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>Understanding a piece of discourse in any language involves much more than just
knowing the language. In order to make sense of any text in the target language we
need to have a pre-existing knowledge of the word.
>This topic is important as it fully justifies the need to acquire a certain degree of
cultural knowledge about the community whose language is the object of study. You
cannot simply command the target language if you have not learnt a certain amount of
cultural aspects which affect the lives of that linguistic community in a significant way.
>What is the culture of a linguistic community? It is not only made of a language
shared by its members but also of beliefs, values, customs (social rules, dances,
festivals, folklore, music, myths, legends, cuisine, rituals) and "scholastic knowledge"
(arts, history, science, religion, popular knowledge,...etc). To put it in another way: for
learners of a foreign language, the language is not enough. It is important to reach
some kind of mastery (or at least familiarity) of customs, traditions, history or even the
music or the literary or artistic figures belonging to that linguistic community. The
higher the degree of mastery of cultural knowledge, the better the chances to
understand any type of text (be it written or oral, involving a lot of extra-textual
information or little) created by a member of that linguistic community.
>The problem with this when it comes to the English speaking community is that
the English speaking community is so diverse (Americans, Canadians, British, Irish,
Australians, South-Africans, New-Zealanders have developed an identity of their own)
that this task is all the more extensive and difficult. On top of that, there are new
cultures such as the Indian, Pakistani etc. However, we Spanish-speaking people have
the advantages of sharing a culture close to that of the English-speaking community
(as against Chinese-speaking or Arab-speaking people) although most of us are not
aware of this fact. This closeness is due to the fact that Western countries have
inherited and developed a Western culture and identity, based on the Greco-Roman
civilization.
>Moreover, due to the predominance of English-speaking countries (especially USA)
throughout the West (and across the world) and due to the phenomenon of
globalization, it is virtually impossible to keep a "hermetic existence": to be free from
the influence of English-speaking countries. To put it bluntly, it is impossible for a
Spaniard to know nothing about the Americans or the English and their culture.
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nation of such modest size and population (about 5 million people today): Sir Walter
Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson (literary figures). Adam Smith (philosopher and
father of capitalism), James Watt (renowned for the invention of the first practical
steam engine) o Sean Connery (one of the most popular Hollywood actors nowadays).
>They were also pioneers settlers in America, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
A. 2. WALES
>Somewhat isolated by a rugged, mountainous terrain, the Welsh have retained more
of the culture of their Celtic forebears than the Scottish have. In fact, Welsh is the
official language of Wales, together with English and the most flourishing of the Celtic
languages, with about 500,000 active Welsh speakers of a population of 2,900,000,
especially in rural and less populated areas. Several schools in Wales now use Welsh as
the medium of instruction, several written publications are made in Welsh (mostly in
poetry and in the press), and television and radio broadcast are made in that language.
>On the other hand, although Wales have been politically united to England since the
16th century (1535 Act of Union), it has clearly kept a feeling of having a distinct
identity from the English one. For instance, Wales has experienced a relatively recent
nationalist revival of the Welsh political life. Nationalist parties have received a
considerable political support, to the point that representatives of the Welsh Nationalist
Party are in the House of Commons in London. Also, the Welsh have obtained their self-
government through the Welsh Assembly.
>Paradoxically, although the Welsh have kept a stronger Celtic identity than the
Scottish, it is curious to note that the Welsh constitute a relative submissive nation (as
against the Scottish). For instance: the educational system of Wales is most similar to
that of the English Local Education Authorities (LEAs). Also, in a referendum held in
September 1997 barely more than half of the Welsh voters supported the creation of a
Welsh assembly (50.3 for, 49.7 against).
>The Welsh fall into two main groups:
> Sheep farmers in the mountains in central and northern regions.
> Those living in the industrialized south (coal mining, steel manufacturers).
The title of Prince of Wales is conferred to the eldest son of the UKs sovereign. Prince
Charles was invested as 21st Prince of Wales by his mother Queen Elisabeth II in 1969.
>Important Welsh people: Dylan Thomas.
