British English and American English Module 1 British English and American English

Reading and vocabulary Period 1 Introduction Reading and vocabulary

Lead-in: How much do you know about the American and British English? Are they exactly the same? 2. Among the words you have learnt , canyou list any words that belong to Am.E or Br.E?

Sample Answers: American English: British English: centre center metre meter programme program

quotations A We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except of course, language. ---Oscar Wilde, 19th century writer

B Within a century British and American English speakers will not be able to understand each other. ---Henry Sweet, 19th century linguist

C America and England are two countries divided by a common language. --George Bernard Shaw, 20th century writer

D It doesn’t make much of a difference whether a teacher speaks British or American English. --Dave Sperling, founder of Dave’s ESL Cafe

Answer the questions: What is the topic of the quotations? 2. Which is the most optimistic? 3. Which is the most pessimistic? 4. Which (if any) do you think are funny? 5 Which is good news for students of English? 6. Can you guess which quotations are from British people? The difference between British and American English D B D Oscar Wilde; Henry Sweet

American English The second writer is American. some of the reasons we know are: British English American English Mum Mom programme program theatre theater realise realize write to me write me

Reading

Fast reading Read the titles and the first sentences of each paragraph and find four ways in which British and American English are different. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 vocabulary spelling pronunciation grammar

Careful reading

Careful reading: (Para.1-2) British English American English cars freeway gas underground taxi torch stand in line chips automobiles motorway petrol subway cab flashlight queue up French fries

Para. 3 : the differences in grammar British English American English Have you got…? My friend just arrived. in the team/ at the weekend write me soon! Do you have…? My friend has just arrived on the team/ weekend Write to me soon!

Spelling and pronunciation Para. 4 _______________________ American English British English center centre color colour program programme

True or false? 1.There’re a lot of difference in grammar between British and American English. 2. Spelling is the first and most obvious difference between the two. 3. British people say ”write me” and ”on the team”. 4. There’s not much variation in language within the country. 5. Television and Internet have made it easier for the British and Americans to understand each other. 6. In the future, there’ll be only one kind of English. F F F F T F

There are ______ differences between American and British varieties of English. A. no B. a few C. lots of Americans ____ understand what the British are saying. A. Sometimes B. usually C. never There are ______ differences between British and American grammar. A. no B. many C. not many B B C Practice:

B B B 4. American spelling is _______ British spelling. A. the same as B. simpler than C. harder than For a Londoner, an American accent may be easier to understand than _______. A. a Chinese accent B. some British accents C. a CNN newsreader Television and the Internet have made it _____ for the British and Americans to understand each other. A. harder B. easier C. impossible B B B

Answers to activity 4: 1.Words British people don’t use: automobiles freeways gas subway cab flashlight

Answers to activity 4: 2.Words Americans don’t use: 3.An American expression which British people don’t use motorway cars underground petrol torch taxi Stand in line

Answers to activity 4: 4. A word which has a different meaning on the other side of the Atlantic : 5.A difference in grammar: chips Have you got Do you have Have just arrived Just arrived

Answers to activity 4: 6.A difference in spelling: centre center color colour programme program

Match the British and American words and phrases in the box. flat autumn lift ground floor torch rubbish petrol holiday queue up lorry pavement apartment fall elevator first floor flashlight garbage gas vacation stand in line truck sidewalk

Rewrite the sentences using British words. 1. We really like going on vacation in the fall. We really like going on holiday in the autumn. 2. You don’t need to take the elevator. Our apartment is on the first floor. You don’t need to use the lift. Our flat is on the ground floor. 3. Did you see that truck come out of the gas station? Did you see that lorry come out of the petrol station? 4. Pass me a flashlight, Eddie. I’ve lost my wallet. Pass me a torch, Eddie. I’ve lost my wallet.