The United Kingdom (U.K.)
Activity 1: Look at the map and ask and answer in pairs.
A: What’s the capital of Wales?
B: Cardiff.
Where is the Lake District?
A: It’s in the north-west of England.
Activity 2: Answer T(rue) or F(alse). Correct the false statements.
Galway is the capital of Eire. …………………………………………………..
The Cambrian Mountains are in Wales…………………………………………
The Thames is a long river in Northeastern Ireland…………………………….
Ben Nevis is a mountain in Scotland……………………………………………
Cork is north of Dublin………………………………………………………….
Liverpool is close to Manchester………………………………………………..
Newcastle is close to the border with Wales……………………………………
Edinburgh is east of Glasgow……………………………………………………
Activity 3: The Union Jack is the flag of the UK. It is made up of three flags. Listen to the description and draw the flags.
Saint George’s Cross St. Andrew’s Cross St. Patrick’s Cross
St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick are the patron saints of three countries. Find out the names of the countries.
1- St George is the patron saint of………………………………………………
2- St. Andrew……………………………………………………………………
3- Saint…………………………………………………………………………..
Source: Adapted from Cleary, Maria (2006) Talking Culture. The UK. Helbling Languages.
viernes, 30 de abril de 2010
jueves, 15 de abril de 2010
The Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
"The Commonwealth" redirects here. For other uses, see Commonwealth (disambiguation).
Commonwealth of Nations
Flag
The Commonwealth (blue = present members, orange = former members, green = suspended members)
Headquarters
Marlborough House, London, United Kingdom
Official language
English
Membership
54 sovereign states (list)
Leaders
-
Head of the Commonwealth
Queen Elizabeth II(since 6 Feb. 1952)
-
Secretary-General
Kamalesh Sharma(since 1 Apr. 2008)
-
Chairperson-in-Office
Patrick Manning(since 27 Nov. 2009)
Establishment
-
Balfour Declaration
18 November 1926
-
Statute of Westminster
11 December 1931
-
London Declaration
28 April 1949
Area
-
Total
31,462,574 km2 12,147,768 sq mi
Population
-
2005 estimate
1,921,974,000
-
Density
61.09/km2 158.2/sq mi
Websitethecommonwealth.org
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and previously as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states, all but two of which were formerly part of the British Empire.
The member states co-operate within a framework of common values and goals as outlined in the Singapore Declaration.[1] These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace.[2] The Commonwealth is not a political union, but an intergovernmental organisation through which countries with diverse social, political and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status.
Its activities are carried out through the permanent Commonwealth Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General, and biennial Meetings between Commonwealth Heads of Government. The symbol of their free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial position currently held by Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II is also monarch, separately and independently, of sixteen Commonwealth members, which are informally known as "Commonwealth realms".
Further Reading (not obligatory)
Contents[hide]
1 History
1.1 Origins
1.2 Remaining members gain independence
1.3 Members with heads of state other than the Sovereign
1.4 New Commonwealth
2 Objectives and activities
3 Structure
3.1 Head of the Commonwealth
3.2 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
3.3 Commonwealth Secretariat
4 Membership
4.1 Membership criteria
4.2 Members
4.3 Applicants
4.4 Suspension
4.5 Termination of membership
5 Commonwealth Family
5.1 Commonwealth Foundation
5.2 Commonwealth Games
5.3 Commonwealth War Graves Commission
5.4 Commonwealth of Learning
5.5 Commonwealth Business Council
6 Culture
6.1 Sport
6.2 Literature
6.3 Political system
6.4 Symbols
6.5 Commonwealth citizenship
7 Similar organisations
8 See also
9 Footnotes
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
//
[edit] History
[edit] Origins
The prime ministers of five members of the Commonwealth at the 1944 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.
