countries from the UK
look here and listen to the teacher :
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/plans/uk/uk.shtml
1.
Great craic, live music and the Ulster fry
Where it is
Northern Ireland is part of the UK but is physically separated from mainland
England, Wales and Scotland by the wild and sometimes treacherous Irish
Sea. Northern Ireland has sea to the north and east, and borders the Republic
of Ireland on the west and south, making it the only UK country with a
European border.
Unsurprisingly these physical characteristics affect the mindset of its
population, and it is not unusual to find some people who feel simultaneously
a UK citizen, and Irish citizen and a European citizen. Alternatively, others
shun their UK identity and embrace their Irishness, and many others insist on
being ‘British’ and ignore their Irish neighbours.
In a population of 1.5 million nearly 60% are under 40, making it a country
with an influential youth culture.
Religion and identity
Identity tends to be polarised according to the religious divide – Protestants
tend to see themselves as ‘British’ and part of the UK (except when the Irish
rugby team is in action and allegiance conveniently switches!), and Catholics
tend to embrace the Irish identity and an all-Ireland ethos. As with any such
sweeping statement there are many exceptions to the rule, and Northern
Ireland is home to many people of other religions and cultural identities. There
are also a huge number of people from both the Protestant and Catholic
communities who value each other as friends and fellow citizens, and to
whom religion takes a back seat.
Language
In common with the UK, people in Northern Ireland speak English (with a
distinctive, hard to mimic accent). There also exist the lesser-used languages
of Irish and Ulster Scots and many associated cultural activities.
Political devolution
Northern Ireland shares the Westminster government with the UK but has had
its own devolved Assembly, currently suspended, with local control over
various issues including education and arts. The population waits for local
politicians to come to agreement so that the Assembly can be reinstated as
independence from Westminster is valued.
Stereotypes
Stereotypical images of Northern Ireland often centre on its troubled and
violent past: bombs, shootings, brutality, along with the more positive: building
the Titanic, the Giants Causeway World Heritage Site, linen industry and musicians such as Van Morrison and Ash.
2.
Language, rugby and the millenium stadium
Living in Wales
Wales is a land of rugby, singing and beautiful scenery situated on the
western side of the UK. Its population is just under three million which is
about 5% of the total UK population. The main cities are Cardiff, the capital
city, Swansea and Newport.
Wales was ruled directly from London until 1999 when the first elections to
the Welsh National Assembly were held. The Assembly has some powers
specific to people in Wales and can make decisions on areas such as
education and health. Wales remains part of the UK and Members of
Parliament (MPs) from Welsh constituencies continue to have seats in the
UK Parliament at Westminster. Laws passed by Parliament in Westminster
still apply to Wales.
Language
The Welsh language is probably the most important thing that distinguishes
Wales from the rest of the UK. Welsh (or Cymraeg) is one of Europe’s oldest
languages and is spoken by one in five Welsh people. This number doubles
among children and teenagers which shows that the language is very much
alive among the young.
Road signs and other signs are in both English and Welsh. The language is
at its strongest along the Llyn Peninsula in North-West Wales, where 75 per
cent of the population speak Welsh. Towns, villages and cities in Wales often
have both a Welsh and an English name and Wales is home to one of the
longest place names in the world -
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch which means
St Mary's (Church) by the white aspen over the whirlpool, and St Tysilio's
(Church) by the red cave!
Sport and culture
Wales is also known for its ‘Eisteddfodau’ which are festivals celebrating
Welsh language, art, culture and heritage and which include an eclectic mix
of music, dance, drama, debate and cultural competitions. Most people know
of the annual National Eisteddfod which is held alternately in North and
South Wales and the International Eisteddfod which is held in Llangollen, but
there are Eisteddfodau of varying sizes held in towns and villages throughout
the land.
The national sport is very much rugby union and the national team are
sometimes known as the Dragons as a red dragon appears on the national
flag of Wales. The home ground is the Millennium Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff.
3.
Festivals, lochs, shopping and beaches
Living in Scotland
Where it is
Scotland is the UK’s most northern country and has around 790 islands off
its coasts – 130 of which have people living on them. Scotland is well known
for its stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches and lochs, which are fresh
water lakes. There are over 600 square miles of lochs in Scotland including
the most famous one, Loch Ness.
It has a population of just over five million people which is about 8.5 per cent
of the whole UK population. Over 2 million of these live in Glasgow and
Edinburgh, and almost half of Scotland's population live in the Central Belt,
where both the largest city (Glasgow) and the capital city (Edinburgh) are
located.
