PROJECT: GREAT BRITAIN

GROUP 1: THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD

(Books: The English-Speaking World. What’s It Like? Life and Culture in Britain Today. The World of English)

The English-Speaking World

  1. Where is English the official language?
  2. Why are there so many different Englishes?
  3. How many accents are described in the text?
  4. Read about the history of the English language and make a short summary of it.
  5. Compare British English with American English (difference in spelling or vocabulary. Give ten examples).

The United Kingdom

  1. What does the British Isles mean?
  2. What does the UK mean?
  3. How many countries are part of the UK?
  4. Name the capitals of each country in the UK.
  5. What does Great Britain mean?
  6. What is the Union Jack?
  7. What is the Commonwealth?

GROUP 2: COUNTRIES

(Books: The English Speaking World. What’s It like? Life and Culture in Britain Today. The World of English)

England

  1. You are a tourist guide trying to convince a group of tourists from Argentina to visit certain places in England. Give brief information about the following places and the reasons why they should visit them. The places are: Stonehenge, Chester, Oxford, Cambridge, York and the Lake District.
  2. Prepare a brochure with the information above and some pictures.

Scotland

  1. Name the natural regions found in Scotland.
  2. Describe Scotland’s landscape.
  3. Which is the industrial capital of this country?
  4. Name typical objects of Scotland and define them.
  5. What is Nessie like? Where does it live?
  6. Why is it called like that?
  7. When was it seen for the first time? Who saw it?

Wales

  1. What are the main economic resources in the country?
  2. What do members of the Welsh National Party want?
  3. How many official languages are there in Wales? Give examples of bilingualism.
  4. Do people speak Welsh everyday?
  5. why is Dylan Thomas famous?

Northern Ireland

  1. What’s the other name given to NI?
  2. How is the population divided?
  3. What happened in 1922?
  4. What consequences arouse from the discrimination suffered by Catholics?
  5. What are the IRA and Sinn Fein?
  6. Has the conflict been solved? Why?

GROUP 3: BRITISH INSTITUTIONS

(Books: The English-Speaking World. Focus on Britain Today. The World of English)

  1. How many parts make up the Parliament?
  2. Why is the UK a constitutional monarchy?
  3. Which are the roles of the monarch of England?
  4. Who is the current monarch? How long has this person been in this position?

The House of Lords

  1. How many members does it have?
  2. How powerful are they?
  3. What’s people’s opinion related to the members of the House of Lords? Why?

The House of Commons

  1. Explain the process to become an MP.
  2. Why is it important which party wins most of the seats?

The Parliamentary System

  1. Who has a right to vote?
  2. What does simply majority mean?

The Political Parties

  1. How many political parties are there in the UK?
  2. Briefly explain who are the main supporters of these parties.

The Prime Minister

  1. What are his/her main functions?
  2. What is the role of the Cabinet?

GROUP 4: EDUCATION

(Books: Focus on Britain Today)

  1. Which two systems of education are available in Britain?
  2. Explain the differences between them.
  3. At what age do students start school?
  4. At what age can children leave school?
  5. What is the ‘GCSE’?
  6. What must students do to enter a university?
  7. What technology do schools have?
  8. What educational activities can students do outside the classroom?
  9. How do students get work experience when they are finishing school?
  10. Talk about British Universities.
  1. What subjects are studied in a London comprehensive school?
  2. What extracurricular activities do students have in British schools?
  3. Are similar activities organised by schools in your country?
  4. Talk about school discipline in Britain.
  5. Read the Fact-File on British schools (page 97). Find similarities and differences with schools in your country.

(Book: What’s it like?)

  1. How does the National Curriculum work?
  2. Look at the flow chart showing the possibilities for young people in Britain from age 16. Make a simple chart and explain it to your classmates.

GROUP 5: FAMILY LIFE, LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS

SPORTS

(Books: The English Speaking World. What’s it like? Life and Culture in Britain Today)

  1. Which are the most popular sports there?
  2. Describe each sport and mention either the most important teams of the most important sportspeople for each.

(Book: Spotlight on Britain, Unit 11)

  1. Why is sport popular at school?

THE ROYAL FAMILY TODAY

  1. Who are they?
  2. Where do they live?
  3. What do they do?

GROUP 6: CELEBRATIONS AND FOOD

(Books: Spotlight on Britain. The World of English.)

Celebrations

  1. Describe the following celebrations: New Year’s Eve / Christmas / St. Valentine’s Day / Pancake day / 1st May / Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night. Mention the traditional food associated to them whenever possible.

Food

(Books: The English Speaking World. Focus on Britain Today. The World of English. What’s it like?)

  1. Why is a ‘sandwich’ called like that?
  2. Name 5 eating and drinking habits.
  3. Describe the different meals people normally have in Britain.
  4. Describe the changes that have been taking place in the eating habits of British people.
  5. What kinds of food do British students eat at school?
  6. Describe the pub culture in Britain.

GROUP 7: YOUNG PEOPLE IN BRITAIN

(Books: Focus on Britain Today, Unit 10)

  1. Why were there so many young people in Britain in 1955
  2. Which country influenced young Britons the most in the 1950s?
  3. Why did young people have more ‘spending power’ in the 1950s and 60s in Britain?
  4. Which industries benefited from the birth of the teenager? Why?
  5. Why were the Beatles so important at that time?
  6. Describe the spending habits of teenagers in Britain.
  7. What is ‘Top of the Pops’?

(Spotlight on Britain, Unit 11)

  1. Describe the characteristics of : the Teddy Boys / the Mods / the Rockers / the Hippies / the Skinheads / the Punks / New Wave / the Bikers and the Hip Hop

GROUP 8: A LOOK AT LITERATURE

(Books: The English Speaking World. The World of English)

  1. Talk about William Shakespeare (his biography).
  2. Mention 3 of his most well-known plays.
  3. What is the plot and the main characters in each of them?

Bibliography:

Caimi, Enrica (ed) (2000). The English Speaking World. Milan: La Spiga Languages.

Collie, Joanne & Martin, A. (2000). What’s It Like? Life and Culture in Britain Today. Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press.

Farrel, M. et al (1995). Focus on Britain Today. England: Pearson-Phoenix.

Sheerin, S. et al (1997). Spotlight on Britain. Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press.

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