T5: Geographical, historical and cultural aspects of English-speaking countries.

Didactic application of the most

relevant sociocultural aspects.

1. Introduction
2. The United Kingdom (UK)
2.1. Geography
2.2. History
2.3. Culture
3. The United States of America (USA)
3.1. Geography
3.2. History
3.3. Culture
4. Ireland
4.1. Geography
4.2. History
4.3. Culture
5. Other English-speaking countries
5.1. Australia and New Zealand
5.2. Canada
5.3. India
5.4. South Africa
6. Didactic application: Sociocultural aspects in foreign language teaching (FLT)
7. Conclusion
8. References

1. Introduction

The final aim of teaching and learning English as a foreign language, according to the Primary Education
curriculum is the acquisition of 7 key competences (RD 126/2014 and Decree 181/2020 for Primary Education
in Andalusia). Through the study of cultural and historical aspects of English speaking countries students will
develop their linguistic communication, social and civic competence, cultural awareness and expression,
and learning to learn, among others. The Spanish law on Education (LOMLOE that modifies LOE) defines
competences as the ultimate knowledge and skills students must develop throughout their education to
succeed in different activities and complex learning situations.

As EFL teachers, we must enable our students to communicate in the foreign language (General Objective F
in RD 126/2014). That means developing the four skills and linguistic aspects in order to take part in simple
communicative situations: understanding (listening), expressing (speaking), interacting, reading and writing.
Moreover, students must understand, respect and develop a positive attitude towards linguistic and cultural
diversity, not only in Andalusia, but in the English-speaking world (Foreign Language Objectives from the
Order of the 15th of January, 2021 for Primary Education in Andalusia).

In this topic we will outline some geographical, historical and cultural aspects of the most important
countries where English is spoken as a first language or and others where it is an official language. A
complete, in depth study of the history, geography and culture of these countries would obviously require a
more extensive framework, which exceeds the scope of this topic. We will also focus on how to teach these
aspects in the primary English foreign language class.

2. The United Kingdom (UK)

2.1 Geography

The United Kingdom, made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is an island nation in
northwestern Europe. The island of Great Britain is the largest in Europe, separated from continental Europe
by the North Sea and the English Channel. While the south and east (England) are mostly covered in rolling
hills, the north and west (Wales and Scotland) have hills and low mountains. The highest peak is Ben Nevis
located in Scotland (1,343 m). Northern Ireland has highland areas around the edge and the impressive
Giant’s Causeway on the northern coast made up of million year old volcanic rock which look like stepping
stones out into the Irish Sea.

The most important rivers are the Severn and the Thames (which flows through the capital city London).
Although both are quite short, they have had an important role in the transportation of coal, iron ore and steel
thanks to their easy navigability.

The UK has a temperate climate moderated by the Gulf Stream. In general, this means that Britain gets cool,
wet winters and warm, wet summers. It rarely features the extremes of heat or cold, although the weather
conditions are also very changeable.
Great Britain has a population of more than 68 million people (2022 estimate) with England being one of the
most densely populated countries in the world. The British population has become ever more diverse due to
immigration from other Commonwealth countries (India, Pakistan, South Africa) and its previous inclusion in
the European Union.
There are many important cities due to tourism, industry, culture and politics including London, Glasgow,
Edinburgh, Belfast, Liverpool, and Manchester.
The flag representing the UK is called the Union Jack and is a combination that represents the other flags of
the UK countries: the red cross for St. George of England, the white saltire and blue background for St.
Andrew of Scotland and the red saltire for Northern Ireland. Wales’ is a bicolor white and green flag with a
red dragon.
2.2 History
The island of Great Britain has been inhabited for thousands of years and throughout its modern history was
invaded several times. In 500 BC the Celts arrived from Europe. In A.D. 43, the Romans invaded and ruled for
nearly 400 years. They built roads, bathhouses, sewers, and left behind language (Latin), laws and medical
practices.

By 450 AD, German peoples known as Angles, and Saxons came to Britain, and the English people became
known as Anglo-Saxons. From the 900s to the 1400s, England was ruled by Viking, Danish, and Norman
invaders.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Welsh Tudors reigned, including 2 of the strongest monarchs- King Henry
VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. During this time there were also important religious, social and cultural changes
from the works of William Shakespeare to the exploration of America and the end of the Cathloic Church
in England when Henry VIII established the Church of England.

