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University of Languages and International Studies, VNU – Hanoi

FACULTY OF LINGUISTICS AND CULTURES OF ENGLISH SPEAKING
COUNTRIES
Division of Country Studies
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE UK & THE US
ENG1001 (Prerequisite: 2B)
https://www.facebook.com/internationalstudiesulis/
https://quoctehoc.wordpress.com/

PURPOSES
Human geography refers to understanding, interpreting, and representing the
human world in ways that emphasize spatial relations, spatial processes, and relationships to
the non-human world. In line with the discipline, this course invites you to look at popular cultural
maps of the UK and the US. As you follow the course, be prepared to
● understand how regions and places in the UK and the US are recognized as well as
differentiated based on natural conditions, population growth and distribution, cultural codes
and practices.
● understand how maps are created.
● develop a critical distance towards what is recognized as the UK, the US, their regions and
places.
● broaden your view on how people engage with and construct their environments.
● approach problem-solving from a geography perspective by understanding the roles location
and architecture play.
● appreciate that the diversity of cultural backgrounds and personal experiences influence the
way people perceive places.
● appreciate the places and landscapes encountered in everyday life.
● initiate and join conversations about the above-mentioned issues.

Wednesday Morning List of Names (1-3) List of Names (4-6)

ASSESSMENT
Weekly Quizzes (10%)
This component of assessment provides a frame of practice that supports students’ regular reading of
course materials and acquisition of basic vocabulary about the geography of the UK and the US. The
course instructor may deliver a lecture, receive and answer questions before giving the quizzes, but you
are supposed to be able to answer the questions in the quizzes due to your studying the relevant
prescribed texts before coming to class.
Group Presentation (30%): General Geographical Profile and Curated Art Exhibition
This task asks your group to identify a place of interest (a city, an area of a city, a county, a town),
create a general geographical profile of the place, and curate an exhibition of cultural artifacts about
the place.
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During the course, there are 03-04 GeoFest days. Based on the place that your group wants to explore,
your group presentation is scheduled on a specific GeoFest day. A detailed outline of the presentation
should be sent to your course instructor at least four days before the presentation.
The presentation, to last around 35 minutes, should include the following elements:
● An introduction, which briefly states why and how you have become interested in the place
● A general geographical profile of the place, which addresses all the questions below (in the
order that you think would make the best flow and with a balance of elaborateness that fits into
about 20 minutes):
○ Where is the place located?
○ Describe its topography, weather and climate.
○ Describe the current situation of its population.
○ What are key historical events and stages in its development?
○ What are some distinctive cultural and economic activities of the place? How are these
activities related to its location and history?
○ What are some icons and symbols of the place? How are they related to its history?
● A curated multi-modal exhibition of cultural artifacts of the place, which could be from one of
these art areas: music, literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, cinema,
fashion, and culinary art.1
○ A curator is a person who selects and interprets works of art/cultural artifacts for an
exhibition.
○ Your exhibition should have a title appropriate to its contents and interesting to the
audience.
○ The curated artifacts should display a problem of the place, a prominent cultural
phenomenon of the place, or the variety of how local resources are made use of. As you
introduce your exhibition, explain its theme(s) and tell stories about the place with the
artifacts.
○ This task does not assume a clear distinction between high art and low art. Both
common objects and famous works of art are eligible.
○ Curated works can be by anonymous authors, different authors or the same author. If
you want to focus on one author, make sure that the author is an important figure of the
place.
○ Real-life objects would attract the audience; however, visual representations of the
artifacts (in any form) are totally fine. Select, interpret and arrange these visual
representations thoughtfully. If you curate musical pieces, pay attention to the quality of
the records and the technical features of the speakers you will use to bring the music to
the audience.
○ Examples: Songs about London that tell stories about multiculturalism, various artifacts
about how jazz has been developed and practiced in New Orleans, etc.
Your performance is graded individually. Make a detailed report of each member’s contributions if
you want your course instructor to see beyond what is observable in class.

