- •Ethnic groups
- •Languages
- •Religion
- •Exercises
- •I. Pronounce the following words correctly.
- •II. Give the Russian equivalents to the following English words and word combinations.
- •III. Give the English equivalents to the following Russian words and word combinations.
- •IV. Explain the following in English.
- •V. Complete the following table.
- •VII. Look at the head-line of the article and say what it is going to be about. Read the article and give your opinion on the issue using the questions given below.
- •VIII. Listen to the disc and do the following exercises.
- •Answer the questions.
- •Express your opinion on the issue.
- •2. People (part I)
- •Introduction
- •Views of Britain The official view
- •The people’s view
- •Exercises
- •I. Give the English equivalents to the following Russian words and word combinations.
- •VII. Comment on the following author’s statements.
- •VIII. Answer the questions.
- •IX. Read all the texts one more time and render their general contents in several sentences.
- •X. Read the text and list all the problems it deals with. The Telegraph
- •Ten core values of the British identity
- •Эти странные англичане Как, по их мнению, к ним относятся другие
- •Как их воспринимают на самом деле
- •Эти странные шотландцы «Извечный враг»
- •Какими они хотят казаться
- •People (part II) a foreigner view of the British
- •Exercises
- •I. Pronounce the following words correctly.
- •II. Give the Russian equivalents to the following English words and word combinations.
- •IV. Answer the questions.
- •Issues to be discussed.
- •VI. Make up a dialogue on the topic under review imagining that.
- •VII. Listen to the following piece of information of a person, who was born in Northern Ireland and now lives in England and do the following exercises.
- •Answer the following questions.
- •Make up a list of issues on which the Irish and the English have different points of view.
- •VIII. Comment on the newspaper article “White Britons will be outnumbered by 2066 if the rate of immigration continues, researchers have claimed” given below.
- •White Britons will be outnumbered by 2066 if the rate of immigration continues, researchers have claimed
- •3. The family Family structure
- •Working mothers
- •Young people
- •Exercises
- •VI. What would you do if you encountered such a situation?
- •VII. Analyze this table and say at what age in Russia you can do the following.
- •VIII. Read an extract from the book “Britain Now” and take part in discussing of the following issues. Family life in the past
- •4. Leisure Spare Time
- •How People Relax
- •Reading
- •Exercises
- •I. Pronounce the following words correctly.
- •II. Translate the following sentences into Russian and say what lexis from the texts under consideration is used in those sentences.
- •III. Search the text for the words similar in meanings to the ones given below.
- •IV. Search the text for the words opposite in meanings to the ones given below.
- •V. Ask your group-mates questions about leisure time in Britain and in Russia using the suggested words and word combinations from the texts above.
- •VI. Prepare a short talk on places and activities, which help you to have a rest with your friends or members of the family.
- •VIII. Comment on the following article from “Britain Explored”.
- •Gаmbliпg
- •IX. Scan the text for the information that will help you to answer the questions given after the text. Sports and recreation
- •X. Compose dialogues on the following topics.
- •XI. Discuss it with your group-mates.
Какими они хотят казаться
Шотландцы любят представлять себя нацией яркой и колоритной, словно клетчатая шотландка, как внутри, так и снаружи. Они считают себя умным и хорошо воспитанным народом. В отличие от некоторых других наций, к образованию они относятся с уважением. Шотландцы снимают шляпу перед знанием, им нравится чувствовать себя его достойными носителями. Ничего дурного в том, чтобы быть умным, они не видят, если, конечно, ум этот проявляется в словах и делах, а не в пустом хвастовстве. Когда шотландец говорит, что такой-то и такой-то имеют о себе высокое мнение, он не хвалит и не осуждает их, он просто констатирует факт.
Всячески подчеркивая свои колоритность, ум и кельтское
происхождение, шотландцы, однако, не забывают и о своей духовной стороне, о душе. Они предрасположены к томной меланхолии, особенно когда небо низкое, а дни короткие, или когда Шотландия вновь продула на чемпионате мира по футболу.
При всем при этом этот жизнерадостный, мозговитый и меланхоличный народ имеет и свою прагматичную, практическую жилку. Жены шотландцев по определению опрятны, умеют набивать подушки, печь пироги и варить варенье. Они сохраняют обмылки, штопают детские носки и знают шесть способов, как использовать вчерашнюю холодную картошку. Шотландцу доставляет удовольствие сознавать, что он обладает природным инстинктом, который позволяет ему потрошить оленя или ловить форель руками даже после того, как он оттрубит целый день за «баранкой» автобуса или за компьютером.