While not all current members were once British colonies, the Commonwealth is generally considered to be the successor to the British Empire. In 1884, while visiting Australia, Lord Rosebery described the changing British Empire, as some of its colonies became more independent, as a "Commonwealth of Nations".[6]
Conferences of British and colonial Prime Ministers had occurred periodically since 1887, leading to the creation of the Imperial Conferences in 1911.[7] The formal organisation of the Commonwealth developed from the Imperial Conferences, where the independence of the self-governing colonies and especially of dominions was recognised. The Irish Oath of Allegiance, agreed in 1921, included the Irish Free State's "adherence to and membership of the group of nations forming the British Commonwealth of Nations". In the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference, Britain and its dominions agreed they were "equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations". These aspects to the relationship were eventually formalised by the Statute of Westminster in 1931. Australia, New Zealand, and Newfoundland had to ratify the statute for it to take effect— which Newfoundland never did. Australia and New Zealand did in 1942 and 1947 respectively.
[edit] Remaining members gain independence
After World War II, the British Empire was gradually dismantled to just 14 remaining British overseas territories, still held by the United Kingdom today, partly owing to the rise of independence movements in the subject territories and partly owing to both the British Government's straitened circumstances resulting from the cost of the war and a progressive domestic movement to decolonise. In April 1949, following the London Declaration, the word "British" was dropped from the title of the Commonwealth to reflect its changing nature.[8] Burma (also known as Myanmar, 1948), and Aden (1967) are the only former colonies not to have joined the Commonwealth upon post-war independence. Among the former British protectorates and mandates, those that never became members of the Commonwealth are Egypt (independent in 1922), Iraq (1932), Transjordan (1946), Palestine (most of which became the state of Israel in 1948), Sudan (1956), British Somaliland (which became part of Somalia in 1960, although it has since declared itself independent as Somaliland), Kuwait (1961), Bahrain (1971), Oman (1971), Qatar (1971), and the United Arab Emirates (1971).
[edit] Members with heads of state other than the Sovereign
The issue of countries with constitutional structures not based on a shared Crown but that wanted to remain members of the Commonwealth, came to a head in 1948 with passage of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, in which Ireland renounced the sovereignty of the Crown[9] and thus left the Commonwealth. However, the Ireland Act 1949 passed by the Parliament of Westminster gave citizens of the Republic of Ireland a status similar to that of citizens of the Commonwealth in UK law. The issue was resolved in April 1949 at a Commonwealth prime ministers' meeting in London. Under this London Declaration, India agreed that, when it became a republic, in January 1950, it would accept the British Sovereign as a "symbol of the free association of its independent member nations and, as such, Head of the Commonwealth".
The other Commonwealth countries in turn recognised India's continuing membership of the association. At Pakistan's insistence, India was not regarded as an exceptional case and it was assumed that other states would be accorded the same treatment as India.
The London Declaration is often seen as marking the beginning of the modern Commonwealth. Following India's precedent, other nations became republics, or constitutional monarchies with their own monarchs, while some countries retained the same monarch as the United Kingdom, but their monarchies developed differently and soon became fully independent of the British monarchy. The monarch of each Commonwealth realm, whilst the same person, is regarded as a separate legal personality for each realm.