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If you are interested in specific works and figures in other art areas or from a variety of art areas, contact your course
instructor for advice and approval.
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Grading Criteria

1. General profile Thoughtful organization 1

Sufficient, well-balanced information 1

Relevant and interesting details 1

2. Exhibition Thoughtful organization 1

Sufficient, well-balanced information 1

Relevant and interesting details 1

3. Oral Presentation Intelligible, effective, and beautiful language 2

4. Collaboration Positive contribution to the group’s performance as a 1

whole

5. Attendance and Attendance, thoughtful questions, answers, and 1

Participation comments

Total 10

Final Exam (60%): Personal Reflection and Sitting Exam

Sitting Exam (40%)
The exam would last 45 minutes. It consists of short questions that test your knowledge of key facts
about the geography of the UK and the US as introduced in the course. Near the end of the course, you
will be given a sample test.
Personal Reflection (20%)
As you are staying in Viet Nam, does any place in the UK or the US appear “intimate” to you? A yes
answer would spark your audience’s curiosity, especially if you have not spent any considerable
amount of time in the country. Yes or no, the answer reflects perceptions of far and near. Geography is
inseparable from experience2.
For this task, write an essay of 500 words or a photo essay of 10 photographs to describe how you
relate to a place that at times evokes a sense of intimacy. This place can be in any country in the world.
You can interpret the word “intimate”/“intimacy” in your own way. If you write a photo essay, please
include a short text (100 words) to introduce the essay, a title and a short explanation/description (01-
02 sentences) for each photo.
Your essay should address at least two of the following points:
● How you move and pause in the place
● How you hear, smell, and feel in the place
● How things in the place are organized to make possible your activities
● How the place reflects the culture of communities that you are identified with
To have some inspiration for your writing, you may want to read extracts from Yi-Fu Tuan’s ([1977],
2001) Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience, University of Minnesota Press. Please note
that Tuan’s writing is meant to provoke thought rather than providing standard definitions.
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● Distinction between space and place
● Experiential perspective
Grading Criteria
● Successful address of the task requirements (8)
○ Relevant and interesting details that (3.5)
○ Sufficient, well-balanced information (3.5)
○ Thoughtful organization (1)
● Beautiful and effective presentation (2)
SCHEDULE
Week Contents
Introduction to Geography, the UK, and the
Course
1 ● The UK and the US in world maps
● Cartography as a cultural practice:
How maps are made and
representation problems
● Physical and human geography
○ Topography and climate
○ Population, languages, and
other cultural practices
● Brief information about UK physical
and human geography
● Cultural icons and symbols as
defining geographical features
● UK cultural icons and symbols
● Course introduction
2 Review
UK Cultural Icons and Symbols: Meanings
and History
● Union Jack, British national anthem,
British monarch, royal coat of arms
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Materials
Main Texts
Unit 2 and Unit 1, General Geography of the
UK & US, Division of Country Studies
Why all world maps are wrong (VOX Video)
The United Kingdom's geographic challenge
(STRATFOR video)
Why is the UK's population growing so fast?
- Number Hub (Ep 15) - Head Squeeze
Other Resources
TWL #3: Paper Towns- Fake Places Made to
Catch Copyright Thieves (Wendover
Productions Video)
This map of Earth is the most accurate ever
produced, and it looks completely different
Vietnam's Geographic Challenge
Why do Brits talk about the weather so
much?
Where did English come from? - Claire
Bowern
[Language] Differences in English words
(UK, US, AU, MY)
30 Dialects of the English language in the
UK
Languages of the British Isles
My Fair Lady (1964)
Main Texts
Unit 1, General Geography of the UK & US,
Division of Country Studies
History of Tea - Shunan Teng
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● Britannia, John Bull Other Resources