Festivals and music
Scotland also hosts one of the biggest arts festivals in the world. This is
commonly known as the Edinburgh Festival but is actually made up of a
number of different festivals which happen at different times of the year,
though many do take place in August and September. Many people have
heard of the Fringe Festival, but there are also the International Festival, the
Film Festival, the Children’s Festival and the Edinburgh Mela which is an
intercultural festival.
Musically it has recently produced bands Travis and Franz Ferdinand and
other famous Scots include Ewan McGregor, Sean Connery and JK Rowling.
Political devolution
In July 1999 the Scottish Parliament was opened, the first for over 300 years
as Scotland had been governed from London. Scottish Parliamentary
responsibilities include health, education and local government.
Stereotypes
Stereotypical images of Scotland often focus on things like tartan, kilts,
heather and haggis as well as the scenery. These are all still a part of the
country but contemporary Scotland is building a name for itself in other areas, such as its thriving computer games industry
4.
Diverse society, football and food
Where it is
England is perhaps the country most people first think of when they think of
the United Kingdom. It borders both Scotland and Wales and almost 50
million people live there, which is over 80% of the UK’s total population.
Major cities include London (the capital), Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds,
Newcastle, and Manchester. London is one of the most well-known cities in
the world and for many is representative of the whole of England, if not the
whole of the UK.
Other icons include football, actors Jude Law and Kate Winslet, Bridget
Jones, pubs and beer. But for most these represent the whole of the UK, not
just England.
Indistinct identity?
Many of the people in our survey, either English by birth or now living here,
commented that it was very difficult to distinguish between English and
British culture and identity. People found that they often identify more with
other things than with England as a country. These other things include: the
place or region in which they live, whether it be a major city or one of the
English counties such as Yorkshire, Devon or Northumberland; the UK as a whole; or the religious or ethnic community they are from.
Now some opinions about the UK :
Scotland: National icons
If you had to choose one thing to represent Scotland what would it be?
'It would be a white sandy beach on the North West coast of Scotland. I think
this area of Scotland is forgotten about and it’s beautiful.'
'Don’t think one thing or person could accurately represent the whole nation.
But if pushed, fish suppers.'
that shaped the industrial city of Glasgow came to and fro.'
'The scenery and the Lochs represent the natural beauty of Scotland.'
'The Firth of Clyde, where the lowland and the highlands meet and the ships.
Ireland :
What one thing represents Northern Ireland for you?
‘The Mountains of Mourne because
-immortalised in song
-wonderful natural recreational facility
-representative of the beautiful landscape and scenery across Northern
Ireland.’
‘I’m afraid it would probably be the good old Ulster Fry, plenty of potato bread
and soda bread dipped in egg. Yum. Why? Because it is perfect for that
other thing Northern Ireland is known for – curing the morning after the night
before.’
‘Going up Cavehill on a sunny day. You can see right across Belfast.
Cavehill is also special being the inspiration apparently for Gulliver’s Travels
as it looks like a giant lying down on the landscape sleeping.’
‘The cranes at Harland and Wolff. A distinct feature of Belfast which
encompasses not just the past but stability in the face of major difficulties.’
England: National icons
If you had to choose one thing to represent England what would it be?
'London – the Royal family and London (landmarks) remain the iconic image
for visitors.'
'Buckingham Palace.'
'London – our capital city and a great example of the old and the new
combining together to make a world class city.'
'Football.'
'St George’s cross – his flag is associated with the national football team.'
'Manchester. Birthplace of the computer, Industrial Revolution, Emmeline
Pankhurst. Local and friendly but quirky and full of the old Cromwell attitude
(go against them Royals, do your own thing). Music: The Smiths and
Morrissey, Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses. Exactly!'
'I think it would be the centre of Manchester. Within a few miles of the Town
Hall you have a microcosm of the entire country: Victorian industrialisation,
stunning countryside, thriving modern and traditional culture and leisure,
urban deprivation and cuisine from every continent. Oh, and pubs and
football clubs as well.'
'The album by One Giant Leap, as it says so much about who we are and
where we come from, with particular respect to our place in the world.'
'St George: What else is there that isn’t British?'
Wales: National icons
If you had to choose one thing to represent Wales what would it be?
It seems as if the Millennium Stadium is set to become Wales’ best known
landmark if the enthusiasm of the Welsh for the building is anything to go by!
‘Millennium Stadium – instantly recognisable as a Welsh landmark’'
'Millennium Stadium – a fantastic innovative stadium (the first in the UK with
a sliding roof) in the heart of the Welsh capital and where the religion of
rugby takes place'
Millenium Stadium - best stadium in the UK. Built at a fraction of the cost of
Wembley, has hosted key events of the other home nations, big concerts,
and symbolises successful regeneration.'
