Filologia Angielska

BRITISH CULTURE (lectures)

KULTURA BRYTYJSKA (wykłady)

DR BOJANA BUJWID-SADOWSKA
 Tylko do użytku wewnętrznego
Wybór treści Bojana Bujwid-Sadowska

Contents pages

Introduction
Lecture 1 Geography / National Symbols / British Landscape in paintings
Lecture 2 Government and Political Parties / The Law / Thatcherism
Lecture 3 The Royal Family
Lecture 4 Customs and Traditions / Places of Interest
Lecture 5 Media
Lecture 6 Education / Sport
Lecture 7 Etiquette / Wales and Scotland
Lecture 8 London

Additional materials
Exam topics/quizes
 Bibliography

Introduction

Nazwa przedmiotu
Kultura Brytyjska

Forma:
wykład (semestr 2)

Czas trwania zajęć:

Studia stacjonarne: 15 godzin wykładu
Studia niestacjonarne: 15 godzin wykładu

Wprowadzenie

Manual do przedmiotu Kultura Brytyjska zawiera główne dla dyscypliny treści i pozwala
zrealizować wskazane w systemie Krajowych Ram Kształcenia cele, które opisane są poniżej.
Manual, oprócz treści merytorycznych, zamiera również opis metod dydaktycznych oraz sposoby
oceny wiedzy, umiejętności i kompetencji społecznych.
Każdy wykład kończy się możliwymi problemami lub/i zagadnieniami do dalszej
samodzielnej pracy.
 Bibliografia ma na celu nie tylko przedstawić z czego korzystano przy pisaniu manuala, ale
przede wszystkim ułatwić studentom dalsze pogłębianie wiedzy z dziedziny.

Cel przedmiotu:
Celem przedmiotu jest przekazanie studentom wiedzy dotyczącej kultury Wielkiej Brytanii
oraz kontekstów kuturowo-społecznych, których znajomość jest nieodzowna w opanowaniu języka
i zrozumieniu przedstawicieli innych narodów oraz szerszego kontekstu kulturowo-społeczno-
historycznego.

System oceniania:
Ocena końcowa to ocena z egzaminu, w skład którego wchodzić będzie cały materiał
zaprezentowany na zajęciach oraz teksty źródłowe, związane z obecna sytuacją Wielkiej Brytanii,
które studenci dostana do opracowania w domu. Informacje zawarte w tekstach, będą częścią testu
końcowego.

Praca własna studenta:

Jako przyszły filolog student powinien zapoznawać się na bieżąco z sytuacja społeczno-
polityczną krajów anglojęzycznych, a w szczególności Wielkiej Brytanii, jako, że to właśnie ten
kraj jest tematem rozważań w tym semestrze. Zalecane jest oglądanie programów, czytanie gazet
(wersje internetowe) oraz oglądanie filmów dotykających problematykę szeroko pojętej kultury
(realioznawstwa) Wielkiej Brytanii. Wiedza na ten temat nie tylko poszerza horyzonty studenta, ale
również wpływa na lepszą znajomość języka. Część manuala pt. „Materiały dodatkowe”
(Additional materials) zawiera artykuły, filmy, z którymi należy się zapoznać, aby uzupełnić wiedzę
na tematy przedstawione w manualu.

Kwalifikacje zdobywane na przedmiocie (wybrane):

Wiedza
Symbol WIEDZA
BrCu_W1 Zna konteksty językowe i kulturowe różnych odmian języka angielskiego
dotyczące Zjednoczonogo Królestwa
BrCu_W2 zna podstawowe tematy, pojęcia i zagadnienia dotyczące badań
kulturowych Wilekiej Brytanii
BrCu_W3 Ma podstawową wiedza o historii oraz instytucjach kulturalnych jak również
orientuje się w życiu społeczno-politycznym mieszkańców angielskiego
obszaru językowego
Umiejętności:
Symbol Umiejętności
BrCu_U1 potrafi wyszukiwać, analizować, selekcjonować i używać informacje z
wykorzystaniem źródeł właściwych dla filologii angielskiej

BrCu_U2 potrafi wykorzystać wiedzę w celu interpretowania zagadnień,

zjawisk językowych, kulturowych oraz społecznych

BrCu_U3 potrafi rozpoznawać różne rodzaje wytworów kulturowych właściwych dla

kultury Wielkiej Brytanii

Kompetencje społeczne:

Symbol Kompetencje

BrCu_K1 Student posiada umiejętności pracy zespołowej, zdolności dzielenia się wiedzą.
BrCu_K2 Student potrafi samodzielnie zdobywać wiedzę
BrCu_K3 Student jest zaangażowany i aktywny na zajęciach, wykazuje chęć brania udziału
projektach

Sposób oceniania wiedzy z wykładu

Wiedza z wykładów jest oceniana na podstawie kolokwium – testu wielokrotnego wyboru

oraz pytań otwartych dotyczących zarówno materiału przedstawianego na zajęciach jak i
materiałów dodatkowych (do opracowania samodzielnego).

Sposoby Forma zaliczenia Na Na Na Na Na Na

oceny ocenę ocenę ocenę ocenę ocenę ocenę 5
2 3 3,5 4 4,5
Egzamin 61 ÷ 81÷90
>51 51÷ 60 71÷80 <91%
Egzamin 70% %
% pkt. % pkt. % pkt. pkt.
realizowany w pkt. pkt.
 sesji
egzaminacyjne
j (E)

Obciążenie studenta pracą

System niestacjonarny
Forma aktywności System stacjonarny

Godziny kontaktowe z nauczycielem

16 16
(realizacja zajęć – wykład)
Przeczytanie wskazanych tekstów 20 20
Opracowanie zagadnień i przygotowanie
15 15
się do kolokwium
Suma 51 51

Metody sprawdzenia efektów kształcenia:

Metoda sprawdzenia
Symbol WIEDZA
efektów wiedza
BrCu_W zna podstawowe tematy, pojęcia i zagadnienia egzamin
1 dotyczące badań kulturowych z obszaru kulturowego
języka angielskiego
BrCu_W ma wiedzę o źródłach informacji, opracowaniach, egzamin
2 podręcznikach, słownikach dotyczących studiowanego
obszaru zarówno językowego jak i kulturowego
BrCu_W3 Ma podstawową wiedza o historii oraz instytucjach egzamin
kulturalnych jak również orientuje się w życiu
społeczno-politycznym mieszkańców angielskiego
obszaru językowego

Metoda sprawdzenia
Symbol Umiejętności efektów
UMIEJĘTNOŚCI
egzamin
BrCu_U
1 potrafi wyszukiwać, analizować, selekcjonować i
używać informacje z wykorzystaniem źródeł
 właściwych dla filologii angielskiej
egzamin
BrCu_U posiada podstawowe umiejętności badawcze

2 obejmujące formowanie tez, dobór metod badawczych

właściwych dla filologii i studiowanej specjalizacji w
ramach filologii angielskiej oraz potrafi oceniać
BrCu_U nie pozostaje obojętny na różne przejawy życia egzamin
3 kulturalnego odnoszące się głównie do Kultury
Wielkiej Brytanii
Lecture 1
Czas trwania: 90 minut

Geography of the UK
Some map of the UK should be used in this lecture.

Have app 2 minutes and in groups (pairs if the group is small) try to think of as many things
connected with the UK as possible.
For ex: Guinness, cockney, Sherlock Holmes, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, fish and chips, etc.

The official name of the country is : The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.
Great Britain – England, Scotland and Wales
England – only England
the British Isles – all the countries (Great Britain, Northern and Southern Ireland and all the isles)
British longest river is Severn but the deepest is the Thames.
The population is estimated to be 60,975,000 in mid-2007.
The biggest city is London (app. 8 173 941 in 2011) then Birmingham (1, 074 in 2011)

Britain is a relatively densely populated country: it is more than twice as densely populated
as France (106 people per sq.km), nine times as densely populated as the USA (27 people per
sq.km) and 100 times as densely populated as Australia (2 people per sq.km).
Britain ranks 18th in the world in terms of population size.
The most densely populated areas of England are the major cities and metropolitan areas of
London and the South East, South and West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, the
West Midlands, and the conurbations on the rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees. London has the highest
population density with 4,00 people per square kilometre, and the South West the lowest (210
In 2003, it had a population density of 383 people per sq km compared with Wales (142), Northern
Ireland (125) and Scotland (65). London had a far higher population density than any of the English
regions, with 4,700 people living in each square kilometre on average.
England's population density is more than treble the European average of 117 people per sq km.
England is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
 Nearly 84 per cent of the total population of the United Kingdom lives in England.

England 50,093,800 50,431,700 50,762,900 51.1 million

Northern Ireland 1,710,300 1,724,400 1,741,600 1.8 million
Scotland 5,078,400 5,094,800 5,116,900 5.1 million
Wales 2,952,500 2,958,600 2,965,900 3.0 million

United Kingdom 59,834.900 60,209.500 60,587,600 60,975,000

Source: Office for National Statistics; National Assembly for Wales; General Register Office for Scotland;
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency(updated Jan 2008)

National Symbols

This lecture is accompanied by a BBC film 'A Picture of Britain' ('The Flatlands') by David Dibley.
The Students should receive sheets of paper with questions to be answered while watching the film.
Possible questions:

1. What's 'Hay Wain'?

2. Name at least three British landscape painters.
3. Briefly characterise John Constable's paintings.
4. Which regions are most often presented in landscape paintings and why?
5. What poets are mentioned in the film?
6. What painter preferred to paint horses?
7. What makes a good racing horse?
8. What does a 'fen' mean?
9. Who was the master of sea paintings?
10. Give the name of at least one composer mentioned in the film.
country capital flag patron animal flower
England London St. George lion rose
23April
Wales Cardiff St.David Welsh dragon daffodil
1st March
Scotland Edinburgh St.Andrew unicorn thistle
30th Nov
Northern Belfast St. Patrick ------------ shamrock
Ireland 17th March

St. George is the patron saint of England. His cross forms the national flag of England, and
features within the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, and other national flags containing the
Union Flag, such as those of Australia and New Zealand. Traces of the cult of Saint George in
England pre-date the Norman Conquestin the eleventh century; by the fourteenth century the saint
had been declared both the patron saint and the protector of the royal family.
St George's Cross

St David became renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches
in Wales, Dumnonia, and Brittany. St David's Cathedralstands on the site of the monastery he
founded in the Glyn Rhosyn valley of Pembrokeshire. David was reputedly born on a cliff top near
Capel Non (Non's chapel) on the South-West Wales coast during a fierce storm. Both his parents
were descended from Welsh royalty. He was the son of Sandde, Prince of Powys, and Non, daughter
of a chieftain of Menevia (now the little cathedral town of St David). The site of Davids birth is
marked by the ruins of a tiny ancient chapel close to a holy well and the more recent 18th century
chapel dedicated to his mother Non can still be seen near St. David's Cathedral.

St David's Cross

St Andrew
Legend has it that a Greek monk known as St Rule or St Regulus was ordered in a vision to take a
few relics of Andrew to the ‘ends of the earth’ for safe keeping. He set off on a sea journey to
eventually come ashore on the coast of Fife at a settlement which is now the modern town of St
Andrews. In 832 AD Andrew is said to have appeared in a vision to a Pictish king the night before a
battle against the Northumbrians in what is now the village of Athelstaneford in East Lothian. On
the day of the battle a Saltire, an X-shaped cross, appeared in the sky above the battlefield and the
Picts were victorious. The Saltire, or Saint Andrew’s Cross, was subsequently adopted as the
national emblem and flag of the Scots. Andrew was first recognised as an official patron saint of
Scotland in 1320 at the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath an appeal to the Pope by Scottish
noblemen asserting Scotland’s independence from England.

St Andrew's Cross

When St Patrick was about 16, he was captured from his home in Great Britain, and taken as a
slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After
becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland. In later life, he served as an
ordained bishop, but little is known about the places where he worked. By the seventh century, he
had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.

St Patrick's Cross

Characteristic things
England
Wales Laura Ashley, Sir George Everest, Roald Dalh, Dylan Thomas, Tom Jones
Scotland Clans, kilts, medieval castles, Sir A. C. Doyle, Annie Lennox, Sean Connery, Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Northern C.S. Lewis, James Nesbitt
Ireland

Oak is the national tree of England . English is the official language.

British Landscape
Great Britain can be divided according to geographical regions : Southeast, Southwest, East
Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber.

Southeast
Counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Isle of Wight, Surrey,
Oxfordshire, East Sussex, West Sussex

Landscape
A mixture of lowlands and chains of small hills. To the far north west are the Cotswold Hills, while
the Chilterns extend from Oxfordshire across Buckinghamshire into Hertfordshire.
A horseshoe-shaped ring of chalk hills known as the Downs run down to the sea through Kent and
Sussex. The South Downs reach the coast near Brighton, the North Downs at Dover, where they end
in the famous white cliffs, which are the first sight of England for travellers by sea from continental
Europe.
The county of Kent is known as “ the Garden of England ” because it produces a lot of fruit and
vegetables. It is also famous for growing a fruit called hops, used to make beer, Britain 's favourite
alcoholic drink. Hops used to be dried in oats-houses, an unusual building and a very popular sight
in Kent. Nowadays, they are not used, but have been converted to fashionable, unique houses.
The Weald- An area in the south of England which separates the North Downs and South Downs.
Cinque Ports- (pronounced 'sink' ports). Five seaports on the south coast of Kent and Sussex -
Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich, later increased with Winchelsea and Rye who were
ordered in the Middle Ages to produce ships for service and were granted special privileges for
doing so. Only Dover, Hastings and Hythe are still on the coast.