Under Victorian rule in the 1800s Britain had become one of the most powerful nations in the world with the
largest empire. By the end of the 19th century, most people lived in cities and towns, worked in shops and
factories, and homes had piped water and electricity. But the early 20th century brought setbacks with
WWI and WWII, financially Britain could no longer afford its empire and most of its colonies became
independent.
In 1973 the UK joined the European Communities and in 1993 the European Union was created. The UK
and its citizens remained part of the EU until in 2016 a narrow majority of voters chose to leave the EU,
which they finally did on January 31, 2020, the first country to withdraw from the EU.
2.3 Culture
England is the birthplace of Shakespeare and The Beatles, the capital London is a globally influential center
of finance and culture. The UK is home to Stonehenge and centuries-old universities at Oxford and
Cambridge. Scotland, apart from its traditional kilts, is also widely known for the legend of the Loch Ness
monster, while Wales is known for having more sheep than people.
British culture is influenced by the combined nations' histories. In the 1950s and 1960s, people from former
colonies in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia came to the United Kingdom to work. Its culture is therefore a
heterogeneous mix with distinct celebrations and customs among the 4 nations that make up the United
Kingdom.

Sports and literature are among the United Kingdom's cultural claims to fame. Football, rugby, cricket,
boxing, and golf were all invented in Britain. And the U.K. has produced many great writers, including
William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Roald Dahl and. J.K. Rowling, the writer of the Harry Potter books.
British music has also become popular worldwide, with most people knowing musicians and singers such as
The Beatles, Queen and more recently Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Rita Ora and Adele to name a few.

The main celebrations in Great Britain include the various patron saint days (St. Andrews of Scotland, St.
George of England, St. David of Wales and St. Patrick of Ireland), June 2nd which is Queen Elizabeth II’s
birthday and also called Trooping of the Colours, Guy Fawkes night on November 5th, and Christmas and
Boxing Day (December 25th and 26th). The British still recognize their monarchy and many of their customs
and traditions revolve around royalty.

3. The United States of America (USA)

The USA is a relatively young country in terms of world history. Over the course of its history, the USA has
collected some notable distinctions, such as the world’s most dominant economic and military power.
Likewise, its cultural imprint spans the world, led in large part by its popular culture expressed in music,
movies and television and thanks to its diverse population due its historical colonizers and seemingly never
ending influx of immigrants. Here we will look at some of the most important geographical, historical and
cultural aspects of this young nation.
 3.1 Geography

The USA is the world's third largest country in size and nearly the third largest in terms of population with
over 334 million inhabitants (2022 census). Located in North America, the country is bordered on the west by
the Pacific Ocean and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Along the northern border is Canada and the southern
border is Mexico. There are 50 states and the District of Columbia plus a number of territories and
possessions in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean including Puerto Rico and US Samoa.

More than twice the size of the European Union, the landscape varies– from the tropical beaches of Florida to
the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, from the great plains in the west to the dense wilderness in the
north. Interspersed throughout are the Great Lakes, the Grand Canyon, the majestic Yosemite Valley and the
mighty Mississippi River.

Like its topography, the climate of the U.S. also varies depending on location. It is considered mostly
temperate but is also tropical in Hawaii and Florida and arctic in Alaska.
The flag of the US consists of 13 red and white stripes representing the 13 original colonies and 50 white stars
on a blue background representing the 50 states. The major cities include New York City, Boston, Chicago,
Washington DC, San Francisco among many others and US and international tourists alike enjoy visiting these
cities as well as historical landmarks and other natural wonders.

3.2 History

For centuries, native peoples lived across what would become the USA. In the early 17th century, settlers
moved from Europe to the ‘New World’, established colonies and displaced the native peoples, the most
famous of which are known as the Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower in 1620. The
Pilgrims received help from the Wampanoag tribe to survive the first brutal winter, and celebrated a
successful first harvest with them which has led to the current tradition of Thanksgiving. However, nowadays
only about 2% of the US population is made up of Native Americans.