'The mountain of Snowdonia which reflects the strength of the Welsh nation
without being overpowering’
'Mountains- Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons'
What one thing represents Northern Ireland for you?
‘The Mountains of Mourne because
-immortalised in song
-wonderful natural recreational facility
-representative of the beautiful landscape and scenery across Northern
Ireland.’
‘I’m afraid it would probably be the good old Ulster Fry, plenty of potato bread
and soda bread dipped in egg. Yum. Why? Because it is perfect for that
other thing Northern Ireland is known for – curing the morning after the night
before.’
‘Going up Cavehill on a sunny day. You can see right across Belfast.
Cavehill is also special being the inspiration apparently for Gulliver’s Travels
as it looks like a giant lying down on the landscape sleeping.’
‘The cranes at Harland and Wolff. A distinct feature of Belfast which
encompasses not just the past but stability in the face of major difficulties.’
CULTURE OF ENGLAND :
If you’re asked about the culture of England what kinds of things do
you say?
England perhaps differs from the other countries of the UK in that it is much harder
to identify culture that is specifically English rather than British. This can be seen in
some of the responses given which range from Morris Dancing (distinctly English)
through to attitudes and activities that could relate to anywhere in the UK and
probably many other countries – for example a love of eating out but an over
reliance on junk food!
'Nostalgia, living in the past on previous successes, parochial.'
'Morris dancing, football, football hooligans, beer louts, pretty country.'
'Traditions, architecture, history, the Royal family, museums and galleries, sport,
pop music, fashion, the BBC.'
'Annual 2 week holidays, small homes with small gardens, love of pets, openness
and intimacy with partners…high percentage of single parent families. Families are
very child focussed and children are given rights which in other countries would be
accorded adults only.
Love of eating out, clubbing and boozing. Little interest in (learning) other world
languages but love of other cultures’ food. English people it seems don’t make for
very good cooks and eat junk food a lot…Being young is perhaps seen as more
desirable than being 35+. '
'Westminster, the English language, international power.'
'Very diverse in terms of values, living standards and interests…There is a wealth of
activities to keep us busy. Surprised and delighted that reading seems to be getting
a look in these days…We are more open to different culinary experiences and this
is a passive as well as an active interest – I love this. I feel that a lack of community
has led to massive interest in reality shows as we don’t often have local drama to
push our noses in. We love to see dysfunctional behaviour in others and act as
moralists. We are personality/celebrity obsessed and this brings out the judgmental
in us.'
'English culture is generally quite anti-establishment – there’s a big tradition in our
arts that attempts to question and challenge authority. Even in the language, there’s
a playful attitude – puns, irony, sarcasm. We like one thing to mean a lot. Musically,
it’s where a lot of innovation happens – new forms, experiments. Social life is
similar. There’s an attitude to drinking etc. that isn’t very healthy – going against
common sense – binge drinking and talking about binge drinking.'
'Culture is all pervasive and almost impossibly diverse in England. There are
thousands of forms of cultural pursuit, many of which we pursue to globally
recognised levels. For me, the most important elements are film and television,
music, sport and architecture.'
'Creative society, multi cultural with much new creativity stemming from the meeting
of different cultures, particularly in music, literature and enterprise.
Wales
If you're asked about the culture of Wales what kinds of things do you
say?
When we asked this we were immediately told about sport, music and food!
‘Sport (rugby), singing, pub culture’
‘Rugby (or rugbi in Welsh) is the national sport, passion and religion – games
against the English are particularly savoured! Music and song – both
popular, Stereophonics etc, and more classical, Bryn Terfyl and Katherine
Jenkins.’
‘Rugby mad people – the mood of the nation can depend on the Wales
team’s results. In recent years Wales has produced several good bands
(Manic Street preachers, Catatonia, Stereophonics) which has movedaway
from the stereoptypical Tom Jones label (although we still like Tom Jones).’
Friendly, welcoming people. Modern vibrant society yet still retaining much of
the Welsh tradition’
‘Food – lava bread (seaweed), welsh cakes, bara brith (tea Bread), welsh
lamb and beef. A very popular and trendy restaurant in Cardiff is the Armless
Dragon serving Welsh dishes)’
Scotland
you say?
Everyone who answered this question seemed enthusiastic about the
shopping opportunities to be had in Scotland two biggest cities - not to
mention the social life!
'It seems to have improved greatly in recent years within Scotland and also
how it is perceived by others. It is very varied with the main cities Glasgow
and Edinburgh becoming more attractive and welcoming with bars, café
culture… and club music scene. On the other hand the highlands and islands
have not changed greatly...'