Cities
Oxford is the largest city in the region and is home to one of Britain's oldest universities.
Channel ports are: Dover, Southampton and Portsmouth. Dover is England's busiest port. The
terminus for the Channel Tunnel, which opened in 1994 and links English mainland with the rest of
Europe, is at Folkestone.
There are several busy seaside resorts in the Southeast, including Margate, Worthing, Brighton and
Eastbourne.
The cathedral cities of Canterbury and Winchester also attract many visitors each year.
Other important towns include Reading and Winsor in Berkshire.
Countries
Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk
Some of the area in the East of England is also known by its historical name of East Anglia.
Landscape
The East of England is a very flat area, so it is important for agriculture. Much of the low lying
areas form part of the fenland. Cambridgeshire flat area is broken only by the low Gog Magog
Hills.

Towns and cities

Cambridge is one of the most well-known cities in the world because of the famous university.
Norwich is the chief city of Norfolk. It has a famous outdoor market, where people from the local
rural (farmland).
Ipswich, Suffolk's chief town, is at the head of the river Orwell's estuary.
The Southwest of England
Counties
Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall,

The southwest is known for its draught cider and clotted cream teas. There are cob-and-thatched
cottages, fishing villages and shady creeks. The region covers most of an area known as the West
Country.
Up in the far north of the region is an area of outstanding beauty known as the Cotswolds. The
Cotswolds are well-known for gentle hillsides (‘wolds’), sleepy villages and for being so ‘typically
English’.
Most of the houses in the area are made from the local honey-coloured limestone.
Landscape
The Southwest is a long peninsular with bleak moorlands and rocky outcrop. The wide expanse of
Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire, occupies most of the central part of southern England. The region's
main rivers are the Severn, Britain's longest river, which empties into the Bristol channel, and the
Avon, which flows through the city of Bristol.
The highest point of the region is High Willhays, at 621 metres. It is the highest hill in Dartmoor.
The wide expanse of Salisbury Plain occupies most of the central part of southern England. It
covers an area of approximately 300 square miles ( 775 sq. km) and is drained to the south by the
River Avon. Salisbury plain is a barren chalk plateau without trees and much of it is used as a
pasture for sheep.
Many people travel to see Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument located on Salisbury Plain.
 West Midlands
Counties: Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands
The term "West Midlands", is also used for the much smaller West Midlands county
Landscape
A mixture of valleys, rugged hills, peat bogs and moors.

East Midlands

Counties
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire (including Rutland), Lincolnshire and
Northamptonshire.
The East Midlands is the fourth largest region in England.
Landscape
Most of the East Midlands is low-lying.
The chalky Chiltern Hills lie along the southern boundary of this region. North of these in
Northamptonshire, lies the valley of the river Nene, running between two ridges of higher ground.
Further north, in Lincolnshire, the county consists of heathland, with wolds (low hills) to the east,
and marshland over in the west running towards the North Sea. The river Trent, England's third
largest river, runs through Nottinghamshire to join the river Ouse and form the Humber.
National Park - The Peak District
The Peak District is in the north west corner of the East Milands. It is mostly in county of
Derbyshire but spills over into adjoining counties.
The highest point in the East Midlands region is Kinder Scout, in the Derbyshire Peak District at
636m.

Towns and cities

The most important cities and towns are the ancients ones of Lincoln, Nottingham, Bedford, Ely,
and Northampton. The largest city and the generally recognized "capital" of the East Midlands is
Nottingham.
Grimbsy, in northeast Lincolnshire is a fishing port.

Yorkshire and the Humber

Countries
South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire,
East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire

Landscape
The landscape of the Northeast is very varied.

Climate
Britain lies between the land mass of Eurasia to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. As the
English have such a variable climate changing from day to day, it is difficult to predict the weather.
In general there are warm summers and cool winters. English summers are cooler than those on the
continent, but the winters are milder. The overall climate in England is called temperate
maritime.This means that it is mild with temperatures not much lower than 0ºC in winter and not
much higher than 32ºC in summer. It also means that it is damp and is subject to frequent changes.
July is normally the warmest month in England. Around the coasts, February is normally the
coldest month, but inland there is little to choose between January and February as the coldest
months.
Probably the best months to travel in England are May, June, September and October. These
months generally have the most pleasant temperatures and less rain. July and August are the
warmest months, but they are also the wettest.
What influences the weather?
The main influence on our climate is our close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, our northern
latitude, and the warming of the waters around the land by the Gulf Stream (a warm current of the
northern Atlantic Ocean).Our island is small compared with the other land masses in the northern
hemisphere – hence Britain is more influenced by the ocean compared with other European
countries, and the Gulf Stream helps to keep winters milder compared with other landlocked nations
Rain is fairly well distributed throughout the year, with late winter/spring (February to March) the
driest period and autumn/winter (October to January) the wettest. The Lake District is England's
wettest region, receiving and average of 130 inches (330 centimetres) of precipitation each year.
The western and northern hills receive about 40 inches (102 centimetres) of rain, while the east
coast receives about 20 inches (51 centimetres). Over England the mean annual temperature at low
altitudes varies from about 8.5 °C to 11 °C, with the highest values occurring around or near to the

coasts of Cornwall (in the south west).

Winter temperatures average 4.4 °C (40 °F )
Summer temperatures average about 15.6 °C (60 °F ()
 The sunniest parts of the United Kingdom are along the south coast of England. Many
places along this south coast achieve annual average figures of around 1,750 hours of sunshine. The
dullest parts of England are the mountainous areas, with annual average totals of less than 1,000
hours.
Rainfall in England varies widely. The Lake District is the wettest part, with average annual
totals exceeding 2,000 mm. However, all of East Anglia, much of the Midlands, eastern and north-
eastern England, and parts of the south-east receive less than 700 mm a year.
Lecture 2 (90 min)
Government and Political Parties

The Queen

Parliament Government Law Courts

legislative executive (executes laws, interpret laws
(makes laws) puts them into effect)

House of Lords House of Commons

House of Lords
members are called 'peers' – not elected but appointed by the sovereign.
App 70% - hereditary peers, the function is inherited
App 30% - 'life peers' who's titles are not passed on their children. They are appointed by the
Queen.

House of Commons
UK is divided into 650 constituencies. Each about 60, 000 voters. Each constituency is represented
by one MP in the House of Commons elected by voters in a system called 'First Past the Post' – the
candidate who gets more votes than any other - wins.
The voter must be over 18 (except prisoners, lords and the mentally ill).
Voting takes place on a Polling Day (usually Thursday)

The Leader of the government – Prime Minister, also an MP, usually the leader of the political
party with a majority in the House of Commons.
Prime Minister is advised by a Cabinet of about 20 ministers.
Departments and ministers are run by Civil Servants who are permanent officials.
The Leader of the party that wins becomes Prime Minister and form government (remains in power
for up to 5 years, unless the Prime Minister decides to hold an earlier election).
The second biggest party becomes the official opposition. It's leader forms a 'Shadow Cabinet'.
Since 1945 the Conservatives and the Labour have been either the Government or the Opposition.

Functions of the Prime Minister:

 leading the majority party
 running the government
 appointing Cabinet Ministers and other ministers
 representing the nation in political matters
 meeting the sovereign

Functions of Parliament:
 making laws
 providing money for government, through taxation
 examining government policy, administration and spending
 debating political questions

Political Parties
The UK is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies, each with an electorate of about
60,000 voters. Each constituency is represented by one Member of the Parliament in the House of
Commons. The most dominant parties are the Conservatives and Labour Party. In 1981 a new party
was formed to try to break the dominance of the previous two. Some Conservatives and Labour
MPs left their own parties to join the new Social Democrats. The new party then agreed to fight
elections in alliance with the small but long-lasting Liberals. In 1987 the two parties of the Alliance
agreed to merge to form a new party, the Liberal Democrats, although some Social Democrats
preferred to remain independent. The Parties running the country now are Conservatives and Lib
Dems.

The Law

The law is one of the most traditional areas of national life.

 virtue vice
independent from the system of government its resistance to reform and the
ans as such a safeguard of civil liberties maintenance of its own privileges which
may be contrary to public interest

Making new laws:

Bill is a proposal for a new law that can be introduced by any member of the parliament (House of
Lords or House of Commons). After being discussed, it is send to the other house, if they agree the
sovereign gives his/her 'Royal Assent' and it becomes law.
The legal system for England and Wales (separate for Scotland and Northern Ireland) does not have
a criminal or civil code but is founded upon two basic elements:

 Acts of Parliament
 statute law (Parliament has been enacting them since 13c)
 common law which is the outcome of past decisions and practices based upon custom
and reason

Criminal Law is now set out in Acts of Parliament
Civil Law – the greater part of it – depends upon common law.

Dealing with crime

Initial decision to bring the criminal charges lies within the police but since 1986 a Crown
Prosecution Service (CPS) has examined the evidence on which the police have charged a suspect
to decide whether the case should go to court . Generally it brings to court only those cases which it
believes will be successful.

Types of Courts
Magistrate Courts (the courts of the first instance)
95% of criminal cases
Crown Courts - more serious cases
All criminal cases above the level of magistrates courts are held before a jury.
JPs – magistrates of Justices of the Peace – dealing with minor cases. JPs are ordinary citizens
chosen from the community.
A courts consists of three lay magistrates who are advised on points of law by a legally qualified
clerk. They may not impose a sentence of more than 6 months imprisonment or fine of more than
2,000 and may refer cases requiring a heavier penalty to the Crown Court.

A Crown Court is presided over by a judge, but the verdict is reached by a jury of 12 citizens,
randomly selected from the local electoral rolls.
The judge must make sure that the trial is
 properly conducted
 that the 'counsels' (barristers) for the prosecution and defence comply with the rules
regarding the evidence
 that the jury are helped to reach their decision by the judge's summary of the evidence
Underlying the whole process lies the assumption that the person charged with an offence is
presumed to be innocent unless the prosecution can prove guilt 'beyond all reasonable doubt'.
A person convicted in a magistrates court may appeal against decision to the Crown Court.
An appeal against the decision of the Crown Court may be taken to the Court of Appeal (Criminal
Division) but it's seldom successful.
The Court of Criminal Appeals dislikes overturning a Crown Court decision unless the
evidence is overwhelming.
The highest court in the land is the House of Lords.
The sentence passed on the offender is decided by the judge or magistrate within the limits for the
offence set down by the Parliament. Punishment may take the form of a fine, imprisonment or
probation under the supervision of a professional probation officer.
THE DEATH PENALTY (by hanging) WAS SUSPENDED IN 1965 AND ABOLISHED IN 1969.
Young offenders
The age of criminal responsibility is 10, in Scotland 8. Between 10-17 – juvenile court – continue to
live within the family, subject to supervision, or should be taken into a local authority car with
foster parents or in a community home.
Legal profession
Solicitor – may deal directly with the public – Law Society
Barrister – professional advocates – may fight a case in the higher courts (Crown Courts and the
High Court) – Bar for barristers. Only barristers can reach the top of the profession.
In order to become a barrister a candidate must obtain entrance to on of the 4 Inns of Courts (law
collages that date back to the Middle Ages)complete the legal training and pass the Bar
examination. A newly qualified barrister will enter the 'chambers' and slowly build up experience
and reputation. A successful barrister may be appointed a Queen's Council, or QC, known within
the profession as 'talking silk'.
All judges are appointed by Lord Chancellor.
Two nicknames for British police, 'bobbies' and 'Peelers', come from the founder of the 'Met' Police,
Sir Robert Peel.

Thatcherism (taken from Britain Explored)

Margaret Thatcher faced serious problems when she came to power in 1979. Britain still had
a reputation for frequent strikes. Inflation was high. Traditional heavy industry such as coal, steel,
and shipbuilding were declining and as a result, many cities in the north and west of Britain which
had been rich since the industrial revolution now faced high levels of unemployment.
There were number of major political debates during this period. The Conservatives cut taxes and
claimed they were giving power back to people. They also returned a large number of state-owned
industries to the private sector.
The Labour Opposition saw these policies as encouraging selfishness widening the gap
between the poor and the rich. The state continued to provide education, health and social services
largely free of charge but Labour were concerned about the decline in standards. To many
observers, Britain appeared to be split between the rich Conservative south-east of England and the
rest of the country, which was less well-off and less likely to vote Conservative.
Overseas, Britain went to war with Argentina in 1982 over the future of the Falkland Islands
in the South Atlantic. Mrs Thatcher's close relationship with President Reagan brought American
support in that war, a favour which was returned in 1986, when the US raided Libya with bombers
based in Britain.
At home there still seemed to be no acceptance solutions to the problems of Northern
Ireland. Mrs Thatcher and her cabinet escaped death in 1984, when IRA bomb exploded in their
hotel during the Conservative party conference in Brighton.

Topics for discussion/consideration

1. What problems has Mrs Thatcher's government faced abroad and at home?
2. What were the differences in viewing Britain's future according to Conservatives and
Labour?
 3. What reasons can you find for the geographical differences between Conservatives and
Labour support?
4. Who is responsible for making laws in Britain?
5. What's the difference between the solicitor and the barrister?
6. Which do you think is better: judgment by one trained lawyer or judgment by twelve
ordinary people?
7. What is the difference between the constitution of the UK and the USA?
8. Which of the two Houses of Parliament has more power?
9. What is the difference between the Parliament and the Government?
10. What is the difference between a Bill and an Act of Parliament?
11. What is a 'hung' parliament (give an example)?
12. What are the major British political parties?
13. Who is the head of the country?

