The UK @ a Click

Coronavirus : CONTINUITE PEDAGOGIQUE

2020-03-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

LIENS adaptés à la période de
fermeture des établissements scolaires

pour cause d'épidémie de CORONAVIRUS et de confinement

(liste en cours de mise à niveau)

Base gouvernementale de données:

Comment s’organise la continuité pédagogique avec « Ma classe à la maison » ?

La situation sanitaire liée au Covid-19 empêche désormais les élèves d’accéder à leur école, collège ou lycée. La continuité pédagogique prend forme à travers le dispositif « Ma classe à la maison » : il permet aux élèves de poursuivre leur scolarité depuis leur domicile, et de maintenir un contact avec leurs professeurs.

Des parcours pédagogiques pour tous les niveaux

Le dispositif « Ma classe à la maison » propose gratuitement des parcours pédagogiques conçus pour un apprentissage à la maison :

Faits de cours, d’activités, de vidéos, de synthèses, ces parcours offrent une période de travail de quatre semaines. Ils permettront aux élèves d’entretenir leurs connaissances et de consolider leurs acquis.

Le CNED n’intervient pas dans les évaluations et ne propose pas de devoirs ou de corrections de copies, actions qui demeurent sous la responsabilité des enseignants.

Des classes virtuelles pour échanger et se retrouver

Avec « Ma classe à la maison », les enseignants peuvent organiser en complément des classes virtuelles : elles permettent de maintenir l’échange et la dynamique de groupe, d’animer un cours à distance, d’entretenir le lien entre l’enseignant et les élèves.

Le dispositif du CNED « Ma classe à la maison » vient compléter les mesures mises en place par les enseignants ou les établissements scolaires (recours à l’ENT, autres supports de cours, etc), selon leur libre choix.

C’est le directeur d’école ou le chef d’établissement qui communique aux familles le dispositif de continuité pédagogique mis en place pour les élèves.

Liens utiles en lien avec la continuité pédagogique

La continuité pédagogique expliquée en vidéo par Jean-Michel Blanquer, ministre de l’Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse
« Ma classe à la maison »: le dispositif présenté en vidéo par le ministère de l’Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse
Comment mon enfant continue-t-il à apprendre s’il doit rester à la maison ?
Comment mon enfant continue-t-il à apprendre en cas de fermeture de son école ou de son établissement scolaire ?
Informations et recommandations pour les établissements scolaires
Les coordonnées des rectorats

- Eduscol Lien

Ressources pour la continuité pédagogique

Le ministère de l'Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse met à disposition des enseignants et de leurs élèves un ensemble de ressources numériques éducatives permettant d'assurer une continuité pédagogique. Parmi les ressources disponibles figurent les banques de ressources numériques pour l'École (BRNE), les ressources de la plateforme ETINCEL ou les ressources d'éduthèque.

Autres ressources de professionnels

Niveau élémentaire
- classe virtuelle du CNED (avec inscription): lien
- Eveil aux langues, dont l'anglais : Kidilangues lien
- YouTube Kids : "Apprendre l'anglais grâce à des dessins animés" Lien
- CE1-CE2 : activités diverses
ex: 'Where's Freddy?' A lift-the-flap Book for Easter (réalisation d'un livret) ou 'Today is Monday' (lexique des aliments et des jours de la semaine, ainsi que le verbe like aux formes affirmative et négative)

lien Primlangues.education.fr

- CM1-CM2 (jeux, vocabulaire, grammaire, etc) : lien educaplay
- activités en accès gratuit (payant pour accéder à la totalité) : Starfall lien
- activités audio pour les plus jeunes : British Council Kids   Lien
- coloriage en anglais : Familiscope Lien

Niveau collège
- activités variées : quizlet
- jeux de vocabulaire (et autres) : educaplay
- révisions grammaticales : padlet.com
- classe virtuelle du CNED : lien

Niveau lycée
- lecture (niveau avancé): site openculture (textes en pdf, comportant aussi l'accès libre à une foule de videos pour l'entraînement à la compréhension, etc) :  lien
- compréhension de l'oral : YouTube...

- EduscolTexte de civilisation et texte de littérature : enjeux, stratégies, approche (cycle terminal)

- classe virtuelle du CNED :  lien

- E3C, quelques pistes pour lancer vos recherches
- sujets-zéro du site de l'académie de Grenoble lien

- préparation aux e3c, avec sujets de bac : propositions de YouTube   lien

Niveaux variés à déterminer individuellement

- Au niveau institutionnel, France 4 va diffuser des cours à la télé, à des horaires variables selon les niveaux (à partir du 23 mars) : lien

[THREAD] ⚠ 📚 Au vu de l'actualité, #France4 bouleverse ses programmes en donnant la priorité à l'éducation. Ainsi, des cours vont être dispensés par des professeurs de l'@EducationFrance. À partir du 23 mars, retrouvez du lundi au vendredi 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZhWB9463uz
— France 4 (@France4tv) March 19, 2020

L’offre de France 4 en semaine:

- de 9h à 10h pour les CP/CE1 : 30 min de lecture/30 min de maths

- de 10h à 11h pour les préscolaires : programmes ludo-éducatifs

- de 13h30 à 14h, notamment pour les 8-12 ans : “C’est toujours pas sorcier”

- de 14h à 15h pour les collégiens : 30 min de français/30 min de maths

- de 15h à 16h pour les lycéens (notamment les premières et les terminales) : 1h de Français, Maths, Histoire-Géo, Anglais ou Philo

- de 16h à 16h50 pour les 8-12 ans et plus spécifiquement pour les CM1 - CM2 : "La maison Lumni".

- Remarquables sites académiques, notamment celui de Martinique Lien
Allez faire votre marché : dans la colonne de gauche se rendre à 'Ressources'

- Lumni (anciennement France tv éducation) est une nouvelle offre adressée aux enfants seuls ou accompagnés et aux scolaires Lien

- British Council (britannique, gratuit) Lien

Le British Council dispose d'une large gamme de ressources en ligne pour apprendre l'anglais gratuitement pour les adultes, pour les adolescents et pour les enfants. Ces ressources pour apprendre l'anglais comprennent des vidéos, des applications, des jeux, des histoires, et des activités de compréhension et de grammaire.

Apprendre l'anglais avec des applis

Améliorez votre anglais avec nos applis amusantes et ludiques ! Conçues pour toute la famille, nos jeux vidéos et quiz vous aident à apprendre l'anglais à la maison ou lors de vos déplacements.

Apprendre l'anglais sur internet

Découvrez les ressources en ligne gratuites du British Council pour apprendre l'anglais.

Apprendre l'anglais avec des MOOC gratuits

Améliorez votre anglais en participant à un MOOC gratuit du British Council. Choisissez parmi des cours sur la langue et la culture, sur l'anglais au travail, et l'enseignement des langues.

Autres ressources diverses et variées:

- tous les manuels en ligne : lien
(anglais : lien)

- à l'attention des enseignants
- visio-conférence avec les salons "Framatalk" : lien

- Google Classroom, un service gratuit pour l'éducation. C'est un outil de la suite 'Google Apps for Education' qui permet aux enseignants de créer et d'organiser rapidement des devoirs et de communiquer plus facilement avec leurs élèves. lien

- autre outil - création d'ENT (espace numérique de travail) : logiciels gratuits d'utilisation simple
Guppy Lien
Moodle Lien
Prométhée Lien

   - correction dématérialisée des copies numérisées (correction des copies des épreuves d'E3C (Epreuves Communes du Contrôle Continu), notamment) :   logiciel Santorin Lien d'installation
  (tablette graphique recommandée)

- Enseigner les langues avec Adobe Spark - Concevoir une vidéo en anglais   lien

- Coronavirus Covid-19 - "Ma classe à la maison" : la plateforme gratuite du CNED pour assurer la continuité pédagogique

Gestion de cours virtuels à leurs élèves. Ils peuvent ainsi animer des séances ou des cours à distance par visioconférence (cf. ci-dessus).

Trois plateformes distinctes créées le 14 mars 2020

- compréhension orale de détente à la pause... : BBC podcasts Home
soul music : lien
documentaires : lien

- transcription de texte oral (facile d'emploi et fiable, plusieurs langues acceptées) : logiciel de reconnaissance vocale 'Talktyper' Lien

Si le confinement est l'occasion de varier les méthodes d'interaction, vous souhaitez peut-être créer un 'vlog' (videoblog), l'élève prend conscience que la qualité de sa prononciation de l'anglais est capitale au bon fonctionnement du logiciel)

(à suivre)

Home page : WELCOME !

2011-01-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

The UK @ a Click

Cliquer sur la carte pour continuer

2011-01-01T22:45:00.000-08:00

CH.I- Facts and figures

CH.II- Customs and traditions

CH.III- Sport, leisure, food and drink

CH.IV- Tourist information, sites and landmarks

CH.V- Making contacts

CH.VI- English language and literature

CH.VII- Education

Ch. VIII- Constitution and system of government

CH.IX- Monarchy

CH.X- Etiquette

CH.XI- Britain's Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth

CH.XII- Law and Order

CH.XIII- Practical advice and useful addresses

OUTILS LINGUISTIQUES
OUTILS CULTURELS
TRANSPORTS
REGLEMENTATION
HEBERGEMENT
VISITES-TOURISME
SPECTACLES
Let's sing !
LIENS PRATIQUES

TRAVAILLER au Royaume Uni
BUSINESS ENGLISH

BACK HOME <--> NEXT to Chapter I

CH. I - Facts & Figures

2011-01-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

CH. I - Facts & figures

1. Difference between the UK and

Great Britain

2. Population and major cities
3. National Parks
4. Ethnic minority groups
5. Religions
6. Imports and exports
7. Union Flag
8. ‘GMT’ and ‘British Summertime’

Click on the map to ZOOM in on the UK

1- What is the difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain ?

The United Kingdom is made up of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain (or 'Britain'), on the other hand, comprises only England, Scotland and Wales. It is the largest island of the British Isles. Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic form the second largest island.

The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Lihou, Jethou, Brecqhou) are not part of the United Kingdom. They are largely self-governing with their own legislative assemblies and systems of law. The British Government is, however, responsible for their defence and international relations. In this site the term ‘Britain’ is used informally to mean the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Video: link

More (Encarta)
England - Scotland - Northern Ireland - Wales

2- What is the population of Britain and its major cities?

Britain ranks 18th in the world in terms of population size. In mid-2003, the population of Britain was 59.6 million, an increase of 3.7 million since mid-1971.

The total population of England is estimated at 49.9 million, Wales is estimated at 2.9 million, Scotland at 5.1 million and Northern Ireland at 1.7 million people.
England has the highest population density and Scotland has the lowest.

The population of some of Britain’s major cities in 2001 are as follows: London 7,172,091; Birmingham 977,087; Manchester 392,819; Glasgow 577,869; Edinburgh 448,624; Belfast 271,596 (in 2003); Cardiff 305,353.

More
National Statistics - Census 2001

3- What are National Parks and where are they?

National Parks aim both to protect the outstanding countryside within their boundaries and to provide opportunities for outside recreation for their many thousands of visitors each year.

There are nine National Parks in England - Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, North York Moors, Northumberland, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, the Broads and the New Forest.

There are three National Parks in Wales - Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coast that together account for about 20 per cent of the total land area.

In Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs form the first national park, and the Caimgorms became the second in September 2003. It is the largest in Britain (3,800 square kilometres).

More
Visiter le Royaume Uni

4- Which are Britain’s largest ethnic minorities groups?

The largest ethnic minorities in Britain are those of Caribbean or African descent (1,149,000 people).
The next largest ethnic groups are Indians (1,053,000 people),and Pakistani and Bangladeshis (1,030,000 people).
Overall, ethnic minority groups represent 7.9 per cent of the population of Great Britain. The ethnic population has evolved from the substantial immigration of people from former British colonies in the Caribbean and South Asian sub-continent during the 1950s and 1960s.

In addition, in the 1970s Britain admitted some 28,000 Asians expelled from Uganda and some 22,000 refugees from South East Asia. Considerable numbers of Chinese, Italians, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Poles, Australians, New Zealanders and people from the United States and Canada are also resident in Britain.

More :

Commission for Racial Equality

The Home Office

La société civile en Grande Bretagne

5- Which religions are represented in Britain?

Everyone in Britain has the right to religious freedom.
Britain is predominantly Christian - one British citizen in 10 is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and there are 1.7 million members of the Anglican church - the ‘established church’, that is the church legally recognised as the official church of the State.

In Scotland, there are 1.1 million members of the Presbyterian Church - the established church in Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, about half the people regard themselves as Protestants and nearly 40 per cent as Roman Catholics.

In Wales, the Anglican church was disestablished in 1920. This means that there is no one officially established church, but Methodism and Baptism are the two most widespread religions.

Britain has one of the largest Muslim communities in Western Europe, estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 million people, with over 600 mosques and prayer centres. One of the most important Muslim institutions in the Western world is the Central mosque in London and its associated Islamic Cultural Centre.

The Sikh community in Britain comprises between 400,000 and 500,000 people, with the largest groups of Sikhs concentrated in Greater London, Manchester and Birmingham. The oldest Sikh temple was established in London in 1908.

The Hindu community in Britain accounts for a further 320,000 people. The first Hindu temple was opened in London in 1962, and there are now over 150 throughout Britain.

Other religious groups include about 285,000 members of the Jewish faith.

More
Church (Britannia)
The BBC Religion & Ethics

6- What are Britain’s main imports and exports?

Despite having only one per cent of the world’s population, Britain is the fifth largest trading nation in the world.

The chemical industry is Britain’s largest export earner, and the third largest in Western Europe. Since the 1970s, oil has contributed significantly to Britain’s overseas trade, both in exports and a reduced need to import oil. British Petroleum (BP) is Britain’s biggest and Europe’s second biggest industrial company.

UK pharmaceutical companies make three of the world’s best selling medicines: ‘Zantac’ (made by Glaxo Wellcome) for ulcer treatment; ‘Tenormin’ (ICI), a beta-blocker for high blood pressure; and ‘AZT’ (Glaxo Wellcome), a drug used in the treatment of AIDs.

Britain is also a major supplier of machinery, vehicles, aerospace products, electrical and electronic equipment. Britain is responsible for 10 per cent of the world’s export of services, including banking, insurance, stockbroking, consultancy and computer programming.

Britain imports six times as many manufactures as basic materials. EU countries account for seven of the 10 leading suppliers of goods to Britain and Germany is Britain’s biggest supplier of imports. Food, beverages and tobacco account for half of non-manufactured imports, whilst machinery and road vehicles account for two-thirds of finished imported manufactures. Other major imports include chemicals, fuels, clothing and footwear.

More
Indicateurs économiques de la France et du Royaume-Uni

The Department of Trade & Industry

7- What does the Union Flag stand for and how should it be flown?

The flag of Britain, commonly known as the Union Jack (which derives from the use of the Union Flag on the jack-staff of naval vessels), embodies the emblems of three countries under one Sovereign. The emblems that appear on the Union Flag are the crosses of three patron saints:

• the red cross of St. George, for England, on a white ground;

• the white diagonal cross, or saltire, of St. Andrew, for Scotland, on a blue ground;

• the red diagonal cross of St. Patrick, for Ireland, on a white ground.

The current version of the Union Flag appeared in 1801, following the union of Great Britain with Ireland, with the inclusion of the cross of St Patrick. The cross remains in the flag although now only Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.

Wales is not represented in the Union Flag because, when the first version of the flag appeared, Wales was already united with England. The national flag of Wales, a red dragon on a field of white and green, dates from the 15th century and is widely used throughout the Principality.

N.B.

The Union Flag should be flown with the broader diagonal band of white uppermost near the pole (left)

and the narrower diagonal band of white (right) uppermost in the fly (furthest from the pole).

8- What are ‘GMT’ and ‘British Summertime’?

GMT or ‘Greenwich Mean Time’ is the local time of the 0 degree meridian that passes through Greenwich in London, from which the standard times of different areas of the globe are calculated. Thus it is the standard time for Britain, and a basis for other time zones in the world. Summer time or BST (British Summer Time) runs from the end of March to the end of October (the last Sunday in each month), when clocks are advanced one hour ahead of GMT to gain maximum use of daylight hours.

More

Encarta Facts and Figures

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CH. II - Customs and traditions

2011-01-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

Ch.II - Customs and Traditions

9- Does Britain have a National Day
10- How do the British celebrate traditional and religious holiday?
11- What and when are ‘bank’ holidays ?
12- What is Pancake Day?
13- What is Guy Fawkes Night?
14- What is the significance of the poppy and when is it worn?
15- What are Britain’s national flowers?
16- Where can I find out about British folk songs and folk tales?
17- What are Britain’s national costumes?
18- What is Burns’ Night and how is it celebrated?

19- What are the most common superstitions in Britain?

9- Does Britain have a National Day?

