The American Culture Club

Today I taught the last section of the American Culture Club.

With just a few minutes to spare, I finished covering Barack Obama's Democratic National Speech on the American Promise. The students seemed to have enjoyed the club. Now they know a lot more about the African-American experience and the American Dream.

My goal was to nuance certain stereotypes I've encountered here in Morocco about racism in America and about the American Dream. At the very end, I asked my students if they had learned anything surprising or if any of their past assumptions about America were changed.

Only one student seemed willing to answer. He said, "It's good to learn about the history of another country, to see how it got to be where it is."

That wasn't quite what I was hoping for, but I guess it's a good start. My club will continue next term with a new theme.