Window on Britain

WINDOW ON BRITAIN

NAME: ______3 ESO ____ YEAR 2018-2019 INS JULIO ANTONIO

Let me introduce myself

 Hi, my name’s ......  I’m from ...... (country)  I live in ...... (city)  My birthday is on ......

 There are ... people in my family. Hobbies – Free time activities  reading, painting, drawing  They are ......  going out with friends  My father is a ...... and my mother a ......  surfing the Internet  clubbing, barhopping  My hobby is ......  going to the cinema  playing with my dog  My favourite sport is ......  going to the park/beach/…  listening to music  In my free time, I also like ......  shopping, singing, dancing  I don’t like ......  travelling, camping, hiking  knitting, cooking  My favourite food is ......  My favourite drink is ...... Favourite places  My favourite day of the week is ...... because ...... my home my living room  My favourite month is ...... because ...... my bedroom the beach  My favourite singer (or band) is ...... the shopping mall the sports centre  I like ...... (movies). the library the park  My favourite place is ...... I like it because ...... (…)  I (don’t) like travelling. I have been to ...... Movies  The most beautiful place in my country is ...... action movie comedy  I study English because ...... romantic comedy horror movie sci-fi movie war movie thriller Because… animated cartoons  … I like it a lot.  … I think it’s important.  … I need to use it for work. Jobs  … there are many things to see and do. teacher policeman doctor  … I have to. nurse builder architect  … I can relax there. civil servant engineer social worker  … it’s relaxing/popular/nice/… secretary businessman shop assistant  … it’s the last day of the week. manager fire fighter shopkeeper  … I’m good at it. cleaner postman waiter/waitress housewife househusband retired unemployed

A UK QUIZ

1. Which country is not part of 8. The Union Jack is the name 15. The Prime Minister has his the Uk ? of : residence: a) Northern Ireland a) A football team a) In the White House b) The Republic of Ireland b) A political party b) At 10 Downing Street, London c) Wales c) The British flag c) In the Houses of Parliament

2. What is the capital of the UK ? 9. 16. Today’s British Prime Minister England is separated from is: France by: a) Edinburgh a) The Brittany Channel a) Tony Blair b) London b) The Welsh Channel b) Gordon Brown c) Belfast c)The English Channel c) Margaret Thatcher

3. What is the capital of Wales ? 10. Stonehenge is: 17. Prince Charles’ eldest son is:

a) Edinburgh a) A famous building in London a) Prince William b) Belfast b) A town in Scotland b) Prince Harry c) Cardiff c) A big stone circle in England c) Prince Andrew

4. The national symbol of Wales is 11. J.K. Rowling is the author of: 18. Ben Nevis is:

a) A rose a)The Lord of the Rings a) A Welsh national hero b) A thistle b)Harry Potter b)The inventor of the laser c) A leek c)The Adventures of Tom Sawyer c)The highest mountain in Britain

5. The Uk is made up of … 12. The national symbol of 19. In England are situated: England is a) England,Scotland,Wales a) A rose a)Cambridge, Birmingham, Glasgow

b) England,Scotland,Wales,Northern b) A daffodil b)Manchester, Ireland Birmingham,Liverpool

c) England,Scotland,Wales,The c)A thistle c)Cardiff, Leeds, London Republic of Ireland.

6. Nessie is the name of … 13. You can see the Crown 20. William Shakespeare Jewels in: wrote: a) a river in the UK a) Big Ben a) Romeo and Juliet b) a monster b) The Tower of London b) A Christmas Carol c) a lake in Scotland c) St Paul’s Cathedral c) Alice in Wonderlands

7. The British national anthem is 14. The Prince of Wales is:

a) God save the Queen a) Prince Andrew b) Auld Lang Syne b) Prince William c) We all fall down c) Prince Charles

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (or UK for short) is an island. It is just off the northwest coast of mainland Europe. The UK is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Colour the countries that make up the UK. Use the following colours: England = red Scotland = blue Wales = yellow Northern Ireland = green

The English Channel separates the UK from the rest of Europe. It is possible to travel to France from England by train or by car through a tunnel under the English Channel!

People in the United Kingdom speak English but there are also some other languages

spoken in the UK. These children are saying “hello”!

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE UK, GREAT BRITAIN AND THE BRITISH ISLES

Look at the maps. Can you see the difference? Explain it.

