Learning about British Culture
On Friday 20th December 2019, the students worked in groups for a morning of quizzes, challenges and presentations all about British culture.
Following on from this, we explained some of the common customs and interesting traditions of the United Kingdom!
We started the morning with tea and scones enthusiastically prepared by teachers, Rod and Joe!
The English tradition of drinking tea and eating cream scones originated in Devon and Cornwall, in the South of England. Nowadays, tea rooms can be found all over the UK, a good example being the very popular Betty’s, located in nearby Harrogate and York.
Santa Claus was in town!
Christmas is an annual festival celebrating the birth of Christ. However, it is also celebrated by non-Christians as a time for family and friends.
Santa Claus is supposed to deliver presents to children and we spend time eating, drinking and relaxing during this period.
With help from teacher, Chris, the Beginner and Elementary classes prepared a quiz. Here are some more questions – how many answers do you know? (Find the answers at the bottom of this page!)
- What is the second largest city in England?
- Which country’s flag pictures a red dragon?
- When was the last time England won the football world cup?
- Which is the oldest university in the UK?
- Which music group has sold the most records in the UK?
- What is the name of the river in London?
- What is the highest mountain in Britain?
After the quiz, Pete and Lewis’ classes created a leaflet race. The theme was ‘Tourism and places to visit’. Students searched for the answers inside our collection of leaflets and the first team to find all of the answers won!
The UK is very multicultural so you will hear many different languages, especially in the bigger cities. You will also hear lots of different accents which can be difficult to understand (even for British people, sometimes!). Some people from Northern Ireland and Wales have their own language which they may use amongst themselves, but they will also communicate in English.
The Intermediate classes hosted a great game of Jeopardy about British celebrations and festivals. Klara hosted alongside Leeds English teacher, Stephen.
Britain is full of customs and traditions. Afternoon Tea, Sunday roasts, fish and chips, Pancake Day, Bonfire Night! Red buses, black taxis and bowler hats also come to mind. Our social activities programme integrates many of the famous events and festivals that take place over the year.
To finish, the Advanced and IELTS classes got together and delivered a brilliant presentation about British subcultures.
Subcultural groups like the Punks, the Mods, the Hippies and the Teddy Boys (amongst many others) are a huge part of British history, culture and fashion.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a subculture as:
The way of life, customs, and ideas of a particular group of people within a society that are different from the rest of that society.
Answers: 1. Birmingham. 2. Wales. 3. 1966. 4. Oxford. 5. The Beatles. 6. The Thames. 7. Ben Nevis.