● Bulldog, robin British Anthem, God Save the Queen (with
● Bowler hat lyrics)
● Tea The Origin of “Soccer”
● Football (soccer) 400 Years of Hats in 3 Minutes | Style Guide
| GQ
3 Review || Quiz 1 Main Texts
England Unit 3, General Geography of the UK & US,
● Physical geography Division of Country Studies
● Cultural icons and symbols: River
Thames, Big Ben, Westminster London: Historic and Dynamic RICK
Abbey, Houses of Parliament, STEVES' EUROPE S7 • E8
bobbies, double-decker buses, rose,
oak, cricket Other Resources
● Lake District, Stonehenge American Cops vs British Cops (Bobbies)
● London
How to Play Cricket
The Spread of Cricket

Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (illustrated by
Florence Graham)
Miss Potter (2006) IMDb
Miss Potter (2006) Full movie on YouTube

North England's Lake District and Durham

RICK STEVES' EUROPE S7 • E9
Southeast England RICK STEVES'
EUROPE S9 • E9
West England RICK STEVES' EUROPE S9
• E8

100 best London songs

12 Songs You Need To Listen To When In
London
Top ten songs about London
Top 7 Revolutionary Cultural Movements
that Started in London
4 Review Main Texts
Scotland Unit 4, General Geography of the UK & US,
● Topography, weather and climate Division of Country Studies

● Population and languages
● Major cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh
● Scottish identity vs. British identity
● Scottish cultural icons, symbols and
practices:
○ Flowers of Scotland: The
thistle and the bluebell
○ Marriage and family: Clans
in rural areas
○ Food and drink: Haggis and
whiskey
○ Recreation: Highland games
○ Holidays and celebrations:
New Year’s Eve
(Hogmanay)
5 Review || Quiz 2
Wales
● Topography, weather and climate
● Population and languages
● Major cities: Swansea, Newport,
Cardiff
● Welsh identity vs. British identity
● Welsh cultural icons, symbols and
practices:
● The daffodil and the leek
● Eisteddfod
Northern Ireland
● Topography, weather and climate
● Population and languages
● Belfast
● The Giant’s Causeway
● Northern Irish identity vs. British
identity
6 Cities: British Cities and Cities Around the
World
● Urban architecture: Tradition vs.
modernity
● Urban sprawl
● Livable cities, smart cities, happy
cities
Reflection: How to live in the City (Hanoi)
How do I live in the City? What does the
city do to me? What do I do to it? Where do
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Edinburgh RICK STEVES' EUROPE S4 •
E3
Scotland's Islands and Highlands
Other Resources
British (Scottish) Accents: Glasgow/
Glaswegian
Main Texts
Unit 5 and Unit 6, General Geography of the
UK & US, Division of Country Studies
North Wales: Feisty and Poetic RICK
STEVES' EUROPE S4 • E2
Belfast and the Best of Northern Ireland
RICK STEVES' EUROPE S3 • E4
Other Resources
Why Ireland split into the Republic of
Ireland & Northern Ireland
Accents of the British Isles: Northern Irish
Giant's Causeway | National Geographic
'My love isn't second-class': the struggle for
marriage equality in Northern Ireland
Belfast and Causeway coast named world’s
best region for tourism
Main Texts
Buildings That Shaped Britain - Modernism -
Simon Thurley
Why Build Higher? (Real Engineering
Video)
Why is everyone leaving the city? (US)
World’s Most Livable Cities
Smart City
The happy city experiment | Charles