The British Isles

WRITE THE CAPITAL CITY OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND AND IRELAND:

DUBLIN LONDON EDINBURGH CARDIFF BELFAST And add some important cities. Then, Paint the map using different colours.

FOUR NATIONS

Watch the video to find out more about the United Kingdom https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org.cn/en/loch-ness/four-nations

-Write the words into the correct group

London Cardiff Belfast Tea Kilts Bagpipes Peace process choirs Edinburgh Cymraeg dancing Talking about the weather

ENGLAND SCOTLAND

WALES NORTHERN IRELAND

-Have you been to any of the countries in the United Kingdom?

-Where?

-When?

-If not, would you like to go?

The flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Flag but its more common name is the Union Jack. It is one of the most well-known flags in the world.

Of course, each country in the United Kingdom has its own national flag. The Union Flag is a combination of the national flags of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

Colour the Union Jack: one = red two = blue

The flag of England is Northern Ireland is represented by the St The flag of represented by the George’s Cross. Scotland is St Patrick’s Cross. represented by the St Andrew’s Wales isn’t represented separately on the Cross. Union Flag because it had already been united with England by the time the first Union Flag was formed in 1606.

National flower: rose

Patron saint: Saint George

Colour the flag of England. It is a red Saint George was a soldier who fought in cross on a white base. defense of the Christian faith. Legend says that there was a dragon who lived near a lake, and it ate sheep. Whole armies could not defeat this dragon and soon it started to eat young maidens. Saint George was able to slay the dragon with a single blow of his lance. The king gave St George a large reward But St George gave all this money to the poor.

National flower: thistle

Patron saint: Saint Andrew

Saint Andrew’s Day is celebrated on 30th of November. St Andrew was one of Jesus’ Apostles. Legend says that there was a king in ancient Scotland who was fighting a battle. His army was heavily outnumbered, and he vowed to appoint Colour the flag of Saint Andrew as patron saint of Scotland if he was Scotland. It is a white granted victory. Legend says that in the morning of diagonal cross on a blue base. the battle white clouds forming an X shape appeared in the blue sky. The king’s army won the battle and, as promised, St Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland. It is said that this legend inspired the design for the flag.

National flower: shamrock

Patron saint: Saint Patrick

Colour the flag of Northern Ireland. It is a Saint Patrick was kidnapped by pirates when he red cross on a white base. was sixteen years old. They sold him as a slave The hand in the star is red in Ireland. He lived in Ireland as a shepherd, and the crown is yellow. but he was very sad and religion made him feel better. He escaped six years later and returned to England. There, he studied religion and decided to go back to Ireland where he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three parts of the same divinity). Irish people all around the world celebrate St Patrick’s Day on 17th of March with parades. They wear green and bunches of shamrocks on their coats. National flower: leek

Patron saint: Saint David

The Welsh were fighting in a field of leeks. In battle they could not tell friend from foe because both sides wore similar clothing. Saint David noticed that this was a problem and told the Welsh Colour the flag of Wales. The top half that they must mark themselves. He of the flag is white and the bottom half plucked a leek from the ground and told is green. Right in the centre of the flag them to wear it. In this way, the Welsh there is a red dragon. It is believed that the red dragon represents ancient won the battle, and Saint David became warriors. “Y Ddraig Goch” in Welsh the patron saint of Wales. means “the red dragon”.

SUMMARY COMPLETE THE CHART

COUNTRY FLAG CAPITAL PLANT PATRON SAINT ENGLAND

SCOTLAND

WALES

NORTHERN IRELAND

THE STORY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNION FLAG A flag containing three other flags

Watch the power point and explain with your own words the formation of the Union Jack.

England is the biggest of the four countries in the United Kingdom. Together with Scotland and Wales, these three countries are the island of Great Britain. The English Channel is in the south between England and France. People travel to France by ferry across the English Channel or by train through the Channel Tunnel which goes under the sea.

Over 50 million people live in England and that’s around 80 per cent of the total UK population. It is a multicultural country where more than 250 languages are spoken in the capital city, London. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, which means that there is a queen or king, but they don’t make the laws of the country. Laws and political decisions in England are made by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Houses of Parliament are in central London next to the River Thames and the most famous part is the clock tower, Big Ben.

