GREAT BRITAIN

SOCIETYLIFESTYLE

Sports, Food, Culture,Free time

British society

• Listen to the text in the blue textbook („Tune in section“)

What classes are there in the British society?………………………………………………………………………………………………How can you tell them apart?Is there anything like that in the Czech Republic?

What are the British like?• HOW TO COMPLAIN IN BRITISH ENGLISHAmericans Barbara Dillon and her boyfriend RJ are having dinner in an outdoor restaurant on Fiji with a British couple,

Nigel and Millicent, met while traveling.Soon after their meals arrive, all four of them agree that the food is not very good.Barbara says, “Do you think maybe we should say something to the waiter? What would you say in England?”Millicent says, “Oh, in England we’re too polite. We never complain in a restaurant.”Nigel says, “Oh no, never ever.”RJ says, “Why not? In America if the food is bad, it’s OK to say so. The restaurant should be told --so they can improve.

It’s just feedback on the food.”Millicent says, “Nigel, maybe we should be a little more like the Americans. Maybe we should start to complain a little.”Nigel says, “I think you’re right -- we really should voice our complaints.”Just then the waiter comes back to their table, behind the British couple.“How is everything?”Taken by surprise, instantly and instinctively the British couple both answer in unison: “Oh, fine!”EXPLAIN THE POINT OF THE STORY, IF YOU DIDNT GET IT? WHAT ABOUT THIS?

• ------------

“Excuse me, Sir, I am terribly sorry to bother you but I wonder if you would mind helping me a moment, as

long as it is not trouble, of course“

What features of character are you able to identify?

• Humour and understatement• Humour is the cornerstone of the British society. It is used in numerous

ways: to establish a positive atmosphere, to create a sense of togetherness, to bridge differences, to introduce risky ideas, to criticise, to show appreciation or contempt of a person. British people joke about everything including the queen, politicians, religion, themselves and you! You'd better get used to that. Humour is often combined with understatement.

• Indirect communication• In contrast to for instance Americans, Germans and Dutch, British people

have a quite indirect communication style. They will not usually "tell you just the way it is to get things in the open." You will have to read between the lines to understand what they really mean. This can be very frustrating if you come from a culture, which has the motto "if you don't like it/me, why don't you just say so.“

Polite & "quiet“British are very polite. In a restaurant, you will have to say thank you when

you get the menu, thank you when you place the order, thank you when get your dishes, thank you when the waiter takes away the plates and even

thank you when you pay! You'll have to say "excuse me" if you want to pass someone and "I'm sorry" if you accidentally touch someone. British people

even say sorry if you stand on their toes! They are also very "quiet" and keep to themselves. This can be hard if you want to make friends with them.

• ………………………………………………………………………

• Listen to this:• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymCTOsk

45fE

British symbolsdouble-decker, cab, tea, queen/royal family, phone box, letter box, bobby,

pound, Tower bridge, flag, taps

BRITISH FOOD

• What reputation does the Br. Food has/had?• What is it like today?• What is English breakfast?• What is the main meal of the day?• Have you ever tried any Br. dish?• What is „ tea“?• What is the most typical Br. Dish nowadays?In your magazines: typical British food

British FOOD• Yorkshire Pudding• This dish is not usually eaten as a dessert like other puddings but instead as part of the main course

or at a starter.• Yorkshire pudding, made from flour, eggs and milk, is a sort of batter baked in the oven and usually

moistened with gravy.

• The traditional way to eat a Yorkshire pudding is to have a large, flat one filled with gravy and vegetables as a starter of the meal. Then when the meal is over, any unused puddings should be served with jam or ice-cream as a dessert.text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain.com

• Recipe• Toad-in-the-Hole (sausages covered in batter and roasted.)• Similar to Yorkshire Pudding but with sausages placed in the batter before cooking. (See photo

right) text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain.com• Recipe• Roast Meats ( cooked in the oven for about two hours)• Typical meats for roasting are joints of beef, pork, lamb or a whole chicken. More rarely duck,

goose, gammon, turkey or game are eaten.• Beef is eaten with hot white horseradish sauce, pork with sweet apple sauce and lamb with green

mint sauce.•

Shepherds' PieMade with minced lamb and vegetables topped with mashed potato)Cottage Pie (pictured right)Made with minced beef and vegetables topped with mashed potato. (Pictured right) Gammon Steak with egg (Gammon is ham)Lancashire Hotpot text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain.comA casserole of meat and vegetables topped with sliced potatoes.

Steak and Kidney Pie with chips and salad

Black Pudding Bangers and mash – sausage and

potato mash

Cornish Pastie with chips, baked beans and salad

Young people in Britain, SPORTS

• http://www.elllo.org/months/england.htm

• Several young people talking

• Which BRITISH SPORTS do you know?

??????

TRADITION

• “Fog over English Channel – continent cut off!“

• Tradition must be kept!!!!

• What are things that are traditonal though a bit strange/ different/ unreasonable?

• Royal family