lOMoARcPSD|2935381 DIVISION OF LITERATURE & CULTURE 1 | Page Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 Table of Contents The United Kingdom.1 People and Language.19 Some Important Events in British History.74 Families and Family life.82 Food and Drink. 86 Houses in Britain.119 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 COURSE OUTLINE Course Name: British Culture No. of Credits: 2 Course Length: 30 periods/ 15 classes/ 15 weeks Course Prerequisites: None Course Objectives: This course aims to equip learners with basic understanding of unique characteristics of indigenous people from four nations of the UK and their native language. This course also provides learners with opportunities to acquire various aspects in British culture regarding education, politics, religion, family life, festivals and entertainment throughout the British history, while exposing students more intensively with experience for improved independent and collaborative learning through pair and group assignments.
Course Learning Outcomes Upon completing this course, learners will be able - IDENTIFY the facts about Britain and four constituent nations in terms of geographical features, politics, education and religion; - EXPLAIN the diversity of Britain in terms of people, language ecology, media, sports and entertainment; - COMPARE different aspects of British culture with learners’ own cultures; - FOSTER skills of thinking critically and working individually and effectively in a team to handle assignments relating to British Culture. Teaching and Learning modes Teachers will conduct mini-lectures as whole class activities. Learners are to work in groups on problem-solving tasks and translation practice. Through this course, learners will be able to work collaboratively and independently with authentic materials and acquire enhanced competency in British cultural issues.
Course Assessment On-going Assessment 50% o Attendance and In-class participation 10% o Role-play 10% o Presentation (Group Project) 30% Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 o End-of-term Assessment (Final Written Test) 50% Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 THE UNITED KINGDOM Full name The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Capital London Major languages English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Type of Government Gaelic Queen Constitutional monarchy Prime Minister Elizabeth II Gordon Brown Establishment 1801 Area 242,514 km2 (93,638 sq miles) Population 63,182,178 million (National Statistic, Currency 2011) Pound sterling (£) (GBP) Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom 1 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 The United Kingdom is officially called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is also often known as Britain or just the UK. The United Kingdom is situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe. It is surrounded by the North Sea, the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
It only has a land border with the Republic of Ireland. The Channel Tunnel under the English Channel links England and France. The UK has four constituent parts, three of which—England, Wales and Scotland are located on the island of Great Britain. The fourth part is Northern Ireland, which is located on the island of Ireland.
The UK also comprises numerous smaller islands including the Isle of Wight, Anglesey, and the Scilỉy, Orkney, Shetland, and the Hebrides. The UK is a highly developed country. It is a Commonwealth Realm, and a member of the European Union and NATO. It is also one of the major nuclear weapon states.
Write T for true and F for false. Correct the false statements 1. ……………… The other names of the United Kingdom of Great …… Britain and Northern Ireland are Great Britain and the 2. ……………… Britain is a member of EU and NATO.
The UK is situated north-east of the European 5. The UK is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. ……………… It has border with Ireland. The UK is a developing country.
……………… It is a nuclear weapon country. Great Britain comprises England, Wales, and Scotland ……………… The United Kingdom comprises Great Britain and ……. ……………… The Channel Tunnel links the UK with France. 3 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN God Save the Queen is the British national anthem. It is not known who wrote the words or the music, but it was already a traditional song in the 18th century. The song has several verses, but usually only the first verse is sung: God save our gracious Queen, Long live ournoblé Queen, God Save the Queen. Send her victorious, Happy andglorious, Long to reign over us; God Save the Queen.
(If the country has a king at the time, the word ‘Queen’ is, replaced by ‘King’) NATIONAL FLAGS Flag Date Use Description Union Flag, also A superposition of the 1801 - known as the Flags of England, present Union Scotland, arid St Patrick's Jack Flag of Ireland Flag of England, A red cross on a white also known as the field C1300 St George's Cross This cross is the cross of Saint George, who is the patron saint of England. 4 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 Flag of Scotland, A white saltire on a blue also known as the field C900 St Andrew's Cross, and the Saltire Flag of Northern A red cross on a white Ireland, also field defaced with a red known as the hand, crowned on a six 1924 Ulster Banner pointed white star (representing the six counties in Northern Ireland) Flag of Wales, A red dragon, passant, on also known as the a green and white field 1959 Red Dragon or Y Ddraig Goch THE UNION JACK CLOZE: Choose one appropriate word from the box below to complete each blank space. 5 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 people Scotland united Wales diagonal celebrations loyally England public Ireland dragon British royal The national flag of the United Kingdom is commonly known as the Union Jack and also as the Union Flag. It has been Used as the (1) …………….
flag since 1603, when Scotland and England were (2) ……………. The original design combined the red cross of (3) ……………. St George’s Cross, with the white (4) …………….cross on a blue background of (5) ……………., St Andrew’s Cross. The red diagonal cross of (6) …………….