National Days in Britain are not celebrated to the same extent as National Days in countries like France or America.

Scotland’s National Day is St. Andrew’s Day (30 November), which has now largely been overshadowed by Burns’ Night. St. Andrew, one of Christ’s twelve apostles, is the patron saint of Scotland. Some of his bones are said to have been brought to what is now St. Andrews in Fife during the 4th century. Since medieval times the X-shaped saltire cross upon which St. Andrew was supposedly crucified has been the Scottish national symbol.

St. David’s Day (1 March) is the national day of Wales. St. David (c.520-588), the patron saint of Wales, was the founder and first abbot-bishop of Menevia, now St. David’s in Dyfed, South Wales. The day is commemorated by the wearing of daffodils or leeks by patriotic Welsh people. Both plants are traditionally regarded as the national emblems of Wales.

England’s national day is St. George’s Day (23 April). St. George is the patron saint of England. A story that first appeared in the 6th century tells that St. George rescued a hapless maid by slaying a fearsome fire-breathing dragon! The saint’s name was shouted as a battle cry by English knights who fought beneath the red-cross banner of St. George during the Hundred Years War (1338-1453). This is immortalised in Shakespeare’s play Henry V in the lines:

“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,

Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot:

Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge

Cry ‘God for Harry! England and Saint George!’”

Today the red cross of St. George still flies above every English parish church to mark the saint’s day.

St. Patrick’s Day (17th March) is an official Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland. The work of St. Patrick (c.389-c.461) was a vital factor in the spread of Christianity in Ireland. Born in Britain, he was carried off by pirates, and spent six years in slavery before escaping and training as a missionary. The day is marked by the wearing of shamrocks (a clover-like plant), the national badge of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

10- How do the British celebrate traditional and religious holidays?

Christmas Day
In Britain, Christmas Day is normally spent at home, with the family, and it is regarded as a celebration of the family and its continuity. Preparations start well in advance, with the sending of Christmas cards and installation of a decorated Christmas tree in a prominent place in the home.

Although it is now a firmly established tradition, the Christmas tree was first popularised by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who introduced the custom from his native Germany in 1840.

Some houses are decorated with evergreens (plants which do not lose their leaves in winter); a wreath of holly on the front door and garlands of holly, ivy and fir indoors. Bunches of mistletoe are often hung above doorways - any couple passing underneath must exchange kisses!

Traditional food is prepared: sweet mince pies, a rich Christmas cake and the Christmas pudding. Everyone has their own favourite recipe, but they’re all packed full of spices, nuts, dried fruit and brandy.

Presents are bought and wrapped, and traditionally placed under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Christmas is both a secular and a religious holiday, and many families like to attend a midnight service at church on Christmas Eve, or celebrate Christmas in church on Christmas morning.

The excitement begins for children on Christmas Eve, when they hang up their stockings (an old sock or, more ambitiously, pillow cases) around the fireplace or at the foot of the bed for Father Christmas to fill with presents. The English Father Christmas or Santa Claus is first recorded in his traditional red and white outfit in a woodcut of 1653, but the story of Santa arriving in his reindeer-drawn sleigh and descending down the chimney to fill children’s stockings with presents derives from the USA.

Practically everyone sits down to a Christmas dinner in the early afternoon of Christmas Day, traditionally roast turkey, but some families prefer goose or roast beef. The turkey is followed by the Christmas pudding, brought to the table flaming hot. Brandy is poured over the pudding, then lit. The day ends with everyone relaxing, watching television or playing guessing-games like charades.

Boxing Day
Boxing Day (26 December) is so-called because it’s a time when tradespeople receive a ‘Christmas Box’ - some money in appreciation of the work they’ve carried out all year. Traditionally a time for visiting family and friends and indulging in more feasting, Boxing Day is a popular day for football matches and other sporting fixtures. The day is a public holiday, so shops and banks are closed. More recently, some shops have broken with tradition and now open on Boxing Day to encourage shoppers who can’t wait to spend their Christmas money!

MORE

- The Queen's Christmas Speech 2008 (lien YouTube)

New Year

New Year is often launched with a party - either at home with family and friends or a gathering in the local pubs and clubs. Merrymaking begins on New Year’s Eve and builds up to midnight. The stroke of midnight is the cue for much cheering, hooting, whistling, kissing and the drinking of toasts.

Tradition has it that the first person over the threshold on New Year’s Day will dictate the luck brought to the household in the coming year. This is known as First Footing. At midnight on 31 December, particularly in Scotland and northern England, ‘first footers’ (traditionally a tall, dark, good-looking man) step over the threshold bringing the New Year’s Luck. The first footer usually brings a piece of coal, a loaf and a bottle of whisky. On entering he must place the fuel on the fire, put the loaf on the table and pour a glass for the head of the house, all normally without speaking or being spoken to until he wishes everyone ‘A Happy New Year’. He must, of course, enter by the front door and leave by the back.

In Wales the back door is opened to release the Old Year at the first stroke of midnight. It is then locked up to ‘keep the luck in’ and at the last stroke the New Year is let in at the front door.

In Scotland the New Year remains the greatest of all annual festivals. Called ‘Hogmanay’ (a word whose meaning has never been satisfactorily established), it’s marked by an evening of drinking and merrymaking, culminating at the stroke of midnight when huge gatherings of people at Edinburgh’s Tron Kirk and Glasgow’s George Square greet the New Year by linking arms and singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Halloween

Halloween (31 October) and its associations with witches and ghosts derives from the Celtic Old Year’s Night - the night of all witches, when spirits were said to walk the earth. Witches and supernatural beings are still remembered all over Britain, when bands of children roam the streets in ghoulish costumes, carrying Halloween lanterns - pumpkins hollowed out with a ghostly face cut into one side, which glows when a candle is placed inside.

In recent years the custom of ‘trick or treating’ has gained in popularity. Although we commonly associate this practice with America, the custom originated in England as ‘Mischief Night’ when children declared one ‘lawless night’ of unpunished pranks (usually May Day eve or Halloween).

Halloween parties (usually for children) include games such as apple bobbing, where apples are either floated in water or hung by a string. The object of the game is for the players to put their hands behind their back and try to seize an apple with their teeth alone.EasterEaster day is named after the Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre, whose feast took place at the spring equinox.

Easter is now the spring feast of the Christian church, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. It falls on a Sunday between 22 March and 25 April, according to the church calendar.
Traditionally Easter eggs, dyed and decorated or made of chocolate, are given as presents symbolising new life and the coming of spring. Egg rolling competitions take place in northern Britain on Easter Monday; hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a slope, with the winner being - according to local preference - the one which rolls the furthest, survives the most rolls, or is successfully aimed between two pegs! The best publicised event takes place at Avenham Park in Preston, Lancashire.
Easter parades are also part of the Easter tradition, with those taking part wearing Easter bonnets or hats, traditionally decorated with spring flowers and ribbons.

11- What and when are ‘bank’ holidays?

Many public holidays in Britain are known as ‘bank’ holidays - so called because these are days on which banks are legally closed. Most fall on a Monday.

In England and Wales there are six bank holidays:

New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, May Day (not necessarily 1 May), Spring at the end of May and Late Summer Holidays at the end of August , and Boxing Day.

There are also two common law holidays on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

In Scotland there are nine public holidays: New Year’s Day, January 2, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day (not necessarily 1 May), Spring and Summer Holidays at the end of May and the beginning of August respectively, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

In Northern Ireland there are seven bank holidays: New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day (17 March), Easter Monday, May Day (not necessarily 1 May), Spring and Late Summer Holidays at the end of May and August respectively, and Boxing Day.
There are also two common law holidays on Good Friday and Christmas Day and a public holiday on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (12 July).

There are holidays in lieu of those public holidays which fall at weekends. Shops, museums and other public attractions, such as historic houses and sports centres, may close on certain public holidays, particularly Christmas Day. As this varies, it is advisable to check with the individual establishment beforehand.

12 - What is Pancake Day?

Pancake day or ‘Shrove Tuesday’ (the Tuesday which falls 41 days before Easter) is the eve of the Lenten fast. On this day in earlier times all Christians made their compulsory confessions or ‘shrifts’ from which the name ‘Shrove Tuesday’ derives, and took their last opportunity to eat up all the rich foods prohibited during Lent. Thus all eggs, butter and fat remaining in the house were made into pancakes, hence the festival’s usual nickname of Pancake Day. Though the strict observance of Lent is now rare, everyone enjoys eating the customary pancakes and some regions celebrate the day with pancake races.

The oldest and most famous is held at Olney in Buckinghamshire. The race is run over 415 yards (about 380 metres) by women over sixteen, wearing a cap and apron. They must ‘toss’ their pancake (flip it over in the frying pan) at least three times during the race. The winner receives a kiss from the Pancake Bell Ringer - church bells were traditionally rung to remind parishioners to come to confession - and a prayer book from the vicar!

13- What is Guy Fawkes Night?

In 1605 Guy Fawkes, a Roman Catholic, and his fellow conspirators attempted to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament, as they disagreed with the King’s Protestant policies. They succeeded in storing some 30 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar under the Houses of Parliament, but before Parliament opened on November 5th, the ‘gunpowder plot’, as it has come to be known, was discovered. Guy Fawkes and his colleagues were executed for treason.

Since then, the 5th of November has been celebrated in England by the burning on bonfires of stuffed figures of Guy Fawkes (left) , usually accompanied by firework displays. These may be large organised events open to members of the public, or smaller, private gatherings of family and friends held in people’s gardens. ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ is also known as ‘Bonfire Night’ or ‘Firework Night’. In the days leading up to the 5th of November children traditionally take their home-made Guys out onto the streets of their town or village and ask passers-by for ‘a penny for the Guy’. This money is supposedly used as a contribution towards their fireworks.

14- What is the significance of the poppy and when is it worn?

The poppy is traditionally worn on Remembrance Day in memory of service personnel who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and subsequent conflicts like the Falklands War and the Gulf War.

The red poppies represent the poppies that grew in the cornfields of Flanders in the First World War where many thousands of soldiers lost their lives. The paper poppies that are worn today are made by ex-service personnel and are sold by representatives of the Royal British Legion, an organisation of ex-servicemen and women.

Remembrance Day falls on the nearest Sunday to 11 November - the day peace was declared. The day is commemorated by church services around the country and a parade of ex-service personnel in London’s Whitehall. Wreaths of poppies are left at the Cenotaph, a war memorial in Whitehall, built after the First World War. By tradition, at 11.00am on Remembrance Sunday a two minute silence is observed at the Cenotaph and elsewhere in the country to honour those who lost their lives.

15- What are Britain’s national flowers?

The national flower of England is the rose. The flower has been adopted as England’s emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses - civil wars (1455-1485) between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose). The Yorkist regime ended with the defeat of King Richard III by the future Henry VII at Bosworth on 22 August 1485, and the two roses were united into the Tudor rose (a red rose with a white centre) by Henry VII when he married Elizabeth of York.

The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover which is said to have been used by St. Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.The Scottish national flower is the thistle, a prickly-leaved purple flower which was first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The three flowers - rose, thistle and shamrock - are often displayed beneath the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms.

The national flower of Wales is usually considered to be the daffodil, which is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day. However, the humble leek is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales, possibly because its colours, white over green, echo the ancient Welsh standard.

16- Where can I find out about British folk songs and folk tales?

Numerous books have been written about British folk tales, and most libraries in Britain stock a selection of books on both local and national folklore. Alternatively, contact:
The English Folk Dance and Song Society

Cecil Sharp House,

2 Regent’s Park Road,

London NW1 7AY

Tel +44 (0) 171 485 2206

Fax +44 (0) 171 284 0523

The English Folk Dance and Song Society have an extensive library, open to the public (please telephone for details).

A further valuable source of information is the library of :
Folklore Society Office:

The Folklore Society
The Warburg Institute
Woburn Square
London WC1H 0AB
The nearest London Underground stations are Euston Square, Euston or Goodge Street.
Folklore Society Office Tel: 020 7862 8564 (with voice mail for messages)
Website: http://www.folklore-society.com/

Access to the library is by a day pass issued to visitors, or by membership of the Society. Please write for details.

17- What are Britain’s national costumes?

England

Although England is a country rich in folklore and traditions, it has no definitive ‘national’ costume. The most well-known folk costumes are those of the Morris dancers. They can be seen in many country villages during the summer months performing folk dances that once held ritualistic and magical meanings associated with the awakening of the earth. The costume varies from team to team, but basically consists of white trousers, a white shirt, a pad of bells worn around the calf of the leg, and a hat made of felt or straw, decorated with ribbons and flowers. The bells and ribbons are said to banish harm and bring fertility. Morris dancing was originally an all-male tradition, but now some teams feature women dancers too.

Scotland

Perhaps the most famous national costume in Britain is the Scottish kilt with its distinctive tartan pattern. The kilt is a length of woollen cloth, pleated except for sections at each end. The kilt is worn around the waist, with the pleats at the back and the ends crossed over at the front and secured with a pin. Each Scottish Clan or family has its own distinctive tartan pattern, made up of different colours, and an official register of tartans is maintained by the Scottish Tartans Society in Perthshire.

Contact:
Scottish Tartans Society,
Port-Na-Craig,
Pitlochry, PH16 5ND,
Tel +44 (0) 1796 474079 or 1350 728849
Email research.enquiries@perth.almac.co.uk
Website http://www.alamc.co.uk/es/sts

The kilt forms part of the traditional Highland dress, worn by Scottish clansmen and Scottish regiments. In addition to the kilt, a plaid or tartan cloak is worn over one shoulder, and a goatskin pouch or sporran (left) is worn at the front of the kilt. Sometimes tartan trousers or trews are worn instead of a kilt. Women do not have their own distinctive national dress in Scotland, although tartan fabrics are widely used in clothing, and the kilt is also worn.

Wales

The national costume of Wales is based on the peasant costume of the 18th and 19th centuries. Because Wales was isolated geographically from the rest of Britain, many of the individual traits of costume and materials were retained in Welsh dress long after they had died out elsewhere.

Unlike Scotland, the distinctive folk costume of Wales was worn by the women, consisting of a long gown (betgwn) or skirt, worn with a petticoat (pais - the favoured colour was scarlet) and topped with a shawl folded diagonally to form a triangle and draped around the shoulders, with one corner hanging down and two others pinned in front. Aprons were universally worn, sometimes simple, sometimes decorated with colourful embroidery. The most distinctive part of the costume was the tall black ‘Welsh hat’ or ‘beaver hat’, thought to have originated in France at the end of the 18th century. The hats had a tall crown, cylindrical or conical in shape with a wide brim, and were usually trimmed with a band of silk or crêpe.

Northern Ireland

Early Irish dress, based on Gaelic and Norse costumes, consisted of check trews for men, worn with a fringed cloak or mantle, or a short tunic for both men and women, worn with a fringed cloak. This style of dressing was prohibited in the 16th century under sumptuary laws, passed to suppress the distinctive Irish dress and so overcome Irish reluctance to become part of England. In particular, the wearing of the fringed cloak was forbidden, as was the wearing of trews or any saffron-coloured garment (saffron yellow was an important feature of Irish costume). Although a strong tradition of wearing folk costume does not survive in Northen Ireland today, folk music and folk dancing are very important.

18- What is Burns’ Night and how is it celebrated?

Commemorating the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 -1796), Burns’ Night is a patriotic festival celebrated on 25 January, wherever Scots gather together.First commemorated by the ‘Burns Clubs’ soon after the poet’s death, the evening begins with traditional food, often with a menu written in the poet’s ‘Lallans’ (Lowlands Scots) dialect and sometimes in rhyme. This may include such delicacies as ‘Powsowdie’ (sheep’s head broth); ‘Cabbie-claw’ (dried cod with horseradish and egg sauce) and ‘Finnan toasties’ (smoked haddock). But pride of place goes to the haggis - minced mutton, offal, oatmeal and spices boiled in a sheep’s stomach! The meal ends with multifarious toasts, followed by patriotic and sentimental speeches, Scottish dancing and performances of Burns’ narrative poems, especially ‘Tam o’ Shanter’ and concluding with everybody linking arms and singing the most famous of them all, ‘Auld Lang Syne’.The words of ‘Auld lang syne’ which means literally old long since, or ‘long ago’, are:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to min’?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And days o’ auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet

For auld lang syne!

Roughly, the verses mean:

Should old friends be forgotten, and never brought to mind (remembered)?

Should old friends be forgotten, and days of long ago.

For (the sake of) long ago, my dear, for (the sake of) long ago,

We’ll drink a toast for the sake of long ago!

19- What are the most common superstitions in Britain?

There are many superstitions in Britain, but one of the most widely-held is that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder - even if it means stepping off the pavement into a busy street!

If you must pass under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you’ve seen a dog. Alternatively, you must lick your finger and make a cross on the toe of your shoe, and not look again at the shoe until the mark has dried.

