HANOI METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
------
BRITAIN – AMERICA STUDIES
Class: 30ENG030_NNA D2020 (N01)
REFLECTION
STUDENT: Phạm Thị Ngân Vang
STUDENT’S CODE: 220000686
CLASS: NNA D2020C
LECTURER: Ph. D Nguyen Thi Van Anh
Hanoi, 2022
HANOI METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
------
BRITAIN – AMERICA STUDIES
Class: 30ENG030_NNA D2020 (N01)
REFLECTION
STUDENT: Phạm Thị Ngân Vang
STUDENT’S CODE: 220000686
CLASS: NNA D2020C
LECTURER: Ph. D Nguyen Thi Van Anh
Hanoi, 2022
2
Chapter 1: COUNTRY AND PEOPLE
In this chapter, there are five matters: Geography, political, the 4 nations, the dominance
of England and national loyalties.
1. Geography
Britain lies off the north-west of the coast of Europe, include 2 large islands and
hundreds of much smaller one. The largest island is Great Britain (Great used to
distinguish from smaller area Brittany), the other large one is Ireland
2. Politically speaking
- There are 2 states:
+ One governs most of the island of Ireland called the Republic of Ireland
+The other state: governs the whole of Great Britain, the north-eastern area of Ireland
and most of the smaller islands
- Its official name is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (too
long) It is referred to as 'the United Kingdom' or Britain.
3. The four nation
There are England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Each nation has each identifying
symbols.
Image: Britain- student’s book
A unified entity, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, was created when
the Irish parliament in Westminster merged with the parliaments for England, Scotland,
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and Wales in 1800. The four countries' cultures and habits once differed greatly from
one another. Ireland, Wales, and Highland Scotland were dominated by the Celtic
culture; England and Lowland Scotland were
dominated by the Germanic civilization, which was mirrored in the language. The
economic, social, and legal systems of the various countries vary as well. Although the
differences have become blurred, they have not completely disappeared. Everybody in
Britain gets the same passport regardless of where in Britain they live. Some tokens of
national identity are Surnames [(with the prefix “Mac” or “Mc” McCall, McCarthy,
MacDonald)]; First name for men like “John” is “Ian” and its Irish form is “Sean”. The
Scottish men wear a skirt with a tartan pattern called The kilt. Some characteristics are
well-known in Britain: 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.
4. The dominance of England
English is the primary language in each of the four countries, and it also influences the
political system that is currently practiced in each of them. Numerous facets of daily life
are structured in accordance with English tradition and practice. When something
pertains to England, this fact is often not specified in its name; when it pertains to Wales,
Scotland or Northern Ireland, it always is. In this way, these parts of Britain are
presented as something 'other'.
5 National loyalties
The fact that many English people don't bother to make a distinction between Britain
and England is another sign of England's supremacy. It is best to use Britain when
referring to a person's country of residence and British as the adjective when referring
to someone who is from Britain. According to Population in 2006 chart, 50.8 million
English people live there, other figures are 5.1 million Scottish, 1.7 million Irish, and 3
million Welsh. There is, in fact, a complicated division of loyalties among many people
in Britain, and especially in England. White British people make up 88.6% of the
population of Britain, making them the dominant race there. Looking at the graph, we
can observe that 1.1% of white Irish and 2.4% of other white people are from Europe.
Then comes 1.8% of Indians. Pakistanis make up 1.3%. 0.8% of Asian and Chinese
other. A total of 2.3% of persons are black, and 1.2% are mixed-ethnicity.
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Chapter 2: HISTORY
In chapter 2, we learn about the history of England. According to “Britain for learners
of English”. It can be shown in 9 different ages: Prehistory, The Roman Period (43410), The Germanic Invasions (410-1066), The medieval period (1066-1458), The 16th
century, The 17th century, The 18th century, The 19th century, The 20th century.
Prehistory
2000 years ago, there are Iron Age Celtic culture. The main significance of this period
is its sense of mystery. This sense finds its focus on the astonishing monumental
architecture of prehistory. The remainder of which exist throughout the country.
The ROMAN period (43-410)
AD 43, the Romans come to stay. The Romans imposed their way of life and culture,
making use of the existing Celtic aristocracy to govern and encouraging them to adopt
the Roman dress and the Latin language. They never visited Ireland and only had an
impact on the southern region of Scotland without officially ruling there.
In 61 Queen Boudicca of the Iceni tribe leads a bloody revolt against the roman
occupation, and in 410 the Romans leave Britain. It's amazing how little the Romans
left behind despite their lengthy colonization of Britain. They left behind a language that
became a member of the Romance family of languages as well as a legal and
administrative structure that served as the foundation for many other regions of Europe.
Additionally, the majority of the cities they established, including Londinium (London),
as well as their remarkable network of roads and villas, spas, and temples.
The Germanic invasions (410-1066)
Several tribes from the European mainland invaded and settled in great numbers
throughout the fifth century. The Angles and the Saxons were two of these tribes. These
Anglo-Saxons quickly controlled the country's southeast as well as the west. They and
their manner of life had taken over practically all of modern-day England by the end of
the sixth century. The Anglo-Saxons had a significant impact on the countryside, where
they established thousands of self-sufficient settlements and new farming techniques
that served as the cornerstone of English society for the following thousand years or so.
The sixth and seventh centuries are when this happened. Christianity colonized Britain
in two different ways. St. Augustine, a Roman missionary, brought it from Ireland to
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Scotland and northern England before bringing it to southern England. The invasion of
Britain by Vikings who originated in Scandinavia began again in the eighth century.
The medieval period (1066-1458)
England was successfully invaded by the Normans in 1066, bringing Britain into the
center of western European culture. The Norman invasion was small-scale. During this
period, the English kings also controlled regions on the continent and were constantly
at war with the French rulers. Greater nobles, or barons, were in charge of the monarch;
lesser lords, who each controlled a hamlet, were directly answerable to a lord. Peasants,
whose freedom to roam was restricted by their lord, are situated underneath them. The
Saxons who spoke English were the peasants. The Normans who spoke French were the
lords and barons. At this time, the English class system was developed.
A Germanic language, Middle English, had superseded Norman (French) as the most
widely spoken language 250 years after the Norman Conquest. Furthermore, the legal
system was built on the Anglo-Saxon idea of common law rather than Roman law.
