Ex. 2. Learn some English customs. Find out how they expect people to behave in England. Then work in pairs and describe “Dos and Don’ts” of the customs in your country.

 

Dos in England

1. Do stand in line. In England people like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for their turn e.g. boarding a bus. “Queue jumping” is frowned upon.

2. Do say, “Excuse Me”. If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move say excuse me and they will move out of your way.

3. Do pay as you Go. Pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.

4. Do say, “Please” and “Thank you”. It is very good manners to say “please” and “thank-you”. It is considered rude if you don’t.

5. Do cover your Mouth. When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.

6. Do shake Hands. When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand.

7. Do smile. A smiling face is a welcoming face.

8. Do drive on the left side of the road.

 

Don’ts in England

1. Do not greet people with a kiss. They only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.

2. Do not stare at anyone in public. Privacy is highly regarded.

3. Do not pick your nose in public. They are disgusted by this.

4. Do not do gestures such as backslapping and hugging.

5. Do not pass wind in public. Through any bodily orifice!

6. Do not speak with your mouth full of food.

7. Do not ask personal or intimate questions. They like their privacy.

8. Please do not ask questions such as “How much money do you earn?” “How much do you weigh?” or “Why aren’t you married?”

9. Do not eat off a knife when having a meal.

 

In England...

· It is OK for women to eat alone in a restaurant.

· It is OK for women to wander around by themselves.

· It is OK for women to drink beer.

· It is OK to blow your nose in to a tissue in public.

 

Ex. 3. Imagine that Great Britain and Russia have united. Give a brief portrait of this hypothetical country: its language, habits, traditions, holidays. By the way, what do you think the name of this country will be?

 

Sample portrait:

1. I can’t imagine Great Britain and Russia have united, as there are a lot of problems for it, but I’ll try. First, we should omit some countries between Russia and Great Britain to unite them. It will change a lot of Russi-an and English traditions, but most of the habits, holidays will be united.

2. There are a lot of English traditions, which Russia hasn’t got and on the contrary. London has preserved its old ceremonies and traditions to a greater extent than any other city in England. Most of these traditions have been kept without interruption since the thirteenth century.

3. There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Bank Holiday and Summer Bank Holiday. Public holidays in Great Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.

4. I think that the language will be English, because it’s one of the principal languages in the world.

5. What’s with the name? I haven’t got a great imagination to devise any original name to such a country, but I think it can be called “The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Eastern Russia”.

 

Ex. 4. Make up the dialogues on the following situations.

 

1. You married an American. Unfortunately you don’t like living in one of the provincial towns in America. You don’t work, have nobody to communicate with. Your husband doesn’t like the Russian cuisine (кухня), and you hate American fast food. Complain of this to your sister who has come to meet you.

2. Two men are discussing the problem of what nationality a wife should be.

3. You are a reporter. Interview a famous Russian writer who immigrated some years ago to Germany. Ask him about the reasons for his departure from Russia and for his choice of the country.

4. You are a leader of a TV programme “Traveller’s Club”. You are being interviewed by a reporter. Put your finger on the points:

· how many countries have you been to;

· do any “national stereotypes” exist;

· what country would you like to live in and why?

 

Ex. 5. Points to ponder:

1. People shouldn’t marry outside their nation. 2. International marriages should be discouraged. 3. Are we a chauvinistic nation? 4. There is no national stereotype.