Welcome to Great Britain

Welcome to Great Britain

  Objectives:

-         to revise and enrich students’ vocabulary on the topic;

-         to improve students’ listening, reading, speaking skills;

-         to train students’ habits in group work;

-         to develop students’ interest in history, culture and traditions of Great Britain;

-         to cultivate students’ aesthetic tastes, awareness and respect to the world culture;

-         to enhance students’ cognitive abilities and memory.

Equipment: presentation, a film “Welcome to Great Britain”, a map, handouts.

Procedure

I.                               Introduction

T: Good morning, dear children! I am glad to see you! I hope everyone is feeling fit. I think you will agree that the topic we are going to speak on is really worth discussing. Because we can’t imagine our life without many of things, and one of them is travelling. Welcome to Great Britain - a country of traditions, glorious past and wonderful future, a country of outstanding people and unforgettable events.

So, the topic of our lesson is “Welcome to Great Britain.” By the end of the lesson you are:

·        To use words and word-combinations, revised grammar structures when speaking on the topic;

·        To identify the main idea and details from the texts for reading and audition;

·        Work in groups, make up the dialogues on the topic.

ІІ. Warming-up

We have already read some interesting texts and spoken on the topics concerning Great Britain. Let’s revise some words and word-combinations. Look at the blackboard and say what associations you have with these words and geographical names:

United Kingdom; to be situated; the British Isles; to be washed; the Atlantic Ocean; the English Channel; to consist of; south-west; south-east; the capital; Edinburgh; Scottish; Irish; Welsh;  the surface;  Ben Nevis; Lock Lomond; the Severn; The Thames; Gulf-Stream; mild; industrial; sea ports; a birthplace.

ІІІ. Speaking

And now, please, tell us about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

P1: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles lie to the north-west of Europe. The biggest of them are the islands Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The British Isles are washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the British Channel.

P2: Great Britain consists of three parts: England, Wales and Scotland. Scotland is situated in the north of Great Britain, Wales – in the south-west, England – in the south–east. Northern Ireland is situated in the north of Ireland.

P3: The capital of Great Britain and England is London. It is situated on the Thames River. The people are the English. Their native language is English.

The capital of Wales is Cardiff. The people are the Welsh. They speak Welsh.

The Capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. The people are the Scotts. They speak Scottish. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast. The people are the Irish. They speak Irish.

P4: The surface of England and Northern Ireland is flat. The surface of Wales and Scotland is mountainous. The mountains are not very high in Great Britain. The highest mount is Ben Nevis in Scotland. Scotland is famous as the land of lakes too. They are called lochs. The most beautiful lake is Loch Lomond.

The rivers in Great Britain are not very long but they are rather deep. The biggest river is the Severn.

P5: Thanks to Gulf-Stream the climate of Great Britain is mild. Summer is not very hot and winter is not very cold here.

The largest industrial cities of Great Britain are Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham. The biggest sea ports are Portsmouth, Plymouth. The most beautiful – royal Bristol. Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of famous Shakespeare.

More than 56 million people live in Britain.

IV.  Group work

T: You know that each country has its traditions and customs; its history and culture and of course its national symbols. Great Britain is the land of traditions which are carefully observed and has a great variety of symbols. Let’s revise the material of the previous lessons:

Ps: The national flag of Great Britain is called the Union Jack. It is made of three crosses: the cross of St. George (the patron saint of England), the cross of St. Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland) and the cross of St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland). It is red, white and blue. Each country has its colour: England – white, Scotland – blue; Wales – red. These colours come from the national flags. The English flag is white with a red cross. The Scottish flag has a white cross on a blue background. The Welsh flag shows a red dragon. Then there are emblems of Britain. They are plants. You can see them on pound coins.

Each part of Great Britain has its traditions and customs. The national day of Great Britain (the day of St. George) falls on the twenty-third of April. On this day some patriotic Englishmen wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose in the national emblem of England from the time of Wars of the roses (the 15^th century). Another plant-symbol is an oak.