Later, in the 18th century, the mostly British settlers fought for their independence from Britain because they
were unhappy with taxation without representation. They named George Washington as their Commander-in-
Chief and signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. When the colonists won the Revolutionary
War (war of independence), George Washington became the first president and a new constitution was signed.
It established 3 distinct and separate powers of government: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and
the judiciary branch. With this new government, federal powers dealt with problems the whole nation faced,
and most of the other responsibilities were given to individual state governments. After this period, the US
population and economy grew rapidly, in large part due to exploration in the West, industrialization in the
North, but also slave labor in the South. The issue of slavery led to the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. President
Abraham Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery, but many southern states did not. The war left the country
traumatized, and racial tensions are still present to this day.

The 20th century in the USA is marked by its involvement in WWI, the Great Depression (1929-1939),
WWII, and the subsequent “Cold War” with the Soviet Union. In the following decades, the US entered a
number of foreign conflicts that caused a moral crisis among its citizens, while at the same time civil rights
for Black people and other minorities were being demanded by activists such as Martin Luther King Jr.
The 21st century was ushered in by the worst terrorist attack on American soil, the September 11th World
Trade Center attack, which led George W Bush to invade Afghanistan, resulting in the longest US war, from
2001 until 2021. Other progress in the 21st century include the election of the first African American
President, Barack Obama in 2008, and the first Black, Indian and woman elected to the Vice President,
Kamala Harris in 2020. However, during this time the US has also become a polarized society of either
Democrats or Republicans, due in large part to the controversial presidency of Donald Trump, which ended
in an attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

3.3 Culture

Throughout its history, the United States has been a nation of immigrants. The population is diverse with
people from all over the world seeking refuge and a better way of life. Although there is no official language,
English is the de facto language, while many people speak Spanish, Chinese, French and many others.

The USA has often been referred to as a “melting pot” in which immigrants from around the world eventually
assimilate into American culture. However, since the 1960s there is more of a trend towards cultural
pluralism, with many nationalities and ethnicities bringing and maintaining their own cultural customs and
traditions. For that reason, it is difficult to pinpoint many common manifestations of American culture. Each
region of the USA has their own distinct traditions and customs. That said, there are a few holidays that are
celebrated by almost all citizens. Those include Thanksgiving day (4th Thursday in November), Civil Rights
Day (previously Martin Luther King Jr Day, January 15th), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), 4th of July,
and Labor Day (first Monday in September). Almost all of these holidays are celebrated by gatherings of
family and friends to enjoy typical foods.

Just as cultures from around the world have influenced American culture, today American culture
influences the world. Our students may be familiar with American written works such as The Wizard of Oz
(Lyman Baum) or Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak), and picture books by Eric Carle and Dr.
Seuss. The USA has the oldest and largest (in terms of revenue) film industry in the world, Hollywood. The
USA has given the world the most popular social media sites, which heavily influence youth culture, and is the
birthplace of sports such as American football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball.

4. The Republic of Ireland (Éire)

4.1 Geography

Ireland is the second largest island in Europe and located on the west in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is made
up of The Republic of Ireland (80% of the land) and Northern Ireland (which belongs to the UK).

Ireland is known for its lush, green fields, giving it the nickname of the Emerald Isle. The midlands and west
coast of Ireland are dotted with damp peat bogs, while Ireland's highlands rise mainly in the southwest, often
ending at sheer cliffs that plunge thousands of feet into the Atlantic Ocean like the Cliffs of Moher.

The climate is especially mild, but the combination of frequent rain and cool year-round temperatures results
in extremely humid conditions.
Ireland’s population is just over 5 million with nearly two-thirds of the population living in urban areas such
as Dublin, Cork and Galway. Ireland’s flag is a vertical tricolor of green, white and orange.

4.2 History

It is widely believed that the first human settlements in Ireland were around 6000 BC. Around 700 BC the
Celts arrived and would thrive for nearly 2000 years. St. Patrick Christianised the entire country in the 5th
century, and later the island was invaded by Vikings whose settlements became some of the main cities today
(Dublin). Ireland became an English territory when King Henry II invaded in the 12th century. In the early
1600s, England's official religion became Protestant while most Irish remained Roman Catholic. This
would create tensions that would eventually lead to revolution and Ireland's independence.

By the 1820s, British laws unfair to Catholics had sparked a mass movement for Irish sovereignty. Then came
the disastrous potato famine in 1850, during which over 2 million people died or emigrated. In 1948, most of
Ireland became an independent country (Republic of Ireland), while the mainly Protestant counties in the
northeast remained a British territory (Northern Ireland).