Northern and central Wales was never heavily populated by Saxons or Normans despite
English control. Welsh music and poetry were celebrated nationally during the medieval
era, and they are still celebrated now. Furthermore, despite Scotland's formal
independence, the southern part of the country gradually adopted the English language
and customs. By the close of this time, a cultural division had emerged between the
highlands, where Gaelic culture and language predominated, and the lowlands, where a
lifestyle and language akin to that of England reigned. The term "parliament" was
originally used in England in the 13th century.
The 16th century
In its first outbreak in the middle of the fourteenth century, bubonic plague (known in
England as the Black Death) killed about a third of the population of Great Britain. 
The shortage of labor, and the increasing importance of trade and towns, weakened the
traditional ties between lord and peasant.
The Tudor dynasty (1485-1603) established a system of government departments staffed
by professionals who depended for their position on the monarch. the immediate cause
of the rise of Protestantism in England was political and personal rather than doctrinal.
The King (Henry VIII) wanted a divorce, which the Pope would not give him. Also, by
making himself head of the 'Church of England', independent of Rome, all church lands
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came under his control and gave him a large new source of income. There, King Henry
V III requested a divorce, but the Pope refused to grant it. Additionally, by declaring
himself the head of the "Church of England," which was independent of Rome, he
gained authority over all church estates and created a huge new source of wealth.
Furthermore, this rejection of the Roman Church also made England become more
consciously a distinct 'island nation'. It was therefore patriotism as much as the religious
conviction that had caused Protestantism to become the majority religion in England by
the end of the century.
The 17th century
In this century, the link between religion and politics became intense. During the
century, Parliament established its supremacy over the monarchy
1603: king James VI of Scotland became James I of England as well
1605: The Gunpowder Plot. A group of Catholics fails in their attempt to blow up the
king in Parliament. The conflict between the Stuart monarchs and ideological
Protestantism led to the Civil War (1642) which ended with a complete victory for the
parliamentary forces.
1649: James's son, Charles I, became the first monarch in Europe to be executed. For
the first and only time, Britain briefly becomes a republic and is called ‘the
Commonwealth’.
However, the conflict between the monarch and Parliament soon re-emerged in the reign
of Charles II's brother, James II. Again, religion focus. James tried to give full rights to
Catholics, and to promote them in his government.
1688: The Glorious Revolution
1690: The Presbyterian Church becomes the official ‘Church of Scotland’
The 18th century
In 1707, the Act of Union was passed. Under this agreement, the Scottish parliament
was dissolved and some of its members joined the English. Welsh parliament in London
and the former two kingdoms became one ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain’.
Politically, the eighteenth century was stable. Monarch and Parliament got on quite well
together. The highlands of Scotland were the only area of Britain to undergo a significant
shift as a result of political factors in this century. This region supported two
unsuccessful attempts to restore a (Catholic) Stuart king to the throne. It was a cultural
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change that was most marked in this century. The greatly increased trade that this
allowed was one factor that led to the Industrial Revolution. The development of the
industrial mode of production in England, along with improvements in agriculture,
resulted in the largest disruption of the way of life since the Germanic invasions. The
north became the industrial heartland of the country, and in the south of England,
London came to dominate, not as an industrial center, but as a business and trading
center.
The 19th century
Two courtesies that I think are important are
1800: The separate Irish parliament is closed and the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland is form
1833 The first law regulating factory working conditions limits the number of hours that
children are allowed to work.  That protected them from employers.
The most significant colony that Britain lost was North America. It was at war with
France at the outset. It ruled the largest empire at the turn of the century. Ireland was
one of these sections. At that period, Ireland began to be dominated by British culture
and way of life. In this century, Britain also rose to become the top economic force in
the globe. The societal structure underwent significant alterations. The actual power in
the nation was controlled by business owners and the expanding middle class of skilled
workers.
The 20th century
1911: The power of the House of Lords is severely reduced and sick pay for most
workers is introduced.
1914: Great Britain declares war on Germany. Until 1940, the First World War was
known in Britain as ‘The Great War
In the first 20 years of this century, radicalism peaked in Britain. While the Suffragettes,
women who sought the right to vote, were prepared to destroy property and even give
their lives for their convictions, some soldiers were prepared to oppose the government
for its policies regarding Ulster in Ireland.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the urban working class, which makes up the bulk
of the population, only started to voice heard. Since then, the working class has lost
influence in politics.
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With such fierce obstinacy, the House of Lords opposed the government's decision to
enact new taxes, giving even Parliament, the bulwark of the democratic system, cause
for concern. Fortunately, fanaticism died away by the end of the 1920s. The yearning
for complete independence had grown when the British government ruthlessly put down
the "Easter Rising."
In 1926 trade unions were powerful enough to hold General Strikes and from 1930 to
1980s the Trade Union Congress (TUC formed in 1868) was probably the single most
powerful political force outside the institutions of government and Parliament.
In the 25 years following the Second World War, the British empire was truly destroyed.
For example, British and French military efforts to prevent Egypt's government from
regaining control of the Suez Canal were unsuccessful.
1946: The National Health Service has established It was the first comprehensive
health system in any Western society to be based on the national provision of services
and to offer free medical to the population
1973: Britain joined the European Economic Community => Elimination of most trade
barriers and the establishment of a common external trade policy.
2007: British troops left Northern Ireland=> This was to counter the growing disorder
surrounding civil rights protests and an increase in sectarian violence during the
traditional Protestant marching season.
Chapter 3: Geography
In chapter 3 which is Geography of Britain, I learned about some general features of the
geography of Britain like climate, land and settlement, the environment and pollutions
of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Climate
The climate in Britain is more or less the same as that of the north- western part of the
Europe mainland. The amount of rain that falls on a town in Britain depends on where
it is. Generally speaking, the further west you go, the more rain you get. The mild winters
mean that snow is a regular feature of the higher areas only. The winters are in general
slightly colder in the east of the country than they are in the west, while in summer the
south is warmer and sunnier than the north.
Land and settlement
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The south and east of the country are comparatively low-lying, consisting of either flat
plains or gently rolling hills. Mountainous areas are found only in the north and west,
although these regions also have flat areas. There has been significant human effect. The
once-vast forests have mostly vanished from the area. Other than Ireland, no other nation
in Europe has a higher percentage of grassland than Britain. The majority of the land is
occupied by people. The Welsh and English don't prefer living in buildings or
apartments in the city centers, in part due to their ingrained respect for privacy and love
of the outdoors. However, this trend of spreading outwards does not mean that you see
structures everywhere you walk in Britain because most people live in towns or cities
rather than in villages or the countryside.
