- Free time..........................................................................................................8
- Food................................................................................................................10
8. Musical taste...................................................................................................11
9. Using social media ………………………………………………………….12
10. Youth culture ……………………………………………………………...12
11. School parties ……………………………………………………………...13
Conclusions .............................................................................................................14
Resources ................................................................................................................15
Additions .................................................................................................................16
Introduction
What is the difference between Ukrainian and American teenagers
Teenagers from all over the world have a lot in common. The similarities can be found in habits, hobbies, ways of life and future goals. Teenagers simply love to spend time with friends, listen to the latest music, follow the latest trends and discover who they are. Regardless of nationality, every teenager is more or less prone to complain about their teachers, to have nervous breakdowns, to experience stress or fatigue, to feel the pressure to succeed and toworry about what their future holds. In this project we will discover what makes Ukrainian and American teenagers individually unique, and what they have in common. Here are some examples of the differences between Ukrainian and American teenagers:
Education
The American ideology is to be successful – everyone knows the “American dream” is to have a career, a lot of money and happiness in life. Because of this national belief, Americans put a lot of emphasis on success and education. Therefore, American teenagers have a responsible approach to the education process; they love to learn and are very competitive. They actively participate in the public life of their schools and universities by spending a huge amount of time at clubs, working on projects and studying. It is shameful not to study in the USA, because parents or sponsor organizations typically pay for schooling and educational training, and it can be very expensive. Also, if you do not study and receive bad grades, you can be “left back” and must repeat a form, which can be shameful and embarrassing.
For Ukrainian teenagers, the learning period is a fun and carefree time. Free school education is perceived as a tribute. Thus, education is seen as an individual’s responsibility – if the student wants to succeed or doesn’t want to succeed, they must decide for themselves and put in the effort.
American schools are usually split into elementary school (kindergarten through fifth grade), middle school (sixth grade through eighth grade) and high school (ninth grade through twelfth grade). In high school, classes are taught assuming most students will go to college. Teachers expect you to at least apply. This “university-forward” approach forces the students to think about what universities they will apply to and what they will study as early as tenth grade. A lot of students begin studying for their SAT’s (university admission exam) years in advance. Most Ukrainian students, unfortunately, wait until the last moment and may not know in which institution they will study.
Another interesting point is cheating and cheat sheets. American teenagers never do that in exams. Moreover, if they see that someone is cheating, they will certainly tell the teacher and the student will be punished. And here in Ukraine, cheating is more acceptable. Teenagers do not just manage to cheat on exams, but actively help each other.
From an early age, American children and adolescents are attracted to active social activities. It is expected to participate in as many activities as you can. This will make you “well-rounded” and favorable to get accepted into university. American children and adolescents are usually involved in four or five activities at the same time, like clubs, sports, service activities and music. Parents sometimes pay for private lessons or classes too, like piano, karate, dance, or regional soccer teams. This is all done in order to be perceived as well-rounded individuals. There are also many activities among Ukrainian schoolchildren and students, but so far this practice is not so widespread and not emphasized so heavily.
Appearance
American teenagers are not fixated on their appearance. In American, there is an obesity problem, so a lot of people are overweight. Even though they like to follow the latest fashion trends, American teenagers usually choose comfort over style. In American schools you will see a lot of t-shirts, jeans and sweatpants. They rarely get dressed up if they don’t have to.
Among Ukrainian teenagers, everything is completely different. If the guys mostly are careless with their appearance, for girls this is a sore subject. They are sensitive to the choice of outfits and are often competing with each other. Ukrainian girls put a lot of effort into their appearance – manicured nails, perfect hair, make-up and beautiful clothes – even in school.
Relations with the older generation
What do we know about American teenagers’ relationship with the older generation? Since America is so diverse, in films and the news, it is quite difficult to form a concrete opinion. But it is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that they are respected and supported by the older generation. In America, it is believed that the future belongs to young people, and therefore, if someone has the opportunity to help a teenager succeed, he will do it. Since America is a “melting pot” of many different nationalities from all over the world, a lot of the older generation are immigrants from other countries. Sometimes, these immigrant grandparents grew up very poor from another country, came to the USA and now have grandchildren living in America. The belief is that this older generation wants to give the young generation what they never had, and see teenagers succeed.
Also, America is an economically - driven country, which means a lot of businesses and companies will do anything to make more money. Sometimes, this means there is a “high turnover rate”- when older workers get fired and replaced with younger, stronger workers who agree to work for less money. This is unfortunate because it takes jobs away from experienced older workers, but it is beneficial to the eager, young workers.