[edit] New Commonwealth
As the Commonwealth grew, Britain and the pre-1945 dominions became informally known as the "Old Commonwealth", and planners in the interwar period, like Lord Davies, who had also taken "a prominent part in building up the League of Nations Union" in the United Kingdom, in 1932 founded the New Commonwealth Movement, of which Winston Churchill was the president.[citation needed] The New Commonwealth was a society aimed at creation of an international air force to be the arm of the League of Nations, to allow nations to disarm and safeguard the peace. Some of these ideas were reflected in the United Nations Charter, drafted in Dumbarton Oaks (21 August to 7 October 1944) and San Francisco (25 April to 26 June 1945).[citation needed]
After the war, particularly since the 1960s when some of the Commonwealth countries disagreed with poorer, African and Asian (or New Commonwealth) members about various issues at Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings.[citation needed] Accusations that the old, "White" Commonwealth had different interests from African Commonwealth nations in particular, and charges of racism and colonialism, arose during heated debates about Rhodesia in the 1960s and 1970s, the imposition of sanctions against apartheid-era South Africa in the 1980s and, more recently, about whether to press for democratic reforms in Nigeria and then Zimbabwe.[citation needed]
The term "New Commonwealth" has also sometimes been used in the United Kingdom (especially in the 1960s and 1970s) to refer to recently decolonised countries, which are predominantly non-white and developing. It was often used in debates about immigration from these countries.[10]
[edit] Objectives and activities
The Commonwealth's objectives were first outlined in the 1971 Singapore Declaration, which committed the Commonwealth to the institution of world peace; promotion of representative democracy and individual liberty; the pursuit of equality and opposition to racism; the fight against poverty, ignorance, and disease; and free trade.[2] To these were added opposition to discrimination on the basis of gender by the Lusaka Declaration of 1979 (which mostly concerned racism),[11] and environmental sustainability by the Langkawi Declaration of 1989.[12] These objectives were reinforced by the Harare Declaration in 1991.
The Commonwealth's current highest-priority aims are on the promotion of democracy and development, as outlined in the 2003 Aso Rock Declaration,[13] which built on those in Singapore and Harare and clarified their terms of reference, stating, "We are committed to democracy, good governance, human rights, gender equality, and a more equitable sharing of the benefits of globalisation."[14] The Commonwealth website lists its areas of work as: Democracy, Economics, Education, Gender, Governance, Human Rights, Law, Small States, Sport, Sustainability, and Youth.[15]
The Commonwealth has long been distinctive as an international forum where highly developed economies (such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand) and many of the world's poorer countries seek to reach agreement by consensus. This aim has sometimes been difficult to achieve, as when disagreements over Rhodesia in the late 1960s and 1970s and over apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s led to a cooling of relations between the United Kingdom and African members.
Through a separate voluntary fund, Commonwealth governments support the Commonwealth Youth Programme, a division of the Secretariat with offices in Gulu (Uganda), Lusaka (Zambia), Chandigarh (India), Georgetown (Guyana) and Honiara (Solomon Islands).
[edit] Structure
[edit] Head of the Commonwealth
Main article: Head of the Commonwealth
Queen Elizabeth II, current Head of the Commonwealth
Under the formula of the London Declaration, Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth, a title that is currently individually shared with that of Commonwealth realms.[16] However, when the monarch dies, the successor to the crown does not automatically become Head of the Commonwealth.[17] The position is symbolic: representing the free association of independent members.[16] Sixteen members of the Commonwealth, known as Commonwealth realms, recognise the Queen as their head of state. The majority of members, thirty-three, are republics, and a further five have monarchs of different royal houses.
[edit] Commonwealth Heads of Government
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
"The Commonwealth" redirects here. For other uses, see Commonwealth (disambiguation).
Commonwealth of Nations
Flag
The Commonwealth (blue = present members, orange = former members, green = suspended members)
Headquarters
Marlborough House, London, United Kingdom
Official language
English
Membership
54 sovereign states (list)
Leaders
-
Head of the Commonwealth
Queen Elizabeth II(since 6 Feb. 1952)
-
Secretary-General
Kamalesh Sharma(since 1 Apr. 2008)
-
Chairperson-in-Office
Patrick Manning(since 27 Nov. 2009)
Establishment
-
Balfour Declaration
18 November 1926
-
Statute of Westminster
11 December 1931
-
London Declaration
28 April 1949
Area
-
Total
31,462,574 km2 12,147,768 sq mi
Population
-
2005 estimate
1,921,974,000
-
Density
61.09/km2 158.2/sq mi
Websitethecommonwealth.org
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and previously as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states, all but two of which were formerly part of the British Empire.