Lecture 3 The Royal Family

'P' stands for the succession to the throne.

A Commonwealth Realm is a country which has The Queen as its Monarch.

There are 15 Commonwealth Realms in addition to the UK:
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize,
Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Vincent and the
Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon Islands, St Lucia and
The Bahamas.
As Head of State The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters,
unable to vote or stand for election. But The Queen does have important ceremonial and formal
roles in relation to the Government of the UK. The formal phrase 'Queen in Parliament' is used to
describe the British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House
of Commons. The Queen's duties include opening each new session of Parliament, dissolving
Parliament before a general election, and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy
Council.
 The Queen also has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, retaining the right to appoint
and also meeting with him or her on a regular basis.
In addition to playing a specific role in the UK Parliament based in London, The Queen has
formal roles with relation to the devolved assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Queen has an important formal and ceremonial relationship with Parliament.
The phrase 'Crown in Parliament' is used to describe the British legislature, which consists of the
Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Of these three different elements, the Commons, a majority of whom normally supports the
elected Government of the day, has the dominant political power. The role of the Sovereign in the
enactment of legislation is today purely formal, although The Queen has the right ‘to be consulted,
to encourage and to warn’ her ministers via regular audiences with the Prime Minister.
The Sovereign’s assent is required to all bills passed by Parliament in order for them to become law.
Royal Assent (consenting to a measure becoming law) has not been refused since 1707.
It is also a long established convention that The Queen is asked by Parliament to provide
consent (which is different to assent) for the debating of bills which would affect the prerogative or
interests of the Crown. Where Queen’s Consent is given it is signified in each House of Parliament
and recorded in Hansard. Consent has not been withheld in modern times, except on the advice of
Government.
The Queen also plays an important role in the ceremonial opening and dissolving of
Parliament. In the annual State Opening of Parliament ceremony, The Queen opens Parliament in
person, and addresses both Houses in The Queen's Speech. Neither House can proceed to public
business until The Queen's Speech has been read.
This speech is drafted by the Government and not by The Queen. It outlines the Government's
policy for the coming session of Parliament and indicates forthcoming legislation.
In addition to opening Parliament, only The Queen can summon Parliament, and prorogue
(discontinue without dissolving it) or dissolve it.
When a Prime Minister wishes to dissolve Parliament and call a general election, he or she is
obliged to seek the permission of the Sovereign to do so. For this purpose, the Prime Minister
usually travels to Buckingham Palace before announcing a general election.
Since the Parliament Act of 1911, the life of the United Kingdom Parliament extends to five
years, unless dissolved sooner by the Sovereign at the request of the Prime Minister. 
In practice, except during the two World Wars when the life of Parliament was extended
annually to avoid a wartime general election, every modern Parliament has been dissolved before its
term has expired.
When Parliament is summoned, also after a Royal proclamation, there must, since the
Representation of the People Act 1918, be a period of at least twenty days before Parliament meets.
This period can be extended, but only for fourteen days, according to the Prorogation Act 1867.
There is only one occasion on which Parliament meets without a Royal summons, and that is when
the Sovereign has died. In such circumstances, the Succession to the Crown Act 1707 provides that,
if Parliament is not already sitting, it must immediately meet and sit.
The Meeting of Parliament Act 1797 provides that, if the Sovereign dies after Parliament has
been dissolved, the immediately preceding Parliament sits for up to six months, if not prorogued or
dissolved before then.

The Queen's role in Parliament is:

- Assenting to Bills passed by Parliament, on the advice of Ministers;
- Giving audiences to Ministers, at which Her Majesty may be consulted, encourage and warn;
- Opening each new session of Parliament;
- Proroguing or dissolving Parliament before a general election.
The Queen has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, the senior political figure in
the British Government, regardless of their political party.
Although she is a constitutional monarch who remains politically neutral, The Queen retains
the ability to give a regular audience to a Prime Minister during his or her term of office, and plays
a role in the mechanics of calling a general election.
The Queen gives a weekly audience to the Prime Minister at which she has a right and a
duty to express her views on Government matters. If either The Queen or the Prime Minister are not
available to meet, then they will speak by telephone.
These meetings, as with all communications between The Queen and her Government, remain
strictly confidential. Having expressed her views, The Queen abides by the advice of her ministers.
The Queen also plays a part in the calling of a general election. The Prime Minister of the
day may request the Sovereign to grant a dissolution of Parliament at any time.
In normal circumstances, when a single-party government enjoys a majority in the House of
Commons, the Sovereign would not refuse, for the government would then resign and the Sovereign
would be unable to find an alternative government capable of commanding the confidence of the
Commons.
After a general election, the appointment of a Prime Minister is also the prerogative of the
Sovereign.
In appointing a Prime Minister, the Sovereign is guided by constitutional conventions. The
main requirement is to find someone who can command the confidence of the House of Commons.
This is normally secured by appointing the leader of the party with an overall majority of seats in
the Commons, but there could still be exceptional circumstances when The Queen might need to
exercise discretion to ensure that her Government is carried on. When a potential Prime Minister is
called to Buckingham Palace, The Queen will ask him or her whether he or she will form a
government.
To this question, two responses are realistically possible. The most usual is acceptance.
If the situation is uncertain, as it was with Sir Alec Douglas-Home in 1963, a potential Prime
Minister can accept an exploratory commission, returning later to report either failure or, as
occurred in 1963, success.
After a new Prime Minister has been appointed, the Court Circular will record that "the
Prime Minister Kissed Hands on Appointment". This is not literally the case. In fact, the actual
kissing of hands will take place later, in Council.
There have been twelve British Prime Ministers during The Queen's reign:

PRIME MINISTER YEARS

Winston Churchill 1951-57
Sir Anthony Eden 1955 - 57
Harold Macmillan 1957-63
Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963 - 64
Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76
Edward Heath 1970 - 74
James Callaghan 1976-79
Margaret Thatcher 1979 - 90
John Major 1990 - 97
Tony Blair 1997 - 2007
Gordon Brown 2007 - 2010
David Cameron 2010 - 2016
Teresa May 2016 - 2019
Boris Johnson 2019 - incumbent

The queen and the Church

In the United Kingdom, The Queen's title includes the words 'Defender of the Faith'. Her Majesty is
the Head of the English Church yet the spiritual leader is always the Archbishop of Canterbury.
This means Her Majesty has a specific role in both the Church of England and the Church of
Scotland.
As established Churches, they are recognised by law as the official Churches of England and
Scotland, respectively. In both England and Scotland, the established Churches are subject to the
regulation of law. The principle of religious toleration is fully recognised both for those of other
creeds and for those without any religious beliefs. There are no established Churches in Northern
Ireland nor in Wales. They were disestablished in 1869 in Northern Ireland and 1920 in Wales.
There is no established Church in any Commonwealth country of which The Queen is monarch (i.e.
a realm).
In addition to playing a role in the Churches of England and Scotland, The Queen recognises and
supports the various other faiths practised in the UK and Commonwealth.

Functions of the sovereign:

 opening and closing Parliament
 approving the appointment of the Prime Minister
 giving her Royal Assent to bills
 giving honours such as peerages, knighthoods and medals
 Head of the Commonwealth
 Head of the Church of England
 Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces

Guide to the order of succession to the British throne.

The Sovereign – HM Queen Elizabeth II

1. The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles)
2. The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William)
3. Prince George of Cambridge (The Royal Baby)
4. Prince Harry of Wales
5. The Duke of York (Prince Andrew)
6. Princess Beatrice of York
7. Princess Eugenie of York
8. The Earl of Wessex
9. Viscount Severn
10. The Lady Louse Mountbatten-Winsor
Topics for discussion/consideration
1. What powers does the Queen have in government?
2. Who is going to be the next sovereign?
3. What connections can you find between the members of the Royal Family and the world
outside Britain?
4. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of having monarchy?
5. How does the attitude of the public change towards the Royal Family in different, important
moments in history (for ex. WWII, death of Lady Diana, etc.)
6. What's the Queen's surname?

Lecture 4 (90 min)

Customs and Traditions

A good start to gaining some understanding of the lives of people living in a country is to
look at their cherished customs and traditions. These illustrate not only what is important to the
people living there, but also how they relax and have fun.
Britain is full of culture and traditions which have been around for hundreds of years. British
customs and traditions are famous all over the world. When people think of Britain they often think
of people drinking tea, eating fish and chips and wearing bowler hats, but there is more to Britain
than just those things.

Bankholidays in England and Wales

England and
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Wales
New Year's
3 January 2 January 1 January 1 January 1 January
Day
Good Friday 22 April 6 April 29 March 18 April 3 April
Easter
25 April 9 April 1 April 21 April 6 April
Monday
Royal
29 April - - - -
wedding
Early May
2 May 7 May 6 May 5 May 4 May
Bank Holiday
Spring Bank
30 May 4 June* 27 May 26 May 25 May
Holiday
Queen's
Diamond - 5 June - - -
Jubilee
Summer Bank
Holiday
29 August 27 August 26 August 25 August 31 August
(August Bank
Holiday)
Christmas Day 26 December 25 December 25 December 25 December 25 December
Boxing Day 27 December 26 December 26 December 26 December 28 December

Guy Fawlkes Day ( Bonfire Night)

"Remember, remember,
the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
We see no reason why
Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!"

Guy Fawkes (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606) was a member of a group of provincial English
Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, to assassinate King James I and restore
a Catholic monarch to the throne. The plotters secured the lease to amender croft beneath the House
of Lords, and Fawkes was placed in charge of the gunpowder they stockpiled there. Prompted by
the receipt of an anonymous letter, the authorities searched Westminster Palace during the early
hours of 5 November, and found Fawkes.

Royal Ascot
In 1711, the first racing meeting was inaugurated on Ascot Common by Queen Anne. She
drove from Winsor Castle with her courtiers and maids of honour to attend a day's sport, which had
been organised at her command. Little attention was paid to horse racing or Ascot then, but the
Duke of Cumberland, until his death in 1765, revived interest in Ascot races. It is said that over
40,000 people attended a race in Ascot in 1791. There was no grandstand, but on the common was a
vast array of booths and tents. The Gold cup was instituted in 1807, when Queen Charlotte attended
Ascot. In 1907, during the running of the Gold Cup, the trophy was stolen from the display case at
the back of the grandstand. It has never been recovered. Ascot's popularity with members of the
Royal Family come and gone, although Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, was far more
enthusiastic than either of his parents. In a letter to his mother, he said '…....it is a opportunity for
the Royal Family to show themselves in public - which I am sure you desire – and after all Racing
with all its faults still remains, I may say, a National Institution of the Country'.

Henley Royal Regatta (in July)

Henley Royal Regatta is undoubtedly the best known regatta in the world and is both one of
the highlights of the summer sporting calendar and the social season.
It attracts thousands of visitors over a 5 day period and spectators will be thrilled by over 200 races
of an international standard, including Olympians and crews new to the event.
Aside from the rowing, visitors can take in the ambience enjoying the facilities within the
Enclosures.

Orange Men's Day (Northern Ireland, 12 of July)

Protestant Irish march with drums and pipes to commemorate the Battle of Boyne, which occurred
on Ireland’s east coast in 1690. In Northern Ireland, it is a bank holiday. Schools and many
businesses and organizations are closed. Some sops may be closed. Public transport services may
run on their regular or special holiday timetables
In 1690, William III of England defeated the exiled Catholic king James II at the Battle of the
Boyne, James, who had been in France, had invaded Ireland with French troops.
Men wear orange sashes and black suits and bowler hats. Orange Day marches also take place in
Birmingham and Liverpool, and in some parts of Canada, for example." This day is known as
"Orangemen's Day", "Orange Day", "the Glorious Twelfth" or just "the Twelfth". The day falls on
July 12. However, if July 12 is a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday falls on Monday, July 13 or
14.
Swan Upping on the River Thames
The census of people takes place every ten years. The census of swans takes place annually
during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and
marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.
The Swan Upping event takes place in July each year, commencing on the third Monday at
Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the Friday.
The swans on the River Thames are Mute Swans (Cygnus colour). They are not actually
mute, they can honk and hiss a lot. Mute swans are seen in Britain all year round and are
distinguished by a bright orange beak, which has a knob of black tissue on the top.
The Swan Uppers catch and check the health of the swans and their cygnets through five
counties, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, to Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

The Notting Hill Carnival

All carnival activities are focused on the performances of the steel bands, mas bands, and
sound systems at the two day carnival parade. The carnival route is a good guide to where these
performances can be found. Off route, mainly in the interior, you will also find the greatest range of
international food stalls that can compare with the best of festivals in the world. For some the main
event in carnival is the sound system performances , some of London's most popular and powerful
perform to retain the crowds in attendance at their jam sessions.

Places of Interest

The lecturer may consider talking about the following places of interest but he/she may as well
introduce places of his/her own choice. The lecture should be accompanied by pictures presentation
and/or film.
1. Stonehenge
2. Salisbury Cathedral
3. Oxbridge Universities
4. Warwickshire (Warwick Cathedral and Castle)
5. Norfolk
6. Canterbury Cathedral
7. Dover Castle
8. Arundel Cathedral and Castle
 9. Ray
10. Cotswolds

Arundel Castle is a restored medieval castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England. It was
established by Roger Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the
earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror. The castle was damaged in the English
Civil War and then restored in the 18th and 19th centuries.
From the 11th century onward, the castle has served as a hereditary stately home and has
been in the family of the Duke of Norfolk for over 400 years. It is still the principal seat of the
Norfolk family. It is a Grade I listed building.