St. Andrew’s Day (the thirtieth of November) is a Scotland’s national day. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland thistle was first used in the fifteenth century as a symbol of defence. The order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood. It was founded in 1687.

St. Patrick’s Day (the seventeenth of March) is considered as a national day in Northern Ireland and an official bank holiday there. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. According to legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the idea of Christianity of the Trinity to the Irish. Another plant-symbol is flax.

St. David’s Day (the first of March) is the church festival of St. David, a 6^th-century monk and bishop, the patron saint of Wales. It is the national holiday of Wales. The national emblems are a yellow daffodil and a leek.

T: Ready? Well done! Now take these pictures and find your partners to work together. Do your best and tell us about your country and its symbols (the students are given handouts with information about each part of the United Kingdom and divided into groups.)

The task is to fill in the chart and speak on the chosen topic:

State country

Geogra- phical position

Capital

People

Language

Flag

Colour

National day

Saint patron

Symbols

V.  Listening

Pre- listening task:

T: Now I want you to watch this episode from the film about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Please, have a look at these words:

a)Bridge; b)best-known; c)military; d)resort; e)years; f)romantic; g)centuries; h) monster; i)lake; j)deep; k)Highlands; l) capital.

While-listening task: Watch an episode and try to identify these words in the text.

A Journey to Scotland

The next long journey is to Scotland. The capital is Edinburgh which we’ll see in a moment. Many people’s images of Scotland can be found as Highlands Games – sport and culture event in the west of Scotland. Edinburgh is one of the Europe’s finest cities. It is hardly changed for centuries.

Every year for two weeks in the late summer the city is taken away by the audience. The Edinburgh festival is the best-known cultural festival in Britain. There is always an impressive programme of music and theatre, some of each takes place in the street. At the same time as the festival you can also see the Edinburgh Tattoo – a colourful military display on the ground at the back of the castle.

Coming north out of Edinburgh you cross the Forth Bridge. The bridge is so long that it takes 4 years to paint it. For each time you have to start painting all over again. The Forth Bridge is the only main bridge to the Highlands – an area of outstanding beauty with the romantic past. At the same time it has a wild life of all kind. At its edge there is a nature resort Aviemore – the most important winter resort in Britain.

Not far from Aviemore there is a deep lake which has an air of mystery. Its name is Loch Ness. Lock is a Celtic word for the lake. Lower its surface there is a loch monster. People swear that have seen and photographed it.

Monster watching goes back a long way. Thousands of people tried to catch it or at least prove it scientifically that it exists. But Nessy as the monster is called is shy and refuses to appear. This particularly investigation an operation “Deep scan” cost millions pounds only came up with one unexplained echo that mightn’t be a monster.

Local bus tour “Loch Ness” includes a boat trip on a lake, a tour to a castle and a visit to a Loch Ness Exhibition. There you can find out the details of sightseeing a monster.

Post – listening  task: You are to fill in the blankets in the following text:

A Journey to Scotland

The next long journey is to Scotland. The 1(             ) is Edinburgh which we’ll see in a moment. Many people’s images of Scotland can be found as 2(           ) Games – sport and culture event in the west of Scotland. Edinburgh is one of the Europe’s finest cities. It is hardly changed for 3 (             ).

Every year for two weeks in the late summer the city is taken away by the audience. The Edinburgh festival is the 4 (               ) cultural festival in Britain. There is always an impressive programme of music and theatre, some of each takes place in the street. At the same time as the festival you can also see the Edinburgh Tattoo – a colourful 5 (                   ) display on the ground at the back of the castle.

Coming north out of Edinburgh you cross the Forth 6 (                   ). The bridge is so long that it takes four 7(         ) to paint it. For each time you have to start painting all over again. The Forth Bridge is the only main bridge to the Highlands – an area of outstanding beauty with the 8 (               ) past. At the same time it has a wild life of all kind. At its edge there is a nature 9 (              ) Aviemore – the most important winter resort in Britain.