Another common superstition is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house - it will either bring misfortune to the person that opened it or to the household. Anyone opening an umbrella in fine weather is unpopular, as it inevitably brings rain!

The number 13 is said to be unlucky for some, and when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, anyone wishing to avoid an inauspicious event had better stay indoors.

The worst misfortune that can befall you is incurred by breaking a mirror, as it brings seven years of bad luck! The superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times, when mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.

Black cats are generally considered lucky in Britain, even though they are associated with witchcraft - a witch’s animal-familiar is usually a black cat. It is especially lucky if a black cat crosses your path - although in America the exact opposite belief prevails.

Finally, a commonly-held superstition is that of touching wood for luck. This measure is most often taken if you think you have said something that is tempting fate, such as ‘my car has never broken down - touch wood !’

More

- British people (Wikipedia)

- What are the British really like?

(an article from The Independent)

- What are the British like ? (dailymotion video)
- What are the British really like? (dailymotion vid)

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CH. III – Sport, leisure, food and drink

2011-01-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

CH. III – Sport, leisure, food and drink

20- Food in Britain

21- Tea

22- Haggis

23- Are British dishes named after places?

24- Rules of cricket

25- Football clubs

26- Four teams in international sporting tournaments
27- Wimbledon tennis championships

28- Highland Games

29- Leisure time

30- The pub

31- The Proms

32- British ‘humour’

33- Edinburgh Festival?

20- What is the most popular food in Britain?

Britain’s most popular ‘fast food’ has got to be fish and chips. Fish and chip shops first made an appearance at the end of the 19th century and since then have been a firm favourite up and down the country. The dish is simplicity itself: fish (usually cod, haddock or plaice) is dipped in a batter made from flour, eggs and water and then deep fried in hot fat. Chips are made from thick batons of potato and deep fried. Fish and chips are served over the counter wrapped in paper, and traditionalists prefer to eat them straight out of the paper because they taste better that way!

The best-known British dish eaten at home has been roast beef, traditionally eaten on Sunday. The dish used to be so popular in England that the French still refer to the British as ‘les rosbifs’! Roast beef is served with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy - a sauce made from meat juices and stock, thickened with flour. Yorkshire pudding - batter baked in hot fat in the oven - is a favourite accompaniment to roast beef.

MORE : BBC Food

21- Why do the British like drinking tea?

Everything in Britain, says a popular song, ‘stops for tea’. It’s certainly true that tea is the most popular drink in Britain - far more popular than coffee, which is favoured throughout Europe and America.

The Dutch brought the first tea to Europe in about 1610, but it was not until 1658 that the first advertisement for tea appeared in a London newspaper. By 1750, tea had become the principal drink of all the classes in Britain, yet at that time a pound of the cheapest tea cost about one-third of a skilled worker’s weekly wage! Tea was jealously guarded by the lady of the house, and kept in special containers called tea-caddies, often with a lock, and carefully doled out by the teaspoon.

Gradually, tea-drinking developed into a fashionable social ritual and tea gardens blossomed in places like Vauxhall and Marylebone in London, where couples could stroll in the afternoon and enjoy a cup of tea with bread and butter and cakes. Tea parties were also popular at home, and soon the ritual of ‘afternoon tea’ was firmly established. Today, throughout the homes, tea-shops and hotels of Britain, the custom of tea-time continues, and it remains a feature of any cricket match or summer fête.

MORE
Tea drinking (BBC)

High Tea is a more substantial evening meal, popular in northern England and Scotland.Tea in Britain is traditionally brewed in a china teapot, adding one spoonful of tea per person and one for the pot. Great importance is attached to the use of freshly boiled water, which is poured onto the leaves and then the tea is left to ‘brew’ for a few minutes. Most people in Britain prefer a rich, strong cup of tea with milk, and sugar is sometimes added to taste.

22- What is haggis?

Haggis is Scotland’s best-known regional dish, a rich, spicy concoction made from lamb’s offal (lungs, liver and heart) mixed with suet, onions, herbs and spices, all packed into a skin made of plastic, or, traditionally, a sheep’s stomach. Traditionally served on Burns’ Night, the haggis is often accompanied by mashed potatoes and mashed swede or turnips. Although the haggis neither sounds nor looks appetising, most people brave enough to try it agree that it is extremely tasty!

23- Is it true that a lot of British dishes are named after places?

The rich variety of British regional cooking is reflected in the names of our favourite dishes. Many regions have their own particular speciality of sweet or savoury fare, or are famed for their local produce.

Cheeses are produced in many regions, although Cheddar cheese, a strong-flavoured, salty cheese is the most popular variety. It originates from a village in Somerset in western England, also famous for its gorge. Other types of cheeses include Cheshire, Lancashire, Stilton and Wensleydale.

Cornwall in south-west England is famous for its Cornish Pasties - a pastry case filled with meat, potatoes and vegetables, which was the traditional midday meal of workers in the region.

The town of Bakewell in Derbyshire has a rich pastry tart named after it. The Bakewell pudding or Bakewell tart was said to have been invented by accident, when a cook forgot to put jam over the custard filling of a pudding - instead she spread it straight onto the pastry case and poured the custard on top. Thus a new dish was born! Welsh cakes, a kind of sweet cake cooked on a griddle, were originally served to hungry travellers when they arrived at an inn for the night while they waited for their supper to be cooked.

Many other dishes are named after places - everything from Lancashire hotpot (a casserole of meat and vegetables topped with sliced potatoes, left) and Scottish shortbread (a sweet, buttery biscuit, right) to Welsh rarebit (nothing to do with rabbit, but melted cheese on toast!), baked Ulster ham, and Bath buns (a sweet bun containing spices and dried fruit, originally made in Bath, western England). Indeed, dedicated gourmets could happily munch their way from one county to another!

MORE: http://www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk/

24- Where can I look up the rules of cricket?

Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack, published annually for the last 133 years, is a mine of information about cricket and the year’s season. It also contains a summary of the rules of the game - known as ‘the Laws of Cricket’.

Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack is published by:

John Wisden and Co Ltd

25 Down Road,

Merrow,

Guildford,

Surrey GU1 2PY

Tel +44 (0) 1483 570358

Fax +44 (0) 1483 33153

The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), which was responsible for cricket throughout the world from the late 18th century to 1968, still remains the official ‘guardian’ of the Laws of Cricket.

A copy may be obtained from:

Lord’s Cricket Ground,

London NW8 8QN

Tel +44 (0) 171 266 1818

Fax +44 (0) 171 266 1777

MORE: Règles du cricket (en anglais)

25- Where can I find out about the origins of British football clubs?

For information about English clubs write to:
The Football Association,
25 Soho Square
London W1D 4FA
Tel +44 (0) 171 262 4542
Fax +44 (0) 171 402 0486

Those interested in a particular football club may also visit the Football Association Library at their headquarters in London. Please telephone first for details.
The respective organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are:

The Scottish Football Association,

Hampden Park

Glasgow G42 9AY

Tel +44 (0) 141 332 6372

Fax +44 (0) 141 332 7559

The Football Association of Wales,

Plymouth Chambers

3 Westgate Street

Cardiff CF10 1DP

Tel +44 (0) 1222 372325

Fax +44 (0) 1222 343961

Irish Football Association,

20 Windsor Avenue

Belfast BT9 6EE

Tel +44 (0) 1232 669458

Fax +44 (0) 1232 667620

MORE: UK Football Guide

26- Why does Britain have four teams in international sporting tournaments?

In some international sporting tournaments, including hockey, football and athletics (Commonwealth Games) Britain sends four separate teams, representing the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In Football, each team is representative of a separate national sporting association, affiliated to FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) which controls world football. Since 1972 a British football team has not competed at the Olympics, as the four countries of the United Kingdom wish to maintain separate national teams, and under Olympic rules Britain is only allowed to send one team to the Olympics. Similarly, Scotland, England and Wales each have their own hockey team, and the countries compete separately at international events.

The rugby union touring team, the British Lions, represents England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The side which toured Australia back in 1899 was the first to be totally representative. It is said the British Lions title was given to the team on its tour of South Africa in 1924 when local journalists coined the phrase because of the lion symbol the players wore on their ties.

MORE: The Commonwealth Games Federation

UK Sport

27- What are the origins of the Wimbledon tennis championships?

The famous international tennis tournament at Wimbledon in south west London had humble beginnings as a small championship competition for some 20 players (all men) who paid an entrance fee of one guinea each to enter. That first Lawn Tennis Championship was held at Worple Road, Wimbledon in 1877, home of the All England Croquet Club later to become the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (originally croquet was considered a more important sport than tennis!). Spencer Gore became the first men’s singles champion, winning 12 guineas and a silver cup. In 1884 Miss Maud Watson became the first women’s singles champion.In 1922 the Club moved to its present ground at Church Road, Wimbledon, with its famous Centre Court building designed by Captain Stanley Peach. Centre Court currently has a capacity for over 13,000 spectators.

Today Wimbledon fortnight takes place in June each year, with most of the world’s top-class tennis players competing for honours. During Wimbledon fortnight over 12 tons of salmon, 23 tons of strawberries and 285,000 cups of tea are supplied by caterers, together with 12,500 bottles of champagne!

Tickets for Wimbledon are issued to the general public by ballot. A Stamped Addressed Envelope (SAE) must be sent for an application form by the end of December.

To enter the ballot (tirage au sort), contact:
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club

PO Box 98

Church Road,

Wimbledon,

London SW19 5AE

28- What are the Highland Games?

The popularity of the Highland Games dates back to Queen Victoria’s patronage of them, which began in the middle of the last century, although before that time many Highland clans had long held annual gatherings which included traditional sports and games.

One of the most famous gatherings is held each year at Braemar in Aberdeenshire during early September, opening with a spectacular march of kilted clansmen accompanied by pipers playing the bagpipes. The Games at Braemar and elsewhere in Scotland usually feature displays of highland dancing and hard-fought contests for players of the bagpipes, as well as gruelling athletic events. These include ‘throwing the hammer’,right) - flinging an iron ball on a chain as far as possible, and ‘tossing the caber’, left)- tossing a long and unwieldy wooden pole, like a tree trunk, said to have originated as a way of heaving felled tree-trunks over ravines or streams!

29- How do the British spend their leisure time?

Britain’s most common leisure activities are home-based or social.

Watching television and videos, and listening to the radio are by far the most popular leisure pastimes, with an average of 20 hours a week devoted to these. Britain’s regular weekly dramas or ‘soap operas’ such as ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Coronation Street’ have more viewers than any other programme.

Listening to music is also a popular pastime, with nearly 140 million compact discs (CDs) bought in 1995. Pop and rock albums are the most common type of music bought, and pop is by far the most popular form of musical expression in Britain.

The most common free-time activity outside the home amongst adults is a visit to the pub. Other popular leisure activities include visits to the theatre or cinema. There are over 1,500 cinemas in Britain, and in 1995 nearly one in five adults visited the cinema two or three times.

Britain also has about 300 theatres, of which about 100 are in London. Britain’s most famous theatre company, The Royal Shakespeare Company, performs in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, and in London.

Of all sporting activities, walking is by far the most popular for men and women of all ages. Whilst men tend to dominate golf (left) and cue sports (right) such as snooker and billiards, women generally prefer swimming, keep-fit classes and yoga.

MORE: the cinema

30- Why do the British like going to the pub?

One of the main attractions of the pub for all regular pubgoers is that it offers good company in friendly surroundings. Where else can you appear as a complete stranger and at once be able to join in a conversation with a diverse group of people?

Often the style of the pub and its locality will dictate the kind of clientele you can expect to find there.

Village pubs with their country furnishings and real ales attract not only local folk but citydwellers out for a drive, hikers fresh from a long day’s walk and pensioners enjoying a pub lunch.

City pubs tend to have a more mixed clientele - businessmen and women discussing the latest deal, theatregoers or groups of friends enjoying a drink together before going off to a restaurant or nightclub.

Good conversation and good beer are two essential items provided by the pub. The drinking of beer in a public house is not compulsory, but as any publican will tell you, beer remains the mainstay of the trade. It is said that beer is the perfect drink for the pub - it comes in large measures (one pint glasses) so that just one drink provides plenty of conversation time!

Many pubs also serve food, from snacks to full meals.

Other attractions offered by city and country pubs alike include a game of darts (short, weighted steel darts are thrown at a circular dartboard numbered in sections) and snooker, a game similar to billiards.

The lure of the pub can lie in the variety of pub names; each pub has its own name, depicted on a painted inn sign hung outside the premises. A pub name can refer to historical events, landmarks, sundry beasts or its meaning can be a complete puzzle. Some include references to animals, many with their origins in heraldry - The White Hart, the Nag’s Head, the Black Bull, and the Bear to name but a few!

31- What and when are the Proms?

The Proms or Promenade Concerts are an annual series of music concerts sponsored by the BBC and held at the Royal Albert Hall (left) and other venues in London. They are called ‘Promenade Concerts’ because originally the audience ‘promenaded’ or walked about during the concerts, although now they stand or sit.The Proms originated in 1895, and since that time have become a hugely popular event. The programmes are usually of classical music, and reflect popular taste as well as more original and adventurous pieces. These days jazz, world music and other musical styles also feature on the concert programme.

The Proms take place each year, from mid-July to mid-September, although the most popular evening is the Last Night of the Proms, when concert goers fill the Hall and stand tightly packed in the arena in front of the orchestra for an evening of stirring music.

A proms guide for the current year’s concerts is available from May in large bookshops, or it can be ordered from:
The Royal Albert Hall,

Kensington Gore,

London SW7 2AP

Tel +44 (0) 171 589 8212

Fax +44 (0) 171 584 1406

Seasons of orchestral and choral concerts are also promoted every year in many large towns and cities, while in central London the principal concert halls (including the Royal Festival Hall (left) and the Barbican Hall, right) draw packed audiences.In addition to possessing a thriving interest in classical music, British music lovers have a passion for all other areas of music, from opera to folk and jazz, from rock to the latest chart topping pop group.

MORE: La musique en Grande-Bretagne

32- What is British ‘humour’?

The British sense of humour is often a source of mystification for other nations, and visitors to Britain may claim that our humour is incomprehensible; however, possessing ‘a sense of humour’ is usually regarded as a favourite virtue of the British.

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact components of our ‘sense of humour’, but it may be loosely defined as an attitude of mind which is readily responsive to the incongruous and ridiculous. Thus the humorous qualities of Dickens’ novels lie in the fact that many of his characters are ‘larger than life’ - their appearance and personal qualities are highly exaggerated. This is also true today of many of our favourite television comedies, where the lead characters are often wonderfully eccentric and ‘over the top’ - for example, Patsy and Edina in ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, played by Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders.

Bawdy or slapstick comedy can trace its roots back to Chaucer and Shakespeare, and continued through the early films of Charlie Chaplin, the ‘Carry On’ film series of the 1960s and 1970s and is found today in characters such as Rick and Eddie in the television comedy ‘Bottom’, played by Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonson, or the long-running ‘Benny Hill Show’.

More subtle humour can be found in the satire of Thackeray, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, which highlights the faults and weaknesses of the society of the period, and is found today in the novels of Kingsley Amis or the popular television comedy series ‘Yes, Minister’ and ‘Yes, Prime Minister’, and currently in the quiz show ‘Have I Got News For You’.

Finally, British humour has an everpresent but hard to define appreciation of the absurd, originating in programmes like ‘The Goon Show’, a radio comedy of the 1950s starring comedians Michael Bentine (1922-1996), Peter Sellers (1925-1980), Spike Milligan (b. 1918) and Harry Secombe (b. 1921) and continuing in television’s legendary ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ and ‘Fawlty Towers’.

33- What is the Edinburgh Festival?

The Edinburgh Festival is an annual arts festival held in Edinburgh during August and September.

The Festival, first held in 1947, has gained an international reputation, and is widely recognised for providing opportunities for avant-garde theatre groups and emerging new talents to showcase their work as part of the Edinburgh Fringe - performances staged at smaller venues and theatres outside the main programme of events, often of a more experimental, ‘offbeat’ nature. The quality of the Festival’s professional productions of music and theatre attract an international audience, and it is widely acknowledged that every hotel and guest house in the city is full to capacity during the festival months.

For further information contact

Tourist information in Edinburgh :

Tel +44 (0) 131 5571700

MORE: La danse au Royaume-Uni

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CH. IV – Tourist information, sites and landmarks

2011-01-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

CH. IV – Tourist information, sites and landmarks

34- Big Ben

35- Giant’s Causeway

36- Stonehenge

37- Hadrian’s Wall

38- Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle

39- Tower of London

40- London’s tube

41- Speakers’ Corner

42- Tourist information about Britain

43- Channel Tunnel

44- Train services and times

45- Customs regulations

46- British weather

47- Sales (les soldes)

48- Tickets for sporting events and shows

=> British bank holidays: lien Woodlands

34- Why is Big Ben so called ?

