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Mr. Lustig. How do you do, Dr. Johns. Dr. Johns. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lustig. I’m glad that we finally have the occasion to meet.
Nancy. Hi, Jack. Nice to meet you. Jack. Hi,Nancy.
Mark. No, only three months. How about you? Sue. I moved here three years ago from California. Mark. Oh, really! I’m from California too. Where did you live in California? Sue. In Gilroy, not far from San Jose. Mark. This is really a coincidence. I’m from Girloy, too! I like telling people I’m from the garlic capital of the world. Did you usually go to the summer garlic festival? Sue. I used to go every summer. How about you? Mark. I went to most of them. I thought the one in 2005 was great. Did you go to that one?
Mr. Weiss. From Krakow, in the south. Have you been there? Anna. Yes, I have. It’s a beautiful city. Mr. Weiss. What about you? Do you live in Washington? Anna. Yes, I do, but I was born in Chicago. Mr. Weiss. Oh, my brother worked there a couple of years ago. Anna. Your brother? Do you have a big family? Mr. Weiss. No, just one brother. What about you? Do you have any brothers or sisters? Anna. Yes, I have three sisters. Role-play Work In small groups. One of you is an exchange student from Russia. The others are students from a host American university. Act out the following situations:
Discussion Work in groups.
Writing
Listening and speaking Come round to my place! 1. You will hear three people talking about inviting guests home for a meal. Listen and complete the chart. potluck – обед в складчину starter- закуска, салат show off –красоваться, хвастаться skewers - шампур tempura or sukiyaki – рыба и овощи, запеченные в тесте
Discussion Work in small groups. Compare information.
4 National Сharacter Reading and speaking Vocabulary notes
English Сharacter Because English culture dominates the cultures of the other three nations of the British Isles, everyday habits, attitudes and values among the peoples of the four nations are very similar. However, they are not identical, which is reflected in certain stereotypes of national character which are well-known in Britain. For instance, the Irish are supposed to be great talkers, the Scots have a reputation for being careful with money, and the Welsh are renowned for their singing ability. These characteristics are, of course, only caricatures and are not reliable descriptions of individual people from these countries. Nevertheless, they indicate some slight differences in the value attached to certain kinds of behaviour in the countries concerned. What is often regarded as a typically British may in fact be only typically English. One of the most striking features of English character is the self-discipline and courtesy of people of all classes. There is little noisy behavior, and practically no loud disputing in the street. People do not rush excitedly for seats in buses or trains, but take their seats in queues at bus stops in a quiet and orderly manner. Englishmen are naturally polite and are never tired in saying “Thank you”, “I’m sorry”, “Beg your pardon”. If you follow anyone who is entering a building or a room, he will hold a door open for you. Many foreigners have commented on a remarkable politeness of the English people. English people don’t like displaying their emotions even in dangerous and tragic situations, and ordinary people seem to remain good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties. The Englishman does not like any boasting or showing off in manners, dress or speech. Sometimes he conceals his knowledge: a linguist, for example, may not mention his understanding of a foreigner’s language. The Englishman prefers his own house to an apartment in a block or flats, because he doesn’t wish his doing to be overlooked by his neighbours. “An Englishman’s house is his castle”. Many English men help their wives at home in many ways. They clean the windows on Saturday afternoon; they often wash up the dishes after supper in the evening. Londoners like to get out of town on Sundays. The sea is not far – only fifty or sixty miles away and people like to go down to the sea in summer or somewhere to the country for skiing in winter. If to talk about British characteristics in general, the British have few living folk traditions and are too individualistic to have the same everybody habits as each other. They are rather proud of being different as a nation too. For example, it is difficult to imagine that they will ever agree to change from driving on the left-hand side of the road to driving on the right. The British are considered to be rather formal in their general behavior. This is not true. They observe formalities when playing a public role, but in everyday life being friendly often involves showing that you are not bothering with the formalities. In the last decades of the 20th century, the general amount of informality increased. At the same time, the traditional reserve has also been breaking down. More groups in society now kiss when meeting each other (women and women, and men and women, but still never men and men!).
1) For instance, the Irish are supposed to be…, the Scots have a reputation for … , and the Welsh are renowned ….2) What is often regarded as a typically British may in fact be only typically … 3) People do not rush excitedly for seats in buses or trains, but take their seats in queues at bus stops in a …4) The Englishman does not like any boasting or showing off in …, …, … .5) The British are considered to be rather formal in their … 6)Many foreigners have commented on a remarkable … .7) They are rather proud of … 8) Many English men help their wives at home … .
American Сharacter The US is a huge nation and stereotypes have developed about the people of each region. For example, the New Englander is described as stern and self-reliant, the Southerner as gracious and leisurely and the Westerner as casual and friendly. Certainly the attitudes and styles of living of a farmer in Montana are very different from those of an office worker in New York City. However, it is still possible to make some general statements about American people. American society seems to be much more informal than the British and, in some ways, is characterized by less social distinction. Students do not rise when a teacher enters the room. The respectful “Sir” is not always used in the northern and western parts of the country. However, it is best to use a person’s title when first meeting him/her, and then allow the person to tell you how he/she wishes to be called. They use first names when calling each other, slap on the back, joke and are much freer in their speech which is more slangy than the conventional British English. You will often hear the word “Hi” (a form of greeting among friends) used instead of the usual “Hello” and “Howdy” instead of “How do you do?” Those who don’t easily show these signs of friendship are called “snooty” or “snobbish.” In constant, people who show such simple signs of friendship, particularly to their own economic and social inferiors, are praised as “regular guys”, or as “truly democratic”. As a description of character, democratic is generally used to signify that a person of high social or economic status acts in such a way that his or her inferiors are not reminded of their inferiority. Yet, in spite of all the informality, Americans, even in the way they address each other, show consciousness of social distinction. For example, one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors. While the informal “Hello” is an acceptable greeting from employee to employer, the employee is more apt to say “Hello, Mr. Ferguson,” while the employer may reply “Hello, Jim.” Southerners make a point of saying “Yes, sir,” or “Yes, Ma’am” or “No, Ma’am,” when talking to an older person or a person in a position of authority. While this is a good form all over the United States, “Yes, Mr. Weston” or “No, Mrs. Baker” is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West. A teacher though friendly, pleasant and informal in class expects students to work hard, and he grades each student’s work critically and carefully. He also expects to be treated with respect. While students are free to ask questions about statements made by the teacher, they are not expected to contradict him. Although Americans are quite informal, it is best for a foreigner, in case of doubt, to be too formal rather than not formal enough. Consideration for others is the basis of courtesy.
The American tourist in England He was an American tourist in London and had hired a guide to show him the city. “How long did it take you to build this house?” he asked his guide as they passed a large hotel building. “Why, about six months.” “Six months!” exclaimed the American tourist. “Why, it wouldn’t take us more than six weeks to put up a building like that in New York.” They passed an office building which was quite new. “And how long did it take to build that?” “About four weeks,” answered the guide. “Four weeks?” said the American. “In New York we’d build a place like that in four days.” Nothing was said until they approached the Houses of Parliament. “Well, that’s not a bad-looking place. How long did it take you to build it?” “Well, you may not believe me,” answered the guide, “but that building wasn’t there when I crossed the bridge last night.” Discussion
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