Other large cities in England are Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Bristol. Outside cities, England is a very green country and has many rural areas of natural beauty such as the Lake District, an area with lots of lakes in the north, and the New Forest, a big area of forest in the south of the country.

Language The official language of England is English, which is spoken today by millions of people all over the world. Many students go to England from other countries to study the language and learn about the culture. Although everyone speaks English, there are many different accents around the country. French was the official language in England between 1066 and 1362, which is why there are many French words and expressions in English such as ‘bon voyage’ for ‘have a good trip’ or ‘bouquet’ for ‘a bunch of flowers’.

Music English people love music. In the summer you can go to music festivals all over the country like those at Glastonbury, Leeds or Reading. Glastonbury is a five-day festival of music, dance, comedy, theatre and circus and around 175,000 people go. Many people stay at the festivals for a few days and camp in tents. People listen to all types of music, especially pop and rock. England has produced many international groups and singers like the Beatles, Amy Winehouse, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and Adele.

Sport The most popular sports in England are football, rugby and cricket and most towns have a sports ground where teams can play. English football teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are world- famous and English football players include David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane. Women’s football is also popular and teams play in leagues and competitions all over the country. Every year, the English rugby union team play in the Six Nations Championship against Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy. Cricket is a traditional sport played with a bat and ball which began in England and is now played all over the world. People like to watch all these sports on television, as well as other sports like horse racing, tennis, snooker (a type of billiards) and motor racing.

Food

England is a very multicultural country, and this has a big influence on the food people eat. Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines are popular alternatives to traditional English food like fish and chips or roast beef sausage and mash (mashed potatoes). Many English people drink several cups of tea every day, usually with milk. However, coffee and herbal teas are also popular.

Symbols The national flag of England is white with a red cross. It is called the St George’s Cross and Saint George is the patron saint of England. St George’s Day is on 23 April, but it’s not a public holiday. The rose is the national flower of England and the lion is the national animal. The lion is a symbol of many English sports teams.

ACTIVITIES

1. Check your understanding: matching Match the names with what they are and write a–j next to the numbers 1–10.

1…….. English Channel a. clock

2…….. Big Ben b. city

3…….. Bristol c. sport

4…….. The New Forest d. rugby competition

5…….. Glastonbury e. traditional food

6…….. Ed Sheeran f. sea

7…….. Harry Kane g. singer

8…….. Six Nations h. rural area

9…….. snooker i. footballer

10…… sausage and mash j. music festival

2. Check your understanding: multiple choice

1. Great Britain is England, …

a. Scotland and Northern c. Wales and Northern b. Scotland and Wales. Ireland. Ireland.

2. The sea to the south of England is the …

a. Irish Sea. b. Celtic Sea. c. English Channel.

3. There are …

a. 50 million people living b. 80 million people living c. 250 million people living in England. in England. in England.

4. Political decisions in England are made by …

b. the Parliament of the c. the Government of a. the queen or king. United Kingdom. England.

5. The Lake District is …

a. near London. b. in the south of England. c. in the north of England.

6. There are lots of words and expressions in English that are …

a. French. b. Welsh. c. Chinese.

7. Reading is the name of …

a. a music festival. b. an English music group. c. a type of music.

8. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool …

b. play against the national c. are known all over the a. are all from London. teams of Wales, Scotland world. and Ireland every year.

9. In the Six Nations Championship, England doesn’t play against

a. France. b. Spain. c. Italy.

10. People in England …

b. enjoy the variety of a. prefer traditional food. c. don't drink much tea. different cuisines.

3. Check your gramar: gap fill

across through between x2 next to to about all over in x2

1.People travel to France by ferry the English Channel or by train the Channel Tunnel.

2.The Houses of Parliament are in central London the River Thames.

3.Many students go to England from other countries study the language and -learn the culture. 4.French was the official language England 1066 and 1362.

5.Women’s football teams play leagues and competitions the country.

Use an atlas to find a map of England. Look for London. Can you place London on the map?

Add other large cities such as: Liverpool, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol.

And a green area called

Lake district and New Forest.

London is the capital of England and the UK and is the largest city in the UK and the European Union, with over 7 million residents.

So, let’s make a London Tour to know more about this fascinating city and its buildings.

Pair work activity. Choose a partner to start the tour and START!!