Rye
Rye is a small town in East Sussex, England, which stands approximately two miles from
the open sea and is at the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede. In
medieval times, however, as an important member of the Cinque Ports confederation, it was at the
head of an embayment of the English Chanel and almost entirely surrounded by the sea.
Rye is officially a civil parish but with its historic roots has the status of a town; at the 2001
census it had a population of 4009. During its history its association with the sea has included
providing ships for the service of the King in time of war, and being involved with smuggling gangs
of the 18th and 19th centuries such as the notorious Hawk Hurst Gang who used its inns such as
The Mermaid Inn and The Olde Bell Inn, connected by secret passage way.

Cotswolds

The main tourist towns that occupy this essentially British spot of land are names that most
will recognise such as Bath with its crescents and spas, remains from Roman invaders; Malmesbury
with its skyline dominated by the Norman Abbey. Malmesbury became 'the' weaving centre from
the 15th century known for its fine silk and lace. Enjoy the narrow medieval streets and river walk;
Stroud a busy market town that has retained its character; Gloucester, a mix of old and new from
Romans to now, especially so where they meet at Gloucester Cathedral as a setting for a Harry
Potter movie; Cheltenham, another spa town with its Regency architecture; Chipping Camden,
another typically Cotswold town with its wonderful buildings so well preserved as a market town;
Moreton in Marsh, a thriving market town. Lovely 17th century buildings though the town dates
back to Saxon times.
 Tuesday is the day for the open-air street market; Tewkesbury, a medieval town oozing
history, the 12th century Abbey dominating the town; Stratford on Avon is a market town and is best
known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare and hosts Royal Shakespeare Company with its
theatres; Stow on the Wold, the highest of the Cotswold towns and set on the Roman Fosse Way.
Doll-like villages with their pretty honey-coloured stone buildings such as Bibury, the
archetypal British village with the 14th century Arlington Row providing the focal point; Bourton
on the Water often referred to as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' because of the River Windrush
meandering through the centre of the village to be crossed by enticing low bridges; Burford feels
like stepping back in time as you wander past 17th century buildings in the High Street; Castle
Combe again very pretty and full of atmosphere with most of the buildings dating back hundreds of
years (nearest station is Chippenham); pretty Broadway with its ancient buildings in local stone
adding colour to the already beautiful village.

Lecture 5 (90 min)

Media

The three public bodies responsible for television and radio throughout Britain are:
 The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which broadcasts television and radio
programmes;
 The Independent Television Commission (ITC), which licences and regulates commercial
television service including cable, satellite and independent teletext services;
 The Radio Authority, which licences and regulates commercial radio services, including
cable and satellite.
Television (Telly)
People in Britain watch on average 25 hours of TV every week.
Television viewing is Britain's most popular leisure pastime. About 96 per cent of the population of
Britain have television in their homes. In 1999, 13% of households had satellite television and 9%
cable television. It is estimated that about 10 per cent of household have two or more sets. The
average viewing time per person is over 25 hours a week.
There are five main channels in Britain:
 two national commercial-free BBC networks, BBC1 and BBC2,
 commercial ITV1, Channel 4 and Chanel 5 services.
The BBC channels are commercial free while the other three have commercials. All the channels
offer a mixture of drama, light entertainment, films, sport, educational, children’s and religious
programmes, news and current affairs, and documentaries.
The BBC has been providing regular television broadcasts since 1936. BBC television productions
come from main studios at the Television Centre in west London and other studios in various parts
of London.
ITV1 is the most popular commercial television channel in Britain, watched on average by 45
million people every week.

Digital Broadcasting
The country is moving over to digital broadcasting, and the present analogue services will stop in
2012.
Freeview
You can buy a digital box (costs about £40 to £60 and plugs into TV) or a new TV. Additional free
digital services include the existing channels BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and
adds BBC3, BBC4, BBC News 24, as well as ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and a whole load of other
channels including the American Channel ABC1. and the BBC's digital channels BBC6 and BBC7.
There are about 30 channels in all, known as 'Freeview' channels.
You can also get a wide range of digital radio channels, so you can 'watch' radio on your TV! Many
people have to get a better aerial to receive digital television.
Cable and Satellite television
We also have cable and satellite television. The largest satellite programmer is BskyB (British Sky
Broadcasting). There are about 300 channels including some American ones like CNN. The kids’
channels include Fox Kids, Trouble TV, CBBC, and Nick Jr.
Cable TV is provided by NTL, Telewest, or Cable and Wireless. It has about 200 channels and the
channels are very similar to Satellite TV.
Television Programmes the British watch
Many television programmes are about wildlife, animals, holidays, cooking and gardening.
DIY programs- DIY means 'do it yourself'.
These programmes are very popular as many people love improving their homes and decorating.
Drama and sitcoms
Men Behaving Badly, Inspector Morse, Cracker, Absolutely Fabulous, the Royal Family, Dalziel &
Pascoe, Soldier Soldier, Darling Buds of May, Poirot, The Bill, Casualty.
Soaps - a series of television or radio programmes about the lives

Newspapers
 There are about 130 daily and Sunday newspapers, over 2,000 weekly newspapers and some
7,000 periodical publications in Britain. The press in Britain is free to comment on matters of public
interest, subject to law.
Daily Newspapers sell 322 copies per 1000 people in the UK, the eighth highest rate in the
world.

British newspapers include the following:

Quality papers:
The Times
The Financial Times
The Guardian
The Independent
Tabloids:
The Daily Mail
The Sun
The Mirror
Magazines:
The Times Literary Supplement
Vanity Fair
OK!
Easy Living
SHE

Radio
People in Britain listen to an average 15 hours and 50 minutes of radio each week.
The BBC has five national radio networks which together transmit all types of music, news, current
affairs, drama, education, sport and a range of feature programmes.
There are also 39 BBC local radio stations, and national radio services in Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland.

Sense of Humour

This fragment of the lecture should be accompanied by films & sitcoms e.g.:
  Rowan Atkinson 'Mr Bean'

 Huge Laurie 'A Bit of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie'

Stephen Fry

 John Cleese 'Monty Python', 'Fawlty Towers'

 Patricia Routledge 'Keeping Up Appearances',

Types and Forms of Humor

by Mark Nichol taken from http://www.dailywritingtips.com/20-types-and-forms-of-humor/

Humour comes in many flavours, any of which may appeal to one person but not to another,
and which may be enjoyed in alternation or in combination. Here are names and descriptions of the
varieties of comic expression:
1. Anecdotal: Named after the word anecdote (which stems from the Greek term meaning
“unpublished”); refers to comic personal stories that may be true or partly true but embellished.
2. Blue: Also called off-colour, or risqué (from the French word for “to risk”); relies on impropriety
or indecency for comic effect. (The name probably derives from the eighteenth-century use of the
word blue to refer to morally strict standards — hence the phrase “blue laws” to refer to ordinances
restricting certain behaviour on the Sabbath).
A related type is broad humour, which refers to unrestrained, unsubtle humour often marked by
coarse jokes and sexual situations.
3. Burlesque: Ridicules by imitating with caricature, or exaggerated characterization. The
association with striptease is that in a bygone era, mocking skits and ecdysiast displays were often
on the same playbills in certain venues.
4. Dark/Gallows/Morbid: Grim or depressing humour dealing with misfortune and/or death and
with a pessimistic outlook.
5. Deadpan/Dry: Delivered with an impassive, expressionless, matter-of-fact presentation.
6. Droll: From the Dutch word meaning “imp”; utilizes capricious or eccentric humour.
7. Epigrammatic: Humour consisting of a witty saying such as “Too many people run out of ideas
long before they run out of words.” (Not all epigrams are humorous, however.) Two masters of
epigrammatic humour are Benjamin Franklin (as the author of Poor Richard’s Almanackand Oscar
Wilde.
8. Farcical: Comedy based on improbable coincidences and with satirical elements, punctuated at
times with overwrought, frantic action. (It, like screwball comedy — see below — shares many
elements with a comedy of errors.) Movies and plays featuring the Marx Brothers are epitomes of
farce. The adjective also refers to incidents or proceedings that seem too ridiculous to be true.
9. High/highbrow: Humor pertaining to cultured, sophisticated themes.
10. Hyperbolic: Comic presentation marked by extravagant exaggeration and outsized
characterization.
11. Ironic: Humor involving incongruity and discordance with norms, in which the intended
meaning is opposite, or nearly opposite, to the literal meaning. (Not all irony is humorous,
however.)
12. Juvenile/sophomoric: Humour involving childish themes such as pranks, name-calling, and
other immature behaviour.
13. Mordant: Caustic or biting humour (the word stems from a Latin word meaning “to bite”). Not
to be confused with morbid humour (see above).
14. Parodic: Comic imitation often intended to ridicule an author, an artistic endeavour, or a genre.
15. Satirical: Humour that mocks human weaknesses or aspects of society.
16. Screwball: Akin to farce in that it deals with unlikely situations and responses to those
situations; distinguished, like farcical humour, by exaggerated characterizations and episodes of
fast-paced action.
17. Self-deprecating: Humour in which performers target themselves and their foibles or
misfortunes for comic effect. Stand-up comedian Rodney Dangerfield was a practitioner of self-
deprecating humour.
18. Situational: Humour arising out of quotidian situations; it is the basis of sitcoms, or situation
comedies. Situational comedies employ elements of farce, screwball, slapstick, and other types of
humour.
19. Slapstick: Comedy in which mock violence and simulated bodily harm are staged for comic
effect; also called physical comedy. The name derives from a prop consisting of a stick with an
attached piece of wood that slapped loudly against it when one comedian struck another with it,
enhancing the effect. The Three Stooges were renowned for their slapstick comedy.
20. Stand-up: A form of comedy delivery in which a comic entertains an audience with jokes and
humorous stories. A stand-up comedian may employ one or more of the types of humour described
here.

Jokes
 1. A customer ordered some coffee in a cafe. The waitress arrived with the coffee and placed it on
the table. After a few moments, the customer called for the waitress "Waitress," he said, "there's dirt
in my coffee!". "That's not surprising, sir, replied the waitress, "It was ground only half an hour
ago."

2. What is the longest word in the English language?

"Smiles". Because there is a mile between its first and last letters!

3. One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each
bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed
in each of their pints, and were stuck in the thick head. The Englishman pushed his beer away in
disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer, and continued drinking it, as if nothing had
happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink, held it out over the beer, and started
yelling, "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT YOU BAS**RD!!!!"

Lecture 6 (90 min)

Education

Children are put into year groups (grades). The whole class moves up a year group each year in September.
Age* England and Wales Scotland
1 Sept - 31 Aug 1 Sept - 29 Feb 1 Mar - 31 Au
School Key Stage Year Year Year
Primary School or Infant
4-5 Reception - Primary 1 (P1)
School
5-6 " KS1 Year 1 Primary 2 (P2) Primary 1 (P1
 6-7 " " Year 2 Primary 3 (P3) Primary 2 (P2
Primary School or Junior
7-8 KS2 Year 3 Primary 4 (P4) Primary 3 (P3
School
8-9 " " Year 4 Primary 5 (P5) Primary 4 (P4
9-10 " " Year 5 Primary 6 (P6) Primary 5 (P5
10-11 " " Year 6 Primary 7 (P7) Primary 6 (P6
11-12 Secondary School KS3 Year 7 Secondary 1 Primary 7 (P7
12-13 " " Year 8 Secondary 2 Secondary 1
13-14 " " Year 9 Secondary 3 Secondary 2
14-15 " KS4 Year 10 Secondary 3

Secondary 4
15-16 " " Year 11
S4 Std Grade

6th Form at Secondary Secondary 5 Secondary 4

16-17 A' Level Year 12
School or College S5 Higher S4 Std Grade
Secondary 6 Secondary 5
17-18 " " Year 13
S6 Adv Higher S5 Higher
Secondary 6
 
S6 Adv Highe
For any academic year, example:
A child who is 6 between September and February would be in Y1 in England, P2 in Scotland.
A child who is 6 between February and June would be would be in Y1 in England, P1 in Scotland
A child who is 6 between July and August would be in Y1 in England, P1 in Scotland

Higher Education

There are four main types of British Universities.