Although the name ‘Big Ben’ is commonly used to refer to the famous clock at the top of St. Stephen’s Tower of the Houses of Parliament in London, the nickname is more correctly applied to the bell within the tower. It was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was the Chief Commissioner of Works at the time.The original bell, cast in 1856 and weighing some 15 tons, was being tested in Palace Yard when it developed serious cracks and had to be scrapped. The new bell, weighing a mere 13 tons, was installed in 1858. There are also four Quarter bells in the clock tower weighing between 4 tons and 1 ton.

VIDEO: London Travel Guide

35- What is the Giant’s Causeway ?

The Giant’s Causeway lies on the north coast of Northern Ireland, near Portrush, County Antrim. It is an impressive formation of some 40,000 basalt columns (basalt is a type of hard, igneous rock) descending like a giant staircase into the sea. The columns are mainly hexagonal in shape, and were formed by lava flows pouring into the sea many millions of years ago. According to legend the columns are the start of a causeway constructed by the terrible Irish Giant Finn MacCool, in an attempt to cross the sea to the Scottish coast!

VIDEO: lien

36- How old is Stonehenge ?

Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric monument in Britain, is situated on Salisbury Plain in the county of Wiltshire. At various times regarded as a site built by the Druids, the Romans, the Danes and even the French, the first stage - a circular ditch and bank with an entrance flanked by a pair of small standing stones - is believed to have been built around 3,000 BC. The site was subsequently abandoned and rebuilt between 2100 BC and 1800 BC.There are many mysteries surrounding this ancient site. Some of the stones used are thought to have come from the Preseli mountains in Pembrokeshire, Wales - yet exactly how they were transported to the site in such a primitive age is a puzzle. Experts believe they may have been transported for most of the way by water, before being dragged overland for the last stage of the journey.It has been suggested that Stonehenge once operated as a massive astronomical clock, and there are even suggestions that it was a landing site for UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects)! A more likely explanation is that Stonehenge was an important centre of worship connected with the sun.

VIDEO: National Geographic / LearnFree

37- Is Hadrian’s Wall still standing?

Hadrian’s Wall is a Roman wall that runs for about 75 miles (120 kilometres) across northern England between Wallsend-on-Tyne in the East and Bowness in the Solway Firth in the West. Begun in 122 AD on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian, it was the northernmost frontier defence of Roman Britain. It was hoped that the wall would help to control the fearsome Scottish tribes, but it was attacked and overrun in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and abandoned in the 4th century. Originally about 3m wide and 4.5m high, substantial sections of the wall were plundered for building materials over the centuries. However, the wall and remains of Roman forts along the way still stand today, with the finest surviving stretch being in the Northumberland National Park around the village of Gilsland. One of the best preserved Roman forts can be seen at Housesteads (Roman Vercovicium), six miles (9.7 kms) north east of Haltwhistle.

VIDEO: history / History Channel 1
History Channel 2 / Land of legends

38- Why is the investiture of the Prince of Wales held at Caernarfon Castle ?

Caernarfon Castle is one of the finest castles in Britain. It was built between 1285 and 1322. Edward I of England ordered the castle to be built three years after the last independent Prince of Wales, Llywelyn, was killed and his principality occupied by the English. Entrance is through the Gate of the King, a great arch surmounted by a statue of Edward II, the first English Prince of Wales.

Although the castle is now only a shell, it is no less impressive for that. The Eagle Tower, over 40m high, can be reached by climbing 158 steps, passing by a small chamber known as the Queen’s Oratory, where Edward II, Prince of Wales, was said to have been born. Legend also tells us that the entrance to the castle on the east side, known as the Gate of Queen Eleanor, was where the infant Edward was presented to the people of Wales as their new Prince. Since those days the ceremony of the investiture of the Prince of Wales has always been held in Caernarfon Castle.

VIDEO: Caernarfon Castle

39- Why is the Tower of London so popular with tourists ?

The Tower of London is one of the most popular and imposing of London’s historical sites. It comprises not one, but 20 towers, the oldest of which, the White Tower, dates back to the 11th century and the time of William the Conqueror. It is the Tower’s evil reputation as a prison that ensures it remains a much visited tourist spot today, together with the rich and varied history that surrounds it. Many stories associated with British history come from the Tower. In 1483 King Edward IV’s two sons were murdered in the so-called Bloody Tower, and over two centuries later the skeletons of two little boys were found buried beneath steps in the White Tower, assumed to be the bodies of the princes.

VIDEO: Planet Terra

Traitor’s Gate, set in the southern wall of the Tower, has steps leading down to the River Thames. Countless prisoners, including the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, were brought to the Tower by barge, and ascended the steps before being imprisoned - for many it was their last moment of freedom before their death. Fortunately, Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became Queen. Elizabeth I’s father, Henry VIII, made the Tower the dread destination of his enemies. Sir Thomas More was beheaded there in 1535 and the King’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, was brought to trial there in 1536 and beheaded on Tower Green. Six years later her cousin, Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, suffered the same fate.

VIDEO: Henry VIII
The six wives of Henry VIII

The Tower is famous as home of the Crown Jewels. Today they can be viewed in their new jewel house from a moving pavement, designed to cope with the huge numbers of tourists. They include the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother which contains the celebrated Indian diamond, the Koh-i-noor (mountain of light), and St Edward’s Crown which is used for the actual crowning of the Sovereign and weighs over two kilograms.

VIDEO: The Crown Jewels

Everyone has heard of the Yeoman Warders of the Tower or ‘Beefeaters’, whose striking Tudor uniform has changed little since 1485. The uniform consists of a knee-length scarlet tunic, scarlet knee-breeches and stockings, and a round brimmed hat called a Tudor bonnet. Their distinctive white neck ruff was introduced by Queen Elizabeth I.

No visit to the Tower would be complete without seeing the ravens; huge black birds who are an official part of the Tower community. Legend states that if the ravens were to leave the Tower the Crown will fall, and Britain with it. Under the special care of the Raven Master, the ravens are fed a daily diet of raw meat paid for out of a special fund set aside by Parliament. There is no danger of them flying away, as their wings are clipped!

VIDEO: Tower Bridge

40- How old is London’s tube ?

The London Underground, or ‘tube’ as it is often known, was the world’s first urban underground railway, when the Metropolitan Railway opened a line between Paddington and Farringdon. The construction work began on the underground railway in 1860. It began operating in 1863.
Although Londoners were originally sceptical about the project, calling it ‘the sewer railway’, the service was an immediate success. Trains were steam operated, and travel must have been murky, sulphurous and extremely grimy compared with today’s electrically operated trains.

VIDEO: Riding the London Tube

London’s buses carry around four million passengers every day, and bus routes cover over 1,800 miles (nearly 2,900 kms) of the capital’s roads. The familiar double-decker buses are one of the most distinctive sights in London, and no visit to London would be complete without a trip on one. The most famous design, with an open passenger platform at the rear of the bus, dates back to the 1950s, although now they are being replaced with more modern types with the entrance at the front.

VIDEO: London buses
MORE: underground pratice ( video+ test)

41- What is Speakers’ Corner ?

Speakers’ Corner in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London is by tradition an area where public speeches can be made by anyone who has anything they want to say - no matter how eccentric or implausible. The area was set aside for such use in 1872, after Hyde Park itself became a popular centre for public speaking. Speakers talk to the crowds from a soapbox - an improvised platform once made from wooden packing crates used for soap and other items. Individual speakers or representatives of various organisations or special causes deliver their speeches at weekends - to the amusement or bewilderment of passers by. Crowds often gather around a speaker, and generally feel free to make comments on the speech or simply to heckle the speaker if they don’t agree with what is being said!Speakers’ Corner is often taken as a symbol of free speech.

VIDEO: Hyde Park
Hyde Park
(including Kensington Palace and the Albert Memorial
and MORE)

42- Where can I obtain tourist information about Britain?

Tourist information about Britain can be obtained by writing to:

Visit Britain
Thames Tower,

Black’s Road,

Hammersmith
London W6 9EL

or by calling The Telephone Information Line on:

Tel +44 (0) 20 8846 9000
Fax +44 (0) 20 8563 0302
Email blvcinfo@visitbritain.org

or by visiting the website : www.visitbritain.com

43- Can you drive through the Channel Tunnel ?

No, you cannot drive through the Channel Tunnel. You can travel on the Eurostar train or Le Shuttle. Those and pay a toll before driving onto Le Shuttle - 800m long rail freight vehicles - the largest purpose designed rail wagons in the world.There are three different types of shuttle: a doubledecker for carrying cars, motorbikes and bicycles; a single-deck shuttle for carrying coaches, cars with caravans and campers; and another singledeck shuttle for carrying fully loaded freight vehicles up to 44 tonnes in weight.Tickets for Le Shuttle can be bought in advance, although it is not necessary to book services. Services through the tunnel work on a ‘turn up and go’ basis so there is no fixed check-in time. Drivers of cars, coaches and heavy goods vehicles can all expect departures up to four times per hour. The journey time from platform to platform is 35 minutes, with 27 minutes in the tunnel.

VIDEO: Euro tunnel

44- Where can I find out about train services and times?

All mainline stations have information desks where you can enquire about train services and obtain train timetables. Alternatively, if you are in Britain you can call:

National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950
or

+44 (0) 20 72785240 from outside the UK

or you can visit the National Rail websites :

www.nationalrail.co.uk.

UK Railways on the Net: www.rail.co.uk

Travel agents should also be able to give advice on train timetables, and most public libraries have copies of train timetables in the reference section.

45- Where can I find out about customs regulations ?

For information about customs regulations (réglementation douanière) and duty free allowances contact:
The National Advice Service

Tel 0845 010 9000 (+44 208 929 OI52 outside UK)
To write or email your enquiry,

see the website for appropriate addresses according to your postcode or region:

www.hmce.gov.uk

46- What is the British weather like?

Despite its reputation for grey skies and rain, the climate in Britain is generally mild and temperate. The weather from day to day is mainly influenced by depressions moving eastwards across the Atlantic. Although the weather changes frequently, the temperature is subject to few extremes - it is rarely above 32°C or below -10°C.

Rain is fairly well distributed throughout the year, but, on average, March to June are the driest months and September to January the wettest. If you visit the mountainous areas of the west and north you can expect more rainfall than in central parts of Britain.

During May, June and July - the months of longest daylight - the mean daily duration of sunshine varies from five hours in northern Scotland to eight hours in the Isle of Wight on the south coast. November, December and January have the least sunshine - only an hour a day in northern Scotland or two hours a day on the south coast of England.

More: Carte metéo MetOffice

47- When do shops have sales?

The biggest sales take place in January, when bargain-hungry shoppers have been known to queue all night outside London’s biggest department stores in the hope of snapping up drastically reduced goods. Wiser shoppers wait until the end of January, when there may be a smaller choice of bargains, but often the prices have been reduced even further for clearance.

Other sales take place at the end of spring and summer, when there are reduced prices on out of season goods, although it is always best to check with individual stores first.

48- Where can I buy tickets for sporting events and shows?

Contact the arena or theatre where the event is taking place for advice on ticket sales. Many venues list a ticket sales hotline in the telephone directory. By dialling this number you can order tickets and pay for them by credit card. Alternatively, major cities like London have numerous ticket agencies which sell tickets for all major events and shows, and also operate ticket sales hotlines - check the Central London telephone directory for details.

If you are in London you can buy cut-price tickets for the theatre on the day (subject to availability) at the half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square.

MORE VIDEOS:

Images of London

Buchingham Palace: history

Changing of the Guard: lien 1

The Gherkin, London: lien 1 / lien 2

Houses of Parliament: UKtheater / lien 1 / lien 2 / lien 3

The London Eye : lien 1 (London Travel Guide) or lien 2
and The London Eye

St Paul's Cathedral: lien 1

Trafalgar Square: lien 1

Westminster Abbey: London Travel Guide / outside

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CH. V – Making contacts

2011-01-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

CH. V – Making contacts

49- Tracing relatives and friends
50- Family tree
51- Birth, marriage and death certificates and divorce records
52- Youth exchanges
53- School exchanges

54- Twinning my town

49- How can I trace my relatives and friends in Britain?

It is sometimes helpful to place an advertisement in the personal column of local newspapers in the area where relatives or friends were last known to be living.
Addresses of local newspapers in Britain can be obtained

from ‘Willings Press Guide’,published annually by:

Reed Information Services,

Windsor Court,

East Grinstead House,

East Grinstead,

West Sussex RH19 1XA.

Visitors to Britain can trace relatives and friends through local electoral registers, which contain the names and addresses of everyone living in an area over the age of 18, or current telephone directories. Electoral registers and current telephone directories for the whole country can be viewed at most libraries.

Online information : British Media Online

Telephone directories dating from the end of the 19th century to the recent past may be viewed at:
British Telecom Archives

3rd Floor,

Holborn Telephone Exchange

268-270 High Holborn

London WC1V 7EE

(At least a day’s notice should be given for an appointment)

Birth, marriage and death certificates feature addresses of individuals. Copies may be viewed and purchased at offices listed in question 51.

Family members: the following registered charities offer a tracing service in urgent cases for immediate family members only:
Salvation Army Family Tracing Service

101 Newington Causeway

London SE1 6BN

Tel +44 (0) 171 383 2772
Note: Persons living outside Britain should initially contact the Salvation Army in their country.

International Social Service of Great Britain

Cranmer House

39 Brixton Road

London SW9 6DD

Tél. +44 20 77 35 89 41

Tel. +44 (0) 171 735 8491

The Department of Social Security may assist in tracing missing relatives only in the event of a family crisis such as a death or sudden illness:
Section A,

Department of Social Security

Longbenton,

Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE98 1YX

Tel +44 (0) 191 213 5000

If you want to ask the help of professional researchers or detective agencies in Britain consult the following organisations for advice and a list of members:
- Association of British Investigators Ltd

- Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives

- Institute of Professional Investigators

For further information on tracing family members see also advice on compiling a family tree in question 50.

50- Where can I get information for my family tree?

Sources of information for those undertaking genealogical research include birth, marriage and death certificates which are available from the appropriate register office (see question 51);

- parish registers (information available from county or district record offices)

- and divorce records (available from the appropriate office - see question 51).

In addition, public records are valuable sources of information.

Copies of material such as legal documents, property and succession records, census returns, taxation records, old parish registers, etc. should be sought from the following offices.

Please note that offices can answer specific enquiries, but will not undertake research:

England and Wales
Family Records Centre

1 Myddleton Street

London EC1R 1UW

Tel +44 (0) 181 392 5300

Scotland
Scottish Record Office

Registar General for Scotland

New Registrar House

Edinburgh EH1 3YT

Tel +44 (0) 131 556 6585

Pay-per-view Services: Scots Origins

Northern Ireland
Public Record Office

66 Balmoral Avenue

Belfast BT9 6NY

Tel +44 (0) 1232 661 621

Genealogical researchers:

Those wishing to enlist the services of an independent agent to conduct research on their behalf may contact the Record Office concerned for a list of reputable researchers, or write to:

Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives

29 Badgers Close

Horsham

West Sussex RH12 5RU

Tel +44 (0) 1403 263119
(enclose six International Reply Coupons)

Further advice can be found in:

‘Tracing your Ancestors in the Public Record Office’,

by Amanda Bevin and Andrea Duncan (HMSO, now The Stationery Office Limited), 1990): The Stationery Office - TSO

General enquiries about Stationery Office publications should be sent to

The Publications Centre,

PO Box 276,

London SW8 5DT

Tel +44 (0) 171 873 0011

CH. VI – English language and literature

2011-01-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

CH. VI – English language and literature

55- Language courses

56- English worldwide

57- Pronunciation

58- Celtic languages

59- Accents

60- Rhyming slang

61- Ethnic languages

62- British writers

55- Where can I get information about English courses?

A list of private language schools which have been recognised by the British Council is available from the British Council in your country or in Britain. The British Council also publishes English Studies Information Service (ESIS) sheets on English language learning.

Contact:
The British Council Information Centre

Bridgewater House,

58 Whitworth Street,

Manchester M1 6BB

Tel +44 (0) 161 957 7000

Fax +44 (0) 161 957 7111

Education Information Service

The British Council,

10 Spring Gardens,

London SW1A 2BN

Tel +44 (0) 171 930 8466

Fax +44 (0) 171 839 6347

More information about the British Council can be found on their website ‘Education at Your Fingertips’

The British Association of State English Language Teaching publishes a handbook which gives details of English language courses offered throughout Britain.

Contact:
BASELT,

Cheltenham International Language Centre

Frances Close Hall,

Swindon Road,

Cheltenham GL50 4AZ

Tel +44 (0) 242 532925

Fax +44 (0) 242 532926

56- How many people speak English worldwide?