Follow these steps:

a. Bring headphones!! You are going to listen and watch some videos. b. Click on the following link: VISIT LONDON 1 http://www.letshavefunwithenglish.com/projects/british_culture/londo n1.html c. Use the minibook and the pictures to illustrate it d. Follow the instructions of the webpage and take notes in your minibook. e. When you finish go to the next website: VISIT LONDON 2 http://chagall-col.spip.ac-rouen.fr/spip.php?article572 f. Use another minibook and pictures and follow the instructions.

What does Scotland look like? What languages do they speak? And what can you do in Scotland? Read and find out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=_u_zO7Nr5Zo

Scotland is a country in Great Britain, to the north of England. Scotland has nearly 800 islands, but people only live on some of them.

Scotland is a very beautiful country with many mountains, forests, beaches, rivers and lochs (the Scots word for lakes). In the north of Scotland it is light until 11.30 p.m. in summer and in winter you can sometimes see the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, which are spectacular lights in the sky. Energy from the sun turns the Earth’s sky green, red and other colours.

Scotland has its own parliament which makes laws for Scottish people. The Scottish parliament is in the capital city, Edinburgh. About five million people live in Scotland, which is 8.5 per cent of the UK population. Most people live in the south of the country in and around the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Dundee.

Language There are three languages in Scotland. Most people speak English and Scots. Scots is spoken by young and old people in cities and rural areas and sometimes people mix Scots and English. Some words in Scots are the same as in English and some are different. Look at these sentences. Can you see the difference?

 Scotland is ane o the fower kintras that maks the Unitit Kinrick. (Scots)

 Scotland is one of the four countries that make the United Kingdom. (English)

A minority (around one percent of the Scottish population) speak Scottish Gaelic, an old Celtic language which is very different from English. For example, the Gaelic word for Scotland is ‘Alba’, ‘What is your name?’ is ‘Dè an t-ainm a tha ort?’ and ‘Goodbye’ is ‘Slàn leat’.

Music At public and cultural events you can often hear traditional music and see traditional dancing. Pipers play music on bagpipes, a Celtic wind instrument with pipes and a bag. Pipers and dancers usually wear kilts. A kilt is a traditional skirt with a tartan design which is worn by men and women. Scots enjoy all types of music from folk to rock and pop, and festivals like the Edinburgh Festival or concerts like ‘T in the Park’ are very popular. Famous Scottish singers and groups include Paolo Nutini, Franz Ferdinand and The Fratellis. Sport The most popular sport in Scotland is football and famous teams include Celtic and Rangers, from Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city. Another popular game, golf, was invented in Scotland in the Middle Ages. You can go skiing or snowboarding in winter at Scotland’s five mountain ski resorts and any time of the year at snowsports centres around the country. In rural, Gaelic-speaking regions people play shinty, a traditional sport similar to hockey that is played in Scotland and Ireland.

The famous Scottish Highland Games are a combination of culture and sport. Competitors do heavy sports like ‘caber tossing’, where they throw big tree trunks, and there is traditional Scottish music and dancing.

Highland Games are celebrated all over the world. The first Highland Games in New York were in 1836, the most northern games are in Norway and the most southern ones are in New Zealand.

Food When people think of Scottish food they often think of haggis, a type of sausage made from parts of a sheep. However, Scotland is also known for its variety of seafood such as lobster and oysters, fish such as salmon and trout, and beef.

Symbols Blue is a colour which is often associated with Scotland. The Scottish flag is blue with a white X-shaped cross called the St Andrew’s cross. St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and his day is celebrated on 30 November. On this day, everywhere you go in Scotland you will see tartan, kilts and bagpipes. Also, look out for the national animal, the unicorn, and the thistle, the purple flower of Scotland.

1. Check your understanding: true or false Write True or False for these sentences.

1. All of Scotland's islands are populated. False

2. Scotland is a country of great natural beauty. False

3. Scotland can make its own laws. False

4. Most Scottish people can speak Scottish Gaelic. False

5. You can hear bagpipes at public and cultural events. False

6. Shinty is a traditional sport similar to hockey. False

7. A caber tossing competition involves throwing big tree trunks. False

8. Scotland has a lot of types of fish and seafood to choose from. False

9. The Scottish flag is red and white. False

10. Scotland's national symbols include a mythical animal and a flower. False

2. Check your understanding: matching Match the questions with the correct answers and write a–f next to the numbers 1–6.