'Scotland is a country which only has two really good cities for going out in
and shopping in my opinion! - Edinburgh and Glasgow. The shopping in
Glasgow is excellent and there are plenty of pubs and clubs to choose from.
Edinburgh is becoming a better shopping city with the likes of Harvey Nics
being added. Edinburgh has loads going on with music, film and literature,
especially when the festival is on.
I enjoy living in Scotland as it only takes half an hour to get to the country
from where I live. However, I do think that a lot of Scots are quite narrow
minded and are very much 'home birds'. Because the climate is quite
depressing, a lot of people live for the weekend and drink a lot - I think this is
significant throughout the UK though. On the whole, Scots are very friendly
and generous people.....it is a myth that we are scroungers.'
'I think big companies that used to only locate in London and the South are
also realising that Scotland is on a par with such areas now. Edinburgh has
Harvey Nichols and Glasgow is getting Selfridges!!!!!'
People also identified with creativity and the economy in how they saw the
culture of Scotland.
'I think Scotland is a leader in areas such as art and design. In Glasgow for
example the city is built around the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Also we have Glasgow School of Art, one of the best in the country. There is
also the scenery that surrounds Scotland, Loch Lomand only about 30
minutes from Glasgow…. I feel these enrich the country and by seeing
places such as Edinburgh and Stirling Castle and finding out the history of
Scotland makes me feel proud to be Scottish!!!! We are great sport fans
especially rugby! The Scottish people are friendly and generally quite happy
despite all the rain!!
'Trying hard to appear international and outward looking, but attitudes are still
very parochial. Job market is stale and extremely hard to break into… few
creative opportunities outside financial services and IT.'
'I think it’s important for a country with a cultural identity to look outward to
other nations with confidence – as they say, Scotland’s best export is its
people!'
NOW QUESTIONS :
1. Which UK country has bilingual road signs?
2. What is the name of the architect who designed many famous
buildings in Glasgow?
3. In which UK country is there a town with one of the longest place
names in the world?
4. What English national icons in Manchester are mentioned?
5. What is ‘great craic’?
6. Which sport is very important in Welsh culture?
7. Which UK country has about 790 islands off its coast?
8. Which UK country has a border with another European country?
9. Who is the patron Saint of England?
10. What national icons of Scotland are mentioned?
11. What are Eisteddfodau?
12. Where are Van Morrison and the band Ash from?
13. What is Wales’ most famous building?
14. Which UK country has the least distinct cultural identity?
15. Where does one of the world’s biggest arts festivals take place?
16. In which UK country are the Mountains of Mourne?
Find words or phrases which go with the
following definitions (the words appear in the text in the same order as
the definitions):
About England
Paragraph 3
1) someone who is very famous and people think represents a particular
idea
Paragraph 4
2) difficult to define or see clearly
3) a set of questions that you ask a large number of people
About Northern Ireland
Paragraph 2
4) a way of thinking about things
5) to deliberately avoid a person, place or activity
Paragraph 4
6) to form two very different groups that are completely opposite to each
other
7) a generalization, not based on specific facts and maybe not completely
correct (2 words)
About Scotland
Paragraph 1
8) very impressive or beautiful
Paragraph 3
9) to arrange a special event and provide the buildings and services
needed
Paragraph 6
10) very successful
About Wales
Paragraph 3
11) to be a characteristic that makes something clearly different from other
similar things
Paragraph 6
12) the place where a sports team is based and plays most of its games
following sentences
1. London ____________ the 2012 Olympic Games.
2. Madonna has been a pop ___________ since the 1980s.
3. Britain was divided on the Iraq war. Opinions were completely
____________.
4. Manchester United’s ____________ is the Old Trafford stadium, just 3
kilometres from the centre of Manchester.
5. Some people think that British people are cold and unfriendly, but it’s a
very ____________. Actually, the people I’ve met have been very nice.
6. I argued with my brother and he hasn’t called me since. I think he
____________ me.
7. Internet businesses had some problems in the 1990s, but now sites like
EBay, Amazon and Yahoo! are ____________ again.
8. People questioned in a recent ____________ said that they spent on
average 3 hours a day watching TV.
9. This website ____________ from other similar sites by the quantity of upto-
date information it contains.
10. I think that people from the capital city have very different ideas from
people who live in the countryside. It’s a completely different
____________.
11. From our hotel window, you can see the mountains and the sea. It’s a
____________ view.
12. The town centre has all the usual shops. There’s nothing different or
original. Really, it’s ____________ from any other British town.