1. Ancient Universities
Ancient universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland were founded during the Middle Ages and
the Renaissance. Since no universities were founded in the United Kingdom and Ireland between
the 16th and 19th century, the term "ancient university" generally refers to institutions of higher
education that were established before the 19th century.
The ancient universities (in order of formation) are:
 University of Oxford -founded before 1167 (England)
University of Cambridge – founded 1209 (England)
University of St Andrews – founded 1413 (Scotland)
University of Glasgow - founded1451 (Scotland)
University of Aberdeen - founded1495 (Scotland)
University of Edinburgh - founded1583 (Scotland)
University of Dublin – founded 1592 (Ireland; only ancient university outside the UK)

Due to their sheer age and continuous academic and scientific output, all of the ancient universities
are very reputable. The two top universities in UK, which are continuously found in first and second
place of the British league tables, are Oxford and Cambridge. Together they are known as Oxbridge
and share a century old rivalry, which dates back to when Cambridge was founded by dissident
Oxford scholars.
Oxbridge is often compared to the American Ivy League universities, but it is important to
note that all Ivy League institutions are private universities, while Oxford and Cambridge are state-
owned.
Both universities are divided into more than thirty colleges. Since each college at Oxford only
offers a certain range of subjects, the choice of college often depends on the field of study. At
Cambridge, on the other hand, all colleges give students to opportunity to study any subject offered
by the university as a whole.
Yet in spite of the differences and rivalries, there is also much cooperation between Britain's two
oldest academic institutions. Most Oxford colleges have a sister college in Cambridge. Some
colleges even share a common name, but are not necessarily sister colleges. There is for instance a
Trinity College at Oxford (sister college: Churchill College, Cambridge) as well as a Trinity College
at Cambridge (sister college: Christ Church, Oxford.
2. Red Brick Universities
Red Brick Universities - named after the buildings they were housed in which were usually built
with red brick – were founded in the industrial parts of the cities during the Victorian era (1837-
1901) and before the Second World War. They are sometimes also called "civic universities", a
movement that started in 1851 with Owens College, which later became the Victoria University of
Manchester and today is called University of Manchester.
The main difference between Red Brick and ancient universities is that Red Bricks were so called
non-collegiate institutions and admitted men without regarding their religion or social background.
Furthermore they concentrated on teaching predominantly "practical subjects" often linked to
engineering.
Some Red Brick universities include:
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
University of Manchester
University of Sheffield

3. New Universities (Plain Glass Universities) - founded after 1960s.

Sports

Sports play an important part in the life in Britain and is a popular leisure activity.
Many of the world's famous sports began in Britain, including cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf
and rugby. England's national sport is cricket although to many people football (soccer) is seen as
our national sport. Football is our most popular sport. Some of England's football teams are world
famous, the most famous being Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Cricket is played on village greens and in towns/cities on Sundays from April to August
The rules of cricket became the responsibility, in the 18th century, of the Marylebone Cricket
Club(MCC), based at Lord’s cricket ground in north
London.
How to play Cricket
Teams are made up of 11 players each. They play with a ball slightly smaller than a baseball and a
bat shaped like a paddle. Two batters stand in front of wickets, set about 20 metres apart. Each
wicket consists of three wooden rods (stumps) pushed into the ground, with two small pieces of
wood (bails) balanced on top. A member of the opposing team (the bowler) throws the ball towards
one of the batters, who must hit the ball so that it does not knock a bail off the wicket. If the ball
travels far enough, the two batters run back and forth between the wickets while the fielders on the
opposing team try to catch the ball. The game is scored according to the number of runs, which is
the number of times the batters exchange places.
Football (Soccer)
Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in England, and has been played for hundreds of
years.
In the English Football League there are 92 professional clubs. These are semi-professional, so most
players have other full-time jobs. Hundreds of thousands of people also play football in parks and
playgrounds just for fun.
The highlight of the English football year is the FA (Football Association) Cup Final each May.
Famous British Football Teams
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Cardiff City
Chelsea
Cristal Palace
Fulham
Hull City
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Norwich City
Southampton

Did you know?

The first set of laws of the game of football, or soccer as it is known in the US,
date from the formation of The Football Association in England in 1863.
Rugby
Rugby originated from Rugby school in Warwickshire. It is similar to football, but played with an
oval ball. Players can carry the ball and tackle each other. The best rugby teams compete in the
Super League final each September.
For many years Rugby was only played by the rich upper classes, but now it is popular all over the
country. There are two different types of rugby - Rugby League, played mainly in the north of
England, and Rugby Union, played in the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England,
Scotland, Wales and Ireland, together with France and Italy, play in an annual tournament called the
Six Nations.
American Football derived from our game of Rugby also Baseball derived from the old English
game of Rounder.
Tennis
The world's most famous tennis tournament is Wimbledon. It started at a small club in south
London in the nineteenth century. It begins on the nearest Monday to June 22, at a time when
English often have the finest weather. Millions of people watch the Championships on TV live.
It is traditional for visitors to eat strawberries and cream whilst they watch the tennis.

Did you know?

Wimbledon is the oldest of all the major tennis tournaments beginning in 1877.
The rewards of prize money began in 1968 when the total purse allocated was
£26,150 (about $40,000).

Golf
Scotland is traditionally regarded as the home of golf. There are over 400 golf courses in
Scotland alone. The most important golf club in Scotland is in the seaside town of St. Andrews, near
Dundee.
Horse racing
Horseracing, the sport of Kings is a very popular sport with meetings being held every day
throughout the year. The Derby originated here, as did The Grand National which is the hardest
horse race in the world.
Horse racing and greyhound racing are popular spectator sports. People can place bets on the races
at legal off-track betting shops. Some of the best-known horse races are held at Ascot, Newmarket,
Goodwood and Epsom.
Ascot, a small town in the south of England, becomes the centre of horse-racing world for one week
in June. It's called Royal Ascot because the Queen always goes to Ascot. She has a lot of racehorses
and likes to watch racing.
Polo
Another equestrian sport is polo, brought to Britain from India in the 19th Century by army officers.
It is the fastest ball sport in the world.
Polo is played with four men on horses to a team. A ball is hit with a stick towards the goal, one at
each end of a 300 yard long by 160 yard wide field.
Lecture 7 (90 min)

Etiquette
The English are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. We are famous for our
politeness, self-discipline and especially for our sense of humour. Basic politeness (please, thank
you, excuse me) is expected.
English people are quite reserved when greeting one another. A greeting can be a bright
'Hello' 'Hi' or 'Good morning', when you arrive at work or at school.
You may be called by many different 'affectionate' names, according to which part of the
England you are visiting. Do not be offended, this is quite normal. For example, you may be called
dear, dearie, flower, love, chick, chuck, me duck, me duckie, mate, guv, son, ma'am, madam, miss,
sir, or treacle, according to your sex, age and location.
In England we like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for our turn
e.g. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take your correct
turn and not push in front. 'Queue jumping' is frowned upon.
Do take your hat off when you go indoors (men only)
It is impolite for men to wear hats indoors especially in churches.
Nowadays, it is becoming more common to see men wearing hats indoors. However, this is
still seen as being impolite, especially to the older generations.
Do say "Excuse Me":
If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move, say excuse me and they will
move out of your way.
Do Pay as you Go:
Pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.
Do say "Please" and "Thank you":
It is very good manners to say "please" and "thank you". It is considered rude if you don't. You will
notice in England that we say 'thank you' a lot.
Do cover your Mouth:
When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.
Do Shake Hands:
When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand.
Do say sorry:
If you accidentally bump into someone, say 'sorry'. They probably will too, even if it was your
fault! This is a habit and can be seen as very amusing by an 'outsider'.
Do Smile:
A smiling face is a welcoming face.
Do drive on the left side of the road
Do open doors for other people. Men and women both hold open the door for each other. It depends
on who goes through the door first.
Do not greet people with a kiss:
We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.
Avoid talking loudly in public
It is impolite to stare at anyone in public.
Privacy is highly regarded.
Do not ask a lady her age
It is considered impolite to ask a lady her age
Do not pick your nose in public:
We are disgusted by this. If your nostrils need de-bugging, use a handkerchief.
Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging
This is only done among close friends.
Do not spit.
Spitting in the street is considered to be very bad mannered.
It is impolite to stare at anyone in public.
Privacy is highly regarded.

Time
British people place considerable value on punctuality. If you agree to meet friends at three
o'clock, you can bet that they'll be there just after three. Since Britons are so time conscious, the
pace of life may seem very rushed. In Britain, people make great effort to arrive on time. It is often
considered impolite to arrive even a few minutes late. If you are unable to keep an appointment, it is
expected that you call the person you are meeting. Some general tips follow.
You should arrive:
* At the exact time specified – for dinner, lunch, or appointments with professors, doctors, and other
professionals.
* Any time during the hours specified for teas, receptions, and cocktail parties.
* A few minutes early: for public meetings, plays, concerts, movies, sporting events, classes, church
services, and weddings.
If you are invited to someone's house for dinner at half past seven, they will expect you to be there
on the dot. An invitation might state "7.30 for 8", in which case you should arrive no later than 7.50.
However, if an invitation says "sharp", you must arrive in plenty of time.
Invitations
“ Drop in anytime” and “come see me soon” are idioms often used in social settings but seldom
meant to be taken literally. It is wise to telephone before visiting someone at home. If you receive a
written invitation to an event that says “RSVP”, you should respond to let the person who sent the
invitation know whether or not you plan to attend.
Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying, “Thank you for
inviting me, but I will not be able to come.” If, after accepting, you are unable to attend, be sure to
tell those expecting you as far in advance as possible that you will not be there.
Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to your host, it is considered polite to do
so, especially if you have been invited for a meal. Flowers, chocolate, or a small gift are all
appropriate. A thank-you note or telephone call after the visit is also considered polite and is an
appropriate means to express your appreciation for the invitation.
Dress
Everyday dress is appropriate for most visits to peoples' homes. You may want to dress more
formally when attending a holiday dinner or cultural event, such as a concert or theatre
performance.
Introduction and Greeting
It is proper to shake hands with everyone to whom you are introduced, both men and women. An
appropriate response to an introduction is "Pleased to meet you". If you want to introduce yourself
to someone, extend you hand for a handshake and say "Hello, I am....". Hugging is only for friends.
Dining
When you accept a dinner invitation, tell your host if you have any dietary restrictions. He
or she will want to plan a meal that you can enjoy. The evening meal is the main meal of the day in
most parts of Britain.
Food may be served in one of several ways: "family style," by passing the serving plates
from one to another around the dining table; "buffet style," with guests serving themselves at the
buffet; and "serving style," with the host filling each plate and passing it to each person. Guests
usually wait until everyone at their table has been served before they begin to eat. Food is eaten
with a knife and fork and dessert with a spoon and fork.

Wales and Scotland

The name Wales comes from the Cymraeg word Gwalia, meaning in English "Homeland". It later
became Latinized as Walia, then by the Normans to something like Wales....then Wales.
Wales (Cymru in Welsh) is a mountainous country on the western side of Great Britain.
Wales is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St George's
Channel in the west, and the Irish Sea to the north.

Technically, Wales is a principality. This means that it is ruled by a prince.

Traditionally the Prince of Wales is the eldest son of the English monarch.

Wales has not been politically independent since 1282, when it was conquered by King Edward I of
England.
Until 1999, Wales was ruled directly from London; that year saw the first elections to the
National Assembly of Wales, which has limited domestic powers and cannot make law.
Wales does not issue its own currency and is not in control of any armed forces. These are
the powers of the national government of the UK.
The national game of Wales is Rugby

Motto: Cymru am byth (Wales for ever)

Flag: Red dragon on a green and white field.
National Day: 1 March
Area: 20,779 sq km
Population: 2,918,700 (2002)
Capital City: Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Major Cities: Cardiff, Swansea (Abertawe) and Newport
(Casnewydd)
Official Language: English and Cymraeg (Welsh)
Nationality : Welsh and British

Anthem (Song): Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

(Land Of My Fathers)
Main religions: Anglicanism, Methodism
Currency: Pound Sterling(£)
Highest point: Snowdon1085 metres (3559 ft)
Longest river: Towy (Tywi) 103 km (64 miles)
Largest Lake: Bala (4.4 sq km)
Official Animal Dragon

Scotland
Scotland is a mountainous country in the north of the island of Great Britain and shares a land
border to the south with England and is bounded by the North Sea on the east and the Atlantic
Ocean on the west. Its capital city is Edinburgh.
Scotland has some 790 islands - 130 inhabited.
Scotland is Famous for....
Its fresh water lochs (lakes) – there are over 600 square miles of them. One of the most famous is
Loch Ness where a mysterious monster is said to lurk in the depths of the water.
It is also famous for its clans, kilts, medieval castles, as well as poetry and songs of Robert Burns.

Theatre lovers from around the world come to Edinburgh for its famous theatres festival.
Famous People of Scotland
Famous Scots include: Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, David Hume
and the actor Sean Connery.
Famous musicians of Scotland include Annie Lennox, Wet Wet Wet, Travis and Simple Minds.
Government
On 1 July 1999, the Scottish Parliament was opened by HM the Queen, the first Scottish Parliament
for 300 years. Scottish parliament responsibilities include social work services, health, local
government and education.
Interesting Facts
Edinburgh was the first city in the world which had its own fire-brigade.
Edinburgh – the capital of Scotland, like Rome, was built on seven hills.
Until 1603, Scotland (like England) had its own Monarch. In 1603, the King of Scotland became
also the King of England ruling both countries.

Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (No one

provokes me with impunity)
Flag: Cross of St Andrew
National Day: 30 November
Area: 78,789 sq km
Population: 5,054,800 (2002)
Capital City: Edinburgh
Major Cities: Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow
Official Language: English(Scottish Gaelic is spoken by 1.4
percent of the population)
Nationality : Scottish and British
Find out more
Anthem (song) : Flower of Scotland
Main religions: Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) Scottish
Episcopal Church, Roman Catholicism
Currency: Pound Sterling(£)
Highest point: Ben Nevis (1,343 m)
Lowest point: Bed of Loch Morar, Scotland 987 ft
(300 m) below sea level
Longest river: Tay 193 kilometres (120 miles ) long
Largest Lake: Loch Lomond (60 sq. km)
40 km (24 miles) long

Lecture 8 (90 min)

London

This lecture is accompanied by a map of central London.