The member states co-operate within a framework of common values and goals as outlined in the Singapore Declaration.[1] These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace.[2] The Commonwealth is not a political union, but an intergovernmental organisation through which countries with diverse social, political and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status.
Its activities are carried out through the permanent Commonwealth Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General, and biennial Meetings between Commonwealth Heads of Government. The symbol of their free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial position currently held by Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II is also monarch, separately and independently, of sixteen Commonwealth members, which are informally known as "Commonwealth realms".
Further Reading (not obligatory)
Contents[hide]
1 History
1.1 Origins
1.2 Remaining members gain independence
1.3 Members with heads of state other than the Sovereign
1.4 New Commonwealth
2 Objectives and activities
3 Structure
3.1 Head of the Commonwealth
3.2 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
3.3 Commonwealth Secretariat
4 Membership
4.1 Membership criteria
4.2 Members
4.3 Applicants
4.4 Suspension
4.5 Termination of membership
5 Commonwealth Family
5.1 Commonwealth Foundation
5.2 Commonwealth Games
5.3 Commonwealth War Graves Commission
5.4 Commonwealth of Learning
5.5 Commonwealth Business Council
6 Culture
6.1 Sport
6.2 Literature
6.3 Political system
6.4 Symbols
6.5 Commonwealth citizenship
7 Similar organisations
8 See also
9 Footnotes
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
//
[edit] History
[edit] Origins
The prime ministers of five members of the Commonwealth at the 1944 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.
While not all current members were once British colonies, the Commonwealth is generally considered to be the successor to the British Empire. In 1884, while visiting Australia, Lord Rosebery described the changing British Empire, as some of its colonies became more independent, as a "Commonwealth of Nations".[6]
Conferences of British and colonial Prime Ministers had occurred periodically since 1887, leading to the creation of the Imperial Conferences in 1911.[7] The formal organisation of the Commonwealth developed from the Imperial Conferences, where the independence of the self-governing colonies and especially of dominions was recognised. The Irish Oath of Allegiance, agreed in 1921, included the Irish Free State's "adherence to and membership of the group of nations forming the British Commonwealth of Nations". In the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference, Britain and its dominions agreed they were "equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations". These aspects to the relationship were eventually formalised by the Statute of Westminster in 1931. Australia, New Zealand, and Newfoundland had to ratify the statute for it to take effect— which Newfoundland never did. Australia and New Zealand did in 1942 and 1947 respectively.
[edit] Remaining members gain independence
After World War II, the British Empire was gradually dismantled to just 14 remaining British overseas territories, still held by the United Kingdom today, partly owing to the rise of independence movements in the subject territories and partly owing to both the British Government's straitened circumstances resulting from the cost of the war and a progressive domestic movement to decolonise. In April 1949, following the London Declaration, the word "British" was dropped from the title of the Commonwealth to reflect its changing nature.[8] Burma (also known as Myanmar, 1948), and Aden (1967) are the only former colonies not to have joined the Commonwealth upon post-war independence. Among the former British protectorates and mandates, those that never became members of the Commonwealth are Egypt (independent in 1922), Iraq (1932), Transjordan (1946), Palestine (most of which became the state of Israel in 1948), Sudan (1956), British Somaliland (which became part of Somalia in 1960, although it has since declared itself independent as Somaliland), Kuwait (1961), Bahrain (1971), Oman (1971), Qatar (1971), and the United Arab Emirates (1971).
[edit] Members with heads of state other than the Sovereign
The issue of countries with constitutional structures not based on a shared Crown but that wanted to remain members of the Commonwealth, came to a head in 1948 with passage of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, in which Ireland renounced the sovereignty of the Crown[9] and thus left the Commonwealth. However, the Ireland Act 1949 passed by the Parliament of Westminster gave citizens of the Republic of Ireland a status similar to that of citizens of the Commonwealth in UK law. The issue was resolved in April 1949 at a Commonwealth prime ministers' meeting in London. Under this London Declaration, India agreed that, when it became a republic, in January 1950, it would accept the British Sovereign as a "symbol of the free association of its independent member nations and, as such, Head of the Commonwealth".