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(parte 2 de 3)
A.3. IRELAND
>Again, the population of Ireland is predominantly of Celtic origin. As a matter of fact,
the process of anglicisation and influence of England upon the British Isles is quite
similar in each case: one strong and predominant nation (England) conquers and
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Britannia, following the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. These Germanic
tribes conquered and occupied lowland Britain, routing and driving the Celts (who had
been living under the control of Rome until then) out of their lands into Wales, Scotland
and even Brittany in France.
>Much later on, the power of the English become stronger and stronger and England
came to conquer and annex Wales, Scotland and Ireland one after the other, imposing
its power, institutions and language.
>Afterwards, England (which would later become Great Britain, together with Scotland,
Wales and Ireland) would create one of the most pervasive and vast empire of human
history, the British Empire, which would extend its culture, language, influence and
control over all the continents in the world
>Much of that superiority sense is still present in the English psychic, even if the
English are now aware of the end of its empire. An Englishman is thought to be
reserved, introvert, unemotional, shy of strangers. They dislike showing emotion and
lack of control. They are cold and phlegmatic people but are also dutiful and very
polite. They fervently believe they are superior to any other race on earth.
>England has given rise to an astonishing number of notable writers in all fields:
>- literature writers: William Shakespeare, Mary Shelley, Dickens
>- philosophers: Francis Bacon
>- scientists: Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton
B. United States of America
>The origins of this vast country of over 270 million people date back to the Englsih
settlements in North America in the 17th century.
>However, saying that the Americans only identify themselves with the Anglo-Saxon
culture brought then would be wrong, for the USA is truly a land of immigrants from
many different nationalities. In fact, the American society is said to be a melting pot,
a society composed of many different cultures, a place where people of different ethnic
groups are brought together, giving America a rather intermingled identity. There we
will find people of every race, colour or religion, or from every country of the world.
>Everyone knows that the United States has become the most powerful country in the
worlds. In a way, it has relieved Great Britain if the task of promoting the Englsih
language around the world, has extended its military and economic power and
influence (e.g. the American way of life, American food or American music) on the
five continents.
>How are the Americans regarded given the predominance of the USA in the world?
Some people say that Americans are arrogant, but what seems clear is that they take
pride in this world preponderance and that they are very patriotic. Besides, Americans
are said to be workaholic, very independent, albeit quite materialistic.
>The United States given rise to an extraordinary number of personalities in all fields:
>- literary figures: Mark Twain, Hemingway, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck
>- philosophers: Thomas Pain.
>Moreover, it is interesting to stress the fact that the United States is the country with
the greatest number of Nobel Prizes in medicine, physics and economics, which proves
that the USA has become the most important scientific centre in the world.
>The USA is considered to be a classless society. They are more race-conscious than
class-conscious.
3. Icons, emblems, symbols, cultural and geographical landmarks of English-speaking
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countries.-
>3.1. UNITED KINGDOM
>British National Flag
>It was adopted in 1801 and its popular name is Union Jack. It is made up of three
crosses, representing the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
>The upright red cross is the cross of Saint George, the patron saint of England.
>The white diagonal cross (with the arms going into the corners) is the cross of Saint
Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.
>The red diagonal cross is the cross of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
>John Bull
>The Americans have Uncle Sam and the English have John Bull. It is a stereotype
personifying the British Nation, the people or the government. It is always depicted as
a stocky elderly gentleman, wearing a squat top hat, neckcloth, Union Jack waistcoat,
tailcoat, tight breeches and boots.
>Public Homes (pubs)
>The word pub is short for public house. There are over 60,000 pubs in the UK. Pubs
are an important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax
there. British people drink an average of 99.4 litres of beer very year. More than this
beer is drunk in pubs and clubs.
>British pubs are required to have a license, which allows the pub to operate between
5:00 and 11:00 everyday, except Sunday, when they must close at 10:30 pm.
>Nearly all pubs sell pub lunches. One of these is The Ploughmans Lunch, which is a
large wedge of Cheddar, some bread, some pickle and an onion. Other typical foods are
scampi and chips, pie and chips, fish and chips.