The environment and pollution.
As the world’s first industrialized country, it’s cities were the first to suffer ‘smog’- an
atmospheric condition. ‘Smog’ is a mixture of smoke and fog. This situation in London
reach worst point in 1952 that cause 4000-8000 deaths. Water pollution, air pollution,
greenhouse gas were also problems.
I’d would like to talk about the environment and pollution one of 4 nations: Scotland.
Land
Scotland is bounded by England to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and north,
and the North Sea to the east. Scotland has three fairly clearly marked regions. Just north
of the border with England are the southern uplands, which consists of small towns,
quite far apart from each other, whose economy depends to a large extent on sheep
farming. Further north, there is the central plain. Finally, there are the highlands,
consisting of mountains and deep valleys and including numerous small islands off the
west coast.
Settlement
Scotland in 2022 is estimated to be 5.51 million, covers area of 77,933 sq.km. The
settlements of Scotland are built-up areas which round to 500 people or more, with larger
settlements divided into localities to reflect areas which are more easily identifiable as
the towns and cities of Scotland
Climate
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Precipitation is greatest in the mountainous areas of the west, as prevailing winds, laden
with moisture from the Atlantic, blow from the southwest. East winds are common in
winter and spring, when cold, dry continental air masses envelop the east coast.
The west tends to be milder in winter, with less frost and with snow seldom lying long
at lower elevations, but it is damper and cloudier than the east in summer.
There is a smaller range of temperatures over the year in Scotland than in southern
England. Precipitation varies remarkably. Some two-thirds of Scotland receives more
than 40 inches (1,000 mm) annually Over the last few decades Scotland has experienced
a warming trend, shifting rainfall patterns, and rising sea levels:
•
Scotland’s 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1997. The average
temperature in the last decade (2010-2019) was around 0.7°C warmer than the
1961-1990 average.
•
There has been an increase in rainfall over Scotland in the past few decades, with
an increasing proportion coming from heavy rainfall events. The average year in
the last decade (2010-2019) was 9 % wetter than the 1961-1990 average.
•
Average sea level around the UK has risen by approximately 4 mm/year since
the start of the 20th century.
The environment and pollution in Scotland
Impacts of climate change in Scotland include increases in flood risk, coastal change,
damage to buildings and infrastructure, and increased prevalence of pests and diseases
in the natural environment. Scotland air quality ranks among some of the least polluted
within the United Kingdom, but air pollution remains a significant health hazard causing
thousands of premature deaths per year. Transport is Scotland’s biggest source of
climate emissions and the primary source of air pollution, which leads to 2,500
premature deaths in Scotland every year.
Below is the web I had read about Scotland.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland/
Source: https://www.environment.gov.scot/our-environment/climate/changing-climate/
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Chapter 4: Identity
In chapter 4, we studied about Ethnic identity of four nations, other ethnic identities,
geography identity, personal identity, and many other aspects. But I would like to talk
about 3 small parts of it: The ethnic identity of four nations, geographical identity, and
personal identity.
Ethnic of four nations: People in Britain with non-English ancestry can have strong
national (or "ethnic") loyalties. For many people living in England who call themselves
Scots, Welsh, or Irish, that loyalty is little more than a matter of emotional connection.
For people living in Scotland, first of all, various relevant points of public life, such as
the education system and the legal and comfort system, remain separate and organized
differently than in the rest of Great Britain. Second, the Scottish way of speaking English
is quite distinctive. It has many characteristics that differ from other forms of English
and are not generally understood by English or Welsh. Third, there are many symbols
of Scottishness that are well-known throughout Britain. The feeling of being Scottish is
not that simple. A specifically Scottish Gaelic sense of cultural identity is, in modern
times, felt only by a few tens of thousands of people in some of the Western Isles of
Scotland and the adjoining mainland. A significant minority of the people in Wales
probably do not consider themselves to be mainly Welsh at all. Welsh identity obviously
means more than just living in the region known as Wales.
Geographical identity: a sense of it based on place of birth is, like family identity, not
very common or strong in most parts of Britain- and perhaps for the same reason. People
are simply too mobile, and few people stay in one place their entire lives.
Personal identity (a sense of humor): In Britain, a joke doesn't have to be the best to be
funny. In all but the most formal circumstances, a lighthearted comment is welcomed.
Talking on a daily basis, which people expect, does not require intelligence. Some
people see the British as hypocritical because some British people will rise smile or get
a laugh even if they do not really mean it. They believe that a smile is good enough for
saying anything.
Chapter 5: Attitudes
In this chapter, we got more information about Attitudes. I’m so interested in the love
of nature, the love of animals, and conservatism.
About conservatism, in general, the British value continuity over modernity for its own
sake. They don’t like change but they like symbols of tradition. They have a general
sentimental attachment to older, supposedly safer, times. Their Christmas cards usually
depict scenes from past centuries; they like their pubs to look old. They were reluctant
to change their system of currency.
The love of animals is represented through Rosendale Pet Cemetery in Lancashire is just
one example of an animal graveyard in Britain. Now, Rosendale has a large number of
graves and urn plots with accommodations for all kinds of animals, from a budgie to a
lioness. The status of pets is taken seriously. Wildlife programs are by far the most
popular kind of television documentary. Millions of families have 'bird-tables' in their
gardens. In Britain, at least one domestic pet is kept by half of the households. There is
even a special hospital (St Tiggywinkles) that treats injured wild animals.
The love of nature. Love of the countryside is another aspect of British conservatism.
The live in towns and cities take an active interest in country matters. Another way to
spend British people time with nature is by growing plants. One of the most well-liked
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pastimes in the nation is gardening, and gardening-related radio and television shows
are also well-liked.
Chapter 6: Political life
This chapter deals with political life. I’m not sure that I clearly understand political life.
But I can share some information I know.
First, it is generally accepted that politics is a dirty business, a necessary evil. So,
politicians make sure that they don’t appear too keen to do job. their present is out of a
sense of public duty.