London is made up of two ancient cities which are now joined together.
They are:
the City of London, known simply as 'the City' which is the
business and financial heart of the United Kingdom. It is also known as the Square Mile
(2.59 sq. km/1 sq. mi). It was the original Roman settlement (ancient Londinium), making it
the oldest part of London and already 1,000 years old when the Tower of London was built.
the City of Westminster, where Parliament and most of the government offices are
located. Also Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal
family are located there too.
Together they all make up a region known as Greater London.
Interesting facts about London
London is the biggest city in Britain and in Europe.
London occupies over 620 square miles
London has a population of 7,172,036 (2001)
About 12 per cent of Britain’s overall population live in London
London has the highest population density in Britain, with 4,699 people per square
kilometre,
London is in the southeast of England.
London is the seat of central government in Britain.
The tallest building in London is the Canary Wharf Tower.
London was the first city in the world to have an underground railway, known as the 'The
Tune'
Some of the most important people from countries all over the world visit the Queen at
Buckingham Palace.
There are over 100 theatres in London, including 50 in the West End. London theatre
accounts for 45% of all UK theatre admissions and over 70% of box-office revenues.
Source: GLA Economics
English (later British) kings and queens have lived in London for almost 1,000 years. The Royal
Family in Britain is a respected and much-loved institution.
Today’s British royal family is known as the House of Windsor.
Since 1837 the monarch has lived in Buckingham Palace.
The census of people takes place every ten years. The census of swans takes place annually
during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and
marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.
The Swan Upping event takes place in July each year, commencing on the third Monday at
Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the Friday.
The swans on the River Thames are Mute Swans (Cygnus color). They are not actually
mute, they can honk and hiss a lot. Mute swans are seen in Britain all year round and are
distinguished by a bright orange beak, which has a knob of black tissue on the top.
The Swan Uppers catch and check the health of the swans and their cygnets through five
counties, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, to Abington, Oxfordshire.

Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the
finest, most recognisable bridges in the World. It is the London bridge you tend to see in movies
and on advertising literature for London.
Tower Bridge is the only Thames bridge which can be raised.
The middle section can be raised to permit large vessels to pass the Tower Bridge. Massive engines
raise the bridge sections, which weigh about 1000 tons each, in just over a minute. It used to be
raised about 50 times a day, but nowadays it is only raised 4 to 5 times a week
Tower Bridge is the most recognisable bridge on the River Thames and is often mistakenly referred
to as “London Bridge”.
The total cost of construction of Tower Bridge was £1,184,000 (£100 million as of 2011).
The bridge was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by The Prince of Wales (the future King
Edward Vll) and his wife, The Princess of Wales.
It takes 61 seconds to open Tower Bridge, which opens about 1,000 times a year.
Tower Bridge is the only bridge over the Thames that can be raised as it is a combined
bascule (drawbridge) and suspension bridge. This means that the middle section of the
bridge can be raised to allow river traffic to pass through.
The bridge was originally painted a chocolate brown colour. Then in 1977, it was painted
red, white and blue for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
There have been several incidents on the bridge over the years. In December 1952, the
bridge opened while a number 78 double-decker bus was on it!
Tower Bridge is close to The Tower of London

The Tower of London

For over 900 years, the Tower of London has been standing guard over the capital. The
Tower of London was originally built by William the Conqueror, following his successful invasion
of England in 1066
 What are the different roles the Tower of London has played in British History?
As a Royal Palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo and jewel
house, it has witnessed many great events in British history.

The Tower of London is perhaps better known as a prison. The prisoners would be brought, via the
river, from Westminster where they would have been tried and crowds would wait on the river bank
to find out the verdict to see if they would be treated to the spectacle of a public execution. The
executioner, with his long sharp axe would stand behind the accused on the boat. If the accused was
guilty he would point his axe towards the victim and if not guilty he would point it away. People
knew that if found guilty there would be a public execution 48 hours later.
The responsibility for looking after the prisoners was given to the Yeomen Warders or Beefeaters
(These guards, although looking very similar, are different from the Yeomen of the Guard).
The Yeomen Warders originate from twelve Yeoman of the Guards, who were once private
bodyguards of Henry VIII.
The Yeomen Warders job title is "Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and
Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard
Extraordinary".
Tower Prisoners
Many people have been locked in the Tower, for religious beliefs or suspected treason. Famous
prisoners have included Anne Boleyn Sir Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth I.
Many Tudor's prisoners entered the Tower of London through the Traitors' Gate.
Elizabeth Iwas held prisoner in the Tower for two months by the order of her half-sister, Queen
Mary. Mary felt that her throne was being threatened by Elizabeth, so she imprisoned her in the
Tower
The White Tower
In the centre of the Tower of London is the famous White Tower. It is the oldest part of the fortress
The Tower, or Bloody Tower as it is known, has been host to many famous executions and
imprisonments, including those of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey and Sir Walter
Raleigh.
Ravens have lived at the Tower of London for hundreds of years. Legend has it that if the
ravens ever leave the Tower of London the White Tower will crumble and a great disaster shall

befall England.
The Globe
The fascinating story of the re-creation of Shakespeare's beloved playhouse. Visitors can see
the reconstructed Elizabethan theatre, built with materials, techniques and craftsmanship of 400
years ago. The world's largest Shakespearian exhibition explores the playwright's London,
Elizabethan theatre and the Shakespeare's influence around the world. The summer season of plays
sees Shakespeare performed in an authentic setting.
Now from The Globe one can walk to St Paul's Cathedral by a Millennium Bridge.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is located within the City of London on Ludgate Hill, the City’s highest
point.
St Paul's Cathedral seen today – the fourth, was built between 1675 and 1711 by Sir Christopher
Wren. The foundation stone was laid in 1675 when Wren was 43 years old, and the last stone was
put in place by his son 35 years later.
A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604 AD. The first
cathedral was made from wood and was built for Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons. It was
destroyed by a fire in 675 AD and was rebuilt ten years later. It was destroyed again by Vikings in
962 AD and rebuilt in stone by the Normans. This third building was destroyed in the Great Fire of
London of 1666 and was larger than Wren's present building. It must have dwarfed the medieval
city. Wren also designed over 50 other London churches.
What can you see inside St Paul's Cathedral?
St. Paul's is packed with memorials to notable Britons including Christopher Wren, Duke of
Wellington and Admiral Lord Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1804.
Christopher Wren died in 1723 at the age of 91. The Latin epitaph on his tomb is translated as
"Reader, if you seek his memorial look around you".
The cathedral’s largest monument is that to the Duke of Wellington, depicting the Duke
riding a horse.
The cathedral’s crypt is the largest in Western Europe and extends the entire length of the
building. There are over 200 monuments and memorials in the crypt.
Burials are no longer held in St. Paul's.
For the fit or ambitious, you can climb 530 steps to the Golden Gallery, an observation platform
atop the dome of the cathedral.
From the observation balcony you can look out over the modern skyline of the city of London.
The dome of St Paul's Cathedral is the second biggest dome in the world, after St Peter's in Rome.
At the dome's base is the Whispering Gallery, a circular walkway halfway up the inside of
the dome. Due to the acoustics of the curved surface, a phrase whispered against one wall can be
heard against the far wall 112 feet away.

Important Events
 Funeral of Admiral Nelson in 1806
Funeral of Winston Churchill in 1965.
Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981

Westminster
Westminster Abbey is just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the oldest
buildings in London and one of the most important religious centres in the country.
The Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor, and William the Conqueror was crowned in
it on Christmas Day .
The Queen rides in a State coach to Westminster to open each new session of Parliament, usually in
the second week in November.
Only Westminster Hall (scene of many trials, such as Guy Fawkes' and Charles I's) and St Stephen's
Crypt escaped the great fire of 1834. Over 700 years of history were destroyed in that dramatic fire.
Every King and Queen has been crowned in Westminster Abbey since William the
Conqueror in 1066. Many kings and Queens and famous people are buried or commemorated at
Westminster Abbey. Its founder, Edward the Confessor, was made a saint after his death and he is
buried in a special chapel dedicated to him.
National figures including Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, David Livingstone, Sir Isaac
Newton, Rudyard Kipling, Clement Attlee, William Pitt are buried in Westminster Abbey.

Houses of Parliament
The Palace of Westminster, known also as the Houses of Parliament or just Westminster, is where
the two Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of
Commons) conduct their sittings. It is the place where laws governing British life are debated and
passed. From the middle of the 11th century until 1512 the Palace of Westminster was the royal
home to the Kings and Queens of England, hence the name.
The Palace of Westminster features three main towers. Of these, the largest and tallest is the 98.5-
metre (323 ft) Victoria Tower, which occupies the south-western corner of the Palace.
The fire gave Sir Charles Barry the opportunity of designing the Gothic Houses of
Parliament we know today. The modern Palace of Westminster is the largest Gothic building in the
world - there are over 1,000 rooms and two miles of corridors in it.
The Palace of Westminster contains the bell Big Ben.
Big Ben
Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. It is the clock tower. The name Big Ben
is often used to describe the clock tower that is part of the Palace of Westminster.
Officially "Big Ben" does not refer to the clock tower but instead to the huge thirteen ton Great Bell
located at the top of the 320-foot-high tower.
The clock tower is now called The Elizabeth Tower. It was called St Stephen's Tower by Victorian
journalists. They referred to anything to do with the House of Commons as news from 'St Stephens',
as originally MP's used to sit in St Stephen's Hall.
Big Ben is situated on the banks of the River Thames on the north side of the Houses of Parliament
in Westminster, London.
The Big Ben bell has the following measurements:
9'-0" diameter, 7'-6" high, and weighs 13 tons 10 cwt. 3 qtrs. 15lbs (13,760 Kg)
Big Ben chimes every 15 minutes and the sound can be heard for a radius of up to 5 miles.
Quick Facts about Big Ben
Big Ben is the world's largest four-faced chiming clock.
The clock became operational on 7th September 1859.
The four faces of the clock are 55 meters above ground.
The clock faces are 23 feet (7m) in diameter.
The hour hand is 9 ft (2.7m) long, and the minute hand is 14 ft (4.3m) long.
The pendulum is 3.9m long, weighs 300Kg and beats once every 2 seconds.
At the base of each clock face is a Latin inscription, in gilt letters. It reads -
“Domine salvam fac Reginam nostrum Victoriam Primam”
"O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First"
The clock tower is the focus of New Year celebrations in the United Kingdom, with radio and TV
stations tuning to its chimes to welcome the start of the year.
On Remembrance Day, the chimes of Big Ben are broadcast to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day
of the 11th month.
A light in the clock tower tells when the House of Commons is in session.

Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London.
The Square is named in honour of the British victory, led by Admiral Lord Nelson, at the Battle of
Trafalgar in 1805.
Trafalgar Square was designed by Sir Charles Barry. (Sir Charles Barry was also responsible for the
Houses of Parliament. It was constructed in the 1840s
From the 14th to the late 17th century, much of the area occupied by Trafalgar Square was the on
the site that was originally the Royal Mews where royal hawks were kept during moulting (or
‘mew’ time). In the 1730s, the area was used for Royal stables, which served Whitehall Palace.
Dominating the square is the 56 m (171 feet) column, Nelson's Column, with its 5.5m (18
feet) statue of Nelson on top. It was erected in 1843.
Nelson faces south, towards Whitehall, Westminster Abby, the Houses of Parliament and the River
Thames. South west is Admiralty Arch, the entrance to the wide ceremonial drive to Buckingham
Palace called The Mall.
Nelson's column is guarded by four huge bronze lions sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer in 1868
The four lions are rumoured to have been cast from melted down bronze cannons, reclaimed from
old battleships (possibly from the French fleet)

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the Queen's official and main royal London home. It has been the official
London residence of Britain's monarchy since 1837. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live
there.
Buckingham Palace is not only the home of the Queen and Prince Philip but also the London
residence of the Duke of York (Prince Andrew) and the Earl and Countess of Wessex (Prince
Edward and his wife) and their daughter.
Buckingham Palace is used also for the administrative work for the monarchy. It is here in
the state apartments that Her Majesty receives and entertains guests invited to the Palace.
Buckingham Palace was originally a grand house built by the Dukes of Buckingham for his
wife. George IV began transforming it into a palace in 1826.
The Queen has other homes too including Winsor Castle and Balmoral in Scotland.
When the Queen is at home, you can see her royal flag flying from the flag pole on top of
Buckingham Palace. This flag is called the Royal Standard. The flag is split into four quadrants. The
first and fourth quadrants represent England and contain three gold lions walking (passant) on a red
field; the second quadrant represents Scotland contains a red lion standing on the left hind foot
(rampant) on a gold field; the third quadrant represents Ireland and contains the gold Coat of arms
of Ireland on a blue field. In flag protocol, the Royal Standard is supreme. It must only be flown
from buildings where the Queen is present. It flies above the British Union Flag (Union Jack),
Standards of other Royal Family members, and other British flags. It never flies at half staff.

Five regiments of Foot Guards guard the Palace. They wear red jackets and tall, furry hats called
bearskins.
When the first guards come on duty, there is a ceremony called the Changing of the Guard.

Changing of the Guard

A familiar sight at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard Ceremony that takes place in
the forecourt each morning. The monarch and the royal palaces have been guarded by the
Household Troops since 1660.
The Palace has around 600 rooms, including 19 State rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 78
bathrooms, 92 offices, a cinema and a swimming pool. It also has its own post office and police
station.
About 400 people work at the Palace, including domestic servants, chefs, footmen, cleaners,
plumbers, gardeners, chauffers, electricians, and two people who look after the 300 clocks.

Royal Parties
Every year, more than 50,000 people come to the Palace each year as guests to banquets, lunches,
dinners, receptions, and Royal Garden Parties. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms including 19
state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live at Buckingham Palace.

'The Gherkin'
30 St Mary Axe, infamously known as 'the Gherkin' due to its 3D oval shape, is one of the first
landmarks to become visible when you're travelling into London from many different places. The
outside of the building consists of 24,000 square metres of glass arranged in diamond-shaped panes.