1…….. How many islands are there in Scotland? a. 11.30 p.m.

2…….. What time does night begin in summer? b. about five million

3…….. How many people live in Scotland? c. 8.5

4…….. What percentage of the UK population lives in Scotland? d. 30

5…….. When were the first Highland Games in New York? e. about 800

6…….. Which day in November is St Andrew’s Day? f. 1836

3. Check your grammar: gap fill Write the verb to fill the gaps.

1. Scotland nearly 800 islands.

2. The Northern Lights spectacular lights in the sky.

3. In winter you can sometimes the Northern Lights.

4. Most people in the south of the country.

5. Most people two languages – English and Scots.

6. A kilt a traditional skirt with a tartan design. 7. Pipers and dancers usually kilts.

8. You can skiing or snowboarding at Scotland’s ski resorts.

Use an atlas to find a map of Scotland. Look for Edinburgh and Glasgow. Can you place them on the map?

Add Perth and Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness and the name of some islands.

Let’s make an Edinburgh Tour to know more about this fascinating city and its buildings.

Pair work activity. Choose a partner to start the tour and START!! Follow these steps:

g. Bring headphones!! You are going to listen and watch some videos. h. Click on the following link: Visit Scotland 1

http://www.letshavefunwithenglish.com/projects/british_culture/scotland1 .html i. Use the minibook and the pictures to illustrate it j. Follow the instructions of the webpage and take notes in your minibook. k. When you finish go to the next website: Visit Scotland 2 http://www.letshavefunwithenglish.com/projects/british_culture/sco tland2.html l. Use another minibook and pictures and follow the instructions.

Where's Wales? Is Welsh similar to English? And is Wales a good place to visit? Read and find out!

Wales is one of the countries in Britain and the United Kingdom. It’s a small country with England to the east. Wales has got a continuous coastline, around 1,300km long, which means there are a lot of beaches! It has some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK and is a popular destination for holidaymakers and water sports fans. As well as beaches, there are a lot of mountains and also three national parks, including Snowdonia. It is in north Wales and its highest mountain, Snowdon, is 1,085m.

The population of Wales is just over three million people, around five per cent of the total UK population. Most Welsh people live in south Wales in the capital city, Cardiff, and two other big cities: Swansea and Newport. In Cardiff you can go shopping, visit the castle, go to the museum or go to a concert or sports match at the famous Millennium Stadium.

Language The official languages of Wales are English and Welsh and ‘Wenglish’ is a Welsh- English dialect. Everyone speaks English, but if you go to school in Wales you have to learn Welsh until you are 16. Street signs are written in Welsh and English, and villages, towns and cities have an English name and a Welsh name. For example, the capital city is Cardiff or Caerdydd. One of the longest place names in the world is a village in Wales called Llanfairpwllgwingyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllandysiliogogogoch.

The Welsh language is an old, Celtic language which is very different from English. For example, the Welsh name for ‘Wales’ is ‘Cymru’, ‘Good morning’ is ‘Bore da’ and ‘How are you?’ is ‘Sut mae?’. It is one of the oldest languages in Europe and around 20 per cent of people in Wales speak Welsh.

Music The Welsh people love music and there are a lot of singing festivals and competitions in Wales. One of the largest cultural festivals in Europe is the National Eisteddfod of Wales, which is in a different town or city every year. All the events are in Welsh and include literature, singing, art, exhibitions, dance and theatre. Famous singers and groups from Wales include Duffy, Stereophonics and Catatonia.

Sport The Welsh enjoy watching and playing sport, especially rugby union and football. Wales has its own football league and famous Welsh footballers include Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale. The modern Millennium Stadium in Cardiff can hold 74,500 spectators and is where you go if you want to watch a football or rugby match or even a pop concert. In 2014 Cardiff was the European Capital of Sport.

Water sports are popular in Wales. You can go surfing, wakeboarding (a combination of waterskiing, snowboarding and surfing) or coasteering (climbing up rocks and jumping into the sea).

If you like unusual sports, visit the small town of Llanwrtyd Wells. Every year in this town there is a man versus horse marathon and a bog snorkelling competition. Bog snorkelling is similar to swimming in extremely dirty water.

