Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
MEANINGFUL
GEOGRAPHIC,
HISTORIC
AND
CULTURAL
ASPECTS.
1.- INTRODUCTION:
English is spoken in all continents. English is the most widespread language
on earth.
English speaking is established in the British Isles, North America, Australia
and North Africa. The English speaking is uncertain in Africa, Indian
subcontinent and Southeast Asia. We will draw a geographical, historical and
cultural outline of the most important English-speaking countries.
We will study the importance of sociocultural competence to the acquisition of
communicative, and list activities to reach it.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.
2.1.- EXTENT AND SIGNIFICATION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
English has spread all over the world. Currently English is spoken and
understood in the whole continent. It is the international language of commerce,
science and research. It is easier to learn for Asiatics and Africans, but France
wants to avoid the use of English words. In Spain there have been campaigns
against the American contamination in papers, radio, TV or cinema.
We can say that in South America, English is widely spoken.
Many Caribbean countries are bilingual, they speak English and Spanish.
This demand of English, all over the world, has caused an economic
phenomenon, a military expansion, the scientific advances and the power of
media.
Reductions of inflections.
French orthography.
The influence of French and Latin terms modify the structure of the English
Language.
About 1250, when the Normans lost Normandy and French language took
and important paper, it began to be questioned whether English should be used
as a representative national language.
Which dialled should become the standard language? Around 1350 the
London dialect was about to become the winner.
The political predominance of London as a governing centre facilities the
spreading of this dialect thought the country.
From 1400 onwards French is reduced to the aristocracy and as a vehicle of
commercial transactions with the continent.
From 1650 to 1850 there is a change in the attitude of English people towards
their own language.
There have been some changes in the Standard English, they are a
consequence of the diversification of the social dialects.
The principal river is the Thames. The highest point in UK is Ben Nevis (1343)
in Scotland. The population grew in 1950 with the arrival of Commonwealth
emigrants. They came from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Two legislatives houses: senate and the house of representative. The head of
state and government is the president.
Its capital is Washington. The first river is Mississippi river. The currency is
American dollar.
Religion: there isnt a principal religion. Protestantism is, perhaps, the most
practised.
It is a nation of groups, where the minorities try to get equal rights and
opportunities. The language is English, but there are minorities such as Spanish
or Asians, trying to keep alive their language.
It is a very rich country, with important metallic and energy sources. The USA
obtains the independence from Great Britain in 1783. From more than half a
century ago the USA is the 1 st world power. Its history is a long and constant
territorial progress, with a great political and military development.
It was founded in 1931 to carry out the dissolution of the British Empire. It is
formed by 32 independent nations, they maintain the English crown as their
Head of State.
The reason for this institution is the economic interest of the countries that
belong to it.
States members: UK, Canada, Trinity and Tobago, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia,
Australia, New Zealand, etc.
F.- PHILIPPINES.
The republic of Philippines is an independent state since 1946.
Language: Tagalo; English as a commercial language.
Religion: Catholic.
Capital: Manila.
Spain lost the colony in 1898, under the domain of USA in 1935, it was
constituted as a sovereign state under the North American supervision.
The teacher of a modern language must teach not only the foreign language
but also the civilization of the countries and people who speak that language.
Apart from history and geography, our pupils must get familiar politics, mass
media, etc.