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/plans/uk/uk.shtml
1.Great craic, live music and the Ulster fry
Where it is
Northern Ireland is part of the UK but is physically separated from mainland
England, Wales and Scotland by the wild and sometimes treacherous Irish
Sea. Northern Ireland has sea to the north and east, and borders the Republic
of Ireland on the west and south, making it the only UK country with a
European border.
Unsurprisingly these physical characteristics affect the mindset of its
population, and it is not unusual to find some people who feel simultaneously
a UK citizen, and Irish citizen and a European citizen. Alternatively, others
shun their UK identity and embrace their Irishness, and many others insist on
being ‘British’ and ignore their Irish neighbours.
In a population of 1.5 million nearly 60% are under 40, making it a country
with an influential youth culture.
Religion and identity
Identity tends to be polarised according to the religious divide – Protestants
tend to see themselves as ‘British’ and part of the UK (except when the Irish
rugby team is in action and allegiance conveniently switches!), and Catholics
tend to embrace the Irish identity and an all-Ireland ethos. As with any such
sweeping statement there are many exceptions to the rule, and Northern
Ireland is home to many people of other religions and cultural identities. There
are also a huge number of people from both the Protestant and Catholic
communities who value each other as friends and fellow citizens, and to
whom religion takes a back seat.
Language
In common with the UK, people in Northern Ireland speak English (with a
distinctive, hard to mimic accent). There also exist the lesser-used languages
of Irish and Ulster Scots and many associated cultural activities.
Political devolution
Northern Ireland shares the Westminster government with the UK but has had
its own devolved Assembly, currently suspended, with local control over
various issues including education and arts. The population waits for local
politicians to come to agreement so that the Assembly can be reinstated as
independence from Westminster is valued.
Stereotypes
Stereotypical images of Northern Ireland often centre on its troubled and
violent past: bombs, shootings, brutality, along with the more positive: building
the Titanic, the Giants Causeway World Heritage Site, linen industry and musicians such as Van Morrison and Ash.
2.
Language, rugby and the millenium stadium
Living in Wales
Wales is a land of rugby, singing and beautiful scenery situated on the
western side of the UK. Its population is just under three million which is
about 5% of the total UK population. The main cities are Cardiff, the capital
city, Swansea and Newport.
Wales was ruled directly from London until 1999 when the first elections to
the Welsh National Assembly were held. The Assembly has some powers
specific to people in Wales and can make decisions on areas such as
education and health. Wales remains part of the UK and Members of
Parliament (MPs) from Welsh constituencies continue to have seats in the
UK Parliament at Westminster. Laws passed by Parliament in Westminster
still apply to Wales.
Language
The Welsh language is probably the most important thing that distinguishes
Wales from the rest of the UK. Welsh (or Cymraeg) is one of Europe’s oldest
languages and is spoken by one in five Welsh people. This number doubles
among children and teenagers which shows that the language is very much
alive among the young.
Road signs and other signs are in both English and Welsh. The language is
at its strongest along the Llyn Peninsula in North-West Wales, where 75 per
cent of the population speak Welsh. Towns, villages and cities in Wales often
have both a Welsh and an English name and Wales is home to one of the
longest place names in the world -
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch which means
St Mary's (Church) by the white aspen over the whirlpool, and St Tysilio's
(Church) by the red cave!
Sport and culture
Wales is also known for its ‘Eisteddfodau’ which are festivals celebrating
Welsh language, art, culture and heritage and which include an eclectic mix
of music, dance, drama, debate and cultural competitions. Most people know
of the annual National Eisteddfod which is held alternately in North and
South Wales and the International Eisteddfod which is held in Llangollen, but
there are Eisteddfodau of varying sizes held in towns and villages throughout
the land.
The national sport is very much rugby union and the national team are
sometimes known as the Dragons as a red dragon appears on the national
flag of Wales. The home ground is the Millennium Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff.
3.
Festivals, lochs, shopping and beaches
Living in Scotland
Where it is
Scotland is the UK’s most northern country and has around 790 islands off
its coasts – 130 of which have people living on them. Scotland is well known
for its stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches and lochs, which are fresh
water lakes. There are over 600 square miles of lochs in Scotland including
the most famous one, Loch Ness.
It has a population of just over five million people which is about 8.5 per cent
of the whole UK population. Over 2 million of these live in Glasgow and
Edinburgh, and almost half of Scotland's population live in the Central Belt,
where both the largest city (Glasgow) and the capital city (Edinburgh) are
located.