The other Commonwealth countries in turn recognised India's continuing membership of the association. At Pakistan's insistence, India was not regarded as an exceptional case and it was assumed that other states would be accorded the same treatment as India.
The London Declaration is often seen as marking the beginning of the modern Commonwealth. Following India's precedent, other nations became republics, or constitutional monarchies with their own monarchs, while some countries retained the same monarch as the United Kingdom, but their monarchies developed differently and soon became fully independent of the British monarchy. The monarch of each Commonwealth realm, whilst the same person, is regarded as a separate legal personality for each realm.
[edit] New Commonwealth
As the Commonwealth grew, Britain and the pre-1945 dominions became informally known as the "Old Commonwealth", and planners in the interwar period, like Lord Davies, who had also taken "a prominent part in building up the League of Nations Union" in the United Kingdom, in 1932 founded the New Commonwealth Movement, of which Winston Churchill was the president.[citation needed] The New Commonwealth was a society aimed at creation of an international air force to be the arm of the League of Nations, to allow nations to disarm and safeguard the peace. Some of these ideas were reflected in the United Nations Charter, drafted in Dumbarton Oaks (21 August to 7 October 1944) and San Francisco (25 April to 26 June 1945).[citation needed]
After the war, particularly since the 1960s when some of the Commonwealth countries disagreed with poorer, African and Asian (or New Commonwealth) members about various issues at Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings.[citation needed] Accusations that the old, "White" Commonwealth had different interests from African Commonwealth nations in particular, and charges of racism and colonialism, arose during heated debates about Rhodesia in the 1960s and 1970s, the imposition of sanctions against apartheid-era South Africa in the 1980s and, more recently, about whether to press for democratic reforms in Nigeria and then Zimbabwe.[citation needed]
The term "New Commonwealth" has also sometimes been used in the United Kingdom (especially in the 1960s and 1970s) to refer to recently decolonised countries, which are predominantly non-white and developing. It was often used in debates about immigration from these countries.[10]
[edit] Objectives and activities
The Commonwealth's objectives were first outlined in the 1971 Singapore Declaration, which committed the Commonwealth to the institution of world peace; promotion of representative democracy and individual liberty; the pursuit of equality and opposition to racism; the fight against poverty, ignorance, and disease; and free trade.[2] To these were added opposition to discrimination on the basis of gender by the Lusaka Declaration of 1979 (which mostly concerned racism),[11] and environmental sustainability by the Langkawi Declaration of 1989.[12] These objectives were reinforced by the Harare Declaration in 1991.
The Commonwealth's current highest-priority aims are on the promotion of democracy and development, as outlined in the 2003 Aso Rock Declaration,[13] which built on those in Singapore and Harare and clarified their terms of reference, stating, "We are committed to democracy, good governance, human rights, gender equality, and a more equitable sharing of the benefits of globalisation."[14] The Commonwealth website lists its areas of work as: Democracy, Economics, Education, Gender, Governance, Human Rights, Law, Small States, Sport, Sustainability, and Youth.[15]
The Commonwealth has long been distinctive as an international forum where highly developed economies (such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand) and many of the world's poorer countries seek to reach agreement by consensus. This aim has sometimes been difficult to achieve, as when disagreements over Rhodesia in the late 1960s and 1970s and over apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s led to a cooling of relations between the United Kingdom and African members.
Through a separate voluntary fund, Commonwealth governments support the Commonwealth Youth Programme, a division of the Secretariat with offices in Gulu (Uganda), Lusaka (Zambia), Chandigarh (India), Georgetown (Guyana) and Honiara (Solomon Islands).