I feel at home? On which part of the city did Montgomery | TEDxVancouver
I last dream/ kiss/ cry/ yell? Who are my
neighbours? Where do I go when I want to
be alone? Which ways could I go blindly?
Where do I never go? What do I think about HàNộivào top 4 thànhphốhạnhphúc
the other inhabitants of the city? What do I
think, they think about me? How do I want
to live amongst them? How do I want to
live?
7 GeoFest: Group Presentations
GeoFest: Group Presentations
8 Review
9 US National Icons and Symbols: Meanings
and History
● National flag, national anthem
& the Pledge of Allegiance
● National coat of arms
● National mottos
● Goddess of Liberty, Columbia,
Uncle Sam
● Liberty Bell
10 Review
US Geography: An Overview
● Topography, weather and climate
● Population, ethnic groups
● Languages
● National celebrations
● Regional identities
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Other Resources
A Complete Introduction to Gothic
Architecture (Spencer's Painting of the
Week, 2013)
Names and terms of a medieval CASTLE's
parts
Main Texts
Unit 8, General Geography of the UK & US,
Division of Country Studies
History of the U.S. Flag, in Paper
10 Reimaginations of the American Flag in
Art
Other Resources
Pledge of Allegiance Fast Facts
Main Texts
Unit 9, General Geography of the UK & US,
Division of Country Studies
The United States' Geographic Challenge
(STRATFORvideo, 2015)
How Geography Gave the US Power
(Wendover Productions Video, 2017)
Other Resources
Why America still uses Fahrenheit (VOX
Video)
Every State in the US (Wendover
Productions Video)
Weird Borders: State Borders of the United
States of America (VanDeGraph Video)
Best and Worst States to Raise your Family
(Business Insider Video)
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11 Review || Quiz 3 Main Texts

Northeast US Unit 10, General Geography of the UK &
● The Atlantic Coast and the Gulf US, Division of Country Studies
Coast
● The Appalachian Mountains 10 Interesting Facts About The Appalachian
● Megalopolis Mountains

Appalachian Dulcimer - Amy Fabbri - The

Mountain Traditions Project

Other Resources:
History of the United States Capitol
New York City vs London - City
Comparison
Houston’s Vietnamese Community Stays
Strong with Language, Culture
Appalachian Settlers and Their Dwellings
The Entire Appalachian Trail in 5 Minutes
I'll Fly Away, played on mountain dulcimer
by David Durrence

12 Review Main Texts

Central US Unit 11, General Geography of the UK &
● Central Lowlands US, Division of Country Studies
● Great Plains Mount Rushmore National Memorial ~ 720
● The Midwest Other Resources
Westward Expansion: Crash Course US
History #24
The Louisiana Purchase Explained [Turning
Point in U.S. History]
How To See The Aurora Borealis Northern
Lights From Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Extracts from “Gone with the Wind”

13 Review || Quiz 4 Main Texts
Western US Unit 12 and Unit 13, General Geography of
● The Rocky Mountains the UK & US, Division of Country Studies
● The Intermontane Region
● The Pacific Mountain System Other Resources
● Alaska & Hawaii What Makes Great Salt Lake So Great?
Smithsonian Channel Published on Oct 2,
2014
The Best of Yellowstone | America's
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National Parks National Geographic

Published on May 6, 2016
Death Valley National Park GoTraveler
Published on Nov 28, 2012

14 GeoFest: Group Presentations

15 GeoFest: Group Presentations

Review
Submission of Personal Reflection Essay

GENERAL CLASS POLICIES

Discussion: Contribute to discussion each class and participate in all small group activities.
Readings: Complete readings by the day assigned. Bring the textbook to class.
Class Time: Being significantly tardy or leaving early will result in you being marked absent.
Absences: Keep your course instructor informed about your absence if possible. You are allowed 03
unexcused absences, and this doesn’t mean that you should use up all these opportunities and then try to
make excuses for other absences. Absences may be excused only for very limited reasons.
Late/Missed Assignments: The schedule of the quizzes and group presentations is fixed. If your missing one
or some of them affects your final grade severely, please discuss the problem with your course instructor. If
the teacher does not manage to propose any alternative measure of assessment or deadline, please accept the
fact that your grade does not meet your expectation.
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty is not tolerated. Penalties are an F on the assignment and an F in
the course.
Always communicate with your instructor first if you encounter any problem with the course. If you run into
problems that call for a third party, contact the course coordinator.