Second, the British political system is a two-party system. Since the 1920s, the two
dominant parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. Before the
Labour Party rose in British politics, the Liberal Party was the other major political
party, along with the Conservatives. The fact that the party system originated inside
parliament has other consequences. Parties are not the same in many countries and a
party MP has most control over party policy
Third, party policies are always presented as potential government policies and a party’s
leading MPs as potential ministers. Moreover, party conferences are always televised.
Fourth, traditional faith in the British political system has waned. This phenomenon
seems odd at first glance. After all, the basic direction of public policy hasn't changed
since 1979, indicating stability and a high level of popular confidence. The traditional
right of the individual to freedom is being eroded. The right to free speech and public
protest also seemed to be under threat.
Chapter 7: The monarchy
In this chapter, through a presentation of the group in the class and the explanation of
Mrs. Van Anh, I understood the monarchy in Britain.
First, the Queen has almost absolute power and there is no legal concept of ‘the people’
at all. There are no restrictions on who is picked as the King/Queen’s Prime Minister.
However, in fact, the Queen has to choose somebody who will command majority
support in the House of Commons. The Queen has almost no power at all. Official
speaking, they are all ‘servants of the Crown’.
Second, the real importance of the monarchy is to do with social psychology and
economics. The monarchy gives the British people a symbol of continuity and a
harmless outlet for the expression of national pride. Everyday ceremonial events help to
make up for the lack of pageantry in people’s life. Moreover, the glamorous life of ‘the
royal family’ provides a source of entertainment.
Third, Should the British people get rid of their monarchy? Because they believe it takes
a lot of time away from personal leisure to serve society, the British have a negative
attitude toward political office and have abolished their monarchy, so they get rid of
their monarchy. A negative British attitude is How much is costs; they believe the royal
family gets too much money.
Chapter 8: The government
In this chapter, we learned about the government of Britain.
First, HM Government consists of the Prime Minister, their Cabinet, and junior
ministers, supported by teams of non-political civil servants that work in government
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departments. The Government is the people responsible for running the country. The
political party that wins the most seats at a General Election takes charge of the
Government for up to five years, until the next General Election. The leader of the
winning party is appointed as Prime Minister and chooses other party members to work
in the Government with them - as Cabinet ministers and junior ministers.
The Cabinet, leading politicians in the governing party usually become members of the
cabinet, where they are tied to government policy by the convention of collective
responsibility. To help run the complexities of a modern government, there is an
organization called the cabinet office. These committees are appointed by the cabinet to
look into various matters in more detail than the cabinet has the time for.
Second, the Prime Minister is the leader of His Majesty’s Government and is ultimately
responsible for the policy and decisions of the government. The PM appears not to have
much power but in reality, has a very great deal. Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister on
25 October 2022. He was previously appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer from 13
February 2020 to 5 July 2022.
Third, the Civil Service helps the government of the day develop and implement its
policies as effectively as possible. he Civil Service provides services directly to people
all over the country, including paying benefits and pensions; running employment
services; running prisons; issuing driving licenses.
Fourth, Local government is responsible for a range of vital services for people and
businesses in defined areas. Among them are well-known functions such as social care,
schools, housing and planning, and waste collection, but also lesser-known ones such as
licensing, business support, registrar services, and pest control. Local councils, which
are the most common type of local authority, are made up of councilors who are elected
by the public in local elections.
Chapter 9: Parliament
About parliament in this chapter, I got some information below.
First, The British Parliament often referred to as the “Mother of Parliaments,” consists
of the sovereign, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. The British
Parliament works in a large building called the Palace of Westminster. Originally
meaning a talk, the word was used in the 13th century to describe after-dinner
discussions between monks in their cloisters. In 1239 the English Benedictine monk
Matthew Paris of the Abbey of St. Albans applied the term to a council meeting between
prelates, earls, and barons, and it was also used in 1245 to refer to the meeting called by
Pope Innocent IV in Lyon, France, which resulted in the ex-communication and
deposition of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II.
Second, the activities of parliament in Britain are more or less the same as those of
parliament in any western democracy. It makes new laws that give authority to the
government to raise and spend money. About the Commons, that is publicly elected.
The party with the largest number of members in the Commons forms the government.
Members of the Commons (MPs) debate the big political issues of the day and proposals
for new laws. It is one of the key places where government ministers, like the Prime
Minister and the Chancellor, and the principal figures of the main political parties, work.
The Commons alone is responsible for making decisions on financial Bills, such as
proposed new taxes. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament.
It is independent of and complements the work of, the elected House of Commons. The
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Lords share the task of making and shaping laws and checking and challenging the work
of the government.
Third, how is an MPs life? Traditionally, they were supposed to be ordinary people who
gave some of their time to keeping an eye on the government and representing the
people. They also were supposed to be doing public service. In comparison with many
of their European counterparts, do not get paid very much and for such a high-status
role, their working conditions are somewhat cramped. In fact, the average modern MP
spends more time a work than any other professional in the country.
Thanks to Ms. Van Anh I have a clear distinction between government, parliament, and
monarchy.
Chapter 10: Elections
Some interesting information about the elections in Britain that I got through this
chapter.
First, before democracy arrived, the system of political representation that is currently
in use in Britain developed. It also developed before people began to prioritize national
issues above local ones. Nowadays, almost everyone supports a candidate because that
person belongs to a certain political party. According to tradition, an MP serves as a
locality's representative first and foremost.
Second, there are five types of elections in the United Kingdom. They are Elections to
the House of Commons of the United Kingdom (general election)- when all seats are
contested, elections to devolved parliaments and assemblies, local elections, mayoral
elections, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. Within each of those
categories, there may also be by-elections. Elections are held on Election Day, typically
a Thursday, and can take place at any time within a five-year term at the prime minister's
discretion. People go to polling stations set up across the country. They choose who
they want to vote for from a list of candidates by putting a cross next to the name of the
person they've chosen. The candidate with the most votes then becomes the MP for that
area, called a constituency.
Third, before elections, candidates need to campaign to try to get people to vote for
them. Campaigning can involve handing out leaflets to explain their ideas, speaking in
public discussions, talking to people by visiting houses door to door and party political
broadcasts on TV. Parties with candidates standing for election also write a list of
everything they want to do if they win. This is called a manifesto. Once they've won an
election, an MP represents all their constituents, including those who didn't vote or voted
for someone else.