[edit] Structure
[edit] Head of the Commonwealth
Main article: Head of the Commonwealth
Queen Elizabeth II, current Head of the Commonwealth
Under the formula of the London Declaration, Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth, a title that is currently individually shared with that of Commonwealth realms.[16] However, when the monarch dies, the successor to the crown does not automatically become Head of the Commonwealth.[17] The position is symbolic: representing the free association of independent members.[16] Sixteen members of the Commonwealth, known as Commonwealth realms, recognise the Queen as their head of state. The majority of members, thirty-three, are republics, and a further five have monarchs of different royal houses.
[edit] Commonwealth Heads of Government
martes, 13 de abril de 2010
List of countries where English is an official language
This is an article we are going to read (study) about English-speaking countries.
List of countries where English is an official language
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where English is an official language. Most of these countries, such as India, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the Philippines, use English as an official language but not the sole official language (and usually not the main official language).
This list does not include countries where English is the dominant language, but does not have official status. In Australia, English is spoken by the vast majority of the population and is the only language used in government institutions, yet Australia does not have an official language. This is the same in the United States although many states and regions within the U.S. have English as an official language.
Map of nations using English as an official language or as the predominant language
Almost all of these countries are current or former colonies or dependencies of the United Kingdom (see also British Empire). The notable exceptions are Madagascar and Rwanda which are former French and Belgian colonies respectively with English-speaking neighbors; Philippines, which became a U.S. dependent territory in 1898 by action of the Treaty of Paris; and Liberia which, after being privately colonized beginning in 1821 by the American Colonization Society, developed into the Republic of Liberia.
India's linguistic picture is complex. According to the Constitution of India, "Hindi in the Devanagari script" is the official language of the union[1] and English the 'subsidiary official language';[2] however, English is mandated for the authoritative texts of all federal laws and Supreme Court decisions, and (along with Hindi) is one of the two languages of the Indian Parliament. English is used almost exclusively for all higher education, business and science. English is extensively used for administrative purposes in India. As such, many consider English to be the de facto official language of India. See Official languages of India.
In Malaysia, English is widely understood in service industries and is a compulsory subject in primary and secondary school. It is also the main language spoken in most private colleges and universities.
Contents[hide]
1 Majority English Speaking Countries
2 Sovereign states
3 Non-sovereign entities
4 See also
5 Footnotes
6 References
//
[edit] Majority English Speaking Countries
It is quite common for major non-English-speaking countries and their nationals to assume that only the UK, USA, Canada[3] Ireland, New Zealand and Australia are the only major English speaking countries—especially when it comes to university admissions. This is wrong. Additional major English speaking countries are found mostly in the Caribbean, comprising of former British Colonies. These include, Antigua Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago. Though these islands are small, they are culturally and lingustically tied to the UK. Present overseas territories such as Anguilla, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Monsterrat, among others are also major English speaking countries. Other countries in Africa which, due to the influence of major regional languages, use English as their official language also fall into this category. Singapore in Asia is also a majority English speaking country but visitors should take note that 36% of the Singapore populace is made up of foreigners, many of whom do not speak English.
List of countries where English is an official language
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where English is an official language. Most of these countries, such as India, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the Philippines, use English as an official language but not the sole official language (and usually not the main official language).
This list does not include countries where English is the dominant language, but does not have official status. In Australia, English is spoken by the vast majority of the population and is the only language used in government institutions, yet Australia does not have an official language. This is the same in the United States although many states and regions within the U.S. have English as an official language.
Map of nations using English as an official language or as the predominant language
Almost all of these countries are current or former colonies or dependencies of the United Kingdom (see also British Empire). The notable exceptions are Madagascar and Rwanda which are former French and Belgian colonies respectively with English-speaking neighbors; Philippines, which became a U.S. dependent territory in 1898 by action of the Treaty of Paris; and Liberia which, after being privately colonized beginning in 1821 by the American Colonization Society, developed into the Republic of Liberia.