Unfortunately, it is much more difficult for Ukrainian teenagers to realize themselves. The older generation treats teenagers with distrust and even condemnation.
All endeavors or attempts at self-expression are perceived in a hostile way. Often in some institutions, certain positions are occupied by pensioners, while young people can not find work.
Intimate relationship
The secret life of an American teenager is inextricably linked to intimate relationships. According to statistical studies, the majority of young people acquire the first sexual experience not later than 17 years. At the same time, there are cases of coercion to intimacy (especially for girls). So, the polls showed the following:
* 7% of girls indicated that their first sexual contact occurred as a result of violent acts;
* 25% of girls indicated that they entered into contact voluntarily, but without much desire, but only to please a partner;
* 70% of women who have had an intimate relationship at the age of 13 experience empathy and remorse.
As for Ukrainian teenagers, unfortunately, there is about the same picture. Every year, young people enter into intimate relationships earlier, which is associated with sexual illiteracy. In most schools, sex education is not taught or not taught well enough. Many teenagers do not have the information to protect themselves or make good, informed decisions. Thus, diseases or unwanted pregnancies occur.
Also, with the growing popularity in technology, intimacy is glamorized. In pop and rap songs, movies, TV shows, access to Instagram and many other ways, teenagers see sex as a fun and glamorized thing to do. Teenagers see the fun side of things on the Internet, but are unaware of the consequences that come with it.
First job
Surely many people are interested in the life of American teenagers, especially what they do day-to-day. Work is an integral part of it. Starting from the age of 13, a teenager has the legal right to earn his own pocket money, if they received permission from the school and parents. Teenagers must get “working papers”, a legal certificate allowing them to work. American teenagers have all types of first jobs, like delivery drivers, walking pets, child care, fast food workers and more. Young people also tend to get jobs in supermarkets, catering establishments or gas stations. And it does not interfere with school, because employers are willing to make compromises and allow students to work after school and on weekends. Thus, teenagers from an early age get used to independent earnings and begin to save for the future.
This is very different for Ukrainian teenagers. Our children have neither legal grounds nor the opportunity to work for example, from the age of 13 or throughout school and therefore remain dependent on their parents for longer. Hardly anyone would trust a 13-year-old to look after a neighbor's child or deliver things. In addition, in our region for some reason it is believed that it is impossible to effectively combine work and study.
Free time
The free time of American students depends on their needs. Most students go to the library after lectures and seminars. There they study additional materials, prepare for upcoming seminars or discuss / plan a project. In America, both in schools and in universities / colleges, children are taught to work together. Therefore, many gather in groups in the Park or in the reading room and discuss the given task. Group-work and study groups are very common and believed to be an effective way to share ideas and collaborate.
On campuses it is never boring, and many students, in addition to studying, lead an active social life. College campuses isa place for parties, clubs, social activities and romance. Some participate in the work of local radio and television, the school newspaper, the sports teams, social groups and honor societies.
The famous fraternities deserve special attention. Fraternities and sororities, very unique to American culture, are student groups that share similar interests. They are often seen as social groups, where college students to go meet people and party. To get into some of them, you need to belong to a certain stratum of society, like being wealthy, having Latino heritage or being on the lacrosse team. Sororities and fraternities pay monthly “dues” – money toward the organization – and hold weekly meetings to discuss current school news, like an upcoming fundraiser or a dance competition. Being in a fraternity or sorority can make your social life really fun in college.
Members of such communities often live in separate houses or have their own areas closed from outsiders. In many societies there is a hierarchy. When you are “trying out” for the fraternity, it is called “pledging”, and you may be asked to do certain tasks to gain admission, like memorizing information or doing errands for the older “brothers”/ “sisters”. Sororities and frats emphasize respect for the hierarchy: you must always address older students respectfully and know who belongs to what social circle.
Food
G. Heine said: "Man is what he eats." People differ in their eating habits and tastes. Some like homemade food, while others rush to the cafe. Some prefer a healthy diet, while others enjoy everything that is loudly advertised and has bright packaging. This may be why some people are lean, agile, fun, and others suffer from overweight.
Food consumption in the USA varies widely because of how large the USA is. Obesity is a huge issue due to the poor diets of a lot of Americans. As of 2019, 39% of American adults are overweight. Here are some interesting facts:
- 25% of Americans admit to eating fast food every day.
-
Americans also admit to eating 31% more packaged food than fresh food
- Over 10 billion donuts are consumed in the US every year.
- 20% of all American meals are eaten in the car.
- Americans spend, on average, less than 30 minutes a day cooking
- Starbucks (a popular coffee chain) is everywhere! American polls show that 80% of Americans live within 32 km from a Starbucks.