>British beer is always warm. The traditional kind is called real ale. Beers are served
in pints and halves.
>Pubs have traditional names that date back over 600 years. The Kings Arms, The
White Horse, The Bull and the Swam. There is usually a sign outside the pubs showing
the pubs name with a picture. Various games, especially darts, are common features
of pubs.
>The minimum drinking age in England is eighteen. Bartenders are called
landlords/landladies.
>The British Bobby
>It is one of the most cherished icons, called after the founder of the modern police
forced, Sir Robert Peel.
>the Bulldog
>It symbolizes the very essence of Britishness. He is solid, reliable, loyal and very
individual.
Britannia
>It is the personification of British nationalism. She is portrayed as a young woman in
a neo-classical gown and helmet, seated by the sea. She is holding a trident in one
hand and a shield, decorated with the Union Flag, in the other. At present Britannia is
seen on the 50 p coins.
Tea.Tea is most definitely Britains national drink. Tea drinking is not just a means of
refreshment, it is also a social ritual.
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parte 3 de 3
3.1.1. England
>The national flower of England is the rose. It is worn on St Georges Day (23rd
April?). It has been associated with England since the civil wars between the homes of
Lancaster (red) and York (white), which are known as the Wars of the Roses (1455-
1485).
>London
>Red double-decker buses and black taxis are a typical sight on Londons busy roads.
>Cricket is Englands national game
>White flag + red cross is Englands flag
>The bowler hat and the umbrella are trademarks of the unofficial uniform o the City
gent.
>The Queen and the Royal Family are symbols that epitomizes the rich heritage and
glorious long history of its country, even though it has come under increasing criticism
in the past years as a rather archaic relic badly in need of a dramatic change.
>The Beefeater,Punks,Mini,The Underground sign,Fox hunting,Gin and tonic
Main landmarks The Houses of parliament
> The Big Ben, The London Eye,The White Cliffs of Dover, Buckingham Palace, The
Tower of London
3.1.2. Wales
>The daffodil is the national flower of Wales. It is worn on St Davids day (1st March),
which is the first day it blooms, according to the tradition.
3.1.3. Scotland
The national flower of Scotland is commonly known to be the thistle and it appears in
pound coins
>The castles,loch Ness,The bagpipes,The kilt,Scotch whiskey
3.1.4. Northern Ireland
>The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar
to clover.
>Sadly, one of the references that people have when they think about Northern Ireland
is the terrorist group IRA.
3.2. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The American Flag
>It is also known as the star-spangled banner or the stars and stripes. There is
probably no easier and better way to show ones pride of being American than by
exhibiting this flag.
>It consists of 13 horizontal stripes symbolizing the 13 original colonies (7 alternating
with 6 white) and in the upper corner there is a rectangular blue field containing 50
five-pointed stars (each symbolizing one of the States of the Union).
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Uncle Sam.These nickname and image are frequently used in journal cartoons and
publicity to personify the USs government. It is derived from the initials U.S.
>In the 20th century Uncle Sam has been depicted with a short beard, high hat and
tailed coat.
>Americans frequently refer to him jokingly instead of saying the (American)
government.
New York City It is the largest city (with a population of over 7,3 million people) in the
USA, the centre of global finance, communications and business. New York is unusual
among cities because it its high residential density, its extraordinary diverse
population, its hundreds of tall offices and apartments buildings, ...etc. As a matter of
fact, when people think of America, they are bound to think of New York City, for it is
very representative of the greatness and outstanding potential of this country.
>Its boroughs are still divided into neighbourhoods: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx,
Queens, and Broadway among others.
The Statue of Liberty.It is located in New York City. It is 46 metres high. It is a symbol
of freedom for the Americans. It was a gift from France commemorating the first
centennial of USA independence from Britain in 1876.
The 4th July.It commemorates the date when the Americans declared their
independence from England in 1776 and it is the most important date fro them. It is
celebrated with parades and fireworks across the United States.
