Students taking a class through The University of Toledo American Language Institute have created a short documentary, “American Identity: Made in the U.S.A.,” which will be screened Thursday June 28, at noon in Student Union Room 3020.
American pop culture is the topic of the Advanced Speaking and Listening class taught by Sherris Anne Schwind, UT English as a second language specialist.
“We began our topic exploration by examining identity via Muhammad Ali — name change, religious conversion, media manipulation, war protest, etc. — and moved on to examine elements of the American dream, the great recession, and the distortion/representation of those via popular American media,” Schwind said.
To practice their English, the students traversed campus to survey UT students, faculty, staff and alumni about how they defined American identity and how the economy affects American identity.
It was a challenging four-week process for the class.
“This was our first experience with making a documentary, but we had help from students and professors who were experienced in the whole process,” said Mohammad AlOqab, undergraduate student. “I am very proud of the outcome and excited to do it again.”
Watch a trailer for the film.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8afP88z5Ij0&feature=share
The American Language Institute is an intensive English program that offers classes to students from all over the world and businesses.
If you are not able to make the screening, download the film at https://www.facebook.com/AmericanIdentity.
