Read about English stereotypes and decide whether you agree or disagree with the presented ideas. Discuss with your partner the nature of stereotypes and stereotyping.

A stereotype is "...a fixed, over generalised belief about a particular group or class of people” (Cardwell, 1996). In other words stereotyping is believing that people of a certain group, race or religion all have the same characteristics when they don't. Learning from the media and talking to older people, we pick up a lot of stereotypes about other nations. In every country there are plenty of stereotypes about residents, some maybe true but most of them are untrue and very wrongful.

The most common image people have of a typical Englishman is a man wearing a bowler hat and reading the Times newspaper. Is this your image? Let’s look through some ideas given by different people about the English.

Men wearing bowler hats, a pin striped suit, a newspaper under the arm and carrying a long unopen umbrella...

Bowler hats are very rarely seen in England today. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen one being worn apart from in the movies!

"Beer, honesty, Bulldog-type, Royal Family, Cricket, the Weather" - Dickie Bird (Famous English cricket umpire)

"Long shadows on county cricket grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers and old maids bicycling through the morning mist" - John Major (Ex Prime Minister)

"I think that English people are quite reserved. I had to laugh when I went by tube and saw everyone sitting and reading their newspapers." (a student from Brazil)

"Patriotic people, some think we are snobs but we are just proud of our country and Queen. We are very polite and patient although as in any country, there are the bad eggs. But on the whole we are a very pleasant nation." (Tom Eccles aged 13).

People think the English are no good at learning foreign languages and have the attitude that if they yell loud enough in English the "foreigners" will eventually understand them...Do you agree with this?

 

 (Adapted from http://projectbritain.com/stereotypes.htm )

2. Together with your partner try to make a list of stereotypes about Russian people. Share your ideas in group and chose the best ones. Possible topics for stereotyping:

- Food

- Behavior

- Appearance

- Way of life

Listening and Speaking

Follow the link “Theater” on http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1446_entertainment/mp3/theatre.mp3 and listen to the programme. You will find out about a night out at the theatre. Try to answer the following questions and then complete the tasks below (theater-related vocabulary is provided).

Questions:

a) What makes the theatre so special?

b) How can you describe your feelings about a show?

c) Why is the theatre less popular nowadays than it used to be?

 

Look through the expressions from the programme and make up a short story of your own about your experience of visiting a theater, concert or any live performance. Use the given word combinations.

to see something live - to see something while it is actually happening. Example sentence: I saw Michael Jackson perform live at a concert in Birmingham.

...and that's the thing about it - that's what makes it different from other things.
Example sentence: That's the thing about him, he's very friendly.

dual - with two parts. Example sentence: The room has a dual function - it's both a kitchen and a living room.

a monologue - a play for one actor, or a speech made by one person. Example sentence: The new play is a monologue performed by Jenny Harris.

the show is sold out - there are no more tickets left. Example sentence:I wanted to see last night's performance, but it had sold out.

 

2.Discuss the following questions with your partner:

1) What kind of entertainment do you prefer and why: theater, cinema, museums, art galleries?

2) Can you tell about your favorite piece of art? It can be a film, a book, a play, a picture etc.

3) Art is a source of inspiration and various emotions. Do you agree with this idea? Give your reasons.

4) What is more popular nowadays: visiting theaters and art galleries or watching movies or surfing the Internet? Try to explain your opinion.

GrammarFocus

1. Study the following table and complete the tasks below:

Present Perfect Tense

+     Affermative                 - Negative                    ? Interrogative

 

I/you/we/they Have           I/you/we/they have not worked Have I/you/we/they worked?

                (I’ve worked)                     (haven’t worked)

He/she/it   Has worked   He/she/it       has not worked  Has he/she/it     worked?

He’sworked) (hasn’tworked)

1. Complete the sentences using the present perfect.

b) I.........................(never, be) in the theater.

c) The students who……………………..(finish, already) the test, can leave.

d) Mum……………….(just, bake) a cake for the party.

e) Jane …………….(yet, do) the washing up.

f) …………. you ………… (recently, make) the beds?

g) He ………………(lately, write) 7 novels.

h) …… you …………(ever, be) to South America.

2. Complete thefollowingsentences with the correct form of the verb using either the Present Perfect tense or the Present Perfect Continuous.

AFFIRMATIVE:

I / you / we / they have been playing.

He / she / It has been playing

NEGATIVE:

I / you / we / they haven´t been playing.

He / she / It hasn´t been playing

INTERROGATIVE:

Have I / you / we / they been playing?

H as He / she / It been playing?

 

1. Linda ……………………………………………………………………… (travel) around Europe for three months.

2. She ……………………………………………………………………… (visit) six countries so far.

3. Jimmy ……………………………………………………………………… (play) since he was five years old.

4. He ……………………………………………………………………… (win) the national championship four times.

5. Bill and Andy ……………………………………………………………………… (make) ten films since they left college.

6. They ……………………………………………………………………… (make) films for many years now.

7. Look! Somebody ……………………………………………………………………… (break) the window.

8. I ……………………………………………………………………… (read) the book you gave all morning.

9. But I ……………………………………………………………………… (not finish) it yet.

10.  Sorry I’m late. That’s all right. I ……………………………………………………………………… (not wait) for a long time.

11.  Peter ……………………………………………………………………… (clean) the windows for some time.

12.  So far he ……………………………………………………………………… (clean) five of them and there are two more to go.

13.  My brother is an actor. He ……………………………………………………………………… (appear) in several films.

14. I ……………………………………………………………………… (learn) Chinese for two years now.

3. Complete the text using the Present perfect, Present perfect continuous or Past simple form.

The Ageing Population

The number of men and women in the US aged 60 or over still in work (rise) for more than a decade. Economists (give) a number of reasons for this trend. First, since 1985 the US economy (expand) so there (be) an increased demand for labour. At the same time, the cost of some service, such as health care, (increase) so workers need to earn more money in later life. In addition, changes in social security benefits and rules (have) a considerable effect on labour patterns. First, in 1977 and 1983 changes to the Social Security Act (raise) the full-benefit age from 65 to 67 and (introduce) other changes that make delaying retirement more attractive. Then, in 1986 the Age Discrimination Act (end) compulsory retirement for all workers, allowing them to work later in life. Changes to pension laws (also encourage) workers to stay in employment longer, as this gives them more chance of a larger pension when they retire.

(From Macmillan English Grammar in Context by Michael Vince)

4. Complete the text about World War I with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Use past simple, past continuous, past perfect or past perfect continuous.