1. The Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries
Chapter 1 General Introduction

2. Function of the course Background information for English study
Cultural knowledge of TEM examinations
Basic understanding of the differences of Chinese and western culture
Preliminary understanding of the word “culture” (civilization)

3. Culture
Definition
Sir Edward Tylor (19th century British anthropologist)
“Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.”
“the way people live”

5. Broad ranges of culture
arts
technology
customs
beliefs
values
patterns of communication …

6. Requirements of the course
What?
When?
Where?
Who?
How?
Why?

7. Example: some cultural symbols
Briton
Union Jack
Easter Friday
Bank Holiday
Uncle Sam GI

8. How to present the class?
Textbook
Preview and review
Powerpoint presentation and video clips
Outlining
Questions and answers
Student participation
Quizzes and tests

9. How are you assessed? Attendance Homework Class participation
Quiz and test score
Final exam

10. A Brief Introduction to UK

11. How shall we refer to that country?
What do you know about Britain or British people?
How much is Britain different from China?

14. Influences from its imperial past
the Commonwealth
G-8
Ethnic composition of British people
A complex country with a complex name

15. Four constituent parts (countries) of the UK
Racial difference
Religious difference
Gender difference
Class difference
Regional difference
Economic difference
Importance of London

16. Geography of the UK 1. Location 2. Terrain 3. Division
4. Important cities

17. London

18. Glasgow

19. Liverpool

20. 5. Area
Total area
Length from north to south
Width from west to east

21. 6. Population
Total amount
Composition
Identity

22. An isolated country or an integrating nation?
---- The relationship with the continent of Europe

23. 1. European Union’s membership
Attitudes of British people toward new systems in the continent of Europe
Pound & Euro
Blair’s policy (Labor Party)
Disadvantages of adopting Euro

24. Euro
GBP (British Pound Sterling)

26. 2. Sources of British attitudes
Particular geographical location
“John Bull”
Consciousness of isolation from the continent

27. III. History of invasion
- 1st AD Celtic
43AD – 5th Century Roman invasion
5th Century – 8th Century
Jutes and Anglos from now Denmark
Saxons from Germany

28. Roman invasions (1st-5th centuries AD)

29. Roman Walls in York, England

30. King Arthur

31. 8th Century Scandinavian Vikings
Differences between the north and the south in England

32. Normans invasion
William Normandy
Changes in British society
a. Aristocracy
b. Religion
c. Art
d. Language
e. administration
f. Defense

33. Tower of London

35. Scotland & Wales

36. Scotland

41. I. Geographic features Ruggedness Southern uplands
Northern West Highlands

42. Scottish Highlands
More than half of the surface of Scotland is occupied by the Scottish Highlands, the most rugged region in Great Britain. They consist of parallel mountain chains with a general northeast-to-southwest trend, broken by deep ravines and valleys.

43. Location of important cities
Glasgow
Edinburgh

47. Advantages that ruggedness has brought to Scotland
not too long-time invasion by Roman invaders
Hadrian’s Wall
independent spirit/identity

49. II. Special features of Scots
Highlanders
National dress: kilt
Symbols of famous Scottish names

51. Distribution of population
Highlanders
Fishermen
Lowlanders

53. Characteristics of Scots
inventive
serious minded
hard working
cautious with money
brave

59. Nicknames in the war
bagpipes
“devils in skirts”
“ladies from hell”

60. III. History 6th AD Division between highland & lowland: British Celts
Northern Irish
Picts (original Celts)

61. 9th AD
Scottish people unified to fight against Anglo-Saxon England
Macbeth
Heroes against England in 13th & 14th c.
William Wallace
Robert the Bruce

63. Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, who ascended to the throne scarcely a week after her birth, grew to be a Catholic monarch in a Protestant land. In 1565 she married the Scottish Catholic lord Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, father of the future James I of England. After his death, she married James Hepburn, 4th earl of Bothwell, but the resulting fury of the Scots nobles forced her to abdicate and escape to England. Kept as a virtual prisoner by Elizabeth I of England, she joined Catholic plots to topple her fellow queen, and in 1587 Elizabeth reluctantly agreed to her execution.

64. Union with England
James I of England
participation into the Union
Rebels and Battle of Culloden

65. The dream of independence
Scottish seats in British (English) Parliament
Scottish National Party
1960s
1979
1997 General Election
1999 Reopen of Scottish Parliament

66. Scottish Parliament

67. Wales

72. I. Geographical features
Capital: Cardiff
Coal center

73. Cardiff

74. Big Pit Mining Museum, Blaenafon
Coal mining was once the main industry of the Rhondda Valley and the surrounding area. The Big Pit ("Pwll Mawr") colliery ceased production in 1980 but its buildings and machinery were preserved and converted into a museum of mining. Visitors descend into the mine via the 90-m (300-ft) lift shaft to walk through underground roadways, air doors, stables (for pit ponies), and engine houses constructed by past generations of miners.

75. II. History Celtic people Roman invasion Celtic land again
Norman authority

76. Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
Prince of Wales

78. Edward I

79. Prince of Wales
Caernarfon Castle

86. 15th century Owain Glyndwr

87. the 1536 Act of Union
Union with U.K.

88. Struggles for home rule in 19th & 20th c.
“Plaid Cymru”—The Party of Wales
Limited home rule under the Labor government
July 1999, National Assembly of Wales opened.

91. III. Population Celtic people with immigrants from other parts
Strong Celtic culture
1. Northerners— livestock herding
2. Southerners—industry
Language: Welsh & English
Individual identity

92. IV. Conventions & Traditions
Love of music and poetry
“National Eisteddfod”
Choral singing as a national art
Rugby, football