The objective of this report is to supply a perspective on some of the cross-cultural problems encountered by American advisors, academicians and technicians overseas or by Americans such as foreign student advisors working in an intercultural mileau in the U.S., for the purpose of promoting more effective communications. Part I presents a conceptualization and description of the cross-cultural problems and discusses the concepts of patterns of thinking, assumptions, and values. Part II delineates and compares American patterns of thinking in the educational context; concepts such as style, language, and dichotomies and explanation are discussed. In Part III substantive descriptions of American assumptions and values are provided. Each chapter deals with one of the following topics (which may be seen as the individual components of a cultural pattern or system of assumptions and values): form of activity, form of relation to others, perception of the world, and perception of the self. Part IV records some of the consequences of the cultural differences in the face-to-face interaction between Americans and their counterparts. The theme of relativity of assumptions and values is stressed throughout the report by presenting American cultural characteristics in conjunction with variations from other cultures or from American culture itself. (Author/DJB)