Not far from Aviemore there is a 10 (           ) lake which has an air of mystery. Its name is Loch Ness. Lock is a Celtic word for the 11 (         ). Lower its surface there is a loch 12 (                ). People swear that have seen and photographed it.

A key: 1-l; 2-k; 3-g; 4-b; 5-c; 6-a; 7-e; 8-f; 9-d; 10-j; 11-I; 12-h.

VI.           Dialogues

T: Welcome to our club of young historians. Children in your class are very fond of studying English and try to do as much as possible to learn more about history, traditions and culture of Great Britain. A friend of yours is asking you about your hobby. You are glad to help him. Choose a partner and make up the dialogue.

Dialogue 1

P1: Hello Mike! Haven’t seen you for ages! How are you?

P2: Fine, thanks, and you? It’s been a long time since I saw you.

P1: Right, it has. I saw you last in the library. You were preparing for the talk on your favourite subject – English, of course.

P2: True. But why are you laughing? I think English is the most popular language nowadays. People speak English all over the world.

P1: I know they do. By the way, they say, that English has become an international language nowadays.

P2: Oh, yes. It certainly has.

P1: And in what countries do people use English as their native language?

P2: In Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These are English-speaking countries.

P1: So in all these countries people speak the same language?

P2: My answer is “yes” and “no”. Though they all speak English, it is a little

different in each country.

P1: How interesting!

P2: Yes. People speak American English in the USA and British English in Great Britain. Different words often name the same things.

P1:  What do you mean?

P2: I mean that people live in flats in England but they live in apartments in America. Children go to school in the fall in America but in autumn in England.

P1: That’s very interesting indeed.

Dialogue 2

P1: Hi, Ann! I’m very glad to see you!

P2:  Me too. How are things with you?

P1: I’m OK! Let’s go to the cinema. They show a very interesting film on.

P2: Oh, dear! I’m so busy. I have no free time at all!

P1: But what are you doing?

P2: I’m preparing for a School Conference of Young Historians that is going to be the next week.

P1: And what are you going to discuss?

P2: The national symbols and holidays of Great Britain.

P1: Oh, it’s really very interesting. Can you tell me anything?

P2: Sure. To begin with that the national flag of Great Britain is called Union Jack.

Its history goes back to the 17^th century.

P1: How does it look like?

P2: It consists of three crosses: the cross of St. George (the patron saint of England), the cross of St. Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland) and the cross of St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland). It is red, white and blue.

P1: Why did they choose these colours?

P2: Each country has its colour: England – white, Scotland – blue; Wales – red. These colours come from the national flags. The English flag is white with a red cross. The Scottish flag has a white cross on a blue background. The Welsh flag shows a red dragon.

P1: Do they have any other emblems and symbols?

P2: Yes. They are plants. You can see them on pound coins.

P1: Oh, that’s very interesting indeed. Thank you. May be I shall go to the Internet Café instead and look for some more interesting information.

P2: Good luck, then!

P1: Good-bye, see you later!

P2: Bye-bye!

Dialogue 3

P1: Good morning, Denis! Why are you in a hurry?

P2: We are having a School Conference of Young Historians today

P1: Yes, I have heard about it. What are you going to discuss?

P2: Symbols and national holidays if Great Britain.

P1: What have you prepared?

P2: Some interesting information about Scotland.

P1: Can you share it with me?

P2: Why not? Scotland is a country of rich traditions and glorious past. The Scotts are very proud of their country and keep up its traditions. The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote in his poem:

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here

My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;

a-chasing the wild deer and following the roe-

My heart’s in the Highland wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,

The birthplace of valour, the country of worth;

Where I wanted, wherever I rove,

The hills of the Highlands forever I love.

Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow;

Farewell to the stanths and green valleys below;

Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods;

Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here

My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;

a-chasing the wild deer and following the roe-

My heart’s in the Highland wherever I go.

P1: Robert Burns was a real patriot of his Motherland!

P2: It’s true. On the 25^th of January, his birthday is celebrated in cities, towns and villages. Everybody may make a speech and read a poem by Robert Burns. There is also a tradition of eating haggis – a special national dish - on this day.

