5 Flashcards
outline of the topic
- intro
- Historical spread of Englih
- Geograph., hcal, cultural framwe….
- UK
- USA
- OTHER
- Didactic Application
intro del topic
Language learning was once considered nothing more than a hobby, but in a globalized society, communication between people of different languages has become a crucial issue. In this sense, the knowledge of the English language has become a necessity, as it is considered a lingua franca. Therefore, if we want our pupils to be communicative competent in English we must foment an understanding of the cultural, historical and geographical context in which that language is used.
As Robert Friedman states, “The more familiar one is with a language, the easier it is to understand the cultural context”. Therefore, as English teachers, we need to transmit a positive attitude towards other cultures, promoting in this light tolerance and open-mindedness.
HISTORY AND SPREAD OF ENGLISH
The English language began its existence with the arrival of the Angles and the Saxons in the British Isles during the 5th century. These tribes came across the North Sea and pushed the native Celtics to the north and west. An evolved form of the native Celtic language still survives in Scotland, Wales and Ireland (Gaelic and Welsh).
The Norman Conquest in 1066 by William the Conqueror had a profound influence on the language. The Normans spoke a Romance language, which in the next 300 years would mix with the old Anglo-Saxon creating the hybrid language we know today as English.
Regarding the spread of the English in the world, we have to take into account three main factors. On the one hand, the colonization of North America in the 17th century, which resulted in the creation of a variety of English. Some English pronunciations froze when they reached America. In fact, American English is more like the English of Shakespeare.
On the other hand, we have to consider the creation of the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century. By the end of Victoria’s reign, this empire extended over about one-fifth of the earth’s surface, where they impose their language.
Finally, the emergence of the USA as a global superpower in the 20th century, due to their dominance on trade and technology.
All of these factors justify the English hegemony as a language
Intro:GEOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL FRAMEWORK OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
English is spoken in more than sixty countries in the world as either official or co-official language. Although is the third language in number of speakers (after Chinese and Spanish), its hegemony is unquestionable as it is considered the world’s lingua franca, the language of science, technology, business and tourism. Due to time restrictions, we will mainly focus on the United Kingdom and the United States.
UK: geography
The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Located in the western end of Europe is approximately half the size of Spain. The total population is approximately sixty million inhabitants. Its capital is London and the currency is the pound sterling.
UK: political framework
The UK is a constitutional monarchy in which Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Church. The Parliament is the legislative power composed of two Houses: The House of the Commons and the House of Lords. There are two major parties, The Conservative Party (known as Tories) and the Labour Party (Whigs). The current Prime Minister is Theresa May from the Conservative Party.
Nowadays, UK political framework has changed after the Brexit referendum (abbreviation of “British exit”) carried out the 23rd of June 2016, where British citizens voted to exit the European Union.
UK: history
Regarding its history, it is characterised by invasions. Romans were the first to invade it in 43 AD and remained for almost 400 years. The Nordic tribes in the 5th century were the next invaders, followed by the Vikings until the arrival of Norman. As mentioned before, in the 1st century William of Normandy conquered England at the Battle of Hastings and became William l. This brought a period of French rules which influence the native language.
Subsequently, the Tudors ruled England. In 1534, King Henry Vlll broke away from the Catholic Church as he wanted to dissolve his marriage with Catherine of Aragon. He declared himself head of the Church of England and the country has remained Protestant since then. From that moment, the Stuarts ruled the country.
The Victorian Era (1837-1901) was a period of peace and prosperity. During this period, one of English most important contribution was the Industrial Revolution which had a profound effect on the socio-economic and cultural conditions. The Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in human history.
In the 20th Century, in World War I and World War II British intervention against Germany and Japan played a decisive role.
UK: cultural framework
English literature has been extremely prolific, improving literature as a whole. Two of the most outstanding authors within the Golden Age were Shakespeare and Spencer. We cannot forget Dickens’ works, which wonderfully portrayed Industrial Revolution’s living conditions. Other important names of British literature were Lewis Carroll and Agatha Christie in novel and Bernard Shaw in theatre, among others.
Two other cultural areas were English have stand out are music and cinema. Notable British composers have played an important role in the musical scene, such as The Beatles, Queen or Iron Maiden. Regarding cinema, UK has given us some of the best known actors and directors, such as Charles Chaplin, Anthony Hopkins or Alfred Hitchcock, among others.
USA: GEOGRAPHY
The United States is a Federal Republic with fifty states and a population of around 305 million people. Together with Canada and Australia, it is one of the most multicultural nations, as a result of immigration. The capital is Washington and the currency is the dollar.
USA:POLITICS
The government is divided into three main branches, The Executive, Legislative and Judicial. There are two main political parties, the Democratic Party, represented by a donkey, and the Republican Party, recognized by an elephant, which is currently headed by Donald J. Trump as President of the nation.
USA:HISTORY
Regarding its history, the original thirteen American colonies became independent from Great Britain on July 4th, 1776, and this date is an important national holiday. The Constitution was born in 1779 under the first American president, George Washington. During the 19th and 20th centuries, new states were added as the nation expanded across the North American continent.
Three traumatic experiences scar America’s history, the Civil War (1861-65), in which the Northern states fought against the Southern ones, abolishing slavery. The Great Depression of 1929 which sunk American’s society, when millions of people lost their jobs. And the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on the 11th. of September of 2001, which created a perpetual panic feeling.
USA:CULTURE
it has provided the world with excellent writers, like Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, or Mark Twain. Its theatre was in its prime during the period between the two world wars, with authors like Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller.
Hollywood and its film industry have determined the current lifestyle of the western world. Directors like Billy Wilder, Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, have had a huge impact in past, present and probably, future generations. Regarding music, genres such as jazz, blues, country and hip hop have influenced music all over the world.
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
The Republic of Ireland lies to the north-west of Europe and occupies about five sixths of the island of Ireland. It used to be part of the UK, and became independent in 1922. It is a member of the EU and of the euro-zone. Thus, the currency is the euro.
The population is around 5 million, being Dublin the capital city, where most people live. Although the main language is English, Irish (or Gaelic) is also considered as an official language and therefore taught in schools.
In relation with its cultural framework, Irish literature is well represented by James Joyce and Oscar Wilde. Regarding its music, traditional Irish music is recognized all over the world. Nowadays, Irish rock musicians are also worldwide known, thanks to bands like U2 or The Cranberries.
AUSTRALIA
Australia is located in Oceania. The country consists of six federated states, with the capital in Canberra. It is a federal parliamentary democracy, with the British monarch as Head of State. Its currency is the Australian dollar.
The island was discovered by Tasman in 1642. The first colonists were convicted people sent there as a punishment. At the end of the 19th century Australia became independent of Great Britain but belonging to the Commonwealth.
In relation with its cultural framework, we can mention as famous writer Peter Hippi and well known bands, such as AC/DC.
DIDACTIC APPLICATION: INTRO
Knowing a foreign language and being interested in other cultures are two things that usually go hand in hand, as language and culture are closely connected. In fact, the Spanish curriculum for Primary Education takes this connection into account and includes, as part of the contents of English, a cultural block.
Besides, we also have to take into account the importance given by the KCto culture, in particular the 5, SCcompetence, as pupils are learning the socio-cultural aspects of the target culture, as well as the 7, CAE, helping them appreciate other forms of cultural expressions, such as tales or songs. Both competences will allow students to satisfy not only their communicative needs but also achieve a deeper understanding of the way of life, thinking and behaviour of people with a different cultural heritage. So, as teachers, we should include these competences as a part of students’ “education for peace”, a crucial issue nowadays.