The party with the most elected MPs forms the government, and their leader becomes
the prime minister. If no one party wins the election, then this is called a hung
parliament. If this happens, two or more parties might agree to join together to form
what is known as a coalition government.
The British people in 21 century seem to be much more fluid in their voting habit that
lead to the difference in future result of the election.
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Chapter 11: The law
Some interesting knowledge in chapter 11 which I got:
First, the United Kingdom has four legal systems, each of which derives from a
particular geographical area for various historical reasons: English and Welsh law, Scots
law, Northern Ireland law, and, since 2007, purely Welsh law. Overarching these
systems is the law of the United Kingdom, also known as United Kingdom law (UK
law), or British law. UK law arises from laws applying to the United Kingdom and its
citizens, most obviously constitutional law, but also other areas - for instance, tax law.
Second, the reason British people feel that there is more crime than used to be is the lack
of confidence in the ability of the police to catch criminals.
Third, lawyers are not the most popular of professionals in Britain. They do not often
advertise their services directly. There are 2 types of them: solicitors and barristers. A
solicitor dealt with the realities ò the everyday world and its problem while barristers
were father removed, becoming experts in arcane points of law.
Chapter 12: International relations
Through this chapter and other sources, I got the relationship between Britain and other
countries.
First, the modern British are not really chauvinistic. It's extremely uncommon to see
individuals openly hostile to foreigners. Most British people know remarkably little
about Euro and who lives there. They are very bad at learning other languages. In fact,
the second most spoken language in Britain is reported to be Punjabi.
Second, the British governments are fond of referring to the 'special relationship'
between Britain and the USA. Public feeling about the relationship is ambivalent. On
the one hand, it is reassuring to be so diplomatically close to the most powerful nation
in the world, and the shared language gives people some sense of belonging with
America. In any case, the importance of the unique relationship has inexorably
decreased since Britain entered the European Communities.
Third, The UK has left the EU and the transition period has now ended. This means that
the UK has now left the EU Single Market and Customs Union and EU law no longer
applies in the UK. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement agreed upon in December
changes the basis of our relationship with our European neighbors from EU law to free
trade and friendly cooperation.
Chapter 13: RELIGION
Each country has its own religion to express its unique culture to the world. Through
this chapter, I gained a better understanding of the UK's religion.
First, the UK’s official religion is Christianity, and churches of all denominations can
be found throughout the UK, such as Catholic, Protestant, Baptist and Methodist. The
main other religions are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism.
Second, in the 21st century, the vast majority of people do not regularly attend religious
services, many do so only a few times in their lives. It is for reasons such as these that
Britain is now often described as a secular country.
Third, the appearance of the Anglican Church can be deceptive although it has much the
largest following in England. Regular attendance for many Anglicans is traditionally as
much a social as a religious activity. There are 3 main strands of belief: Evangelical (low
church), the ‘Angglo-Catholic’ (high church) and a liberal wing.
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Fourth, freedom of religious belief and worship is taken for granted in modern Britain.
Professing disbelief in God or any religion is not regarded as taboo (exception of
Northern Ireland). The religious conflicts of the past and their close relationship with
politics have left only a few traces in modern times. And the most important of these are
institutional rather than political: the fact that the monarch cannot, by law, be a Catholic;
the 26 senior bishops in one particular church (the Church of England) are members of
the House of Lords, … These facts point to a curious anomaly.
Chapter 14: EDUCATION
Every country and every region has a different education. Many people want to study
and train in Europe and North America. One of the world's leading educated countries
is the United Kingdom. Through this chapter, I gained some features of British
education.
First, similar to other countries in Europe and North America, the British educational
system has the following fundamental components: Up until middle adolescence, fulltime attendance is required; the academic year begins at the end of the summer;
obligatory education is free; however, parents may choose to pay for their child's private
education if they so choose (Public equals private!). There are three distinct stages, with
kids transitioning from the primary (first stage) to secondary (second stage) at the rough
age of eleven or twelve and they get Education beyond 16 (if they want to study higher).
Second, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, public schools, private schools, and
independent schools amount to the same thing: they’re all privately funded.
Technically, the term public school’ only refers to the group of schools named in the
Public Schools Act of 1868, but most British people couldn’t tell you that. The confusing
name dates from a time when new public schools offered the first alternative to private
tutoring. In Scotland, as in the rest of the world, the terminology is reversed: a public
school is a state-funded institution.
However, state schools employ a broadly similar system based on the National
Curriculum that aims for a balanced, consistent mode of learning across the board.
Third, Britain has some of the most prestigious universities in the world: Oxford and
Cambridge in England and St Andrew’s in Scotland. Students need to score well on
GCSE or SCE exams before entering universities. A little under half of A-level and
Highers students go on to attend university. Initially, they study for a bachelor's degree
(with the option of adding ‘honors’), graded as first class, upper second class (2:1), lower
second class (2:2), third class or fail.
So different from our education.
Chapter 15: The economy and everyday life
Every country has a different economy to build and develop the country. Through this
chapter, I know the Britain economy and everyday life of the British.
First, the attitude of the British to work that does encapsulate a certain lack of enthusiasm
for work, and the reason is Britain's class system. The effect of the ‘anti-work’ outlook
among the working class has been a relative lack of ambition or enthusiasm, in which
pay is more important than job satisfaction. Luckily, these attitudes are slowly changing.
Second, the economic system in Britain is a mixture of private and public enterprises.
The British economy has performed rather well in the last two decades and it is possible
that this great shift in structure has contributed to this turnaround.
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The ‘modernization’ of business and industry happened later in Britain than it did in
other European countries. British industry performed poorly during the decades
following the Second World War but agriculture was very successful.
Third, Britain is still one of the wealthiest places in the world. London is still one of the
centers of the financial world. Because the same feature that contributed to the country’s
decline as a great industrial and political power are exactly the qualities that attract high
finance.
The key institutions of the British economy
 HM Treasury: The economic and financial arm of the British Government, presided
over the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
 The Bank of England: (also referred to as the Old Lady of Thread Needle Street).
Britain’s central bank issues banknotes set the base interest rate and rescue troubled
banks like Northern Rock.
 The London Stock Exchange: Where shares are traded in Britain’s largest
companies. Dismissed by pre-eminent economist J.M. Keynes as a ‘casino’.
 Lloyd’s of London: The major British insurance market, individual members of
which are known as ‘Names’.