P1: Such a lovely tradition! But what is Highlands?

P1: Highlands is a mountainous region of Scotland. The highest mount is called Ben Nevis. There is a tradition of Highlands sports events and Highlands dances when the Scotts put on their national cloths - kilts and tartans - and dance to the sounds of the bagpipes.

P1: And yet I have read that Scotland is called the land of lakes and mountains.

P2: You are right. The lakes are called “lochs” there. The most beautiful is Loch

 Lomond and the most famous is Loch Ness. Thanks to its monster, of course.

P1:  Yes, everybody knows about Nessy. But I wonder, Denis, do they have any other national holidays?

P2: St. Andrew’s Day (the thirtieth of November) is a Scotland’s national day. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland thistle was first used in the fifteenth century as a symbol of defence. The order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood. It was founded in 1687.

P1: Thank you. It was very kind of you to tell me such interesting facts.

P2: It’s my pleasure.

Dialogue 4

P1: Hello, Kate. How are things with you?

P2: Everything is all right, but I’m as busy as a bee.

P1: What are you busy with?

P2: I’m participating in a School Conference of Young Historians and have to prepare a report about British national symbols and holidays.

P1: Does each part of Great Britain have its own national holiday and symbol?

P2: Of course it does. For example, the national day of Great Britain (the day of St. George) falls on the twenty-third of April. On this day some patriotic Englishmen wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose in the national emblem of England from the time of Wars of the Roses (the 15^th century).

P1: What a lovely symbol!

P2: And English poets often use it in their poems. For example Robert Burns wrote:

Oh my love is like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June.

Oh my love is like a melody

That’s sweetly played in tune.

P1: How beautiful! I see you are fond of English poetry as well.

P2: True. I like to learn poems by heart and pick up facts about poets’ lives. And you know, some of them are very mysterious.

P1: I think so.

P2: Yes. For example the great English poet Shakespeare was born on the twenty-third of April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and died on same day in 1616. He was buried in his native place. By the way, do you remember that the 23d of April is the national day in England? 

P1: That’s very strange indeed. Can you recite me something else?

P2: With pleasure! Here is a wonderful poem by William Wordsworth:

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high over vales and hills.

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils.

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breath.

P1: It sounds beautifully! I’ve have read that the yellow daffodil is a national symbol of Wales.

P2: Yes, but do you know, that this great English romantic poet died on the 23d of April 1850.

P1: Oh, it can’t be so. A very strange date indeed! Thank you, Kate. It’s very kind of you.  May be I shall pay more attention to English traditions and culture.

P2: I shall always give you a helpful hand.

P1: Good-bye.

P2: Bye, see you later.

VII.  Reading

Pre-reading task:

Get acquainted with the new words:

To settle – оселитися

A coast- узбережжя

To take by surprise – несподівано напасти

A pain -   біль

To shriek – кричати

An alarm – тривога

A Scottish Thistle

The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. This is how according to the curious legend that plant was chosen.

 In very ancient times the Normans once landed somewhere on the east coast of Scotland. They wanted to settle in the country. The Scottish army moved to the River Tay to defend their land. As they arrived late in the day tired after a long march, they put up their camp and rested. They didn’t expect the enemy before the next day.

 The Northmen, however were near. They were going to take the Scots by surprise. To make the least noise possible, they took off their shoes. But one of the Norman stepped on a thistle. The sudden and sharp pain made him shriek. The alarm was given to the Scot’s camp and there was a fight. The Scots appreciated the unexpected help from the thistle and took it as their national emblem

Post-reading task:

Answer the questions:

1. Who landed on the east coast of Scotland?

2. What did they want?

3. Where did the Scottish army move?

4. Why were they tired?

5. How were the Northmen going to take the Scots?

6. What did they do to make the least noise possible?

7. Why did the Norman shriek?

8. The Scots appreciated the unexpected help from the thistle, didn’t they?

VIII. Evaluation

IX.    Home assignment: Write an essay “The country of traditions.”