English is one of the most widely used languages in the world. Recent estimates suggest that over 337 million people speak English as their first language, with possibly some 350 million speaking it as a second language. America has the largest number of English speakers - over 226 million speak the language as a mother tongue. English is an official language in India, alongside Hindi, and some 3,000 English newspapers are published throughout the country. English is also the favoured language of the world’s major airlines and international commerce. Over 80 per cent of the world’s electronically stored information is in English and two-thirds of the world’s scientists read in English. English is an official language, or has a special status in over 75 of the world’s territories.

If the rest of the world isn’t talking English, they’re borrowing English words to add to their own language: the Japanese go on a ‘pikunikku’ (picnic), Italians program their computers with ‘il software’, Germans talk about ‘ein Image Problem’ and ‘das Cashflow’ and Czechs say ‘ahoy!’ for ‘hello’ - a greeting traditionally used by English sailors, which is interesting as there’s no sea in the Czech Republic!

57- Why are many English words pronounced differently from the way they are spelt?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word,

That looks like beard and sounds like bird,

And dead: it’s said like bed, not bead,

For Goodness’ sake, don’t call it deed!

Watch out for meat and great and threat,

They rhyme with suite and straight and debt. (Anon)

English spelling is unpredictable at the best of times, and occasionally totally chaotic - an opinion no doubt shared by British schoolchildren and those studying English around the world alike. However, studies of the language claim that there are only about 400 words in English whose spelling is wholly irregular. Unfortunately many of them are among the most frequently used in the language.

The problems with the English spelling system came about as the language developed over a period of 1,000 years. Some complications arose early on, when the Romans tried to write down Old English using the 23 letter Latin alphabet. Old English contained nearly 40 vowels and consonants.The influence of French after the Norman Conquest also made an impact on English spelling. French scribes introduced ‘qu’ where Old English had used ‘cw’ e.g. queen, and ‘gh’ instead of ‘h’ e.g. night, amongst other changes.

The introduction of the printing press in 1476 meant that a standard spelling system began to emerge. The system reflected the speech of the London area. The pronunciation of vowels underwent further changes during the 15th century, but because of the advent of the printing press, spelling never caught up. Previously, scribes would have simply written down a new spelling to reflect the new pronunciation. Thus modern spelling in many ways reflects outmoded pronunciation of words dating back to the Middle Ages. Despite many attempts to reform the English spelling system, so far no changes have been made since the 16th century - mainly because nobody can agree on what the best alternative may be!

58- Do Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own languages ?

At the start of the 20th century half of the population of Wales were able to speak Welsh, a language belonging to the Celtic family. However, the numbers of Welsh-speaking people have steadily declined, and today only about a fifth of the population of Wales speak the language. Both the government and voluntary groups have taken steps to revive the use of Welsh. Bilingual education in schools is encouraged, and there has been an extended use of Welsh for radio and television programmes.

Gaelic, also a language of Celtic origin, is still spoken by some 70,000 people in Scotland, with the greatest concentration of Gaelic speakers in the islands of the Hebrides. The word ‘whisky’, the famous Scottish alcoholic drink, is derived from Gaelic uisce beatha or ‘water of life’! People in the Lowlands of Scotland have for centuries spoken Scots, a dialect derived from the Northumbrian branch of Old English and a completely separate language from Gaelic. This has its own recognised literary tradition as in the poetry of Robert Burns and has seen a revival in poetry in the 20th century.
Gaelic is also the language of the Irish people. It is still taught in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland at the time of the 1991 census there were 142,000 speakers of Irish Gaelic.

59- Why is English spoken with different accents ?

Most British people can recognise where someone was brought up by their accent. Every region has its own way of pronouncing the words and sentences of English that identifies the speaker with that particular geographical area. Differences arose from the time when English was spoken in a variety of different forms during the Middle Ages - Northern (developed from Northumbrian Old English), West and East Midlands (diverging from Mercian Old English), South Western (West Saxon) and South Eastern (Kentish).

After 1500 the language of London gradually emerged as the most dominant form, and today the London or Southern accent is usually accepted as Standard English. This is sometimes referred to as ‘BBC English’ since at one time all announcers on BBC radio and TV were required to speak it.
Regional accents have persisted and diversified over the centuries. Today the identification of an accent can place the speaker in a general area of Britain - such as West Country or South Wales, or be quite specific, referring to individual counties or cities; e.g. Liverpool, Yorkshire or Glasgow accents. Although Standard English was once the accepted form of English for public speaking or broadcasting, today regional accents are widely used on television and radio.

60- What is cockney rhyming slang ?

True cockneys traditionally come from a very small part of London. In fact, only those born within the sound of Bow Bells, which ring out from the church of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside in the City of London, could by tradition consider themselves ‘cockneys’. In reality the cockney heartland lies in the East End of London.

Like many other small communities, cockneys had a large number of words and phrases which had special meanings for them, but they took this to extremes by inventing a whole new dialect - ‘rhyming slang’ - which has been in use since the mid 19th century. Rhyming slang uses a phrase that rhymes with a word, instead of the word itself - thus ‘stairs’ becomes ‘apples and pairs’, ‘phone’ becomes ‘dog and bone’ and ‘word’ becomes ‘dicky bird’! To add to the confusion for the uninitiated, the rhyming part of the word is often dropped: thus ‘daisies’ are ‘boots’ (from ‘daisy roots’).
Some people complain that rhyming slang is simply spoken to give the cockney an unfair advantage over strangers - the wily cockney spots an attentive or enquiring stranger and lapses into rhyming slang so that he or she can’t be understood! However, numerous colloquial expressions derive from rhyming slang, and have even been heard in use in the House of Commons, such as ‘let’s get down to brass tacks’ means ‘let's talk facts’!

61- What are the main ethnic minority languages?

Britain’s Afro-Caribbean population does not have its own language, although many second and even third-generation West Indians speak a dialect of Standard English described as Creole, or Jamaican Creole (patois).

Britain’s Asian population speaks a variety of languages, often using different languages for writing and speaking. The national languages of India and Pakistan are Hindi and Urdu. Northern Indian languages are also widely used in Britain - Punjabi, Gujarati and Bengali. These three languages have a common derivation in Sanskrit, the classical language of ancient India, but are not necessarily mutually intelligible. There are more Asian speakers of Punjabi in Britain than any other language, followed by speakers of Urdu, Bengali and Gujarati.
Two of the main Chinese dialects spoken by the Chinese in Britain are Cantonese, the language of urban Hong Kong and Guangdong province, and Mandarin, spoken by those from mainland China.

62- Who are the most popular British writers ?

The playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and the novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) remain two of the most popular and widely known British writers the world over. In addition to writing 35 known plays, Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets and sometimes acted in small parts in his own plays - he is known to have played the Ghost in ‘Hamlet’. His best known plays include: ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘King Lear’, ‘Hamlet’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

Charles Dickens began his writing career as a journalist, and all his novels were first published serially in periodicals. Many of his works highlight the injustice of 19th century social institutions and the inequalities between the rich and the poor. His most famous works include ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘David Copperfield’.

The novels of Jane Austen (1775-1817) are known for their subtlety of observation and irony, together with their penetrating insights into the provincial life of the middle-classes in the early part of the 19th century. Her works include ‘Emma’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ - all recently dramatised on film and TV to critical acclaim.

The Brontë sisters, Anne (1816-55), Emily (1818-48) and Anne (1820-49), were three talented 19th-century women novelists whose works are regarded as classics today. Charlotte is best known for her novel ‘Jane Eyre’ and Emily for ‘Wuthering Heights’ - both novels feature strong, independent heroines.

Many distinguished works of contemporary fiction have been awarded the Booker Prize, given annually to the best novel published in Britain. Novels must be written in English by a citizen of Britain, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. The winner of the Booker Prize in 1997 was Arundhati Roy for her novel ‘The God of Small Things’.

Bernice Rubens is a contemporary Welsh-Jewish writer who grew up in Cardiff. She has received much critical acclaim for her novels, among them Booker Prize winner ‘The Elected Member’.

Glasgow-born James Kelman is a leading contemporary writer from Scotland whose writing echoes the rhythms of the Glaswegian dialect. His books include ‘A Disaffection’, which won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1989 and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

One of the most widely known English poets is remarkable because his work has been continuously transcribed, published, read and commented on since his death. That he lived over 600 years ago is no less remarkable. He is Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1345-1400). His best known work is ‘The Canterbury Tales’, a collection of tales by a group of pilgrims bound for the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury. Chaucer is buried in Westminster Abbey.

The Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas (1914-53) is perhaps best known for his play ‘Under Milk Wood’. This was first written as a radio drama and broadcast by the BBC in 1954, before being adapted for the stage.

One of the liveliest poets writing in Britain today is Ted Hughes. Hughes was made Poet Laureate in 1984. The Poet Laureate is a member of the Royal Household, appointed by the Royal Warrent, who composes odes in celebration of State occasions. The appointment dates from the time of King James I (1603-1625). The Romantic poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was Poet Laureate from 1843-1850.

Another popular contemporary poet is Seamus Heaney born in Northern Ireland. His early poems reflect Irish rural life and work and can be found in the collections ‘Death of a Naturalist’ (1966) and Wintering Out’ (1972). His language is often weighty, making use of clusters of consonants and monosyllables.

More

English literature (Ency. Britannica)

Literature Guides (Encarta Encyclopedia) :

By Author

By Title

Homework Starters

Authors Index and Books online

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CH. VII – Education

2011-01-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

CH. VII – Education

63- Public schools

64- School age

65- Secondary schools

66- University

63- At what age do children go to school in Britain?

Children in Britain generally attend school from the age of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) until they are 16. Before the start of formal schooling, many children attend nursery schools or nursery classes attached to primary schools. In addition, some parents elect to send their children to private (fee-paying) nursery schools or kindergartens. In England and Wales, many primary schools also operate an early admission policy where they admit children under 5 into what are called reception classes.

Children first attend the infants’ school or department. At 7 they move to the junior school and the usual age for transfer from junior to secondary school is 11 (12 in Scotland). In some areas, however, ‘first’ schools take pupils aged 5 to 8, 9 or 10, and pupils within the 8 to 14 age range go to ‘middle’ schools.

64- What are the different types of secondary school?

Nearly 88 per cent of secondary school pupils in England go to comprehensive schools, as do all pupills in Wales. These take children of all abilities, and provide a wide range of secondary education for all or most of the children in a district from the age of 11 to 16 or 18.

Grammar schools, in Northern Ireland and some areas of England, offer a mainly academic education for the 11 to 18-year age group. All children in Scotland go to non-selective schools. Children enter grammar schools on the basis of their abilities, first sitting an entrance examination (the ‘11’ plus). Grammar schools cater for (pourvoir à) just over four per cent of children in secondary education.

A small minority of children attend secondary modern schools (around four per cent). These schools provide (fournir) a more general and technical education for children aged 11-16.

Specialist schools, which only operate in England, give pupils a broad secondary education with a strong emphasis on arts, business and enterprise, engineering, humanities, mathematics and computing, music, science, languages, technology or sports. There are over 1,950 specialist schools. They charge no fees (droits d’inscription) and any secondary school can apply for specialist school status.

Academies are publicly funded independent schools sponsored by private and voluntary organisations. Their aim is to offer new respnses to the school failure that sometimes occurs in city areas.

City Technology Colleges (CTCs) aim to give boys and girls a broad secondary education with a strong technological and business slant (perspective). They are non-fee-paying independent schools, set up by the Government with the help of business sponsors who finance a large proportion of the initial capital costs and develop links with the schools. There are now 14 such colleges in operation in England.

65- Why are ‘public’ schools so called?

The independent school sector is separate from the state educational system,and caters for some seven per cent of all schoolchildren in England and four per cent in Scotland. There are around 2,400 independent schools in the UK.
Parents of pupils attending independent schools pay for their education, and in some cases fees can amount to several thousand pounds a year. Some pupils gain scholarships and their expenses are covered by the schools.

About 250 of the larger independent shools are known for historical reasons as public schools. Eton, which was founded in 1440, is said to have been the first grammar school to be called a 'public shool' because scholars could come to it from any part of England and not, as was generally the case, just from the immediate neighbourhood.
Originally, many public schools stressed a classical education, character training and sports, but the curriculum is now closely allied to state education.

In Northern Ireland there are a few independent fee paying schools catering for a very small proportion of the school population; they do not receive any support from public funds.

Schools in Scotland supported by public funds are also called 'public schools' but they are not fee-paying, independent schools.

66- Which is the oldest university in Britain?

The University of Oxford was the first university to be established in Britain. Dating from the 12th century, it is organised as a federation of colleges which are governed by their own teaching staff known as ‘Fellows’. The oldest college, University College, was founded in 1249. Other notable colleges include All Souls (founded in 1438), Christ Church (founded in 1546 by Cardinal Wolsey), the college chapel of which is also Oxford Cathedral, and Lady Margaret Hall (founded in 1878), which was the first women’s college. Today Oxford University is made up of 39 separate colleges, of which one is for women students only, and the rest take both men and women.

In 1209, scholars running away from riots in Oxford set up the first academic community in Cambridge. The University is also organised as a federation of colleges; the oldest, Peterhouse, dates from 1284. The largest college, Trinity, was founded by King Henry VIII in 1546.

Scotland also boasts a number of long- established universities. By the end of the Middle Ages Scotland had four universities at Edinburgh (founded 1583), Glasgow (founded 1450), Aberdeen (founded 1495) and St Andrew’s (founded 1411) compared to England’s two!

The University of Wales was founded in 1893. It consists of six colleges, the oldest one being the University of Wales, Lampeter, founded as St David’s College in 1822.

The Queen’s University of Belfast was founded in 1845 as one of the three ‘Queen’s Colleges in Ireland’. It received its charter as a separate university in 1908.

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Echanges scolaires

- Globalgateway

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CH.VIII- Constitution and system of government

2011-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

CH.VIII- Constitution and system of government

68- Why doesn’t Britain have a written constitution?

69- What was the Magna Carta?

70- Why is an Ambassador sent to the Court of St. James’s?

71- How does Britain elect its government ?

72- What are the origins of the names of the main political partie ?

73- How is the Speaker chosen?

74- What is a ‘whip’ in Parliament?

68- Why doesn’t Britain have a written constitution?

The British constitution has evolved over many centuries. Unlike the constitutions of America, France and many Commonwealth countries, the British constitution has not been assembled at any time into a single, consolidated document. Instead it is made up of common law, statute law and convention. Of all the democratic countries in the world, only Israel is comparable to Britain in having no single document codifying the way its political institutions function and setting out the basic rights and duties of its citizens.

Britain does, however, have certain important constitutional documents, including the Magna Carta (1215) which protects the rights of the community against the Crown; the Bill of Rights (1689) which extended the powers of Parliament, making it impracticable for the Sovereign to ignore the wishes of the Government; and the Reform Act (1832), which reformed the system of parliamentary representation.

Common law has never been precisely defined - it is deduced from custom or legal precedents and interpreted in court cases by judges. Conventions are rules and practices which are not legally enforceable, but which are regarded as indispensable to the working of government. Many conventions are derived from the historical events through which the British system of government has evolved.

One convention is that Ministers are responsible and can be held to account for what happens in their Departments. The constitution can be altered by Act of Parliament, or by general agreement to alter a convention. The flexibility of the British constitution helps to explain why it has developed so fully over the years.
However, since Britain joined the European Community in 1973, the rulings of the European Court of Human Justice have increasingly determined and codified sections of British law in those areas covered by the various treaties to which Britain is a party. In the process British constitutional and legal arrangements are beginning to resemble those of Europe.

69- What was the Magna Carta?

The Magna Carta (Latin for ‘Great Charter’) is Britain’s best known constitutional document. In 1215 feudal barons forced the ‘tyrannical’ King John (1199-1216) to agree to a series of concessions embodied in a charter which became known as the Magna Carta. Sixty-one clauses set out a clear expression of the rights of the community against the Crown.

The contents deal with the ‘free’ Church; feudal law; towns, trade and merchants; the reform of the law and justice; the behaviour of royal officials; and royal forests.

The King was forced to fix his seal to the Magna Carta in a meadow next to the River Thames at Runnymede between Windsor and Staines. It is said that he behaved pleasantly to the nobles at the time, but as soon as he returned to his own chamber he threw himself on the floor in a mad rage. Since that day the Magna Carta has become part of English Law and established the important principle that the King is not above the law. Original copies of the charter exist in Salisbury Cathedral, Lincoln Castle and the British Museum in London.

70- Why are Ambassadors sent to the Court of St. James’s?

Ambassadors are sent to the Court of St. James’s because they are appointed Ambassadors to the country of the United Kingdom and the Head of State is the Queen. For historical reasons the Royal Court is known as the Court of St. James; St. James’s Palace was the official residence of the Monarch until Queen Victoria moved to Buckingham Palace.

71- How does Britain elect its government?