India's linguistic picture is complex. According to the Constitution of India, "Hindi in the Devanagari script" is the official language of the union[1] and English the 'subsidiary official language';[2] however, English is mandated for the authoritative texts of all federal laws and Supreme Court decisions, and (along with Hindi) is one of the two languages of the Indian Parliament. English is used almost exclusively for all higher education, business and science. English is extensively used for administrative purposes in India. As such, many consider English to be the de facto official language of India. See Official languages of India.
In Malaysia, English is widely understood in service industries and is a compulsory subject in primary and secondary school. It is also the main language spoken in most private colleges and universities.
Contents[hide]
1 Majority English Speaking Countries
2 Sovereign states
3 Non-sovereign entities
4 See also
5 Footnotes
6 References
//
[edit] Majority English Speaking Countries
It is quite common for major non-English-speaking countries and their nationals to assume that only the UK, USA, Canada[3] Ireland, New Zealand and Australia are the only major English speaking countries—especially when it comes to university admissions. This is wrong. Additional major English speaking countries are found mostly in the Caribbean, comprising of former British Colonies. These include, Antigua Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago. Though these islands are small, they are culturally and lingustically tied to the UK. Present overseas territories such as Anguilla, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Monsterrat, among others are also major English speaking countries. Other countries in Africa which, due to the influence of major regional languages, use English as their official language also fall into this category. Singapore in Asia is also a majority English speaking country but visitors should take note that 36% of the Singapore populace is made up of foreigners, many of whom do not speak English.
SYLLABUS 2010
Instituto Superior “Antonio Ruiz de Montoya”.I.S.405
CARRERA: PROFESORADO EN INGLES para EGB3 y Polimodal (Plan B)
PLAN: Resolución SPEPM Nº 329/01
PERIODO LECTIVO: 2010-2011
ESPACIO CURRICULAR: (anual) Aspectos de la Cultura de los Países de
Habla Inglesa
INSTANCIA: PRIMERA- Comisión “A”
HORAS RELOJ SEMANALES: UNA (1)
PROFESORA: Lic. María Martha Espíndola
1-OBJETIVOS DIDACTICOS: Que el alumno sea capaz de:
1-Describir las características culturales más sobresalientes de los países de habla inglesa.
2-Reproducir correctamente el vocabulario específico de los tópicos dados.
3-Interpretar y explicar la injerencia que tienen los aspectos culturales de las naciones en el desarrollo sincrónico y diacrónico de la lengua inglesa.
4-Representar en gráficos, láminas e imágenes las distintas características analizadas.
5-Reconocer los valores culturales que se transmiten a través de los textos propuestos desde este espacio curricular.
6-Demostrar honestidad intelectual.
7-Actuar con responsabilidad en el cumplimiento de las actividades propuestas.
2-CONTENIDOS
2.1. CONTENIDOS CONCEPTUALES:
UNIT I:
Language and Culture. The concept of culture. The English-speaking world. The Commonwealth. The United Kingdom. Great Britain. The British Isles.
UNIT II:
The Geography of Britain. Historical overview of Britain. The geography of The USA. A historical overview of the USA. Main features of Canada.
UNIT III.
British and American Institutions. Monarchy. Democracy. Parliament. The Constitution and the Magna Carta. Religion.
UNIT IV:
Other English-speaking countries. Main features of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. The West Indies.
UNIT V
Education in Britain and in the UK. Traditions. A look at literature.
2.2.CONTENIDOS PROCEDIMENTALES:
UNIDAD 1:
Uso correcto de la bibliografía.
Detección de la estructura jerárquica de la información.
Organización y elaboración de síntesis.
Lectura comprensiva.
Elaboración de cuadros sinópticos y mapas conceptuales (mind maps).
Reflexión acerca de la propia manera de aprender, en un tiempo y espacio determinados.
Exploración y Apropiación de técnicas, habilidades y estrategias cognitivas.
UNIDAD 2:
Ubicación geográfica de lugares.
Interpretación de mapas y gráficos.
Elaboración de gráficos y mapas conceptuales.
