This intermediate listening, note-taking, and discussion text will engage students through interviews and academic lectures on stimulating topics within the field of American Studies. Topics include American government, race relations, the history of U.S. immigration, and American values and culture. Each chapter begins with a warm-up activity, then presents two or more informal interviews, and concludes with a two-part academic lecture. Exercises that accompany the listenings develop important skills such as listening for main ideas, listening for specific information, and making inferences. In preparation for the lectures, students practice note-taking skills such as using symbols and abbreviations and organizing their notes. There are many opportunities for students to discuss content, express their personal opinions, and make presentations to the class. An Audio CD with the lecture portion of the audio program is included with the book to provide extra listening practice. The complete class audio program is available for purchase separately, on three Audio CDs. The Academic Encounters series is an excellent tool for TOEFL preparation. Academic Encounters: American Studies is the reading, study-skills, and writing companion text to the listening book described above. Each book may be used independently or the two books may be used together to form a four-skills integrated course.