Fourth, Britain faces the conundrum of an aging population: as the number of pensioners
grows, the working folk supporting them shrink. Work and Pensions is the biggest
spending Government department, but health runs it a close second.
The British are not very adventurous shoppers, they like reliability and buy brand-name
goods. They have been rather slow to take on the idea that shopping might be fun.
Reading BRITAIN FOR LEARNERS OF ENGLISH by James O’Driscoll and SPEAK
THE CULTURE BRITAIN by www.thorogoodpublishing.co.uk that help me to gain
information above.
Chapter 16: The media
Through this chapter and Speak the Culture Britain Be Fluent in British Life and Culture
book, I saw some features of British media.
Britain has a love-hate relationship with its media. Press, TV, radio – the public slurps
them all up greedily, yet each has its image problems and none is exempt from mistrust
or even contempt.
The national papers are divided into 2 distinct types: The quality papers and the popular
papers. The popular one contains far less print than the ‘qualities’ and far more pictures.
They concentrate on ‘human interest stories (sex and scandal) while the quality one
devotes much space to politics and other serious news.
*Best of the press: Britain’s big newspapers
The Sun/News of The World; Daily Mail/Mail On Sunday; Daily Mirror/Sunday Mirror;
The Times/The Sunday Times; The Daily Telegraph; The Guardian/The Observer;
Financial Times
The BBC might be said to be ‘the mother of information services. BBC One: The
original British channel and still the most watched carries much of the BBC’s flagship
news, current affairs, and entertainment programming, not least its biggest draw, East
Enders. It also gets all the sporting events that the Corporation can afford.
BBC Two: A less mainstream version of BBC1. Here you’re more likely to find arts
programming, new comedy and documentary series.
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Others: ITV- Primetime ITV hosts popular soaps and entertainment shows like The X
Factor and its principals soaps, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Off-peak you are
more likely to find a mix of syndicated and regional programming. Channel 4Broadcasts a wide range of programs –a mix of US imports, hard-hitting documentaries,
and reality TV – but tends to be more ‘youth-orientated than the others. Sky One- The
flagship channel from BSkyB. Prime time programming consists largely of big budget
US imports like The Simpsons and Lost.
TV channels are independent of the government. Advertisement started in 1954 on ITV,
gets more money.
Chapter 17: Transport
Public transport and road in Britain have some differences from other countries.
In Great Britain, there are roughly 262,300 miles of roads, all of which vary in condition
and capacity. There is a uniform system of road numbers in the United Kingdom.
Signage and driving are the two most important things.
Vehicles are driven on the left in the UK, and on multi-lane highways, save when
passing or turning right, drivers are legally compelled to stay in the left lane. Drivers in
Great Britain are subject to the Highway Code. The United Kingdom shows speed limits
in miles per hour. They range from 20 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour, with a few
outliers, and are all multiples of 10. The national speed limit, which varies depending
on the kind of vehicle and the type of road, is in effect unless a lower speed restriction
is displayed on the road. Unless signs state otherwise, a limit of 30 miles per hour applies
in built-up areas, which are often identified by street lights.
Buses come in all shapes and sizes, with automatic doors and comfortable interiors.
They include driver-operated double-deckers, smaller single-deckers that can weave
through traffic more easily and, in London, the new Routemaster double-deckers with
doors at front, center and rear and ‘conductors’ as well as drivers to check tickets.
A list of 10 of the worst bugbears Brits has to battle with on the road.
Driving in city centers is increasingly discouraged. London has a congestion charge – if
you drive or park within the congestion zone from Monday to Friday (7 am to 6 pm),
you will be charged an £11.50 fee to pay online before midnight that day. The famous
London black cabs are as much of an institution as big red buses. These are the safest
cabs to use in London since all drivers have undergone strict tests.
Trams are making a comeback throughout Britain in clean, energy-efficient and more
modern guises.
The Underground network in London, known as the Tube, has more than 270 stations,
each of which is marked with the London Underground logo. The only other cities with
an underground system are Newcastle and Glasgow.
Beside our course book, I read Speak the Culture Britain Be Fluent in British Life and
Culture book to get more knowledge about Britain.
Chapter 18: Welfare
In chapter 18, I learned that it can be said that Britain was the first significant nation in
the world to establish what is typically referred to as a "welfare state."
First, is the benefits system. Government money is directly paid to people, which is the
most obvious approach to assisting people. Any adult who is unable to find paid
employment or any family whose combined income is insufficient to meet their needs
is qualified for at least one of several types of financial assistance. If a retiree has paid
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weekly national insurance contributions for the majority of their working life, they are
all eligible for the regular old-age pension. However, the government pension is not very
high. The growing number of elderly in the workforce is placing an increasing amount
of strain on the entire social security system. One theory holds that the system would
reach its breaking point if everyone truly filed for the benefits to which they are entitled.
Second, the NHS. Work and Pensions is the biggest spending Government department,
but Health runs it a close second. The National Health Service (NHS), established in
1948, is a Soviet-style planned economy-within-an-economy, setting prices and
rationing healthcare. It’s vast, with over a million employees and an annual budget that
exceeds £100 billion; a spend that matches the EU average of between nine and ten
percent of GDP. Over 90% of all healthcare in the country, which is often provided free
at the point of use for everyone, is still provided by the NHS.
Third, the medical profession. Doctors generally have the same very high status in
Britain that they have throughout the world. Compared to regular GPS, specialist doctors
enjoy a greater reputation, with hospital consultants at the top. These specialists are
permitted to work part-time for the NHS while collecting significant fees from private
consumers during their free time. Most Generally Practioners GPs work in a group
practice, the British public has an almost saint like perception of nurses, and they are
highly esteemed for their compassionate work. However, this picture conveys that
people are working for a living out of altruism rather than to make a living.
⇒ It can be seen that the welfare services of the UK are very interesting in the
government and the doctors and nurses here have a great place in the hearts of each
citizen and their income is very high (no need for a second job).
Chapter 19: Housing
Throughout this chapter, I knew about housing in Britain.
The majority of individuals in Britain fantasize about living in a detached house, or a
home that is a distinct structure. An Englishman's castle is his home, as the adage goes.
It demonstrates the importance of ownership and the need for seclusion that seem to be
at the core of the British approach toward housing.