London Eye

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel. The London Eye stands on the South Bank of the
River Thames in London, between Westminster and Hungerford Bridges. It is the world's highest
observation wheel. The London Eye (previously known as the Millennium Wheel) stands 135
metres (443 feet) high. The wheel was constructed in sections which were floated up the river
Thames on barges and assembled lying flat on pontoons. Once the wheel was complete it was raised
into its upright position by cranes, initially being lifted at a rate of about 2 degrees per hour until it
reached 65 degrees. The total weight of steel in the Eye is 1,700 tonnes. The London Eye can carry
800 passengers at a time on a thirty-minute ride. From its highest point of 450 feet, it promises
views of up to 25 miles.
Whitehall

Whitehall is one of the most important streets in the world. It is the heart of the Government
of the United Kingdom, the centre of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
The name is taken from the enormous royal Palace of Whitehall that used to occupy the
area. From the days of Henry VIII until its destruction by fire in 1698, the great Palace of Whitehall
was the Sovereign's main London residence. Today, only the name and one building, the Banqueting
House, remains.
It was from one of the windows of Banqueting House that King Charles I stepped on to the
scaffold to his execution in 1649
On each side of Whitehall are big stone buildings; they are government offices. In amongst
them is Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister.
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is a non-ministerial department of the British
Government responsible for the collection of taxes and the payment of some forms of state
support.

10, Downing Street

Next to The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, walking towards Trafalgar Square, is Downing
Street, the place where the British Prime Minister lives.

Horse Guards Arch

Two mounted soldiers guard the the official main entrance to both St James's Park and Buckingham
Palace. They are outside Horse Guards(Horse Guards Arch)
 GLOSSERY

BISCUIT n. 1. Cookie. 2. Cracker, as in, "BISCUITS and cheese". Other types of BISCUITS
include BATH OLIVERS, WATER BISCUITS, BOURBONS and DIGESTIVES.
BLACK PUDDING n. Not a pudding at all, but rather a form of blood sausage.
BOBBY n. 1. Policeman in the UK. The term came from Robert Peel, the "inventor" of the
policeman
BLIMEY - An expression of surprise, frustration or even joy. Similar to "wow," "darn," "whoa," etc
BROLLY n. 1. Umbrella.
CHEERS phrase. 1. A typical English drinking toast. 2.Thanks. .3. Good bye.
CIDER n. 1. Not apple juice, but a rather strong alcoholic drink made from apple juice
CREAM TEAS n. 1. A traditional snack widely served in the U.K. It consists of TEA, SCONES (a
type of muffin), and generous portions of CLOTTED CREAM and JAM (usually strawberry)
CUSTARD n. 1. A yellow sauce used as a topping on various desserts.
DOUBLE DECKER n. 1. A two-level bus
FORTNIGHT n. 1. Two weeks.
LAY-BY n. 1. Roadside rest area.
MARMITE n. 1. A spread made from yeast extract
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES n. 1. The game of tic tac toe.
PILLAR BOX n. 1. Mail box for mailing letters.
QUID n. 1. One POUND
SLEEPING POLICEMAN n. A speed hump or speed bump
SPEND A PENNY phrase. 1. To go to the toilet. From the days when public conveniences required
a penny to be put in the slot to enter.
WELLIES n. 1. WELLINGTONS. Rubber boots. The Duke of Wellington invented rubber boots
YORKSHIRE PUDDING n. 1. Not a dessert but a kind of baked batter mix mostly eaten with
roast beef.
 TEST SAMPLES
1. What do the abbreviations stand for: GB, UK, MP, PO?
2. Who is the leader of the British Parliament?
3. Who is the leader of the British government?
4. Name four functions of the sovereign.
5. Name four functions of Prime Minister.
6. What party did Margaret Thatcher belong to?
7. What is the First Past the Post system?
8. What is a boarding school?
9. How can we divide British Universities?
10. Name at least two red brick universities.
11. What examination do you need to go to British university?
12. When can a British student stop going to school?
13. What is a hung parliament?
14. What is a tabloid and give example.
15. What is a quality paper and give example.
16. What radio program would you listen to in England and why?
17. Who is the head of the Church of England?
18. Why are the civil servants called permanent officials?
19. What is a Bill?
20. What is an Act of Parliament?
21. What's the name of the British Prime Minister?
22. What political party does Prime Minister belong to?
23. What's the longest British river?
24. What's the deepest British river?
25. What's the capital of England?
26. What's the capital of Scotland?
27. What's the capital of Northern Ireland?
28. What's the capital of Wales?
29. Who is the saint patron of England?
30. Who is the saint patron of Scotland?
31. Who is the saint patron of Northern Ireland?
32. Who is the saint patron of Wales?
33. What are the characteristic things about British sense of humour?
34. Name at least two British sitcoms?
35. Give example of British comedians.
36. How do the British 'see' time?
37. What political party runs the country now?
38. What is the Hay Wain?
39. Give example of at least three British painters.
40. Name at least four places of interest in London.
41. Name at least four places of interest in Britain.
42. What could be the surname of the Queen?
43. Who is next to the British throne?
44. Who is third to the British throne?
45. What is the title of Prince William?
46. What's the title of Prince Charles?
47. Where does the Queen live?
48. Where do the Prime Minister live (give the exact address)?
49. What is the flower emblem of England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland?
50. What are the functions of Prime Minister?
51. What political party does the Prime Minister belong to?
52. What is a 'public school' in England?
53. Name typical British food?
54. What are the most popular British sports?
55. What's the oldest and the biggest inhabited English castle?
56. What's the highest mountain in England?
57. What's the official language of the country?
58. What's the official name of the country?
59. Where do the Royal family get income from?
60. What's 'the City'?
61. Who's the spiritual leader of the Church of England?
62. What is The Globe?
63. What number plates can you see on the Queen's car?
64. Name some parks in London.
65. Give example of some British superstitions.
66. Give examples of some British pop groups.
 67. Give example of British politeness.
68. How is British Parliament divided?
69. Who cannot vote in Britain?
70. What is a voting day called?
71. What is 'MARMITE'?
72. What's 'YORKSHIRE PUDDING'?
73. Give example of British traditions?
74. When is the Queen's birthday?
75. Why do the British talk about the weather a lot?
76. What is the Tower of London now and what did it use to be?
77. What's 'The Gherkin'?
78. What are the countries of West Midlands?
79. What is 'QUID'?
80. What's the 'Swan Upping' event?
81. At what age do English children go to school?
82. What's 'A level'?
83. What's Union Jack?
84. What does it mean that 'Wales is a principality'?
85. What's the estimated population of GB?
86. What does a 'fen' mean?
87. What are the biggest British isles on the English Channel?
88. What's the difference between the solicitor and the barrister?
89. What do you know about Stonehenge?
90. What's the biggest city in UK?

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Who are the British?
British people live in the united Kingdom. They are people who live in England, Scotland, Wales or
Northern Ireland. British people can also either be English, Scottish, Welsh, or Irish (from Northern
Ireland only).

The British are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. They are famous for their
politeness self-discipline and especially for their sense of humour. British people have a strong
sense of humour which sometimes can be hard for foreigners to understand.

Britain is a country of mixed cultures. London, the capital of UK has the largest non-white
population of any European city and over 250 languages are spoken there. Therefore not all British
people are White or Christians.

Famous writers

William Shakespeare

Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne)

Jane Austen, Agatha Christie

J. R. R. Tolkien

Charles Dickens

George Gordon Lord Byron

Marry Shelly

Jane Austen

Famous Composers

William Byrd , Thomas Tallis , John Taverner , Henry Purcell , Edward Elgar, Arthur Sullivan ,
Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Benjamin Britten, George Frideric Handel, Gustav Holst

Famous Pop/Rock Groups

The Beatles

The Queen

Led Zeppelin

Dire Straits

Oasis

Pet Shop Boys

Eurythmics

Duran Duran

Ultravox

UB40

Simply Red
Nirvana

Spice Girls

Take That

Arctic Monkeys

Famous Actresses

Maggie Smith

Julie Waters

Judi Dench

Emma Thompson

Kristin Scott Thomas

Vanessa Redgrave

Keira Knightley

Kate Winslet

Helen Mirren

Helena Bonham Carter

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Tilda Swinton

Julie Andrews

Rachel Weisz

Emma Watson

Famous Actors

Charlie Chaplin
Anthony Hopkins

Michael Caine

Colin Firth

Ben Kingsley

Damian Lewis
Rowan Atkinson

Hugh Laurie

Stephen Fry

Clive Owen

Daniel Radcliffe

Hugh Grant

Jude Law

Orlando Bloom

Robert Pattinson

Ewan McGregor

Christian Bale

Daniel Craig

Benedict Cumberbatch

Famous British in different fields

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an extraordinary Victorian engineer. He designed and
built amongst other structures bridges, ships, railways and viaducts
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was a British naturalist of the nineteenth century. He and others developed
the theory of evolution. This theory forms the basis for the modern life sciences. Darwin's
most famous books are 'The Origin of Species' and 'The Descent of Man'.
Sir Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton was a mathematician and scientist who invented differential calculus and
formulated the theory of universal gravitation, a theory about the nature of light, and three
laws of motion.
Queen Elizabeth I
The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth 1 reigned England
from 1558–1603. Her reign was marked by several plots to overthrow her, the execution of
Mary Queen of Scots (1587), the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588), and domestic
prosperity and literary achievement.
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Nelson is the greatest hero in British naval history, an honour he earned by defeating
Napoleon's fleet in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was a military, political, and religious figure who led the Parliamentarian
victory in the English Civil War (1642–1649) and called for the execution of Charles I. He
was Lord Protector of England for much of the 1650s, ruling in place of the country's
traditional monarchy.
Ernest Shackleton
Ernest Shackleton was a British explorer of the South Pole who is best remembered for
leading his crew to safety after the failed expedition of the Endurance (1914-16).
Captain James Cook
James Cook was an explorer of the eighteenth century, known for his voyages to the Pacific
Ocean. Cook visited New Zealand, established the first European colony in Australia, and
was the first European to visit Hawaii. He also approached Antarctica and explored much of
the western coast of North America.
Robert Baden-Powell
British soldier who founded the Boy Scouts (1908) and with his sister Agnes (1858–1945)
the Girl Guides (1910).
King Alfred the Great
King of the West Saxons (871–899), scholar, and lawmaker who repelled the Danes and
helped consolidate England into a unified kingdom.

11. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

British general and politician. Commander of British troops during the Peninsular War
(1808–1814), he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815), thus ending the Napoleonic Wars.
As prime minister (1828–1830) he passed the Catholic Emancipation Act (1829).

12. Sir Alexander Fleming

British bacteriologist who discovered penicillin in 1928, for which he shared a Nobel Prize
in 1945.

13.Alan Turing
English mathematician whose works explored the possibility of computers and raised
fundamental questions about artificial intelligence. During World War II he contributed to
the allied victory by helping to decipher the German Enigma codes.
14. Michael Faraday
 British physicist and chemist who discovered electromagnetic induction (1831) and
proposed the field theory later developed by Maxwell and Einstein.
15. Owain Glyndwr
The last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales.
16. David Beckham
Beckham is a leading English footballer and a former star of the legendary team Manchester United.
17. Sir Thomas More
English politician, humanist scholar, and writer who refused to comply with the Act of Supremacy,
by which English subjects were enjoined to recognize Henry VIII's authority over the pope, and was
imprisoned in the Tower of London and beheaded for treason.
18. Sir Francis Drake
English naval hero and explorer who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1577–
1580) and was vice admiral of the fleet that destroyed the Spanish Armada (1588).
19. Florence Nightingale
British nurse who organized (1854) and directed a unit of field nurses during the Crimean War and
is considered the founder of modern nursing. (Although Florence was born in Italy, her parents were
British and from the age of one, Florence lived in Britain).
20. Sir Alexander Graham Bell
Scottish-born American inventor of the telephone.

Are the British Superstitious?

Good Luck

Lucky to meet a black cat. Black Cats are featured on many good luck greetings cards
and birthday cards in England.

Lucky to touch wood. We touch; knock on wood, to make something come true.

Lucky to find a clover plant with four leaves.

White heather is lucky.

A horseshoe over the door brings good luck. But the horseshoe needs to be the right way
up. The luck runs out of the horseshoe if it is upside down.

Horseshoes are generally a sign of good luck and feature on many good luck cards.

On the first day of the month it is lucky to say "white rabbits, white rabbits white
rabbits," before uttering your first word of the day.
 Catch falling leaves in Autumn and you will have good luck. Every leaf means a lucky
month next year.

Cut your hair when the moon is waxing and you will have good luck.

Putting money in the pocket of new clothes brings good luck.

Bad Luck

Unlucky to walk underneath a ladder.

Seven years bad luck to break a mirror. The superstition is supposed to have originated
in ancient times, when mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.

Unlucky to see one magpie, lucky to see two, etc..

Unlucky to spill salt. If you do, you must throw it over your shoulder to counteract the
bad luck.

Unlucky to open an umbrella in doors.

The number 13 is unlucky. Friday the 13th is a very unlucky day. Friday is considered to
be an unlucky day because Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

Unlucky to put new shoes on the table.

Unlucky to pass someone on the stairs.

Food Superstitions

When finished eating a boiled egg, push the spoon through the bottom of the empty
shell to let the devil out

In Yorkshire, housewives used to believe that bread would not rise if there was a corpse (dead body)
in the vicinity, and to cut off both ends of the loaf would make the Devil fly over the house!

Table Superstitions

If you drop a table knife expect a male visitor, if you drop a fork a female visitor.