Food There are lots of sheep in Wales, so people eat a lot of lamb. Typical Welsh dishes include ‘cawl’ which is lamb stew, Glamorgan sausages and ‘rarebit’ which is a type of cheese on toast. There are also Welsh cakes, which are small, sweet, round cakes with dried raisins inside. Symbols If you ever go to Wales, you will see dragons everywhere! Not real ones, of course, but a red dragon appears on the national flag of Wales. The patron saint of Wales is St David, who is celebrated on 1 March. Other symbols of Wales include the leek (a long, green vegetable) and the daffodil (a white or a yellow flower).

1. Check your understanding: true or false Write True or False for these sentences.

1. Wales is a country in the United Kingdom next to England.

2. There is one national park in Wales.

3. Five per cent of Welsh people live in Cardiff.

4. You can go to concerts and sports matches at the Millennium Stadium.

5. At the National Eisteddfod people sing in English.

6. Everyone in Wales speaks Welsh.

7. Villages, towns and cities in Wales have two names.

8. The red dragon is a symbol of Wales.

2. Check your grammar: gap fill – relative pronouns Complete the sentences with a word from the box.

who x2 which x3 where x3

1. Wales is a country has a lot of beaches.

Snowdonia is a national park you can climb Snowdon, the highest mountain in 2. Wales.

3. Welsh is an old Celtic language young people learn at school.

4. The Eisteddfod is a festival for people like art and culture.

5. Gareth Bale, comes from Wales, is a footballer.

The Millennium Stadium is a famous venue you can go to a concert or watch a 6. rugby match.

7. Llanwrtyd Wells is a town men and horses run in a marathon.

8. The red dragon is a symbol of Wales appears on the national flag.

3. Check your grammar: gap fill Write one word to complete the sentences.

1. Wales has some of the most beautiful beaches the UK.

2. As well beaches, there are a lot of mountains in Wales.

The Welsh language is old, Celtic language which is very different from 3. English.

4. Street signs in Wales written in Welsh and English.

The Millennium Stadium is where you go if you want watch a football or rugby 5. match or even a pop concert.

6. Bog snorkelling is similar swimming in extremely dirty water.

7. The patron saint of Wales is St David, who celebrated on 1 March.

Wales got a continuous coastline, around 1,300km long, which means there 8. are a lot of beaches!

Use an atlas to find a map of Wales. Look for Cardiff and place it on the map. Label the island off

the northwest coast, too!

Add: Swansee, Newport and three national parks.

Let’s Visit Wales to know more about this fascinating country.

Pair work activity. Choose a partner to start the visit and START!!

You already know the instructions!! Click on the link and start: http://www.letshavefunwithenglish.com/projects/british_culture/wales.html REMEMBER THE MINIBOOK AND PICTURES!!

Is Northern Ireland beautiful? Do Irish people speak Irish? And what exactly is Gaelic football? Read about Northern Ireland and find out!

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries in the United Kingdom, with England, Scotland and Wales. It is to the north of the Republic of Ireland, on an island next to Great Britain. Around 1.8 million people live in Northern Ireland, which is about three per cent of the population of the UK. The capital city is Belfast. Another name for Northern Ireland is ‘Ulster’ or ‘The Six Counties’ because it is made up of six regions or counties.

In Northern Ireland you can find beautiful beaches, forests and mountains. You can visit the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: here, about 40,000 columns were formed after a volcanic eruption. Most of them are hexagonal and some of them are 12m tall. Films and TV series such as Dracula Untold and Game of Thrones are filmed in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland was a place of conflict between people who wanted to be part of the Republic of Ireland, people who wanted to be part of the UK and people who wanted Northern Ireland to be a separate country. In the 1990s there was an important peace process and the violence and conflict stopped. The Northern Ireland Assembly and the UK Parliament decide on the laws in Northern Ireland.