Although successive Irish governments have tried to peacefully reunify with Northern Ireland, militant groups
such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) resorted to force. This resulted in years of violence and
discrimination against the two religious groups by the opposite side. Eventually, in 1998 the Good Friday
Agreement was signed and peace is now a real hope for Northern Ireland.

4.3 Culture
Ireland is a nation of storytellers. The tradition dates back to Celtic bards, who would record and recite the
country's history. Many famed writers come from Ireland, Oscar Wilde and William Yeats. The Irish also
excel in music, sports and dancing. They are known for their captivating and gravity-defying Irish dance,
and Hurling, an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic Irish origin.
Countless castles and fortresses dot the country and coastlines, marking the existence of the Celts, Vikings,
Anglo-Saxons and Normans. These and the lush countryside draw in tourists from around the world.
Due to their strong Catholic roots, Christian holidays are especially important celebrations, including Good
Friday, Easter Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and St. Stephen’s day. Halloween is also widely
recognized as evolving from the Celtic and Gaelic traditions of Ireland, and was spread throughout North
America in the 19th century by Irish immigrants.

5. Other English-speaking countries

A number of other countries speak English as a first language, or as an official or co-official language. Here
we will briefly discuss their important geographical, historical and cultural aspects.

5.1 Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand are island countries located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Australia is the
only country in the world that covers an entire continent, while New Zealand is a remote, mountainous
group of islands. Before British and other foreign settlers, both countries had their own indigenous groups,
the Aboriginals in Australia and the Maoris in New Zealand. Maori culture is still widely respected in New
Zealand, and the national rugby team, the All Blacks, still perform a traditional Maori ceremonial dance
called the Haka. Many words in English have also come from aboriginal languages, such as kangaroo and
boomerang. New Zealanders are also called “Kiwis”, which happens to be the name of a native bird as well.

The warm, sunny climate and abundance of open spaces in both countries gives the population a love of the
outdoors. The people are also passionate about sports, including swimming, surfing, sailing, tennis, football,
and cricket. The people have a reputation for being extroverted and friendly. Both countries are home to a
number of unique and exotic animals that are not found anywhere else.

5.2 Canada

Canada is a vast and rugged land that spans more than half the Northern Hemisphere from North to South.
From east to west it crosses 6 time zones and features lakes, rivers, mountains, plains as well as arctic
tundra and glaciers. The country has 10 provinces with Ottawa as the capital, but Toronto, Vancouver and
Montreal are other large, important cities.

Both English and French are official languages, due to the fact Canada was first colonized by the French.
Canada eventually became part of the British Empire and continues to be part of the British Commonwealth,
though they were granted complete independence to govern with the Canada Act in 1982.

Canada’s culture is heavily influenced by its British and French roots, as well as other European and Asian
immigrants, much like the USA. In the most northern regions, First Nations (indigenous peoples) continue to
live by traditional methods, and their artwork is widely recognized as a symbol of Canada.

Canada is also known for their national sports- ice hockey and lacrosse, maple syrup (the Canadian flag
features a maple leaf), as well as many musicians and actors such as Drake, Justin Bieber, and Maitreyi
Ramakrishnan (star of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever).

5.3 India

India is part of the Asian continent and formed mostly by a peninsula. India became a federal republic within
the Commonwealth of Nations in 1950 and Hindi was declared the first national language. In 1965, English
was declared an associate language and is widely used in business, education and scientific research. Its
social and cultural systems are very different from those in Europe. Board games chess and snakes and
ladders are believed to have originated in India, as well as yoga. Its film industry, Bollywood, rivals that of
Hollywood in the US. Our students may also be interested in its unique cuisine and festivals (Diwali), colorful
traditional clothes, as well as its exotic landscape and animals.

5.4 The Republic of South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is the oldest British settlement on the African continent. Many different
peoples make up South Africa, each with their own language and history. The country has 11 official languages
including English and Afrikaans, derived from Dutch, and many more unofficial ones. This colorful mix of
cultures gives South Africa its nickname "rainbow nation." In 1910, the British united four colonies in the
region and created South Africa. They established laws that separated whites from black South Africans, a
practice of segregation called apartheid, which led to decades of conflict which finally ended in the 1990s
with Nelson Mandela.

South Africans are passionate about music and are known worldwide for their skill in sports, including rugby,
cricket, golf, and football. In 2010, South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup.

