Презентація "British Character"

In order to communicate with the British people we should know both the language and their culture. You cannot but agree that all cultures have their own traits that shape the character of the people, and the British are no exception. This is the problem researched by many professional sociologists and historians, though they cannot reach agreement when outlining the typical traits of the British..

The national character of the English has been described in different ways, but most people agree over one quality, which they describe as a sense of superiority or “insular pride”. English patriotism is based on a deep sense of security. Englishmen as individuals may have been insecure, threatened with the loss of their job, unsure of themselves or unhappy in many ways. But as a nation they have been secure for centuries may be because they have lived on the island for so long. To prove this statement it’s enough to say that when an Englishman hears somebody speaking English they ask – Are you English? (not – Do you speak English?), because they are very particular if you are English or not.

The English are very conservative. They distrust unusual things and like stability. They are proud of having one of the oldest parliaments in the world. (It was founded in 1215)The English are well-disciplined people and it is no exaggeration to say that they have the best manners in the world. They are all polite, they all know how to hold their knife and fork and how to behave in society.

The English like to speak about the weather. A good advice for you – when you speak with an Englishman you must NEVER contradict anybody when discussing the weather and always agree that the weather is lovely, wonderful, nasty, dreadful, rainy… well, it depends! And if you don’t say anything else for the rest of your life, you will still have a chance of passing as a very witty person of sharp intellect and very pleasant manners!

The English display a surprising unity in a crisis. They are very particular about ecology and environmental protection. They claim to be tolerant to any religion. The coldness of Englishmen has been noted by the foreigners. But they also confess that once you get to know an Englishman better, he turns out to be a very good fellow.

The English people have a real passion for adventure. In the heart of every proud Englishman, there is always a call of the sea, a romantic craving for distant shores. The English are considered a very curious nation. For example, in foreign countries, they like to try new cuisine. However, they will not cook new dishes at home, as they are very conservative.

The typical feature of the English is their love of games. They love playing all of them. They play football and cricket; games are nowhere so popular as in England. And, of course, the English people are fond of sports. Many continentals think life is a game; the English think cricket is a game. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of behaviour. When they consider something unfair, they say "That isn't cricket”. But however childish at their games they are very serious in business. The English people are hard working. Money is the idol of the English. Their first concern is to work hard to earn more. So they work very hard, but always find time for rest. And when they have holidays they try to have the time of their life!

The British have been famous as a nation of animal-lovers. There is a pet in nearly every family and often the family dog or cat has a special chair near the fire, special food and a special place in the hearts of its owners. The English are stay-at-home people. “There is no place like home” they say. Their love of home is a symbol of personal independence. When they don’t work they like to spend their days off at home with their families. Englishmen are very fond of fire-places, that’s why many of them prefer the open fire to central heating. They observe other people’s privacy. Not to disturb other people is the mainrule of their life. They like to live in small houses with а small garden. People аll over the world know the saying “The Englishman’s home is his castle”.

Every national character is a combination of good and bad traits and we must treat every nation with equal respect. Besides much of the above-mentioned information is due to the stereotypes that have been created about the country, culture and character for centuries and in reality the British, which is more correct, are quite different people and resemble the continentals. Some people still believe the English eat porridge for breakfast and read The Times every day which is not true either. But if you know that the weather in Great Britain can change twice or thrice within a single day you shouldn’t be surprised to see an Englishman leaving his house on a bright sunny morning, tightly wrapped in a cloak and carrying an umbrella!

To sum up I can say that it’s very difficult to say who the typical British is in our global multicultural world. May be to be British means - to drive in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer and then travel home grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV?

THE ENGLISHThey dress in what they like; They are interested in sport;They partake in all activities if they think they ought;They all succeed in doing their job in short five days,which leaves them the two longest ones to spend in different ways. Then some indulge in gardening, or walking in the rain, and some delight in cricket or in riding in the plain. In spite of what’s around him, the average Englishmandoes crossword in the newspaper in pencil – if he can. Involved in any accident the English take a pridein being unemotional: they take things in their stride. In any circumstances – whatever they may be –The English solve their problems with an English cup of tea!