Crossed cutlery on your plate and expect a quarrel.

Leave a white tablecloth on a table overnight and expect a death.

Animal Superstitions

Animals feature a lot in our superstitions as they do in superstitions around the world.
 One ancient British superstition holds that if a child rides on a bear's back it will be
protected from whooping-cough. (Bears used to roam Britain but now they are not seen
on our shores)

In some parts of the UK meeting two or three Ravens together is considered really bad.
One very English superstition concerns the tame Ravens at the Tower of London. It is
believed if they leave then the crown of England will be lost.

It is said to be bad luck if you see bats flying and hear their cries. In the middle ages it
was believed that witches were closely associated with bats.

If a Sparrow enters a house it is an omen of death to one of the people who live there. In
some areas it is believed that to avoid bad luck, any Sparrow caught must be
immediately killed otherwise the person who caught it will die.

In some areas black Rabbits are thought to host the souls of human beings. White
Rabbits are said to be really witches and some believe that saying 'White Rabbit' on the
first day of each month brings luck. A common lucky charm is a Rabbit's foot, but not
for the Rabbit.

It is thought very unlucky to have the feathers of a Peacock within the home or handle anything
made with them. This is possibly because of the eye shape present upon these feathers i.e. the Evil-
Eye associated with wickedness.

Wedding Superstitions

Bride and groom must not meet on the day of the wedding except at the altar.

The bride should never wear her complete wedding clothes before the day.

For good luck the bride should wear “something borrowed, something blue, something
old and something new”.

The husband should carry his new wife over the threshold of their home.

PUBS

The word pub is short for public house. There are over 60,000 pubs in the UK (53,000 in England
and Wales, 5,200 in Scotland and 1,600 in Northern Ireland). One of the oldest pubs, Fighting
Cocks in St. Albans, Herts, is located in a building that dates back to the eleventh century. Groups
of friends normally buy 'rounds' of drinks, where the person whose turn it is will buy drinks for all
the members of the group. It is sometimes difficult to get served when pubs are busy: people do not
queue, but the bar staff will usually try and serve those who have been waiting the longest at the bar
first. If you spill a stranger's drink by accident, it is good manners (and prudent) to offer to buy
another drink.
Most pubs belong to a brewery (a company which makes beer) but sell many different kinds of beer,
some on tap (from a big container under the bar) and some in bottles. The most popular kind of
British beer is bitter, which is dark and served at room temperature (not hot, not cold). British beer
is brewed from malt and hops. More popular today though is lager, which is lighter in colour and
served cold. Guinness, a very dark, creamy kind of beer called a stout, is made in Ireland and is
popular all over Britain.
In the West of England, cider made from apples, is very popular. Like wine, it is described as sweet
or dry, but is drunk in beer glasses and can be stronger than beer.

Beers are served in "pints" for a large glass and "halves" for a smaller one. British pubs are required
to have a licence, which is difficult to obtain, and allows the pub to operate for up to 24 hours. Most
pubs are open from 11 to 11. Pubs have traditional names which date back over 600 years.

Some typical names are The Chequers, The White Swan, The Crown, The King's Arms, The Red
Lion and The White Horse. People often refer to the pub by its name when giving directions: Turn
left at the Rose and Crown. There is usually a sign outside the pub showing the pub's name with a
picture. If a church has the name St. Mary's the nearest pub is traditionally

called the Star. Various games, especially darts, are common features of pubs; many of the old
country pubs continue to promote traditional games, such as 'Bat and Trap' (played in Kent) which
have been played for hundreds of years.

Licensing Laws

The legal age to purchase alcohol is 18. People aged 16 and 17, with the licensee's permission, may
consume only 1 glass of wine, beer or cider with a table meal in specific areas of the premises,
providing they're with an adult and the adult orders it (England & Wales only, Scotland no adult
required to be present).

It is illegal to sell alcohol to someone who already appears drunk. You may not buy alcohol for a
drunk person on licensed premises. All off-sales are advised to ask for photographic ID if the person
looks under 21. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor will result in an £80 on-the-spot fine.

Fourteen-year-olds may enter a pub unaccompanied by an adult if they order a meal. Children may
enter a pub with their parents until 9 p.m., which lets families enjoy reasonably priced pub meals
together, and allows pubs to continue in their traditional roles as community centres.
Another useful information when visiting Britain

Currency:
Pounds Sterling

The United Kingdom has not yet joined the Euro but some stores do accept it, and there is a large
number of banks and bureau de change outlets in London where you can cash travellers cheques
and change currency.

Cash points (ATMs) are widely available

You can ask for 'Cashback' when making purchases with a debit card at supermarkets. Visa and
Access (MasterCard) widely accepted, other cards often accepted.

Banking hours officially 09:30-15:30, but most banks open usually till about 17:00.

Changing Money

Most banks and major post offices will be able to change money for you. And in the larger cities
you will find bureau de change offices, usually in places like train stations or travel agencies.

For cash withdrawals on a visa card, you will need to produce your passport.

Cheques accepted everywhere - though a valid cheque card must be produced.

Tourist cheques can be paid into British banks, but will be subject to a fee.

Commission rates and fees vary from one bureau de change to another. In major cities like London
charges can often be extortionate. Check the rates and fees before you change your money, and
remember that it may be worthwhile to shop around.

Languages: English
English is spoken everywhere.

In Britain, every part of the country has its own way of speaking English. People in Yorkshire sound
very different to people in Surrey; a Somerset accent is very different from any Scottish accent and
it's hard to believe that people from Birmingham are speaking the same language as those from
Cornwall. Most people in Britain can guess where someone comes from by the way they speak,
either by their accent or by the words they use.
Identification of an accent can place the speaker in a general area of Britain. Geordie, Scouse, and
Cockney are well known dialects from Tyneside, Liverpool and London respectively.

Today the 'home counties' accent is usually accepted as Standard English. The home counties are
the counties nearest to London.
Weather:

England's weather remains the most frequent topic of conversation. Although England does have a
reputation for wet weather all year round, it doesn't rain every day all year around. However it is
impossible to guarantee good or bad weather in any given month - so be prepared for anything.

Best time to visit :

The summer months are when most Brits take their holidays, with schools breaking up for the
whole of August. The summer months have the best weather but crowds at tourist attractions tend to
peak around June-September.

From March until May spring will have arrived, there is a good chance of fine weather.
Some tourist attraction don't open until Easter weekend.
June through to September is the peak summer period. Gardens will be in full bloom, the
evenings long and the warm days just right for wandering around.
October and November are the months when autumn sets in. The leaves on the trees
change to all shades of brown and orange.
December through to February is the winter period.

Manners:

The British are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. We are famous for our politeness,
self-discipline and especially for our sense of humour.

Posting a Letter
Post offices are open Mon-Fri 9-5:30, Sat 9-1. A first class letter posted by 18:00, should arrive the
next morning within the UK - check the 'last posting times' on the red post-boxes.

Stamps can be bought individually at post offices or in books of four or ten at newsagents, off-
licences and groceries.

Opening Hours:

General opening hours for shops are 09:00 - 05.30 (9am - 5:30pm) Monday-Saturday. However, in
the larger towns you will probably find shops open late some evenings (usually Thursday or
Friday).

On Sunday shops open from about 11:00-17:00 in the major shopping areas.

Supermarkets tend to be open 7 days a week with longer opening hours - usually until 8pm or 10pm
most evenings, with reduced hours of 10am - 4pm on a Sunday. Some in larger towns now open 24
hours, but it is worth checking first.

Offices run 09:30 to 17:30

Electricity:
The power supply in Britain is 230/240 volts. Sockets accept only three-(square)-pin plugs, so an
adapter is needed for continental European and US appliances. A transformer is also needed for
appliances operating on 110-120 volts. You can buy it everywhere, even in the airport or ferry.

Tipping
The following is intended only as a guide to customary practice:
Hotels

Most hotel bills include a service charge, usually 10-12%. Where a service charge is not included in
a hotel restaurant, it is customary to give 10-15% of the restaurant bill and for rooms an optional
amount to room staff.
Restaurants

Some restaurant bills include a service charge; where a service charge is not included it is
customary to leave a tip of 10-15% of the bill. Some restaurants now include a suggested tip in the
bill total.

Porterage

75p - £1 per suitcase.

Taxis

10-15% of the fare.

Hairdressers
10-15%

Time:

Greenwich, in London, is where you will find the Prime Meridian - the line that divides the Earth
into East and West and from which the world's time is set. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the
term used for the current time on this line, and clocks and watches all the world over are set in
relation to this.
Britain and Ireland in theory follow GMT, but in the summer months everything is confused by
what is called Daylight-saving time. From late March to late October, Britain and Ireland are
actually one hour ahead of GMT.

Public Conveniences
In the UK public conveniences are referred to by a number of names. The most common names
heard in the street are 'toilet; and 'ladies and gents'. We don't use the word bathroom for toilet. The
word bathroom to us means a room with a bath. Nor do we use the word restroom. If you do ask for
a restroom people will just look confused.

Public conveniences can be found in most rail stations and larger bus terminals. You can also find
them in town centres, department stores, shopping arcades, supermarkets, and at all major tourist
attractions. Most towns will have a map in the central area with public conveniences marked on
them.

Public toilets should be provided in all pubs, restaurants and cafes so make use of these facilities if
you are stopping for a bite to eat. But please note - it is considered bad manners to use a pub or
restaurants' facilities if you are not a customer.

The vast majority of public toilets are free, although in major tourist areas such as London you will
probably have to pay about 20 pence.

The UK currently uses a mix of metric and non-metric units for different purposes. Distance on
roads are measured in miles and yards, drinks are poured in pints, but generally the metric system is
used elsewhere.

When you go to the supermarket, you will probably find all weights, volumes, etc. in metric units,
e.g. can of beans with 400 g on the side, bag of pasta with 500 g on the packet, bag of frozen chips
with 1.8 kg on the packet, bottle of water labelled as 2 litres.

Petrol and diesel fuel has been sold in litres for many years.

Weather forecasting the UK is typically done using the metric units of temperature, degrees Celsius.

Some differences between British English and American English in various categories

British English American English

Trousers Pants

Pants / Underwear / Knickers Underwear / panties

briefs/underpants shorts/jockey shorts

Jumper / Pullover / Sweater / Sweater
Pinafore Dress Jumper

Vest Undershirt

Waistcoat Vest

Wellington Boots / Wellies Galoshes

Mac (slang for Macintosh) Rain Coat

Plimsolls Gym Shoes

Trainers Sneakers

Braces Suspenders

Suspenders Holds up stockings

Dressing Gown Robe

Nappy Diaper

Pinny / Apron Apron

Polo Neck Turtle Neck

Dressing Gown Bath Robe

Swimming costume / Cozzy Bathing Suit

Dungarees Overalls
dressing-gown bathrobe
bootlace/shoelace shoestring
bowler/hard hat derby

British English American English

Semi-Detached House Duplex

Block of flats Apartment house

Block of flats Apartment building
Ground floor Second floor
Terrace house Town House
Chemist Drug Store

Surgery Doctor's office

Cafe / Caff (not 24 hrs) Diner

Ironmonger Hardware store

Bungalow House (one story)
Ranch House

Newsagent News dealer/news stand

Off license/wine merchant Liquor store
Bureau de change Currency exchange
Bill Check (restaurant)

British English American English

Scone (also a typical Oxford dessert) Biscuit

Fairy Cake Cup Cake

Courgette Zucchini

Sweets Candy

Sausage / Banger Sausage

Crisps Chips

Chips French Fries

(French Fries in McDonald's)

Starter Appetizer

Puddings / Afters / Dessert / Dessert

Sweets

Jacket Potato / Baked Potato Baked Potato

Jam Jelly or Jam

Jelly (a dessert in the UK) Jell-o (flavoured gelatin)

Bill (at restaurant) check

Grill (oven grill) Broil (oven broil)

Food / Grub / Nosh Food

Rasher A slice of bacon

Eggy bread (fried) French Toast

Runner beans Green beans

broad bean lima bean

Soldiers Finger sized slices of toast.
(We dip soldiers in our soft boiled
eggs)

bap hamburger bun

Take-away Take out

biscuit (sweet) cookie

corn flour corn starch
desiccated (coconut) shredded
icing sugar powdered sugar
icing sugar confectioner’s sugar
kipper smoked herring
marrow squash
semolina cream of wheat
sorbet sherbet
Swiss roll jelly roll
black treacle molasses
black or white?(coffee) with or without?
candyfloss cotton candy

British English American English

colour color

humour humor

favourite favorite

theatre theater
kilometre kilometer

mum, mam or mom mom

cosy cozy

realise realize

dialogue dialog

traveller traveler

cheque check

jewellery jewelry

tyre tire

Bibliography

Internet sources

www.royal.gov.uk

www.parlament.gov.uk

www.projectbritain

online turist information guides

Bromhead, Peter. Life in Modern Britain, Harlow, Longman, 1971

Harvey. Paul. Britain Explored Harlow, Longman, 1996
McDowall, David. Britain in Close-Up Harlow, Longman, 1995
Edditional Materials
Illustrated Guide to Britain, Fanum House, Basingstoke, Hans
Nicolson, Nigel Kent, London, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1988
Mikes, George How to be a Brit London, Penguin, 1986
Diana. Królowa ludzkich serc, Świat Książki 1995 (photographs)
Grand, Andrew Lady Diana. Koniec baśni Kraków, Drukarnia Wydawnicza im W. L. Anczyca S.A.

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/lifeintheuk/citizenship/multiple-choice/culture-and-
people.html