In addition to providing seclusion, a big, detached house also signifies wealth. Most
people would be content to reside in a cottage, and if it is a thatched cottage evoking a
bygone era, all the better. Most people try to avoid living in blocks of flats (what the
Americans call 'apartment blocks'). Living in apartments is strongly despised because
they felt cut off from the world all those floors up. The main types of houses in England
are:
 Detached (a house not joined to another house)
 Semi-detached (two houses joined together)
 Terrace (several houses joined together)
 Flats (apartments)
The houses themselves are just investments. The fact that it is extremely rare for people
to commission the building of their own houses. (Most houses are commissioned by
private companies known as 'property developers' who sell them on the open market.)
This notion of houses principally as investments leads to a strange approach toward
house prices. The cost of housing in England has increased much faster than people's
wages making it impossible for first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder unless they
are in especially well-paid jobs, are able to call upon rich relatives or are prepared to
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buy jointly with friends. The lower the price of a home, the easier it is for buyers to buy.
However, the seller has more difficulties
When prices are rapidly increasing, some people "buy to let," which means they
purchase a home and then rent it out to pay the mortgage, which raises prices even
further (and, it is claimed, ruins neighborhoods). All of this implies that an increasing
number of those who do not currently own a home are unable to access even the lowest
rung.
Because home prices often rise a little faster than the overall cost of living, people are
willing to take out mortgages. So when they sell a property, they may profit from it.
Although nearly everybody wants to own their house, it is only in the last quarter of the
twentieth century that a majority of people have done so.
Chapter 20: Food and Drink
How do British people eat? What did they eat? How many meals do they have? Through
this chapter, I gained knowledge about food and drink in the UK.
Visitors to Britain frequently have differing opinions on a variety of country features,
but the majority appear to concur that the cuisine is bad. British food has a strange
unpleasant taste and very little taste at all. Simply said, eating is not a big part of their
way of life or habits there. At home, food and drink are given relatively little attention.
Meals tend to be eaten quickly and the table cleared. Parties and celebrations are not
normally centered around food. When British people do pay attention to food, it is most
frequently not to appreciate it but to consider its health implications.
The British people eat a ‘fry up’ that includes eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes,
mushroom and bread that are fried together. Moreover, bread is eaten with butter and
almost anything else for a snack, a sandwich, or a toast. Cold meats are not very popular
instead of that you can find cheese, and kinds of ham in supermarkets. people finish
their meals with pudding, sweets or dessert. They also love crisps (chips).
Three great London dishes of yore
Bubble and squeak: Thrifty dish uses leftover cabbage and potato that was once a winter
favorite with Londoners. The name derives from the sound it makes during cooking.
Boodle’s orange fool: Akin to a trifle (a cold desert layered with sponge cake, fruit,
custard, jelly, and cream), the fool was a specialty of Boodle’s, a gentleman club
founded in 1762.
London Particular: A thick soup made with peas and bacon stock, named after the
capital’s famous ‘pea-souper’ fogs
British mealtimes
Breakfast: taken between 7 am and 9 am during the working week.
Elevenses: 11 am, a mid-morning pick-me-up with coffee or tea and a biscuit.
Lunch (also called dinner in the north): snatched (more often than lingered over)
sometime between noon and 1.30 pm. On Sundays, the traditional roast will replace the
more common weekday snack.
Afternoon tea: not many people do it these days, but the 4 pm tray of tea, dainty
sandwiches, scones, and cake was all the rage in high society up to the later 20thcentury.
Dinner: (more likely to be called tea in the north): the main meal of the day usually
happens between 6 pm and 8 pm
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The subtleties of artisanal ale, the gently impressive rise of native wine, an enduring
tenderness for the dear old cup of tea – there’s more to drinking in Britain than a rare
talent for simply getting pie-eyed. Although that too has its own deep-seated role in
national culture… The popular drink that people know about British people is tea. The
common cup of tea (a basic black tea) is a British institution – a daily, often hourly, the
ritual for millions. Taken with a splash of milk, it’s the nation’s favorite drink
British drinking culture has always been led by beer. These days Britain imports more
wine (by value) than anywhere else in the world.
Most Brits come around to the smell of tea or coffee in the morning. A glass of wine
isn’t unusual as an accompaniment to food in the evening
Chapter 21: Sport and competition
Through this chapter, I gained the role of sports in British people’s lives and the main
British sports.
Sport has been a key ingredient of British life for generations. It’s enjoyed as a rare,
undiscriminating mode of mass entertainment – a ‘great leveler’ in the words of any
pundit worth their keep. The fact that many of the major global sports (football, rugby,
rowing, baseball, tennis, etc) were first played or codified on British soil no doubt helped
establishes the passion, even while the rest of the world now repeatedly beats the British
at their own games. In many sports, notably football and rugby, it brings the chance for
English, Scots, Northern Irish, and Welsh fans to assert their national pride; to recall the
differences that once caused bloodshed. Regarding participation, almost half of British
citizens engage in regular exercise, including tennis, hang gliding, fencing, and running.
As obesity rates climb, especially among youngsters, the other half raises questions.
The British are so fond of competition that they introduce it into their enthusiasm. The
importance of participation in sports has legal recognition in Britain. Every local
authority has a duty to provide and maintain playing fields and other facilities which are
usually very cheap and sometimes even free. Sometimes the tradition which accompany
an event can seem as important as the actual sporting contest.
The main British sports
Football: The rules of Association Football (always call football, never ‘soccer’, if you
want to be taken seriously), the national sport of England and Scotland, were invented
in Cambridge. Today, England and Wales share four tiers of professional football. The
top flight, the English Premier League, is the richest – and some claim the best – league
in the world.
Rugby: Rugby is divided into the league and union sports, both of which are named
after Rugby School in Warwickshire, where the original game was presumably created.
This second sport is Wales' national pastime and is incredibly well-liked in England,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The Premiership is the club competition in England,
whereas the Celtic League is where Scottish, Welsh, and Irish clubs compete.
Cricket: Unfathomable to many, Brits included, cricket is a complex game played out
over a brief, rain-affected summer season.
Chapter 22: The arts
In this chapter, I learned about the characteristic of British art, and its position in society.
Sports, television, conversations with friends and family, and other leisure activities are
preferred by the majority of Britons over anything cultural. In Britain, there is a
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combination of public apathy and private excitement toward the arts. In Britain, a lot of
art forms rely significantly on private financing. Without private funding, the majority
of art groups claim they could not do what they do. In general, the arts have a low profile
in Britain.