- 1/3 of Americans are currently gluten-free – not eating gluten
- Only 26% of Americans eat breakfast every day
- 80% of Americans eat chicken wings (they’re pretty unhealthy).
In Ukraine, Ukrainian teens often drink cola and other sodas with sugar: almost every other child does it more than once a week. Ukrainian teenagers, acording to our poll, prefer chips, pizza, fried potatoes, and various salads. We already know about the food consumption culture in the US - with the help of our volunteer Torrey. They seem to have been drinking Coke since childhood.
Musical taste
We are sure that today there is no one that doesn’t listen to music. We hear it every day, even involuntarily: on TV, in the car, on the street...Music surrounds us everywhere.
Since everyone is different, there are different tastes regarding music. There are many styles, genres and directions of music. The most famous of them are: rock and roll, pop, R&B, hip-hop, metal, punk, house, techno, dubstep, classical music, country and rap. Regarding classical music, unfortunately, it is not exactly the current youth’s favorite; it is rarely heard on the radio or on television. You will often hear rap and pop music playing. Current favorite American singers are Ariana Grande, Billie Ellish, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, Beyonce, Cardi B, Travis Scott and Drake. Current iPhone apps like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Sound Cloud and Musical.ly let teenagers listen to their favorite singers all day.
Regarding the preferences of Ukrainian teenagers in music, they are very different. It is impossible to distinguish any one style in music. It all depends on the mood. We conducted a survey among classmates and found that for most emotional discharge are listening to rock, others like to listen to extensive texts of this style of music as rap, and finally dance rhythms of electronic music.
Using social media
Instagram Facebook has been abandoned by American Teens in favor of other social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, according to a Pew Research Center study. Only 51% of American Teens aged 13 to 17 use Facebook. The social network's popularity has fallen by 20% compared to a previous 2015 Pew survey. American Teens are massively abandoning Facebook.
The most popular among Teens are YouTube (85% of respondents), Instagram (72%) and Snapchat (69%). According to a previous study, only 52% of Teens used Instagram and 41% used Snapchat. YouTube was not included in the 2015 survey. The most popular social network in the world In Ukraine is Facebook. We use it, too.
On our page in Facebook you can see our names, photoes and some information about our likes and hobbies. Some of our classmates follow celebrities in Instagram.
Social networks are a very good thing if you use them sensibly and don’t forget about safety.
Youth culture
Today the life of many young people in different countries all over the world is influenced by popular culture. They follow certain stereotypes that are imposed on them through TV, movies and music. Both in America and in Ukraine teenagers try to imitate their idols through clothing, hair color, pale make-up, tastes in music, views on life, etc. So, there are subculture of Goths, skinheads, hippies, punks, mods, rockers and many others. Subcultures are not as bad as they are thought to be. Teens wants to show off. As for our classmates, nobody belong to any subculture. We prefer spending time with our friends, reading books or visiting a club. These things will develop our talents better.
School parties
Children go to school to study. However, there is always time for leisure, even at school. At our school parties for students are organised on special occasions. These include New Year, St Valentine’s Day, and, of course, a graduating ceremony and many others. School parties are very popular with students because they give us opportunities to show our talents and have fun.
Сonclusion
Ukrainian and American teenagers seem very different. However, their current lifestyle is very similar. Young people tend to learn information faster, using digital technologies, rather than focusing on voluminous book material. Having access to almost all data, teenagers around the world do not know only one thing-what to devote their lives, how to realize themselves. The only difference is that in American society, young people have more opportunities for self-development and earnings.
Social studies have shown that teenagers in Ukraine and America depend on the Internet and suffer from excess weight, as well as today's teenagers have a lot of bad eating habits, gipoaktivni and a lot of sitting on the Internet.
Also, bullying is common among teenagers-bullying and violence in schools. On the part of the family, they have insufficient moral support. This situation can further adversely affect physical and mental health, as well as happiness in adulthood.According to the survey, a third of teenagers are overweight, one in five considers their health average or bad, and most of the students complain of a bad mood and constant nervousness.
As for bad habits, namely the use of alcohol, drugs and Smoking, one in seven already at the age of ten has an experience of drinking alcohol. And among respondents of 17-year-old age-more than 60% have such experience.
Also, 25% of surveyed adolescents in Ukraine and 36% of surveyed adolescents in America have a strong dependence on social networks and virtual communication.
