- •Britis values and assumptions. Monarchy
- •Tasks for the video lesson 1. The island people (I)
- •Lesson 2. The island people (II)
- •Task 3. After watching. Sailing to britain...
- •As others see us
- •0 Wad1 come Pow'r the giftie2 gie3 us
- •It wad frae5 mony6 a blander free us
- •Views of britain. The official view
- •Тhe people's view
- •British society a changing world
- •Attitudes
- •Stereotypes and change
- •English versus british
- •Multiculturalism
- •Conservatism
- •Being different
- •The love of nature
- •The national trust
- •The love of animals
- •Formality and informality
- •The scruffy british
- •Public spiritedness and amateurism
- •I. Mark the following areas of activity as 'professional' or 'amateur / voluntary':
- •II. Sort out the following as positively or negatively viewed by the British:
- •Privacy and sex
- •Lovely weather we're having
- •I. Turn the following noun phrases into the corresponding verbal ones. Make the necessary changes.
- •II. Match the nouns with the adjectives they collocate with:
- •What is england?
- •I. Which of the following proverbs best reflect, to your thinking, the peculiarities of the English national character?
- •II. Explain the meaning of the following:
- •III. Match the adjectives with the nouns they collocate with:
- •IV. Explain the use of articles with the word England:
- •I. Fill in the grid:
- •II. Sort out the details for each "stereotype" of the English person
- •III. Answer the questions:
- •IV. Do you agree that
- •No longer an island
- •Have the english finally left their
- •Island mentality behind?
- •Cast in the same mould
- •Change of direction
- •I. Match the following proper names with relevant characteristics:
- •I. In groups and pairs discuss:
- •Vigdis Vad Milsen: a foreigner's point of view
- •Interview people who had contacts with the British or Americans. Ask about their impressions and discuss the results of your research in class. О национальном характере англичан.
- •Monarchy
- •Vocabulary
- •The royal family
- •The Sovereign
- •The Royal Family
- •The monarchy
- •I. Great Britain is a monarchy. Find out from your partner: what is the role of the monarch in a highly developed modern country?
- •II. Choose the correct equivalent for the word:
- •V. Say if you agree or .Disagree with the following and explain why:
- •VII. Express your opinion on the following:
- •Adapt or die?
- •I. Find out the following.
- •II. Make sure you understand the following words and expressions:
- •III. Match the words on the left with their definitions in the right-hand column:
- •IV. Fill in the gaps with the prepositions:
- •In groups and pairs discuss:
- •Republicans owe Sophie a debt of thanks
- •Banish minor royals from public life, say No 10 aides
- •The speaker we need
- •An open letter to her majesty queen elizabeth II
- •I remain,
- •III. Choose the right preposition:
- •IV. Fill in the gaps where necessary with suitable notional or functional words, using your active vocabulary:
- •V. Translate from Russian into English, using your active vocabulary:
Change of direction
But now, after long having enjoyed a privileged relationship with America, Britain is gradually turning towards the Continent (be it at its own speed), gently steered by Tony Blair, who regards Britain's place in Europe as a unique occasion to play a dominant role on the world stage. Cunning tacticians that they are, though, the English are waiting to see if the single currency will work and if its national characteristics will be respected within the federal set-up. Especially as the nation's lifestyle has advanced, in the meantime, in leaps and bounds. London is now home to a population that can speak 300 different languages. It has become the European capital of multiculturalism, and draws tourists from across the globe with... its cooking and world music. Today, bridges are being built across Europe as never before. While the idea of the "green, green grass of home" advocated by an elitist layer of society locked in the past is still popular, England, the land of contrast, is busy redefining its image. On the sunny beaches of Spain, France and Greece in summertime. In the Bangladeshi restaurants down Brick Lane and in the clubs of London, Manchester and Birmingham all the year round...!
WORD STUDY
I. Match the following proper names with relevant characteristics:
I.England a) a staunch Anglophile
2.Europe b) the island of liberty
3. Great Britain c) the dark, despotic Continent
4.London d) the country that saw the birth of the Industrial Revolution
the English e) cunning tacticians
Voltaire f) home to a population that can speak 300 different languages
g) the European capital of multiculturalism
h) the land of contrast
Ш COMPREHENSION
I. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct them if necessary.
The English have been traditionally suspicious of foreigners.
Voltaire admired England and the English.
In comparison with Europe, Great Britain has always been more liberal.
The journey from Paris to London has always been very comfortable.
The British welcomed the launch of the Chunnel.
Britain has at last turned away from America to Europe.
The British are not particularly willing to give up their currency.
The British lifestyle has drastically changed over the past decades.
FOLLOW UP
I. Separate the following characteristics into (a) stereotypes and (b) new lifestyle features of the British:
Driving on the left, the cult of gardening, gradually turning towards the Continent, male-only cricket clubs, a population that can speak 300 different languages, being firmly anchored to one's native isle, drawing tourists from across the globe with its cooking and world music, considering it a shame and bad taste to be an alien
Can you expand both the lists with other suchlike characteristics? What is your personal experience of Britain and the British?
FOLLOW -UP
I. In groups and pairs discuss:
Do you think there's a future for the Monarchy in the UK? Why yes/no? If yes, how do you see it?