Parliament, the law-making body of the British people, consists of three elements: the Monarchy, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They meet together only on occasions of ceremonial significance, such as the state opening of Parliament, although the agreement of all three is normally required for legislation.

The House of Commons consists of 659 elected members called Members of Parliament or MPs. Its main purpose is to make laws by passing Acts of Parliament, as well as to discuss current political issues. Elections to the House of Commons are an important part of Britain’s democratic system.

The House of Lords consists of around 1,270 non-elected members (hereditary peers and peeresses, life peers and peeresses and two archbishops and 24 senior bishops of the Church of England). Its main legislative function is to examine and revise bills from the Commons. It also acts in a legal capacity as the final court of appeal. The Lords cannot normally prevent proposed legislation from becoming law if the Commons insists on it.

General elections are held after Parliament has been ‘dissolved’, either by a royal proclamation or because the maximum term between elections - five years - has expired. The decision on when to hold a general election is made by the Prime Minister.For electoral purposes Britain is divided into constituencies, each of which returns one MP to the House of Commons.

The British electoral system is based on the relative majority method - sometimes called the ‘first past the post’ principle - which means the candidate with more votes than any other is elected.

All British citizens are members of the Commonwealth and citizens of the Irish Republic resident in Britain may vote, provided they are aged 18 years or over and not legally barred from voting. People not entitled to vote include those serving prison sentences, peers and peeresses who are members of the House of Lords, and those kept in hospital under mental health legislation. Voting is by secret ballot. The elector selects just one candidate on the ballot paper and marks an ‘X’ by the candidate’s name. Voting in elections is voluntary. On average about 75 per cent of the electorate votes. Any person aged 21 or over who is a British citizen or citizen of another Commonwealth country or the Irish Republic may stand for election to Parliament, provided they are not disqualified.

People disqualified include those who are bankrupt, those sentenced to more than one year’s imprisonment, members of the clergy, members of the House of Lords, and a range of public servants and officials.

Approved candidates are usually selected by their political party organisations in the constituency which they represent, although candidates do not have to have party backing.The leader of the political party which wins most seats (although not necessarily most votes) at a general election, or who has the support of a majority of members in the House of Commons, is by convention invited by the Sovereign to form the new government.

Devolution (décentralisation) to Scotland and Wales

The Goverment is committed to give the people of Scotland and Wales more control over their own affairs by setting up a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly. These plans were supported by the Scottish and Welsh people in referenda held in September 1997.

The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh was opened in 1999 following the election of its 129 members - 73 directly elected on a constituency basis, plus 56 elected by proportional representation. It will be able to make laws and raise or lower the basic rate of income tax by up to three per cent. Scotland will continue to elect MPs to Westminster to represent Scottish interests.

The Welsh Assembly, which opened in May 1999 in Cardiff, and has 60 members, directly elected every four years. It debates issues of concern in Wales and is responsible for a substantial budget, but the Principality will continue to share the same legal system as England.

MORE: the political system in the UK
- lien académie de Paris (niveaux collège et lycée)
- lien BBC (cbbc): elections and voting
- lien Woodlands: how Britain is governed

72- What are the origins of the names of the main political parties?

The Conservative and Unionist Party dates back to the Tory Party of the late eighteenth century. This broadly represented the interests of the country gentry, merchant classes and official administerial groups.

After Britain’s 1832 (electoral) Reform Act, members of the old Tory Party began forming ‘conservative associations’. The name Conservative was first used as a description of the Party in the Quarterly Review of January 1830 - ‘conservative’ because the Party aims to conserve traditional values and practices. The Conservative Party today is the leading right-wing party. The term ‘Tory’ is still used today to refer to somebody with conservative political views.
The original title of the Labour Party, the Labour Representation Committee, makes the origins of the party clear - to promote the interests of the industrial working class. In 1900 the Trades Union Congress co-operated with the Independent Labour Party (founded 1893) to establish The Labour Representation Committee with Ramsay MacDonald as First Secretary. This took the name Labour Party in 1906.
The Liberal Party emerged in the mid-nineteenth century as a successor to the historic Whig party. ‘Whig’ was originally a Scottish Gaelic term applied to horse thieves! In the late eighteenth century the Whig Party represented those who sought electoral, parliamentary and philanthropic reforms. However, the term ‘Whig’ does not survive today. After 1832 the mainly aristocratic Whigs were joined by increasing numbers of middle-class members. By 1839 the term Liberal Party was being used, and the first unequivocally Liberal government was formed in 1868 by William Gladstone. In 1988 the old Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) merged into a single party called the Liberal Democrats.

73- How is the Speaker chosen?

Contrary to what the title would imply, the Speaker of the House of Commons does not speak - that is, he or she does not make speeches or take part in debates. The office has been held continuously since 1377 and originally the Speaker spoke on behalf of the Commons to the Monarch. That role is now largely ceremonial and today the Speaker’s central function is to maintain order in a debate, and he or she may not vote other than in an official capacity - that is when the result of a vote is a tie. Even then, he or she is not allowed to express an opinion on the merits of the question under debate and must vote in such a way as to give the House another chance to decide.
The Speaker has three deputies - the Chairman of Ways and Means and his or her two Deputy Chairmen. Like the Speaker, they can neither speak nor vote other than in their official capacity.

The Speaker is not a Minister nor a member of any political party. He or she is still a Member of Parliament, representing a constituency and the constituents’ interests.The choice of Speaker is by election, with Members of Parliament each having one vote. Though the Cabinet and Prime Minister will often be known to favour a particular candidate when a vacancy occurs, support from backbench MPs is vital. In 1992 Betty Boothroyd was elected in a contest with the former Cabinet Minister, Peter Brooke. Usually a Speaker is elected by his or her fellow MPs without opposition.

74- What is a ‘whip’ in Parliament?

The term ‘whip’ is said to owe its origin to the ‘whippers-in’ - people who keep the hounds in order at fox-hunting meets. Parliamentary whips are supposed to be similar disciplinarians, controlling the pack of MPs in their party!Government whips are all Ministers of the Crown.

The principal task of the Chief Whip is the management of government business in the House. He or she must try to ensure that, in spite of the activities of the opposition, Parliament has passed all the legislation and done all the tasks which it had planned during that session.

Whips in the two main parties are organised by subject and by region. They monitor opinions inside their party and report back to the leadership, maintaining valuable day-to-day contact between ministers and their backbench supporters. ‘The Whip’ also refers to a document sent out weekly to MPs detailing the forthcoming business of the House. Items are underlined once, twice or three times to indicate their importance to the party leadership. When a ‘three-line’ whip is issued, the leadership is letting MPs know that it expects them to turn up and vote on the matter under discussion!

More
- History of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ency.Britannica)

- History of England (Ency.Britannia)

- Biographies (Ency.Britannia)

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CH. IX– Monarchy

2011-01-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

CH. IX– Monarchy

75- Powers of the Queen

76- Queen’s two birthdays

77- Line to the throne

78- Prince of Wales
79- Meaning of ‘Royal’

80- Royal warrants

81- National anthem

82- ‘Dieu et mon droit’
83- Royal Crest

75- What powers does the Queen have?

The Crown, which represents both the Sovereign (the person on whom the Crown is constitutionally conferred) and the Government, is the symbol of supreme executive power. The Crown is vested in the Queen, but in general its functions are exercised by Ministers responsible to Parliament and thus Britain is governed by Her Majesty’s Government in the name of the Queen. However, the Queen’s involvement is still required in many important acts of government.

Parliament: The Queen summons, prorogues (discontinues until the next session without dissolving) and dissolves Parliament. She normally opens the new session of Parliament with a speech from the throne which is written for her by the Government and outlines her Government’s programme. Before a Bill becomes law the Queen must give it her Royal Assent, which is announced to both Houses of Parliament.

More
State opening of Parliament: the Queen's Speech (YouTube video)

Justice: The Queen can, on ministerial advice, pardon or show mercy to those convicted of crimes. In law the Queen as a private person can do no wrong: she is immune from civil or criminal proceedings and cannot be sued in courts of law. This immunity is not shared by other members of the royal family.

Honours and appointments: The Queen has the power to confer peerages, knighthoods and other honours. She normally does this on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, although a few honours are conferred by the Sovereign personally. The Queen makes appointments to many important state offices, on the advice of the Prime Minister or the relevant Cabinet Minister.

Foreign policy: Foreign diplomatic representatives in London are accredited to the Queen, and she has the power to conclude treaties, to declare war and to make peace, to recognise foreign states and governments and to annex and cede territory.

Privy Council: The Queen presides over meetings of the Privy Council. At these, among other things, Orders in Council made under the Royal Prerogative or under statute are approved. The Royal Prerogative mainly comprises executive government - powers controlled by constitutional conventions (rules which are not part of the law, but which are regarded as indispensable to the machinery of government). In nearly all cases acts involving the Royal Prerogative are performed by Ministers who are responsible to Parliament and can be questioned about policies. Parliament has the power to abolish or restrict a prerogative right. In addition to being informed and consulted about all aspects of national life, the Queen is free to put forward her own views, in private, for the consideration of her Ministers.

76- Why does the Queen have two birthdays?

The Queen was actually born on 21 April, but it has long been customary to celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday on a day during the summer.

Since 1805 the Sovereign’s ‘official’ birthday has been marked by the Trooping the Colour ceremony, normally held on the second Saturday in June. This is a ceremony which originated when it was essential for soldiers to recognise the flag or ‘Colour’ of their regiment so that they could follow it into battle. Each year one of the five regiments of the foot guards (Grenadiers, Coldstream Guards, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards) take turns to display their Colour in the ceremony.

The ceremony begins with the Queen leaving Buckingham Palace escorted by the Household Cavalry. She rides down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and inspects the 500 guardsmen. The Colour is trooped by being carried along the ranks of guardsmen, and the Colour party then leads the guards on a march past the Queen, accompanied by the massed bands of the foot guards. No particular annual ceremony is held on the Queen’s true birthday, although the Union Flag is flown on public buildings and the national anthem is sung.

77- Who is next in line to the throne after Prince Charles?

Line of Succession

1. The Prince of Wales (b. 1948)

2. Prince William of Wales (b. 1982)

3. Prince Henry of Wales (b. 1984)

4. The Duke of York (b. 1960)

5. Princess Beatrice of York (b. 1988)

6. Princess Eugenie of York (b. 1990)

7. Prince Edward (b. 1964)

8. The Princess Royal (b. 1950)

9. Peter Phillips, son of the Princess Royal (b. 1977)

10. Zara Phillips, daughter of the Princess Royal (b. 1981)

More
Queen Elizabeth II (Ency.Britannica)
Charles, prince of Wales (Ency.Britannica)

78- Why is the heir to the throne called the Prince of Wales?

The Heir Apparent has, since the institution of the title by King Edward I in 1301, usually been ‘created’ Prince of Wales. Edward I led the conquest of independent Wales between 1277 and 1283. He subsequently proclaimed his son, Edward, born at Caernarfon in Wales in 1284, the Prince of Wales. There is no succession to the title, which is only renewed at the Sovereign’s pleasure. The present Prince of Wales is the 21st in line - counting several who were never formally invested! Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle on July 1st 1969.

79- What does ‘Royal’ mean in the context of Royal Borough of... Royal Society of...?

The use of the word ‘Royal’ in connection with a society, borough or organisation indicates that they were founded or established by, or are under the patronage of, a Sovereign or royal person. There are three English boroughs that have the title ‘Royal’: Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames and Windsor and Maidenhead, indicating that historically a Sovereign has conferred that title upon them.

There are many other ‘Royal’ societies or organisations that have received Royal patronage, among them the Royal Automobile Club, granted the patronage of Edward VII in 1907, and the Royal Society - a society incorporated by Charles II in 1662 for the pursuit and advancement of the physical sciences.

80- What are Royal Warrants?

Since the Middle Ages, tradespeople who have acted as suppliers of goods and services to the Sovereign have received the honour of formal recognition. In the beginning this patronage took the form of royal charters given collectively to various trade guilds; later the relationship between the Crown and individual tradespeople was formalised by the issue of royal warrants.

To become eligible for the status of royal tradesperson, the head of a company must be able to show that they have supplied a substantial amount of goods and services to the Royal Household for a period of not less than three consecutive years. Application is then made to the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, which supervises the granting of warrants. Once granted, the warrant, which is governed by strict regulations, allows the grantee or their company to use the legend ‘By Appointment’ and to display the Royal Arms on their products, such as stationery, advertisements and on their premises.
Royal warrants of appointment are granted only by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales.

81- What are the words of the National Anthem?

The British national anthem originated in a patriotic song first performed in 1745. There is no authorised version - the words used are a matter of tradition. On official occasions it is usual to sing the first verse only, the words of which are as follows:

“ God save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen! ”

82- What is the origin of the mottoes ‘Dieu et mon droit’ and ‘Honni soit qui mal y pense’?

‘Dieu et mon droit’ (French for ‘God and my right’) is the motto of the Sovereign. The words were the countersign (military password) chosen by King Richard I before the battle of Gisors in 1198, meaning that he was no vassal of France, but owed his royalty to God alone. The French were defeated in battle, but the password was not adopted as the royal motto of England until the time of Henry VI and has since been retained by his successors. The motto appears below the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms.

‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ (French for ‘Evil be to him who evil thinks’) appears on a garter which surrounds the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms. This garter symbolises the Order of the Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which the Queen is Sovereign. The Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III in 1348 during the Hundred Years War with France.The motto may well have been directed at critics of the King’s claims to the French throne; however, according to a tradition first recorded by Tudor chroniclers, the motto originated at a feast celebrating the capture of Calais in 1347. The King’s mistress, the Countess of Salisbury, was mocked by courtiers for losing her garter during a dance, but Edward at once stepped forward and tied the blue ribbon around his own knee, uttering the motto as a rebuke and declaring that the Garter would soon be held in the highest esteem!

83- What does the Royal Crest represent?

The Royal crest - a lion bearing the Royal crown - is used as a device to denote articles of personal property belonging to the Queen, or to denote goods bearing the Royal Warrant. The crest is taken from the Royal Coat of Arms, where it is placed above the shield and helmet.

MORE

- The British Monarchy (site officiel)
- Monarchs of Britain

- 2008 State opening of Parliament The Queen's Speech (lien YouTube )

- Humour: The Queen on Facebook

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CH. X - Etiquette

2011-01-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

CH. X– Etiquette

84- The honours system

85- ‘Right Honourable’

86- Titles

87- Order of precedence

84- How does the honours system work?

British honours are awarded on merit, for exceptional achievement or service. In 1993 the then Prime Minister, John Major, ended the automatic practice of conferring awards on the holders of certain posts, opening the honours system to more people - particularly those in the voluntary sector - who qualify on merit. Most honours are announced in one of the two annual sets of honours lists - one at New Year and the other in June, on the Queen’s official birthday. The Queen chooses the recipients of honours on the advice of the Prime Minister and other relevant ministers, to whom recommendations are made by their departments or members of the public.

The various honours include:

Life Peers: These titles are not hereditary and are the only form of peerage regularly created by the Queen nowadays.

Baronetcies: A baronetcy is a heritable honour - a title that is passed on to male heirs.

Knighthoods: Knights may be either Knights Bachelor, or members of one of the Orders of Chivalry.

The honour of knighthood derives from the usages of medieval chivalry, as does the method normally used to confer the knighthood: the accolade, or touch of a sword by the Sovereign.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: this award is given mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service and other distinctions. The OBE and MBE are the two orders most commonly awarded to men and women for services to their country.

85- What does ‘Right Honourable’ mean?

Right Honourable (Rt Hon) is the form of address used for people holding the following titles or offices: an earl or countess, a viscount, a baron, a Lord Mayor (the title given to the Mayor of London and other large cities) and a Privy Councillor. All Cabinet ministers are members of the Privy Council, the private council of the Sovereign. The full title appears in the form ‘The Right Honourable the Earl of Derby’, for example.

86- How should I address someone with a title?

Information on the protocol of addressing holders of honours and titles can be found in ‘Whitaker’s Almanac’ (published annually) and ‘Debrett’s Correct Form’ (Webb and Bower, Exeter).

87- What is the order of precedence for royalty, peers, etc?

The order of precedence in England and Wales is as follows:

The Sovereign; The Duke of Edinburgh; The Prince of Wales; The Sovereign’s younger sons; The Sovereign’s grandsons; The Sovereign’s cousins; The Archbishop of Canterbury; Lord High Chancellor; Archbishop of York; The Prime Minister; Lord High Treasurer; Lord President of the Council; Speaker of the House of Commons; Lord Privy Seal; Ambassadors and High Commissioners.

Peers rank among themselves as follows:

1. of England,

2. of Scotland,

3. of Great Britain,

4. of Ireland,

5. of UK and Ireland.
Precedence among those with honours and titles: Dukes; Marquesses; Earls; Viscounts; Barons; Knights of the Garter; Baronets; Knights of the Thistle and other orders; Knights Bachelor; Companions.
The Archbishop of Canterbury takes precedence in England and Wales after Royal Princes, while Bishops rank above barons but below viscounts.

