American Accent training ch 2

A World Together BY ERLA ZWINGLE We are living in a time of big cultural changes. Popular culture is moving from one country to another more quickly than ever before. For example, one day I was in a coffee shop in London drinking Italian espresso served by an Algerian waiter, while American music was playing in the background. A few days later, I was walking down a street in Mexico, eating Japanese food and listening to a Filipino band. In Japan, many people enjoy Spanish flamenco dancing. At the same time, Japanese food is very popular in Europe. Some European girls even decorate their hands with Indian-style henna tattoos. This is cultural globalization.

Cultural globalization has grown together with business globalization. Today, companies sell their products worldwide. A business might make a product in one country and sell it in another. Some companies even employ workers in Asia or Africa to answer calls from customers in Europe or America. Of course, international trade is not new. But today, products and information travel much faster and farther than before. In the past, there were camel trains, ships, and railways. Later, planes, telephones, and television brought people closer.

How do people feel about globalization? It depends on their situation. Some people are not happy. More than 20% of the world now speaks some English, and some feel there is a “cultural attack” from the English language, social media, or global brands like McDonald’s and Starbucks. But I see it more positively. I believe cultures are strong and do not need to lose their identity. For example, in India there are over 400 languages and many religions. McDonald’s in India serves mutton instead of beef and also offers vegetarian choices. In Shanghai, Sesame Street teaches Chinese values and traditions. As one teacher explained: “It’s an American box, but with Chinese content.”

Television reached fifty million users in thirteen years, but the internet needed only five years to reach the same number. Today, the internet can connect us all instantly. We can watch the same news at the same time, no matter where we live.

One thing is clear: globalization is not going away. And if it helps us understand each other better, then that is something good.

Food Truck Friday an American tradition has a lot to do with globalization, because it shows how cultures (especially food cultures) mix and travel across borders. Here’s how: 1. International Foods in One Place At Food Truck Friday, you might see a Korean BBQ taco truck next to an Italian gelato truck, a Mexican street food truck, and maybe even a truck selling Indian curries. That’s globalization: foods from different countries are available in one city, side by side. 2. Local + Global Mix Many food trucks combine flavors from different countries — like sushi burritos or Thai pizza. These “fusion foods” are only possible because globalization allows ingredients, recipes, and cooking ideas to travel. 3. Cultural Experience Even if you can’t travel to another country, food trucks let Americans taste and experience a little piece of another culture right in their hometown.