Шотландцы считают себя добросердечными, независимо мыслящими людьми, коллективистами с чувством юмора. Их любимое словечко – «добрый»; они придают ему множество значений и применяют к множеству вещей, в том числе и к себе – прекрасным, дружелюбным, покладистым людям, готовым поделиться тем малым, что имеют, хорошо думающим о других и обладающих чувством коллективизма. Что же, у всех есть свой идеал, шотландцы не исключение.
From The Xenophobe's® Guide to the English Эти странные шотландцы: Национальное лицо, 1999-2011.
by Дэвид Росс, 1999-2011
http://www.langust.ru/lang-c.shtml#top, 27.07.2011
People (part II) a foreigner view of the British
A foreigner view of the British is often based on the type of Briton he has met travelling abroad. It is obvious, however, that the behavior of an individual cannot be taken as general for the whole people. There is common illusion, for instance, that the British are cold and reserved. A foreigner sitting in a second-class railway carriage would soon realize, that the British are much the same as the people of its own country.
There are, however, certain kinds of behaviour, manners and customs, which are peculiar to Britain. In general, the British are polite. If somebody treads on your toe they are sure to say “Sorry” or “Excuse me”. “Excuse me” is a phrase, that often causes difficulty. Getting off a crowded bus one says “Excuse me, please” when one wishes to squeeze past someone. In a café, when asking if there is a place at the table, “Excuse me, but is this anyone’s seat” is the correct way to ask. Another example of the British politeness is queueing, which is governed by a strict code of fairness in Britain. Woe betide anyone who attempts to jump the queue!
A common man seldom walks on the right-hand side of the woman, seldom helps his wife on and off a bus, or holds out a chair for her in a restaurant, or helps her to put her coat on. He acts in this way not because he is forgetful or rude; he just sees her more as an equal and few women in Britain miss these attentions.
Of course, curtsies and bows are now considered antiquated. When greeting friends, the British rarely shake hands. The practical British would never take off their gloves at fifteen degrees below zero just to shake hands. Only if they are introduced to a stranger do they do so and among young people even this has become quite unusual. They simply say “How do you do” or even just “Hallo”. No answer is expected unless the direct question “How are you?” is asked.
The quiet, reserved Briton can best be observed at a football match.
Naturally the British shout and yell as much as any nation, especially if their side is losing. The crowd boos if it disapproves and cheers if it approves of the team.
There are real differences between the Scottish character and the English, between the North Countryman, the Irish and the Welsh and so on: differences which in some cases go back to the far distant days before the Romans conquered Britain. Here are some of the more conspicuous examples. Scots tend to be greater patriots of their country than their English neighbours. There are many Scots, who can recite Burns by the yard, whereas very few English people can do as much for Shakespeare. The Scots claim that English jokes are too obvious, that Scottish humour is much tougher and quite above English heads. It is hard to generalize about the Scots, since there are two distinct national types and the caricatures of both of them have become quite popular. Jock, the comedy Scotsman, hard, avaricious, materialistic, puritanical, undemonstrative, cold – the Lowlander; and the Highlander in his kilt, a bit touched in the head, draped proudly in romantic tartan and haunted by fairy music. Both pictures have a grain of truth.
Poverty and struggle against dangerous neighbours have hardened the Lowlanders and taught them the virtue of thrift. As the Lowlanders are used to a hard life they can adapt themselves to all living conditions. They have provided England (and the world) with men of action outstanding for their energy and enterprise: scientists and sportsmen, captains of industry and explorers like Livingstone. Many of them were of humble birth. The reputation for avarice is offset by hospitality, for which the whole of Scotland is famous. Many of the native-born Highlanders have been forced to emigrate.
The typical Welshman, called Taffy by the English, is on average shorter, darker, livelier and quicker to react than the latter.
The liveliness is mental as well as physical, emotional, poetic. The Welsh language is a singing, musical language; the language of the people devoted to singing. Among the best-known Welsh characteristics are a certain romanticism and love of poetry and music. The annual bardic festival known as the National Eisteddford of Wales has a 1200-year-old history; choral singing and particularly the singing of hymns is a national art. The art of oratory seems to flourish more among the Welsh than among any of the other British peoples.
From Everyday England by M. Redlich