In Scotland precedence alters as follows: The Sovereign; The Duke of Edinburgh; The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly (while that Assembly is sitting); The Duke of Rothesay (eldest son of the Sovereign); The Sovereign’s younger sons; The Sovereign’s cousins; Lord Lieutenant of Counties; Lords Provost of Counties of Cities; Sheriffs Principal; Lord Chancellor of Great Britain; Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; The Prime Minister.
Full details can be found in ‘Whitaker’s Almanac’ or ‘Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage’.

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CH. XI - Britain's Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth

2011-01-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

CH. XI– Britain’s Overseas Territories

and the Commonwealth

88- What are Britain’s Overseas Territories?

The Overseas Territories retain their connection with Britain because it is the wish of their peoples that they do so.
They have a substantial measure of responsibility for the conduct of their own affairs. Local self-government is generally provided by an Executive Council and elected legislature. Governors or Commissioners are appointed by the Crown on the advice of the Foreign Secretary and retain responsibility for external affairs, defence and, usually, internal security and public service.

Britain’s Overseas Territories comprise:
Anguilla; Bermuda; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands (Ducie, Henderson and Oeno); St Helena and its Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha); and Turks and Caicos Islands.

In July 1997, the 99-year lease which China granted Britain for 92 per cent of Hong Kong under the Second Convention of Peking in 1898 expired. Hong Kong was returned to the People’s Republic of China under the terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984. Under this agreement Hong Kong is able to maintain a high degree of autonomy, including independent finances, for 50 years as a Special Administrative Region of China.

There are also territories with no indigenous population:
British Antarctic Territory; British Indian Ocean Territory; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

89- What is the Commonwealth?

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent states which originated in the progressive dismantling of the British Empire after 1945. It works to promote such principles as democracy, economic development and international understanding, mainly through intergovernmental consultations and the Commonwealth organisations. There are no legal or constitutional obligations involved in membership.

The modern Commonwealth was founded in 1949, from a handful of members then. The Commonwealth has grown to its present-day 53 members, comprising countries from almost every continent in the world. One in three people in the world is a Commonwealth citizen. They are people of many races and traditions, and from very different economic backgrounds. But they have a shared heritage, based on English as a common language, and similar administrative, educational, judicial and legal systems.

The Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth
She is also head of State in 16 member countries. These are: United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

The following members of the Commonwealth are republics, with a president as head of State: Bangladesh, Botswana, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Of the remaining members of the Commonwealth, Brunei is a sultanate and Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland and Tonga have their own monarchs. Western Samoa has a constitutional monarch, appointed for life.

VIDEO: the Queen and the Commonwealth

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CH. XII - Law and Order

2011-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

CH. XII– Law and order

90- The police

91- Guns
92- Judge, barrister and solicitor
93- Lawyers’ wigs
94- ‘Old Bailey’

90- How are the police organised?

There are 52 police forces in Britain, mainly organised on a local basis.
The Metropolitan Police Force and the City of London Force are responsible for policing London. Each force in England and Wales is responsible to a police authority consisting of local councillors, magistrates and independent members. Since April 1996 the police authority in Scotland comprises four joint police boards made up of local councillors.

The police force in Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, is responsible to an independent police authority appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
For historical reasons, the Home Secretary is responsible for London’s Metropolitan Police Force, advised by the Metropolitan Police Committee. For the City of London Police the authority is a committee of the Corporation of London.

Provincial forces are headed by a chief constable, deputy chief constable and assistant chief constable.

The top Metropolitan Police ranks are the commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, deputy assistant commissioner and commander. Thereafter all ranks are the same in the forces - chief superintendent, superintendent, chief inspector, inspector, sergeant and constable.
Police/community liaison consultative groups operate in every police authority; they consist of representatives from the police, local councillors and community groups. Most forces use customer surveys to provide information on public attitudes. These are used to shape the standards of service being provided.
The heart of policing is the work done by police constables, who are in constant contact with the public. They patrol the streets on foot, or in cars, give advice and deal with disturbances. Local crime prevention panels - each one assisted by the police - identify crime problems and try to tackle them through publicity. The police are closely involved in setting up ‘neighbourhood watch’ schemes, advising residents on home security and encouraging residents to keep an eye on properties in their area and pass on information to the police about suspicious people or vehicles.There are about 150,000 full-time police officers in Britain, of whom around 12 per cent are women.

91- When can the police carry guns?

Usually uniformed police officers carry a truncheon or baton to protect themselves against violence. In England, Scotland and Wales firearms may be issued only to specially trained police officers, known as Authorised Firearms Officers, and then only on the authority of a senior officer. Authority is given when an officer is likely to face an armed criminal or when an officer is deployed to protect a person who may be at risk of attack. Officers may fire weapons only as a last resort if they believe that their or other lives are in danger. Each Authorised Firearms Officer is personally responsible for the decision to fire, and may be required to justify this action before the courts.
Most forces in England and Wales operate a system of armed response vehicles
- patrol cars which carry weapons in a locked box
- to provide a speedy initial response to a firearms incident. Because of terrorist campaigns in Northern Ireland, members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary carry firearms for personal protection.

92- What is the difference between a judge, a barrister and a solicitor?

A judge is a crucial figure in the trial system. He or she supervises the conduct of the trial and passes sentence on those who have been convicted. Judges are normally appointed from practising barristers (advocates in Scotland) or solicitors and must have at least 10 years professional standing.
The kind of judge chosen to preside over a case in court depends on its seriousness and complexity. Very serious offences are tried on indictment only by the Crown Court. The Crown Court sits in about 94 centres in England and Wales, many of them consisting of several courtrooms.

Appeals from the Crown Court are made to the Court of Appeal. A further appeal from the Court of Appeal to the House of Lords can be brought if a point of law of general public importance is considered to be involved.

Most minor civil cases are dealt with by the county courts, of which there are about 270. Cases are heard by circuit judges or district judges.
Magistrates courts are the lowest tier of the criminal justice system. Justice is delivered not by professional judges or lawyers, but by appointed representatives of the community, called Magistrates. Their main job is to deliver ‘summary justice’ to people charged with less serious crimes. They refer grave offences to the Crown Court.

The legal profession in Britain is divided into two branches: barristers (advocates in Scotland) and solicitors.

Solicitors undertake legal business for individual and corporate clients, while barristers advise on legal problems submitted through solicitors and present cases in the higher courts. Certain functions are common to both - for example, the presentation of cases in the lower courts.
Barristers must pass professional examinations before being called to the Bar (Barristers are known collectively as the Bar), and they must then serve an apprenticeship or ‘pupillage’ with a qualified barrister for one year.Solicitors must also pass professional examinations and serve a two-year period of apprenticeship called ‘articles’ in a solicitor’s office. Once qualified in this way, a newly admitted solicitor is supervised for three years.

93- Why are wigs (perruques) worn by lawyers?

Although English legal dress has a long history, it has for the most part evolved in the same way as common law, without written regulation. Before the 17th century lawyers did not wear wigs, but professional discipline required that their hair and beards should be moderately short. Nevertheless, the introduction of wigs into polite society in the reign of Charles II (1660-85) was an innovation which could not be resisted! After a period of disapproval, wigs were generally assumed by lawyers in the 1680s.

Early wigs are difficult to identify in portraits of the period because they were of a natural colour and were sometimes combined with a lock of growing hair at the forehead. However, wigs soon became larger and increasingly stylised. By the middle of the 17th century wigs of powdered white or grey hair were the universal custom, but during George III’s reign (1760-1820) wigs went rapidly out of general use. Although bishops were given royal permission to abandon their wigs in the 1830s, this was not necessarily true of other officials. There is a story that Lord Eldon, the Lord Chancellor of the day, was refused permission to leave off his wig at court!

In the 1860s the counsel were permitted to remove their wigs during a heatwave - this attracted some comment in the press and it was suggested that wigs were abandoned altogether by the legal profession. However, the proposal met with little support, though it has been a common occurrence ever since for judges to allow wigs to be left off in very hot weather, and sometimes turbans are allowed to be worn instead of wigs on religious grounds.

94- What is the Old Bailey?

The Old Bailey is the most famous Crown Court in Britain.
Its official title is the Central Criminal Court, and the figure on the dome of the building holding the scales of justice remains one of the most enduring symbols of justice in a free society.
The Old Bailey normally has 19 courts sitting at one time. Built on the site of the notorious Newgate Prison, it has brought to trial some infamous murderers - among them Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged for murder in England; the ‘Brides in the Bath Murderer’, George Joseph Smith; John Christie who murdered his wife and at least five other women; and the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’, Peter Sutcliffe.

The old courthouse, built in 1773, was replaced in 1907 by the present building designed by E.W. Mountford. The name ‘Old Bailey’ is taken from the street where the court is situated, which is itself named after an ‘old bailey’ or former outer castle wall which once stood there.

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CH. XIII - Practical advice and useful addresses

2011-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

CH. XIII– Practical advice and useful addresses

95- VAT

96- BBC World Service
97- Quarantine regulation
98- Postage rates
99- British stamps
100- Contacts

95- How can I claim back VAT?

Tourists who purchase goods at shops participating in the Retail Export Scheme may apply for a refund if they intend to leave Britain for a final destination outside the European Union within three months of the date of purchase. Visitors should ascertain before making their purchase whether or not a refund will be available.

• At the time of the purchase the retailer will ask to see a passport to establish the customer’s eligibility for the refund scheme.

• Both parties should then complete the refund document provided by the retailer (form VAT 407 or a refund company voucher).

• The VAT form or refund voucher must be presented with the goods for certification by HM Customs and Excise when the customer departs from the European Union. Forms cannot be certified after departure from the EU.

• The certified form should then be sent to the retailer or funding company, and the claim will be processed and a refund cheque (in sterling) sent to the purchaser. Alternatively, the form may be handed in at the refunding company office at the airport for an immediate refund, if applicable.

• Any correspondence about non-receipt of funds should be sent to the retailer or refunding company, not HM Customs and Excise or British Government Offices.An information leaflet about claiming back VAT for overseas visitors may be obtained from:

The Southbank VAT Centre,

HM Customs and Excise

Dorset House,

Stamford Street,

London SE1 9PY

Tel +44 (0) 171 202 4087

96- Where can I find out about the BBC World Service?

To find out the frequencies for the BBC World Service write to:
BBC World Service

PO Box 76,

Bush House,

Strand,

London WC2B 4PH

e-mail worldservice.letters@bbc.co.uk

website http://www.bbcnc.org.uk/worldservice/

Tel +44 (0) 171 240 3456 Fax +44 (0) 171 379 6841

In addition, the BBC Worldwide Magazine, available by subscription (contact address above), publishes a complete listing and regular updates of frequencies.

97- What are the regulations for repatriating deceased people to Britain?

All deaths must be registered in the country where death occurs. The local police or the British Consul can give advice on how to do this. The death may also be registered at the British Consulate, and by doing so a British death certificate may be obtained.

In certain countries British Consulates cannot issue death certificates. These are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

British Consuls can also provide a list of local funeral directors and advise on the transport of the deceased back to Britain.

98- Where can I find out about postage rates?

Any Post Office in Britain can advise on postage rates within Britain or overseas. There are two postage rates in Britain first class and second class.
- First class postage should be used for letters requiring delivery on the next working day.
- Second class should be used for items that are not urgent - most second class letters are delivered within three working days.

For further information or details of charges call

the Post Office Counters Services Helpline on 0345 22 33 44 (calls within Britain only)

99- Where can I find out about philatelic clubs and obtain British stamps?

The British Philatelic Bureau can supply a wide range of British postage stamps and other philatelic items by mail order. The Bureau’s monthly Philatelic Bulletin gives details of all new stamp issues, First Day Cover services, postmarks and other information about postage stamps and philately. For a free information pack contact:

The British Philatelic Bureau

20 Brandon Street,

Edinburgh,

EH3 5TT

Tel +44 (0) 131 550 8989

100- Where can I find the address of...?

The British Council

The British Council has offices throughout Japan. Click here for details.

The British Tourist Authority

The BTA has an offices in Tokyo. Click here for details.

Buckingham Palace

The address is:

Buckingham Palace,

London SW1A 1AA

Charities and voluntary organisations

Charities and voluntary organisations are listed in the Charities Digest, published annually by:
Waterlow Information Services Limited

Paulton House,

8 Shepherdess Walk,

London N1 7LB

Tel +44 (0) 171 490 0049

Fax +44 (0) 171 253 1308

Alternatively,
The Charity Commissioners

St Alban’s House,

57-60 Haymarket,

London SW1Y 4QX

Tel +44 (0) 171 210 4477

Fax +44 (0) 171 210 4559
maintain a central register of charities.

For details of voluntary organisations consult

The Voluntary Agencies Directory, published by:
National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Regent’s Wharf,

8 All Saints Street,

London N1 9RL

Tel +44 (0) 171 713 6161

Fax +44 (0) 171 713 6300

Embassies and High Commissions

Embassies in London are listed in the Central London area telephone directory, also in parliamentary guides such as the PMS Parliamentary Companion.

Government departments

These are listed in the telephone directory (Central London area)

and in parliamentary guides such as the PMS Parliamentary Companion,

or access all Government departments on the Government’s website:

website http://www.open.gov.uk/

Members of Parliament

MPs can be contacted by post at:

House of Commons,

London SW1A 0AA

Full details of MPs and their constituencies can be obtained from:
The Public Information Office

House of Commons Library,

1 Derby Gate,

London SW1A 2DG

Tel +44 (0) 171 219 4272

National newspapers

National newspapers are listed in the Willings Press Guide published by:
Reed Information Services

Windsor Court,

East Grinstead House,

East Grinstead,

West Sussex RH19 1XA

Tel +44 (0) 342 326972

Political parties
These are listed in parliamentary guides, or contact head offices.

Conservative and Unionist Party:

Tel +44 (0) 171 222 9000

Fax +44 (0) 171 222 1135

Labour Party:

Tel +44 (0) 171 701 1234

Fax +44 (0) 171 234 3300Liberal

Democrats:

Tel +44 (0) 171 222 7999

Fax +44 (0) 171 799 2170

Museums

Popular museums are listed in Museums and Galleries in Great Britain and Ireland, published by:
Reed Information Services

Tel +44 (0) 342 326972

or contact

the British Tourist Authority (BTA)

Telephone Information Line on

Tel +44 (0) 181 846 9000

Television companies

TV companies are listed in the Blue Book of British Broadcasting, published by:
Tellex Monitors Ltd,

Communications House,

210 Old Street, London EC1V 9UN

Tel +44 (0) 171 490 1447

Fax +44 (0) 171 490 8595
This guide gives exhaustive details of all television and radio companies in Britain.

The British Film Institute Film and TV Handbook, published by

BFI,

21 Stephen Street,

London W1P 2LN, also lists television companies.

Universities

UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the central agency which acts on behalf of all British universities and most colleges of higher education. The UCAS Handbook lists the names and addresses of all British universities, together with details of their degree courses.
UCAS Handbook,

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service,

Fulton House,

Jessop Avenue,

Cheltenham,

Gloucs GL50 3SH

Tel +44 (0) 1242 222 444

Fax +44 (0) 1242 221622

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OUTILS LINGUISTIQUES

2011-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

DICTIONNAIRES

- Cambridge dictionary
- Collins : français-anglais / anglais-français
- The Free dictionary
- The Grand dictionary (Quebec) : vocabulaire spécifique
- Merriam-Webster (avec aide phonétique écrite)
- Urban dictionary (dictionnaire d'argot)
- Wiktionary ( dictionnaire libre, tout anglais, audio US;
mais traduction française, en cliquant sur 'français' dans la colonne de gauche intitulée: 'in other languages')

-visual dictionary (pictures)
Merriam Webster

- dictionnaire médical :
français-anglais
ou
anglais-français

EXPRESSIONS (idioms) /LEXIQUE

- The Free dictionary (expressions idiomatiques)
- Université de Picardie (niveaux lexicaux, idioms, etc...)
- Dave's ESL Café (idioms: définitions et exemples)

- Telephone
Lien OneStopEnglish (A Alpha, B Bravo alphabet)

GRAMMAIRE

Barre de harcèlement de Verbes Irréguliers: lien à télécharger
(et à placer sur votre site/blog ou en affichage déroulant en classe)

PHONETIQUE

- Mediadico : prononciation des termes médicaux

- dictionnaire The Free Dictionary (avec prononciation sonore,
en cliquant soit sur le logo 'anglais britannique', soit sur le logo 'anglais américain')

- Fonds sonore de Wikipedia : essentiellement des noms propres géographiques (villes, quartiers de Londres, fleuves,...)