Thanksgiving Day.It is a bank holiday observed annually in the USA on the 4th
Thursday of November. Thanksgiving day stresses the connection with the Pilgrims
(17th century), when they all gathered to thank God for what they had and even
invited some Native Americans to lunch (the lunch thus has a generosity aspect)
Halloween.It is a festivity of Celtic origin (taken to America by Irish immigrants) on
31st October. This festivity is symbolically associated with death and the supernatural,
On Halloween many children dress in customs and go form house to house asking for
sweets by saying trick or treat!.
The President of the USA .The President of the USA has more power than any other
president in the democratic world.
Hollywood.It is the Mecca of cinema. It is considered the place where all actors in the
world would dream of working in one day. It is located in California, where many
famous actors usually have a luxurious mansion (mostly in Beverly Hills).
>Disney World .The first Disneyland park was built in California in 1955. Since then,
other Disneyland parks have been built, such as Eurodisney in Paris.
>Walt Disney has become an international leading name in family entertainment,
having created popular animated characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck,
Goofey, Pluto the Pup, Minnie, ...etc.
4. Music as a vehicle for cultural influence.-Music can be considered as an integral part
of the culture of a linguistic community. Therefore, modern foreign language teachers
could also include music as part of the culture to be seen in their syllabi. In this section
I am concerned with music as it can be employed as material for the teaching of
foreign languages.
We can distinguish two types of music:
Folk music: it is the traditional music passed down in a community or country from
generation to generation. It is generally transmitted orally among people sharing a
culture.
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Popular music: it is produced and sold to a broad audience, contrary to folk music. In
the 20th century music became an extraordinary social phenomenon, especially when
the mass media became accessible to the general public, and when both TV and radio
stimulate the demand for it. As a result if it, popular music (which is in principled
aimed at the general public, and especially to the young market) has become a
commercial phenomenon, even a powerful way to influence people.
4.1. The importance of popular music today
>The emergence of pop music in the way it ahs developed is rather hard to explain.
Music in the 20th century seems to encompass a bewildering variety of procedures and
approaches: Rock and Roll, Blues, Soul, Jazz, Country music, Heavy Metal, House
music, Disco music, Chill-out music, New Wave, Funk or Rap could all be considered as
examples of international popular music styles.
>It is interesting to note that many of these music styles come from English-speaking
countries, and that the vast majority of the most popular bands or singers in the word
are of American, British (or even Irish or Canadian) origin.
>American origin: Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Louis
Armstrong, James Brown
>English origin: The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John
>Canadian origin: Celine Dion, Leonard Cohen
Irish origin: U2, The Corrs
It is easy to understand form this perspective how strong the influence of pop English
music upon the music arena is, for most international bands or singers come from
English-speaking countries. In fact, Englsih is the pop music language par excellence.
As a matter of fact, it is curious to note that many non-English-speaking artists decided
to sing in Englsih (ABBA, Celine Dion, Roxette, Ricky Martin) to reach a broader
audience. This confirms that Englsih is an international language even in the music
business.
4.2. Using songs in the teaching of English as a foreign language
According to the Communicative Approach, the teaching of a foreign language must
provide students with material stimulating communicative purposes. The students
should be given authentic material, meaningful material which is as real and close to
them as possible in order to offer motivating material, in order to make them speak,
listen, write and read English as often as possible.
>Considering the interest in pop music among the general public (in particular, among
the youth) around the globe, it would be a mistake to systematically avoid music in
teaching, as it can be highly motivating material. Besides, music can be a valuable
resource, not only to motivate students, but also to make students deal with
interesting issues or current problems (for instance, some U2 songs deal with the
Northern Irish conflict Sunday, Bloody Sunday; Beatles songs dealing with war, drugs
and love).
>Moreover, music can be useful for drawing students attention to pronunciation,
colloquial language, grammatical rules or vocabulary.
>It is important to choose the songs according to the level of proficiency of the
students, their ages, their musical likes and according to the aim we would like to
achieve
>There are two types of songs as a modern foreign language resource:
- artificial songs,real songs
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