*What does "attitudes" means?

-Viewpoint, ideas, thinking about someone or something.

-The attitudes of British people = the ideas of British people towards everyday life.

"It is best to be cautious about accepting such characterizations too easily."

Stereotypes and change:

A. A land of tradition:

1. Red bus: London's famous red buses were privatized.

2. Political continuity: head of the country is Queen Elizabeth II but she did not take oart in the politic.

3. Attendant ceremonies:

-The annual ceremony of the state opening of Parliament.

-"Trooping the color". – the changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace never changes.
4. Queueing: British do form queue when they waiting for something but this does not mean they enjoy doing it.

B. A land of changes:

1. Fewer local parades.

2. Fewer sayings or proverbs:

The English language has fewer sayings or proverbs in common everyday use than many other languages.

3. Wearing a bowler hat:

-The stereotyped image of the London "city gent" includes the wearing of a bowler hat.

→This type of hat has not been commonly worn for a long time.

4. Food and drinks:

-The traditional "British" breakfast is a large "fry-up".

-In fact, very few people in Britain actually have this sort of breakfast. Most just have the cereal, tea and toast or even less.

English versus British:

-People are confused with the words British and English.

-British= English, Scottish, Northern Irish, Welsh.

-People in the country are very similar but not identical.
- anti-interllectualism: people who do not value education.
- intellectualism: people place a high value on education.
-English do not values but three others do.a

-The British like to remember the old safer time.

A multicultural society:

- Immigrants: Asians ( Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistanis,...), Europeans, Africans.

- Own language, typical clothes, shops, customs.

- 13% of the population.

- These foreign cultures influence British culture.

Conservatism
- Monarchy, political system.
- Symbols of traditional:
+ 'traditianoal family values': man and woman get married legally. Parents as the main source of authority for children.
+ work longer hours than 50 years before.
+have general attachment to older, supposedly safer time.
+Christmas card (century old pictures)
+ like their pubs to look old.
- house: like live in the old house, build the house outward rather than upward.
- British currency.

Being Different:

Proud of being different:

-Driving on the left side.

-Double-decker bus.

-Hackney carriage– cab. Asquith taxi.

-System of measurement.

• System of measurement:

+length (inch, finger, hand, yard)

+volume (gallon, cup, pint)

+weight (ounce, pound, grain, stone)

+temperature (Fahrenheit)

• Other information:

+government tried to change this measurement.

+financial year starts in April.

+they don't want to give up their currency (pound sterling)>

Love of nature and animals:

-Life in towns and cities.

-Nature (peace, no crime, beauty).

-Hostels.

-Most favorite hobby is gardening.

-"Lost without their dog".

-Animals are taken seriously.

-Wildlife programmer in TV.

Formality and informality:

-Don't be bothered with titles (Mr, Mrs).

-Don't shake hand when meeting, no convention to kiss.

-Request without the "magic words".

-Washing up the dishes at a friend's house.

-The charity works for people in need.

Privacy and sex:

-It's considered very rude to ask people about their privacy even though you know them very well.

-Modern people are very open Ûembarrassment.

-Politicians prefer traditional family values Ûpeople have different opinions.

EXERCISE:

I. Correct order:

But the fact that the British value tradition does not mean that they practice it. Most people, for example, think fondly of the traditional "British Breakfast", but they hardly ever eat it. The second reason concerns the confusion between Britain and England. Of course, English culture dominates Britain. Nevertheless, there is some reason concerns the confusion between Britain and England that are largely confined to English. Anti-intellectualism is an example. Finally, it should be remembered that Britain is a multicultural society where some ethnic group hold attitudes which diverge considerably from the mainstream.

II. Word or Phrase:

1. the black and white stripes across the road for pedestrians: zebra crossings

2. a feature of law which means that it can be (not exactly broken out but flouted): loophole

3. small plots of land rented by local governments on which people grow plants: Allotments

4. an event at which second-hand items are sold: Jumble Sale

5. the habit of controlling the expression of emotions, especially sad ones (supposedly typically British): stiff upper lip

III. Matching:

1. an organization of people who like walking in the countryside: The Rambler's Association

2. an organization of people to fight local crime: The National Trust

3. an organization which helps to preserve the countryside: Neighborhood Watch

4. an organization which looks after the wellbeing of animals: RSPCA

5. security cameras in public places: CCTV

III. Extension:

Every year, tens of thousands of people apply for British citizenship. However, concerned that citizenship was being treated too lightly, the British government as introduced a number of changes in the last decade or so. One is that you have to sit a test of the English language. Another is that, instead of getting it through the post, you now receive your citizenship at a semi-public ceremony. And since 2005, applicants have had an extra hurdle to jump. They have to pass a test about life in Britain. The test is based on an official book called Life in the UK and the pass mark is 75%. It's a tough test. Before its launch, it was revealed that most groups of born-and-bred British citizens, including teachers, were unable to achieve the pass mark. It response to complaints about this, the government said it's a test of knowledge of the set book. At least this last requirement ensuring that all new British citizens are capable of cramming for exams! Perhaps it's a sneaky way of raising standards of exam performance in the country!

23. Holidays and Special Occasions

Typical British Holidays:

In the past

Now

-Seaside holiday

-Caravan and camping holiday

-Package holidays.

-Activity holidays.

-Working holidays.

-Hiking holidays.

-Cheap long – haul flights.

-Exotic destinations.

Seaside holiday:

-The social class: The upper class started the fashion for seaside holidays in 18thcentury →middle-class →working class (20thcentury).

-The accommodation:

+Hotels, resorts for rich people.

+Boarding houses for average income/low-income people.

§ B&B (Bed and Breakfast).

§ Full boarding houses ( bed + 3 meals).

-The activities:

+day time:

§ Adults (sit in deck, chairs, go for a paddle with their skirts or trouser – legs hitched up. They do not bother to go swimming. Some adults who swim can change into swimming costumes in beach huts/ bathing huts/ beach cabins).

§ Children: go for donkey rides, make sandcastles, buy ice – creams, swim in the sea.

+night time: people situated on the pier.

Holiday camp:

-Visitors stay in chalets in self – contained villages with all food and entertainment organized for them.

-Event: "knobbly knees"

Caravan holiday:

A caravan is a vehicle without an engine that can be pulled by a car or van. It contains beds and cooking equipment so that people can live or spend their holiday in it.

Package holiday: flights and accommodation are paid through a travel agent.

Hiking: in the country and sleeping at youth hostels.

Activities holiday

Working holiday:

-It does not mean people go to work. They help to repair an ancient stone wall.

-Take part in an archaeological dig.

-Pick up fruit.

Christmas:

-At family level, family reunion.

-The commercialization of Christmas (selling, buying and trading).

24thof December: Christmas Eve.

25thof December: Christmas Day.

26thof December: Boxing Day.

Christmas in Britain: from 24th December to New Year →present gifts on 23rd December.

+Every November in Oxford Street a famous personality ceremoniously switches on the Christmas light's (decorations) officially marking the start of the period of frantic Christmas shopping.

+Buying: presents for Christmas.

+Christmas cards: most shops do nearly half of their total business for the year.

-Christmas decorations:

+Christmas trees.

+Christmas cards.

+Holly and mistletoe plants.

+Christmas lights.

+A "crib".

-Christmas activities: 6 typical activities

+The singing of carols.

+Going to church.

+Gifts given by Santa Clause or Christmas father.

+Christmas dinner / eating.

New Year:

-Time for friends.

-People eat and drink a lot of alcohol.

-Traditional celebration at Trafalgar Square.

-Singing the song Auld Land Syne.

-"First Footing".