The characteristics of British arts. It is said that one feature of art is its lack of
identification with wider intellectual trends. It is not usually ideologically committed,
nor associated with particular political movements. The type of the arts also tends to be
conventional.
Listening to music is a very common leisure activity in Britain. Popular music has been
an enormous and profitable industry. There’s much more to British music than
backbeats, iconic riffs, and the Winehouse beehive; it also harbors a rich folk and
classical repertoire. The ‘word’ painting and small-scale sculpture are not as widely
popular as music in Britain.
Chapter 23: Holidays and special occasions
Some interesting knowledge about holidays, festivals and special occasions in Britain
from our course book and Speak the Culture Britain Be Fluent in British Life and
Culture book.
Britain is a country governed by routine. It has fewer public holidays than most other
countries in Europe. Even New Year's Day was not an official public holiday (except in
Scotland) until 1974, but so many people gave themselves a holiday any way that it was
thought it might as well become official!
The British also seem to do comparatively badly with regard to annual holidays. The
statutory minimum leave in Britain is 24 days a year for full-timers, although many get
more.
British public holidays don’t all – as they do elsewhere – celebrate national heroes or
crushing military victories. Instead, they’re a somewhat haphazard mix:
New Year’s Day (or in lieu of 1stJan). Because everyone needs a day to recover from
New Year’s Eve.
2nd January (or in lieu of 2ndJan). In Scotland only: they need two days to recover.
St Patrick’s Day. Northern Ireland alone enjoys a day off on 17th March.
Good Friday. The Friday before Easter Sunday, marking the Crucifixion.
Easter Monday. The day after Easter Sunday, in Wales and England only.
May Day: Of confused Pagan and Labour Day origin, taken on the first Monday in May.
Spring bank holiday. The last Monday in May lost its hit Monday label in 971.
Orangemen’s Day. On 12th July Northern Ireland gets another day off, marking a win
for William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
Summer bank holiday. Falls on the first Monday in August in Scotland, and on the last
in England.
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St Andrew’s Day. In Scotland only: their patron saint has only afforded the 30th of
November off work since2007.
Christmas Day (or in lieu of 25thDec). Pubs serve lunch and petrol station tills still
ring, but nearly everyone else has the day off.
Boxing Day (or in lieu of 26thDec). Named for the (now defunct) tradition of giving
presents to the poor
American culture
American culture is the 2nd culture we have studied in this subject. the full name of the
US is the United States of America. The United States is a multicultural nation, home to
many diverse groups of races, traditions, and values. To refer to the general culture of
the majority of Americans is to mean "American popular culture." I gained interesting
bits of knowledge about the US.
First, the history of the US. Before the 15th century, the American continent was
inhabited by Indian tribes with a long history. They were yellow people from Asia who
crossed the Bering Strait and Alaska, then overran North America during the last ice
age, about 25,000 years ago. In 1492, explorer Christopher Colombo successfully
discovered the Americas, also known as the New World. From there European nations
began to colonize the American continent. In 1775, the colonies began to rebel against
British rule. On July 4, 1776, the colonies declared independence from Great Britain in
a document written by Thomas Jefferson, and the United States of America was born.
Conflicts between the Republican Party and southern states over the abolition of slavery
led to the American Civil War, which ran from 1861 to 1865. In 1914, World War I
broke out. At first, the United States remained neutral in the war, taking advantage of
the war to sell arms to both sides. During World War 2, the U.S. remained neutral. But
on December 7, 1941, the United States entered World War 2 alongside the Allies,
helping to defeat Nazi Germany in Europe and Imperial Japan in the Far East.
Second, about language. There is no official language of the United States, according to
the U.S. government (opens in new tab). While almost every language in the world is
spoken in the United States, the most frequently spoken non-English languages are
Spanish, Chinese, French, and German.
Third, government and politics. The head of the government organization is the
president. The president lives in the White House in Washington, D.C., and is elected
every 4 years. The Congress of the US is the legislative or lawmaking branch of the
government. Congress has 2 houses- the Senate and the House of Representatives. There
are 100 senators, two of the 50 states, and each serves six-year terms. There are 435
representatives who must be elected every two years. Republicans are elected for 2year
terms while senators serve 6year terms. The Supreme Court and lower national courts
make up the judicial branch. There are 2 important political parties: Republicans and
Democrats.
Fourth, some characteristics of people. Most people in the US believe that the ideal
person is independent and self-reliant, and most people think of themselves this way.
People in the US do not think of themselves as representatives of their families,
communities, or social class. Some international students see this attitude as "selfish”.
However, American people are said to be equality, informality, punctuality, and
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materialism. People in the United States have no taboo associated with the left hand;
they touch you or hand you objects with either the left or the right hand; have no negative
association with the soles of the feet or the bottom of the shoes.
Fifth, American religion. Religion does not play the same role in the United States as in
many countries. There is no government-supported religion or established church of
state. In general, people are quite private about their religious views. This does not mean
that people are not religious and that religion is not a political issue or an important part
of people's lives. Most people in the United States believe in God, and the majority of
people are Christians. Christianity is divided into Catholicism and Protestantism.
Protestantism is also divided into many churches: Baptist, Methodist, Mormon, and
Christian Scientist, to name a few. Christianity has many different faiths, and the United
States has many different religions. Macomb has many places of worship: Protestant,
Catholic, Islamic, Unitarian, and many other religions and denominations.
Sixth, American family. Traditionally, the American family is a nuclear family
consisting of husbands, wives, and children. The members live together in a house or an
apartment. In addition, America has a number of other family structures such as:
Cohabiting family, Cohabiting/same-sex marriage, Stepfamily and mixed families.
Family is an important environment to form, nurture and educate human personality,
and preserve and promote good traditional culture. Family is the first place and also the
last place to perform emotional and moral education and lifestyle for people.
Seventh, American sports. The United States is a sports-minded country, with millions
of fans who follow football, baseball, basketball and hockey, among other sports.
However, arose from games that were brought to America by the first settlers that
arrived from Europe in the 17th century. Individual competitions accompanied the
growth of team sports. Shooting and fishing contests were part of the colonial
experience, as were running, boxing, and horse racing. Golf and tennis emerged in the
1800s.
That’s all interesting information about American culture which I gained.
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