Other countries on the African continent count English as an official language and form part of the
Commonwealth, such as in Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria.
6. Didactic Applications: Sociocultural aspects in foreign language teaching (FLT)

Throughout this topic we have studied some of the main geographical, historical and cultural aspects of the
most important English-speaking countries, but by no means is it an exhaustive study. Such detailed
knowledge is obviously not expected from our students in Primary Education.

The goal of teaching English as a foreign language is not only to develop students’ communicative linguistic
competence, but to develop intercultural and sociocultural competence as well. According to Vez and
Piñeiro, teachers must not only encourage use of the target language in a variety of meaningful contexts, but
also develop activities to introduce cultural insights and perspectives. This gives our students the required
skills to interact successfully with speakers from other cultures.

The teaching and learning of English in Primary education include a cultural component, which highlights
the contexts in which the language is used and familiarizes children with other ways of life and customs. The
Spanish FL curriculum (RD 126/2014) recognizes the importance of the relationship between language and
culture, and FLT (in our case English) must acknowledge the value of language as a tool for social interaction
between people of different cultures. We must help students know, understand, respect, value and show a
positive attitude for the English language, their speakers and their culture, as well as other languages and
cultures (Order 15-1-15 FLO 7). Halliday stresses the importance of meaningful sociocultural experiences in
acquiring a second language.

We can do this by creating interest in the TL and culture through activities that children enjoy about topics
which reflect the lifestyle in countries that speak the TL and creating intercultural links between English and
Spanish culture, especially Andalusian culture (Kramsch 93). This can be done through authentic materials,
such as using films, tv shows, stories, tales, songs, games, etc. Young learners may be interested in famous
British, American and Irish people, typical customs, holidays and festivals, the cities and monuments as
well as how children live and what they do in their free time in those countries. The use of ICTs and the
Internet offers a wonderful opportunity to enhance cultural insights of English speaking countries, as students
can research cultural items to gain a deeper knowledge, or take part in Pen-pal or eTwinning projects to give
them the chance to connect with students from other countries while having to communicate in English to carry
out joint projects.

One of the main goals of teaching culture in the modern language classroom should be to reduce foreign
stereotyping. We can help our students to develop an unbiased cultural frame of reference by exposing them
to a variety of aspects of culture from the extensive English speaking world. Foreign language teaching can and
should contribute to counteract stereotyping by fostering mutual understanding. FL teachers must make a
careful selection of materials and take care not to perpetuate harmful stereotypes or oversimplified
generalizations of people, countries and their customs.

7. Conclusion

Language is one of the most important aspects related to any culture, as language reflects the culture of its
speakers and also helps construct culture. When a language is studied, its culture is also absorbed (Gattegno’s
Spirit of Language 1978). TEFL should promote understanding, an open mind and respect for other people
and cultures (C. Edelhoff).

The Council of Europe, and the Spanish Educational Authorities, also recognize the usefulness of using the
teaching and learning of a foreign language to break down barriers, promote acceptance of differences and
reduce discrimation and prejudices. That is why it is of utmost importance to begin developing both
communicative linguistic competences and intercultural competences in the early stages of Primary Education.
Students must be made aware that not all the people who share the English language share the same cultural
aspects. The activities, materials and resources chosen by the FL teacher influence the way students learn about
the TL culture and therefore must highlight the importance of linguistic diversity and the acceptance of
differences as a part of using foreign languages as a tool for communication among individuals and countries.

8. References

Brewster, J. and Ellis, G. (1992): The Primary English Teacher’s Guide. Penguin: London
Council of Europe. (2001): Common European Framework of Reference for Language: Learning, teaching and
assessment. Council of Europe Publishing: Strasbourg
Council of Europe. (2020): Companion Volume to the CEFR. Council of Europe Publishing: Strasbourg
Garwood, C. (1992): Aspects of Britain and USA. Oxford. OUP
Harmer, J. (2012): Essential Teacher Knowledge. Pearson: London
Kramsch, C. (1993): Context and Culture in Language Teaching. Oxford: OUP
McLaren, D. and Madrid, N. (2004): TEFL in Primary Education. Granada: Editorial Universidad de Granada
Vez, J and Piñeiro, M. (2010): Competencia Plurilingüe e intercultural. Ed. Síntesis: Madrid
American, British, Irish, Canadian history, geography and culture: www.thoughtco.com ,
www.Nationalgeographic.com