Language Nearly everyone in Northern Ireland speaks English. A small number of people speak Irish Gaelic, an old Celtic language which is very different from English. The other regional language is Ulster Scots, a variation of English which is spoken in Northern Ireland and is similar to Scots spoken in Scotland. Music You can hear all types of music in Northern Ireland including traditional Irish music, jazz, rock or pop. In summer Belfast has music festivals like Belsonic and Belfast Vital. Many international artists play at these festivals, including bands from Northern Ireland like Snow Patrol, Ash and Two Door Cinema Club. Sport Northern Ireland is a popular place to go walking or do outdoor activities such as mountain biking, coasteering (climbing up rocks and jumping into the sea) or zorbing (rolling down a hill in a giant PVC ball). Football, rugby, cricket, hurling (a sport similar to hockey) and Gaelic football are all popular. Gaelic football is similar to rugby because players can touch and kick the ball. For most sports, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland join together in the same team when they play in international competitions. However, football is different and Northern Ireland has its own national team and football league. Some players from Northern Ireland play for teams in the English or Scottish leagues. Food The best-known dish from Northern Ireland is the Ulster Fry, which is bacon, eggs, sausages and soda bread. Some versions include tomatoes, mushrooms or baked beans. It’s called the Ulster Fry because everything is fried in a pan. It is also eaten with Irish potato bread.

Symbols St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and Northern Ireland. St Patrick’s Day, on 17 March, is a very important celebration in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with parades, concerts, music and dancing. Another important symbol is the shamrock, a green plant with three leaves. It is the symbol of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

1. Check your understanding: true or false Write True or False for these sentences.

1. Northern Ireland is in Great Britain.

2. Another name for Northern Ireland is ‘Ulster’.

3. The Giant’s Causeway was created by a volcano.

4. Violence stopped in Northern Ireland in the 1980s.

5. Three languages are spoken in Northern Ireland.

All the musicians and bands at summer music festivals in Belfast are 6. Northern Irish.

7. Northern Ireland is a good place for unusual adventure sports.

8. In Gaelic football it's fine to touch the ball with your hand.

9. The 'Ulster Fry' is a very healthy dish.

10. A shamrock has three leaves on each stem.

2. Check your grammar: reordering Write the words in the correct order to make sentences.

…………………………………………………………………………………….…… 3. are | There | in | Northern Ireland. | regional | two | languages

…………………………………………………………………………………….……… 5. is | Ulster | made with | potato bread. | and | bacon, eggs, sausages | The | Fry

…………………………………………………………………………………….……

VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND AND BELFAST

Pair work activity. Choose a partner to start the visit and START!!

You already know the instructions!! Click on the link and start: http://www.letshavefunwithenglish.com/projects/british_culture/northern_ireland .html

REMEMBER THE MINIBOOK AND PICTURES!!

ORAL EXPOSITION

Now, it is time that you explain to the class what you have learnt.

Giving an oral presentation can be scary, but I am here to help you.

INSTRUCTIONS

Choose ONE of the four countries that belong to the UK: England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. With all the information you have collected prepare an oral presentation. You must include:

 Geographical situation

 Flag and symbols.

 Languages and accents.

 The most important cities with their most famous buildings, castles, landscapes,etc.

 Festivities MATERIALS:

 Power point

 Pictures

 Videos

 Interviews

Here are the top tips for oral presentations you have to follow:

Do:

 Use the planning time to prepare what you’re going to say.

 If you are allowed to have a note card, write short notes in point form.

 Use more formal language.

 Use short, simple sentences to express your ideas clearly.

 Pause from time to time and don’t speak too quickly. This allows the listener to understand your ideas. Include a short pause after each idea.

 Speak clearly and at the right volume.

 Have your notes ready in case you forget anything.

 Practise your presentation. If possible record yourself and listen to your presentation. If you can’t record yourself, ask a friend to listen to you. Does your friend understand you?

 Make your opinions very clear. Use expressions to give your opinion.

 Look at the people who are listening to you.

Don’t:

 Write out the whole presentation and learn every word by heart.

 Write out the whole presentation and read it aloud.

 Use very informal language.

 Only look at your note card. It’s important to look up at your listeners when you are speaking.

Useful language for presentations

Explain what your presentation is about at the beginning:

I’m going to talk about ... I’d like to talk about ... The main focus of this presentation is ...

Use these expressions to order your ideas:

First of all, ... Firstly, ... Then, ... Secondly, ... Next, ... Finally, ... Lastly, ... To sum up, ... In conclusion, ...

Use these expressions to add more ideas from the same point of view:

In addition, ... What’s more, ... Also, ... Added to this, ...

To introduce the opposite point of view you can use these words and expressions:

However, ... On the other hand, ... Then again, ...