Resources
…i-suspilstvo…chim-vidriznjajutsja…ta…
Osvita…mizh-osvitoyu…ukrayini…ssha-novini
mapme.club›poradi/1716…faktiv…ssha-i-amerikanciv…
referat911.ru›Pedagogika/viznachte…ta-vdmnne-v…
Additions
Addition 1
Chart of differences between teenagers of Ukraine and America
American teenagers Ukrainian teenagers
100%
80%
50%
30%
0
Appearance Education
- Ukrainian teenagers pay more attention to appearance than American ones
- For Ukrainian teenagers, the study period is a fun and carefree time, unlike American teenagers, who put their studies at the forefront
100%
80%
50%
30%
0
Intimate relationship First job
- Most young people both in Ukraine and in America acquire the first sexual experience not later than 17 years.
- American Teens have all kinds of first jobs like delivery drivers, pet walks, childcare, fast food workers and more, but Ukrainian Teens don't have that opportunity.
Every child is unique, regardless of the country where she lives.
Our project is called “Common and different between Ukrainian and American teenagers”.
Why did we choose this topic?
Teenagers from all over the world have a lot in common. The similarities can be found in habits, hobbies, ways of life and future goals. Teenagers simply love to spend time with friends, listen to the latest music, follow the latest trends and discover who they are. Regardless of nationality, every teenager is more or less prone to complain about their teachers, to have nervous breakdowns, to experience stress or fatigue, to feel the pressure to succeed and to worry about what their future holds. In this project we will discover what makes Ukrainian and American teenagers individually unique, and what they have in common. Our volunteer Tory and her family from new York helped us.
Here are some examples of the differences between Ukrainian and American teenagers:
Education
Americans put a lot of emphasis on education. American teenagers have a responsible approach to the education process; they love to learn and are very competitive. They actively participate in the public life of their schools and universities by spending a huge amount of time at clubs, working on projects and studying. It is shameful not to study in the USA, because parents or sponsor organizations typically pay for schooling and educational training, and it can be very expensive.
For Ukrainian teenagers, the learning period is a fun and carefree time. Free school education is perceived as a tribute.
A lot of American students begin studying for their SAT’s (university admission exam) years in advance. Most Ukrainian students, unfortunately, wait until the last moment and may not know in which institution they will study.
Appearance
American teenagers are not fixated on their appearance. In American, there is an obesity problem, so a lot of people are overweight. Even though they like to follow the latest fashion trends, American teenagers usually choose comfort over style. In American schools you will see a lot of t-shirts, jeans and sweatpants. They rarely get dressed up if they don’t have to.
Among Ukrainian teenagers, everything is completely different. If the guys mostly are careless with their appearance, for girls this is a sore subject. They are sensitive to the choice of outfits and are often competing with each other. Ukrainian girls put a lot of effort into their appearance –perfect hair, make-up and beautiful clothes – even in school.
First job
In America, it is believed that the future belongs to young people, and therefore, if someone has the opportunity to help a teenager succeed, he will do it. The belief is that this older generation wants to give the young generation what they never had, and see teenagers succeed.
Work is an integral part of American teenager. Starting from the age of 13, a teenager has the legal right to earn his own pocket money, if they received permission from the school and parents. American teenagers have all types of first jobs, like walking pets, child care, fast food workers and more. And it does not interfere with school, because employers are willing to make compromises and allow students to work after school and on weekends. This is very different for Ukrainian teenagers. Our children have neither legal grounds nor the opportunity to work.
Free time
The free time of American students depends on their needs. Most students go to the library after lectures and seminars. In America, both in schools and in universities / colleges, children are taught to work together. Group-work and study groups are very common and believed to be an effective way to share ideas. Some pupils work of local radio and television, the school newspaper, the sports teams and social groups.
The famous fraternities deserve special attention. Fraternities and sororities, very unique to American culture. Being in a fraternity or sorority can make your social life really fun in college.
Using social media
American and Ukrainian teenagers use YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. But the most popular social network in the world In Ukraine is Facebook. It use in America, too. On our page in Facebook you can see our names, photoes and some information about our likes and hobbies.
Youth culture
Today the life of many young people in different countries all over the world is influenced by popular culture. They follow certain stereotypes that are imposed on them through TV, movies and music. Both in America and in Ukraine teenagers try to imitate their idols through clothing, hair color, pale make-up, tastes in music, views on life, etc.
As for our classmates, nobody belong to any subculture. We prefer spending time with our friends, reading books or visiting a club. These things will develop our talents better.
School parties
Children go to school to study. However, there is always time for leisure, even at school. At our school parties for students are organised on special occasions. These include New Year, St Valentine’s Day, and, of course, a graduating ceremony and many others. School parties are very popular with students because they give us opportunities to show our talents and have fun.
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