- Dictionnaire sonore: howjsay

- symboles phonétiques

PRONONCIATION

- CleverKeys is free software that provides instant access to definitions at Dictionary.com, synonyms at Thesaurus.com, facts at Reference.com and more — from almost all Windows or Mac OS programs, including word processors, Web browsers and most e-mail programs. With CleverKeys, the answers are just a click away.
Learn more, or download CleverKeys for free now!

- English ABC (in English): lien

- Alphabet song (children): lien

- BBC Learning English

- Practice / entraînement (video): lien

- Phonetics and pronunciation : Linguaspectrum video

Anglais massacré: site de sensibilisation au désastre de la traduction automatique et à l'anglais approximatif, voire incorrect - Lien

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OUTILS CULTURELS - Cours

2011-01-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

COURS SCOLAIRES

Niveau primaire:

Niveau collège:

- Europensemble (Sceren)

Niveau lycée:

=> Grammaire

- Groupe du verbe

Futur de prédiction:lien teflclips (YouTube video)

Questions avec 'How...': lien teflclips (YouTube video)

Usage du verbe 'get': lien teflclips (YouTube video)

Exprimer la préférence avec 'would rather': lien teflclips (YouTube video)

- Groupe du nom

- Mots interrogatifs: lien teflclips (YouTube video)
- Prépositions de mouvement: lien teflclips (YouTube video)

ENCYCLOPEDIES

en anglais

- Britannica.com
Wikipedia

en français
- Wikipedia

ENTRAINEMENT dans la langue

Entraînement à la compréhension (courtes videos )

-histoire:

This day in history : lien (accent américain)

-Civilisation:

Entraînement à la compréhension orale: lien teflclips (videos YouTube + tests)

Nourriture (lien teflclips)
Sandwiches YouTube sandwiches
Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 See all responses here

Films about food
Pancakes I Pancakes II (Pancakes for your face) Food fight
Other food
The bacon explosion (story here)

Conversation

-entraînement à la compréhension orale / listening

Learn English (EF Englishtown): conversations du type Job interview ou Computers (niveau intermédiaire)

Listenaminute (exercices oraux)

Chansons pour enfants

Lien teflclips

(YouTube videos)

GEOGRAPHY:

Carte du Royaume Uni : lien BBC

Geography videos: secondary school (lien BBC)
Development
Ecosystems
Industry
Population
etc...

HISTOIRE:

Ireland
Quiz : lien history.com

Primary History

Victorian age

(primary level) Lien BBC
An introduction
Victorian schools
Children at work
Children at school
Children in coal mines
Children in factories
Children at play
Rich and poor families
Leisure
Toys and games

Children of World War II ( lien BBC )
World at war
Children at war
Evacuation
Air raids - the Blitz
Wartime homes
Daily life
Food and shopping
Growing up in wartime
The war effort
The war ends

Secondary History

World War One and Two (BBC)
Britain 1905-1951 (BBC)
Northern Ireland 1965-1985 (BBC)

LITTERATURE

Auteurs classiques
Webliterature
The Google Book

=> Texte d'oeuvres variées (avec biographie):
Lewis Caroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (lien Classicbookshelf)
Charles Dickens
George Orwell
Mark Twain
William Shakespeare

=> Livres audio - ebooks (prose et poésie) accès gratuit
lien usf.edu
lien Project Gutenberg

Anglais de complément :

sessions 2011 et 2012
Baccalauréat général
programme de lecture de l'épreuve orale d'anglais, langue vivante 1 de complément, en série littéraire:
William Shakespeare : A Midsummer Night's Dream (cf. 2009-2010, ci-dessous)
Herman Melville : Billy Budd (cf. 2009-2010)
Willa Cather : My Antonia
(cf. 2009-2010)
Virginia Woolf : A Haunted House and Other Short Stories (cf. 2009-2010)
Doris Lessing : The Fifth Child (cf. 2009-2010)
Beverley Naidoo : The Other Side of Truth (cf. 2009-2010)
Yann Martel : Life of Pi (cf. 2009-2010)
et
Langston Hughes : Selected PoemsTed Hughes : Poetry in the Making (aussi disponible en CD)
Hanif Kureishi : The Budha of SuburbiaRoy Arundhati : The God of Small Things
Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows : The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

sessions 2009 et 2010, programme de lecture de l’épreuve orale d’anglais:

-William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream -textonline (readbookonline);
- Herman Melville : Billy Budd (dossier complet-académie de Caen) - textonline (bibliomania);
- Willa Cather : My Antonia (académie de Caen) - online text (readbookonline);
- Virginia Woolf : A Haunted House and Other Short Stories ;
- Doris Lessing : The Fifth Child (académie de Caen);
- Beverley Naidoo : The Other Side of Truth (académie de Caen);
- Yann Martel : Life of Pi (académie de Caen);
et
John Keats : Selected Poems (édition Aubier) - Bartleby's online selection;
Harold Pinter : The Caretaker - online text (The Google Book);
Jennifer Johnston : How Many Miles to Babylon ;
Ernest J. Gaines : A Lesson Before Dying ;
Paul Auster : The Brooklyn Follies.

Autres
Frankenstein (anglais de spécialité - dossier complet) - Mary Shelley

Documentation Académie de Versailles:

- The literature network

- Classics at the Online Literature Library

- Bibliomania : this website has thousands of e-books, poems, articles, short stories and plays all of which are absolutely free. You can read the world’s greatest fiction by authors such as Dickens and Joyce, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, all Shakespeare’s plays, or just dip into some short stories by writers such as Mark Twain, Anton Chekov and Edgar Allan Poe.

- Read book online : This site contains about one thousand books from hundreds of authors. The collection of these books are in the following categories : fictions / novels, short stories, poems, essays, plays. Many of these books are works of American Literature, English Literature, and Irish Literature from well-known authors such as William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Robert Frost, Edgar Allan Poe, Alexander Pope, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, etc.

OUTILS DE CONVERSATION
(voir ci-dessus "entraînement dans la langue" )

citations célèbres

- BBC Learning English

- Wikiquote

sujets de conversation ( choix de 'topics' )

Compréhensions orale et écrite: lien BBC

anglais de tous les jours (situationnel)

Demander comment faire ('how to...') : lien BBC

Comment épeler son nom: lien teflclips (YouTube video)

VOCABULARY
keep your English up-to-date
lien: BBC World Service - Learning English

- 10 Common Expressions in English

Video link

- 7 Common English Expressions about Money
Video link

- Common Workplace Expressions
Video link

tournures authentiques (phrasal verbs)
lien BBC World Service - Learning English

Cours
Technique d'apprentissage du lexique
-Word web: lien eduplace
- memorize and improve (elementary-intermediate):
site learning chocolate (illustrations, words and pronunciation -US accent)

CONCOURS

Education Nationale

Concours internes
Agrégation interne - session 2012: lien BOEN (27 janvier 2011)
CAPES

Lien du ministère - session 2011: BOEN spécial n° 7 du 8 juillet 2010
(Programmes des concours externes et internes de l'agrégation, du CAPES, du CAPET, du CAPLP, de COP et de CPE)

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TRANSPORTS

2011-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

AVION

BUS

EUROSTAR

METRO
Entraînement pratique
- video+ test: lien

TRAIN

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REGLEMENTATION

2011-01-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

FORMALITES

- http://ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en (British embassy: général)

- http://ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en/our-offices-in-france/

Services officiels:

- Consulat Général de Grande Bretagne à Paris
18 bis rue d’Anjou,
75008 Paris
Metro: Madeleine (line 8), Concorde (line 1) or Saint Augustin (line 9)
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00
Fax: + 33 (0)1 44 51 31 27

Adresse postale:
British Embassy,
BP111-08,
75363 Paris CEDEX 08
Telephone: (33) 1 44 51 31 00

Fax: (33) 1 44 51 32 88 Management
(33) 1 44 51 34 00 Commercial
(33) 1 44 51 32 34 Press and Public Affairs
(33) 1 44 51 34 85 Political/Economic
(33) 1 44 51 34 40 Defence/Technology
(33) 1 44 51 31 27 Consular
(33) 1 47 05 77 02 British Council

Ambassade de Grande Bretagne à Paris
35, rue du Faubourg St Honoré
75383 Paris Cedex 08
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 51 32 34

Adresse postale:
British Embassy,
BP111-08,
75363
Paris CEDEX 08

Visas

- http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/

Douanes

- http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/travellingtotheuk/customs/

- Les restrictions à l'importation de biens de consommation au Royaume-Uni
- Contact spécifique au Consulat de Grande-Bretagne à Paris:
18 rue d'Anjou
75008 Paris
Tel : 01 44 51 31 02
Fax : 01 44 51 31 27
Lien internet : http://ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en

- Contact avec les Services des douanes
Customs and Excise Advice Centre (Douanes britanniques)
Dorset House,
Stamford Street
London
SE1 9PY
Tel : 00 44 207 928 33 44
Site internet : http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/

Introduction d’animaux domestiques au Royaume Uni
- Consulter le " Programme de Voyage des Animaux de Compagnie " disponible au Consulat : voir ci-dessus
Contact
Ministère de l’Agriculture:
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods
1a Page Street,
London
SW1P 4PQ
Tel : 00 44207 904 6000 ou 00 44 870241 1710 (Pets Helpline)
Lien vers l’ambassade

Police et législation

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/

N.B.

-Validité du permis de conduire français au Royaume-Uni

La validité du permis de conduire français est reconnue dans l'Union Européenne.

Contact:

Consulat de France

21 Cromwell Road

London

SW7 2EN

Tel : 00 44 207 073 1200

Fax : 00 44 207 073 1201

- Conduire au Royaume-Uni un véhicule immatriculé en France

Dans les six premiers mois de votre arrivée, vous devez procéder à l'immatriculation du véhicule en Grande-Bretagne auprès du
Vehicle Registration Office

Demander l'imprimé V 100 dans un bureau de poste).

Le véhicule doit alors être assuré en Grande-Bretagne.

Contact:

Driver and Vehicle Registration Licencing Agency

Foreign Licence Section

Longview Road,

Swansea

SA6 7JL

Tel : 00 44 1792 772 151/34

Fax : 00 44 1792 783 071

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HEBERGEMENT

2011-01-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

APPARTEMENTS (location):

Les Citadines
Liste des résidences Citadines au Royaume-Uni

Edinburgh
Citadines Edinburgh Quartermile (Ouverture 2009)

Londres
Citadines London Barbican
Citadines London Holborn-Covent Garden
Citadines London South Kensington
Citadines London Trafalgar Square

AUBERGES de JEUNESSE /YOUTH HOSTELS

http://www.yha.org.uk/

BED and BREAKFAST
Cliquer sur le lien

http://www.bedandbreakfasts.co.uk/

http://www.bedandbreakfasts-uk.co.uk/ukframe.htm

CAMPING-CARAVANNING

http://www.thecaravanningsite.co.uk/englandindex.htm

http://www.mccoy-camping.co.uk/britisles3.htm

CHAMBRES d'HÔTES

Homelidays (en français)

HOTELS (recherche): sans engagement des auteurs
Cliquer sur le lien

- Royaume-Uni: travelstay (de l'hébergement style sac à dos à l'hôtel coquet )

- Royaume-Uni: http://www.uk-hotel-accommodation.co.uk/
http://www.londoncovered.co.uk/menux/UK%20Hotels.htm

et

- Londres: http://www.expedia.co.uk/index/uk/england/1/london-hotels.aspx
- Ecosse: http://www.expedia.co.uk/index/uk/scotland/1/edinburgh-hotels.aspx
- Dublin: http://www.expedia.co.uk/index/ireland/1/dublin-hotels.aspx

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VISITES-TOURISME

2011-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

GUIDES TOURISTIQUES en ligne

Carte interactive (Ukguide)
Accès à l'un des lieux ci-dessous ( ville ou parc) qui vous concerne:

Aberdeen - Bath - Bedford - Belfast - Birmingham - Blackpool - Brecon Beacons National Park - Brighton - Bristol - Camrbdige - Cardiff - Conventry - Dartmoor National Park - Derby - Dover - Dublin - Dundee - Eastbourne - Edinburgh - Exeter - Glasgow - Grimsby - Inverness - Isle of Man - Isle of Skye - Isle of Wight - Lake Districk - Leeds - Leicester - Liverpool - London - Londonderry - Manchester - Newcastle - New Forest National Park - Northamption - Northumberland National Park - North Yorkshire Moors - Norwich - Nottingham - Oxford - Peak District - Peterborough - Plymouth - Portsmouth - Sheffield - Snowdonia Mountain Wales - Southampton - Stoke-on-Trent - Swansea - Swindon - Yorkshire Dales -

Guides

Cliquer sur le lien

- the UK
http://www.theguide-uk.com/indexMap.html

-Angleterre
http://www.picturesofengland.com/mapofengland

CARTES du UK

- http://www.uk-map-of-england.co.uk/

- lien 'pictures of England'

- lien ' ukguide '

- counties/comtés: Counties Map of England

- parcs nationaux: England's National Parks Map

PLANS de VILLES

Ukguide: carte interactive de Londres

Recherche de rue au Royaume Uni (aussi de code postal ou téléphonique)

Métro de Londres (London Tube)

- carte interactive du métro londonien -

- autre source: lien (London Travel)

- London Underground Wheelchair access map (personnes à mobilité réduite): lien

Central London Bus services

- carte des bus de Londres (Ukguide, pdf)

- carte du centre de Londres (lien pdf)

VISITES

- Angleterre

- Londres

Visites guidées: ukguide

Musées de Londres: u

kguide

London attraction maps
itinéraires à pied: lien

Black country (Coventry)
Village minier reconstitué - visites commentées: lien

- Pays de Galles

- Ecosse

- Irlande du Nord

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SPECTACLES

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Guides et sites des spectacles

- au Royaume Uni: choix de villes par CityVox

- à Londres et sa région:

CityVox

Visit London (généraliste)

What's On

- en Ecosse

Visit Scotland (site en français)

-au Pays de Galles

Visit Wales (site en français)

- en Irlande du Nord

Visit Ireland (site en anglais)

Discover Ireland (île dans son ensemble, site en français)

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Let's sing !

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MUSIC

Subtitled songs & Video clips

Clips video YouTube de chansons, souvent accompagnés des sous-titres téléchargeables
en bleu = prochainement

Ben Harper - Excuse me Mr (1995)
Ben Howard - Keep your head up
Beyoncé - If I were a boy (2008)
Bob Marley - War / No more trouble (1978)
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole - Over the Rainbow/Wonderful world (1993)
Jason Mraz - I’m yours (2008 )
Love - Everybody’s gotta live (1975)
Madness - Our house (1982)
Muse - Uprising (2009)
Pink Floyd - Another brick in the wall part 2 (1975 )
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (Unplugged - David Gilmour - 1975)
RATM - Bombtrack (1991)
Rollins Band - Liar (1994)
The Korgis - Everybody’s got to learn sometime (2004)
Tom Lehrer - Pollution (1967
Tracy Chapman - Talking ’bout a Revolution (1988)
Yodelice - Sunday with a flu
and
White Stripes (lyric videos)
We're going to be friends
Seven Nation Army

Children’s songs

Heads and shoulders, knees and toes (sung by Bono?)

Old MacDonald (sung by Phil Collins?)

Counting to 4 with Feist on Sesame Street (catchy song)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I caught a fish alive

The Elephant song

College

- The Beatles:
When I'm 64 (animation - futur avec 'when')

- Charlie Winston:
Boxes (YouTube video)
I'm a Man (YouTube)
In your hands (YouTube official video)
Like a Hobo (YouTube video)

Songs for study

- Radiohead: All I Need (MTV video on YouTube) - theme: child labour

Business English

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en cours de développement

Cours sur Internet

Lien MacMillan : activités gratuites
(e-lessons avec corrigés, audio, listes lexicales, etc...)

The UK @ a Click

Coronavirus : CONTINUITE PEDAGOGIQUE

Comment s’organise la continuité pédagogique avec « Ma classe à la maison » ?

Des parcours pédagogiques pour tous les niveaux

Des classes virtuelles pour échanger et se retrouver

Liens utiles en lien avec la continuité pédagogique

Ressources pour la continuité pédagogique

L’offre de France 4 en semaine:

Home page : WELCOME !

CONTENTS

CH. I - Facts & Figures

CH. II - Customs and traditions

CH. III – Sport, leisure, food and drink

CH. IV – Tourist information, sites and landmarks

CH. V – Making contacts

CH. VI – English language and literature

CH. VII – Education

CH.VIII- Constitution and system of government

CH. IX– Monarchy

CH. X - Etiquette

CH. XI - Britain's Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth

CH. XII - Law and Order

CH. XIII - Practical advice and useful addresses

OUTILS LINGUISTIQUES

OUTILS CULTURELS - Cours

TRANSPORTS

REGLEMENTATION

HEBERGEMENT

VISITES-TOURISME

SPECTACLES

Let's sing !

Business English