St Patrick’s cross, was added in 1801, when Ireland became part of the United Kingdom. is not represented on the Union Jack because it is a principality of England. of Cadwallader, which is now often used as the national flag of Wales, dates from the 1950s. The Union Jack is most often seen flying from (9) …………….buildings or at sports events.
Children may wave small Union Jacks when a member of the (10) ……………. family visits their town. strings of small flags are hung across the street as bunting. The Union Jack is less important to British (12).
than the Stars and Stripes is to Americans. Many people feel a stronger (13). to the national flags of England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The flag of the European Union, a circle of gold stars on a blue background, is sometimes also seen in Britain, e.
on car number plates. (Source: Oxford Guide to British and American Culture) Mountains of the United Kingdom The ten tallest mountains in the UK are all found in Scotland. The highest peaks in each part of the UK are: Scotland: Ben Nevis (Nevis Range, 1,344 metres) Wales: Snowdon (Cambrian Mountains, 1,085 metres) England: Scafell Pike (Cumbrian Mountains, 977 metres) Northern Ireland; Slieve Donard (Mourne Mountains, 852 metres) 6 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 Rivers and lakes The longest river in the UK is the River Severn (220 miles, 354 km) which flows through both Wales and England. The longest rivers in the UK' are: England: River Thames (215 miles, 346 km) Scotland: River Tay (117 miles, 188 km) Northern Ireland: River Bann (76 miles, 122 km) Wales: River Towy (64 miles, 103 km) The largest lakes in the UK are: Northern Ireland: Lough Neagh (147.39 sq mi) Scotland: Lodi Lomond (27.46 sq mi) England: Windermere (5.69 sq mi) Wales: Lake Vymwy (3.18 sq mi) The deepest lake in the UK is Loch Morar with a maximum depth of 309 metres (Loch Ness is second at 228 metres deep).
The deepest lake in England is Wast Water, which descends to 79 metres (258 feet). British industry Britain used to have many manufacturing industries, bự since-the Second Worid War it is service industries especially banking and relating, which have expanded. About 70 percent of people now work in service industries, including tourism, insurance, computer technology and relating. Less than 30 percent of people have jobs in industry.
Heavy industries like steel manufacture and shipbuilding have been replaced by high-technology manufacturing industries such as airplane engines and pharmaceuticals. Made in Britain In Britain, there are only a few successful large companies, but many- successful small companies. The large companies often invest a lot of money in research and development, R & D, to find new and better, usually high-technology, products. 7 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 Successful small manufacturing companies in Britain often make expensive products.
These companies are successful because they use first-class materials, have excellent quality control and the workers are proud of what they make. They include J, Barbour & Sons, which makes waterproof jackets; Morgan Company, which makes elite cars; Quad Electro acoustics, which makes top- quality hi-fi equipment; Wilkin & Sons, which makes jams. Do the following people work in a service industry or a manufacturing industry? sale assistance aircraft factory worker insurance salesperson travel agent research chemist for a drugs company bank cashier Britain and the Commonwealth Because it is an island, Britain has always forced to trade with other countries. During the nineteenth century, Britain traded all over the world and had a large empire overseas.
The Commonwealth is an association of the ex-colonies in the Empire and works to encourage cultural relations between members. South Africa was forced to leave the Commonwealth in 196 i because of apartheid. In 1994, after “one person, one vote” elections, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth have many different styles of government.
Some of the countries, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand recognise the Queen as their head of state. In a referendum held in 1999 Australia decided to remain a constitutional monarchy rather than become a republic. All of the countries recognise the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth, though some countries feel there should be an elected leader. (from In Britain – 21st Century Edition, pp.
44-45) Which countries in the box below are members of the 8 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 Commonwealth? Australia Austria Denmark Finland Germany China India Italy Nigeria Sweden South Africa 9 Downloaded by EBOOKBKMT VMTC (nguyenphihung1009@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|2935381 ENGLAND Official language English Capital London Largest cities London, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield Area 130,395 km2 Highest point Scaffell Pike 978m (3210ft) Longest river Thames (346km) Largest Lake Windermere (14.7sq km) Population 50,1 million Currency Pound sterling (£) (GBP) National flower the Tudor rose (red, white) Patron saint St George England is the southern part of Great Britain and the largest country in the UK. It is only 35km from France, the Channel Tunnel under the English Channel links England and France. It occupies most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and shares land borders with Scotland to the north, and Wales to the west. England is named after the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes who settled in England in the 5th century: England became one county in 937, when it was ruled by King Athelstan.
William the Conqueror took over England in 1066, Queen Elizabeth II is a descendant of William. England took over the country of Wales in the 13th century. England joined with Scotland in 1707 to form the kingdom of Great Britain, In 1800 Ireland was united with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom. Now, only Northern Ireland is still in the UK.
England is mostly low hills and plains, forming meadowlands and pastures.