Festivals and music
Scotland also hosts one of the biggest arts festivals in the world. This is
commonly known as the Edinburgh Festival but is actually made up of a
number of different festivals which happen at different times of the year,
though many do take place in August and September. Many people have
heard of the Fringe Festival, but there are also the International Festival, the
Film Festival, the Children’s Festival and the Edinburgh Mela which is an
intercultural festival.
Musically it has recently produced bands Travis and Franz Ferdinand and
other famous Scots include Ewan McGregor, Sean Connery and JK Rowling.
Political devolution
In July 1999 the Scottish Parliament was opened, the first for over 300 years
as Scotland had been governed from London. Scottish Parliamentary
responsibilities include health, education and local government.
Stereotypes
Stereotypical images of Scotland often focus on things like tartan, kilts,
heather and haggis as well as the scenery. These are all still a part of the
country but contemporary Scotland is building a name for itself in other areas, such as its thriving computer games industry
4.
Diverse society, football and food
Where it is
England is perhaps the country most people first think of when they think of
the United Kingdom. It borders both Scotland and Wales and almost 50
million people live there, which is over 80% of the UK’s total population.
Major cities include London (the capital), Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds,
Newcastle, and Manchester. London is one of the most well-known cities in
the world and for many is representative of the whole of England, if not the
whole of the UK.
Other icons include football, actors Jude Law and Kate Winslet, Bridget
Jones, pubs and beer. But for most these represent the whole of the UK, not
just England.
Indistinct identity?
Many of the people in our survey, either English by birth or now living here,
commented that it was very difficult to distinguish between English and
British culture and identity. People found that they often identify more with
other things than with England as a country. These other things include: the
place or region in which they live, whether it be a major city or one of the
English counties such as Yorkshire, Devon or Northumberland; the UK as a whole; or the religious or ethnic community they are from.
Now some opinions about the UK :
Scotland: National icons
If you had to choose one thing to represent Scotland what would it be?
'It would be a white sandy beach on the North West coast of Scotland. I think
this area of Scotland is forgotten about and it’s beautiful.'
'Don’t think one thing or person could accurately represent the whole nation.
But if pushed, fish suppers.'
that shaped the industrial city of Glasgow came to and fro.'
'The scenery and the Lochs represent the natural beauty of Scotland.'
'The Firth of Clyde, where the lowland and the highlands meet and the ships.
Ireland :
What one thing represents Northern Ireland for you?
‘The Mountains of Mourne because
-immortalised in song
-wonderful natural recreational facility
-representative of the beautiful landscape and scenery across Northern
Ireland.’
‘I’m afraid it would probably be the good old Ulster Fry, plenty of potato bread
and soda bread dipped in egg. Yum. Why? Because it is perfect for that
other thing Northern Ireland is known for – curing the morning after the night
before.’
‘Going up Cavehill on a sunny day. You can see right across Belfast.
Cavehill is also special being the inspiration apparently for Gulliver’s Travels
as it looks like a giant lying down on the landscape sleeping.’
‘The cranes at Harland and Wolff. A distinct feature of Belfast which
encompasses not just the past but stability in the face of major difficulties.’
England: National icons
If you had to choose one thing to represent England what would it be?
'London – the Royal family and London (landmarks) remain the iconic image
for visitors.'
'Buckingham Palace.'
'London – our capital city and a great example of the old and the new
combining together to make a world class city.'
'Football.'
'St George’s cross – his flag is associated with the national football team.'
'Manchester. Birthplace of the computer, Industrial Revolution, Emmeline
Pankhurst. Local and friendly but quirky and full of the old Cromwell attitude
(go against them Royals, do your own thing). Music: The Smiths and
Morrissey, Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses. Exactly!'
'I think it would be the centre of Manchester. Within a few miles of the Town
Hall you have a microcosm of the entire country: Victorian industrialisation,
stunning countryside, thriving modern and traditional culture and leisure,
urban deprivation and cuisine from every continent. Oh, and pubs and
football clubs as well.'
'The album by One Giant Leap, as it says so much about who we are and
where we come from, with particular respect to our place in the world.'
'St George: What else is there that isn’t British?'
Wales: National icons
If you had to choose one thing to represent Wales what would it be?
It seems as if the Millennium Stadium is set to become Wales’ best known
landmark if the enthusiasm of the Welsh for the building is anything to go by!
‘Millennium Stadium – instantly recognisable as a Welsh landmark’'
'Millennium Stadium – a fantastic innovative stadium (the first in the UK with
a sliding roof) in the heart of the Welsh capital and where the religion of
rugby takes place'
Millenium Stadium - best stadium in the UK. Built at a fraction of the cost of
Wembley, has hosted key events of the other home nations, big concerts,
and symbolises successful regeneration.'
'The mountain of Snowdonia which reflects the strength of the Welsh nation
without being overpowering’
'Mountains- Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons'
What one thing represents Northern Ireland for you?
‘The Mountains of Mourne because
-immortalised in song
-wonderful natural recreational facility
-representative of the beautiful landscape and scenery across Northern
Ireland.’
‘I’m afraid it would probably be the good old Ulster Fry, plenty of potato bread
and soda bread dipped in egg. Yum. Why? Because it is perfect for that
other thing Northern Ireland is known for – curing the morning after the night
before.’
‘Going up Cavehill on a sunny day. You can see right across Belfast.
Cavehill is also special being the inspiration apparently for Gulliver’s Travels
as it looks like a giant lying down on the landscape sleeping.’
‘The cranes at Harland and Wolff. A distinct feature of Belfast which
encompasses not just the past but stability in the face of major difficulties.’
CULTURE OF ENGLAND :
If you’re asked about the culture of England what kinds of things do
you say?
England perhaps differs from the other countries of the UK in that it is much harder
to identify culture that is specifically English rather than British. This can be seen in
some of the responses given which range from Morris Dancing (distinctly English)
through to attitudes and activities that could relate to anywhere in the UK and
probably many other countries – for example a love of eating out but an over
reliance on junk food!
'Nostalgia, living in the past on previous successes, parochial.'
'Morris dancing, football, football hooligans, beer louts, pretty country.'
'Traditions, architecture, history, the Royal family, museums and galleries, sport,
pop music, fashion, the BBC.'
'Annual 2 week holidays, small homes with small gardens, love of pets, openness
and intimacy with partners…high percentage of single parent families. Families are
very child focussed and children are given rights which in other countries would be
accorded adults only.
Love of eating out, clubbing and boozing. Little interest in (learning) other world
languages but love of other cultures’ food. English people it seems don’t make for
very good cooks and eat junk food a lot…Being young is perhaps seen as more
desirable than being 35+. '
'Westminster, the English language, international power.'
'Very diverse in terms of values, living standards and interests…There is a wealth of
activities to keep us busy. Surprised and delighted that reading seems to be getting
a look in these days…We are more open to different culinary experiences and this
is a passive as well as an active interest – I love this. I feel that a lack of community
has led to massive interest in reality shows as we don’t often have local drama to
push our noses in. We love to see dysfunctional behaviour in others and act as
moralists. We are personality/celebrity obsessed and this brings out the judgmental
in us.'
'English culture is generally quite anti-establishment – there’s a big tradition in our
arts that attempts to question and challenge authority. Even in the language, there’s
a playful attitude – puns, irony, sarcasm. We like one thing to mean a lot. Musically,
it’s where a lot of innovation happens – new forms, experiments. Social life is
similar. There’s an attitude to drinking etc. that isn’t very healthy – going against
common sense – binge drinking and talking about binge drinking.'
'Culture is all pervasive and almost impossibly diverse in England. There are
thousands of forms of cultural pursuit, many of which we pursue to globally
recognised levels. For me, the most important elements are film and television,
music, sport and architecture.'
'Creative society, multi cultural with much new creativity stemming from the meeting
of different cultures, particularly in music, literature and enterprise.
Wales
If you're asked about the culture of Wales what kinds of things do you
say?
When we asked this we were immediately told about sport, music and food!
‘Sport (rugby), singing, pub culture’
‘Rugby (or rugbi in Welsh) is the national sport, passion and religion – games
against the English are particularly savoured! Music and song – both
popular, Stereophonics etc, and more classical, Bryn Terfyl and Katherine
Jenkins.’
‘Rugby mad people – the mood of the nation can depend on the Wales
team’s results. In recent years Wales has produced several good bands
(Manic Street preachers, Catatonia, Stereophonics) which has movedaway
from the stereoptypical Tom Jones label (although we still like Tom Jones).’
Friendly, welcoming people. Modern vibrant society yet still retaining much of
the Welsh tradition’
‘Food – lava bread (seaweed), welsh cakes, bara brith (tea Bread), welsh
lamb and beef. A very popular and trendy restaurant in Cardiff is the Armless
Dragon serving Welsh dishes)’
Scotland
you say?
Everyone who answered this question seemed enthusiastic about the
shopping opportunities to be had in Scotland two biggest cities - not to
mention the social life!
'It seems to have improved greatly in recent years within Scotland and also
how it is perceived by others. It is very varied with the main cities Glasgow
and Edinburgh becoming more attractive and welcoming with bars, café
culture… and club music scene. On the other hand the highlands and islands
have not changed greatly...'
'Scotland is a country which only has two really good cities for going out in
and shopping in my opinion! - Edinburgh and Glasgow. The shopping in
Glasgow is excellent and there are plenty of pubs and clubs to choose from.
Edinburgh is becoming a better shopping city with the likes of Harvey Nics
being added. Edinburgh has loads going on with music, film and literature,
especially when the festival is on.
I enjoy living in Scotland as it only takes half an hour to get to the country
from where I live. However, I do think that a lot of Scots are quite narrow
minded and are very much 'home birds'. Because the climate is quite
depressing, a lot of people live for the weekend and drink a lot - I think this is
significant throughout the UK though. On the whole, Scots are very friendly
and generous people.....it is a myth that we are scroungers.'
'I think big companies that used to only locate in London and the South are
also realising that Scotland is on a par with such areas now. Edinburgh has
Harvey Nichols and Glasgow is getting Selfridges!!!!!'
People also identified with creativity and the economy in how they saw the
culture of Scotland.
'I think Scotland is a leader in areas such as art and design. In Glasgow for
example the city is built around the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Also we have Glasgow School of Art, one of the best in the country. There is
also the scenery that surrounds Scotland, Loch Lomand only about 30
minutes from Glasgow…. I feel these enrich the country and by seeing
places such as Edinburgh and Stirling Castle and finding out the history of
Scotland makes me feel proud to be Scottish!!!! We are great sport fans
especially rugby! The Scottish people are friendly and generally quite happy
despite all the rain!!
'Trying hard to appear international and outward looking, but attitudes are still
very parochial. Job market is stale and extremely hard to break into… few
creative opportunities outside financial services and IT.'
'I think it’s important for a country with a cultural identity to look outward to
other nations with confidence – as they say, Scotland’s best export is its
people!'
NOW QUESTIONS :
1. Which UK country has bilingual road signs?
2. What is the name of the architect who designed many famous
buildings in Glasgow?
3. In which UK country is there a town with one of the longest place
names in the world?
4. What English national icons in Manchester are mentioned?
5. What is ‘great craic’?
6. Which sport is very important in Welsh culture?
7. Which UK country has about 790 islands off its coast?
8. Which UK country has a border with another European country?
9. Who is the patron Saint of England?
10. What national icons of Scotland are mentioned?
11. What are Eisteddfodau?
12. Where are Van Morrison and the band Ash from?
13. What is Wales’ most famous building?
14. Which UK country has the least distinct cultural identity?
15. Where does one of the world’s biggest arts festivals take place?
16. In which UK country are the Mountains of Mourne?
Find words or phrases which go with the
following definitions (the words appear in the text in the same order as
the definitions):
About England
Paragraph 3
1) someone who is very famous and people think represents a particular
idea
Paragraph 4
2) difficult to define or see clearly
3) a set of questions that you ask a large number of people
About Northern Ireland
Paragraph 2
4) a way of thinking about things
5) to deliberately avoid a person, place or activity
Paragraph 4
6) to form two very different groups that are completely opposite to each
other
7) a generalization, not based on specific facts and maybe not completely
correct (2 words)
About Scotland
Paragraph 1
8) very impressive or beautiful
Paragraph 3
9) to arrange a special event and provide the buildings and services
needed
Paragraph 6
10) very successful
About Wales
Paragraph 3
11) to be a characteristic that makes something clearly different from other
similar things
Paragraph 6
12) the place where a sports team is based and plays most of its games
following sentences
1. London ____________ the 2012 Olympic Games.
2. Madonna has been a pop ___________ since the 1980s.
3. Britain was divided on the Iraq war. Opinions were completely
____________.
4. Manchester United’s ____________ is the Old Trafford stadium, just 3
kilometres from the centre of Manchester.
5. Some people think that British people are cold and unfriendly, but it’s a
very ____________. Actually, the people I’ve met have been very nice.
6. I argued with my brother and he hasn’t called me since. I think he
____________ me.
7. Internet businesses had some problems in the 1990s, but now sites like
EBay, Amazon and Yahoo! are ____________ again.
8. People questioned in a recent ____________ said that they spent on
average 3 hours a day watching TV.
9. This website ____________ from other similar sites by the quantity of upto-
date information it contains.
10. I think that people from the capital city have very different ideas from
people who live in the countryside. It’s a completely different
____________.
11. From our hotel window, you can see the mountains and the sea. It’s a
____________ view.
12. The town centre has all the usual shops. There’s nothing different or
original. Really, it’s ____________ from any other British town.
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