2.3.CONTENIDOS ACTITUDINALES:
UNIDAD 1:
Curiosidad y espíritu de búsqueda para explorar el mundo y la/s culturas, en especial la de los países de habla inglesa.
Presentación en tiempo y forma de los trabajos prácticos obligatorios.
Participación activa en clase.
Cumplimiento de la ejercitación diaria.
Valoración y respeto por las lenguas y las culturas en general y en especial de la propia.
UNIDAD 2:
Respeto por las opiniones, aptitudes y diferencias individuales.
Actualización constante.
Actitud crítica de los textos literarios y no literarios propuestos.
Honestidad intelectual.
3-PRESUPUESTO DEL TIEMPO:
PRIMER CUATRIMESTRE:
Contenidos Conceptuales: Unidades 1 y 2
Contenidos Procedimentales: Unidades 1 y 2
Contenidos Actitudinales: Unidades 1 y 2
SEGUNDO CUATRIMESTRE:
Contenidos Conceptuales: Unidades 3, 4 y 5
Contenidos Procedimentales: Unidades 1 y 2
Contenidos Actitudinales: Unidades 1 y 2
4- ACTIVIDADES DE ENSEÑANZA-APRENDIZAJE :
El desarrollo del presente programa se llevará a cabo mediante:
a. Clases expositivas por parte del profesor.
b. Lectura comprensiva de textos.
c. Confección de cuadros sinópticos.
d. Confección de mapas conceptuales.
e. Análisis de vocabulario específico.
f. Observación activa de videos.
g. Comparación de los aspectos culturales propios y de los de los países de habla inglesa.
h. Análisis y memorizaciones de canciones tradicionales, poemas y rimas propias del acerbo cultural de los países dados.
i. Lectura extensiva de los temas dados en otras fuentes.
h. Análisis e interpretación de canciones tradicionales, poemas y rimas dadas.
TRABAJOS PRACTICOS OBLIGATORIOS:
v Exposiciones orales periódicas a modo de síntesis de cada tema tratado.
v Confección grupal de cuestionarios y crucigramas al término de cada unidad.
v Ejercicios de selección múltiple y palabras cruzadas elaborados por los alumnos.
v Elaboración de un cuadro comparativo de los distintos aspectos analizados.
5-BIBLIOGRAFIA:
OBRAS DE CONSULTA OBLIGATORIA:
Bromhead, P. (1988) Life in Modern America. The UK: Longman
Cleary, Maria (2006) Talking Culture. The UK. Helbling Languages.
Espíndola, M. (2010) Background to English-speaking Countries. Apuntes de Cátedra. Separata Bibliográfica. Material de circulación interna.
Hallewell, F. & Giggins, P. (1990) Introducing Great Britain. The UK:Longman 1990.
Hallewell, F. & Giggins, P. (1990) London. The UK: Longman.
Harvey, P.& Jones, R. (1994) Britain Explored. The UK: Longman.
Laird, E. (1983) Welcome to Great Britain and The USA. England: Longman.
Musman, R. (1977) Britain Today. The UK: Longman.
Musman, R. (1993) Background to English-speaking Countries. England:Macmillan Publishers.
Papp, M. & Iantorno, G. (1990) Famous British and American Songs and their Cultural Background. The UK: Longman.
OBRAS DE CONSULTA FACULTATIVA:
Duranti, A. (1997) Linguistic Anthropology (Reprinted 1999) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Eagle, S. (1991) American Music. The UK:Longman.
Fadiman, C. Ed. (1990) The World Treasury of Children’s Literature. New York: Quality Paper Book Club
Graham, C. (1994) Mother Goose Jazz Chants. Oxford: OUP.
THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
Tomscha, T. (1992) American Customs and Traditions The UK: Longman.
**********************************************************************
6-EVALUACION:
Evaluación Inicial : a través de diálogo con los alumnos.
Evaluación Formativa: exposiciones orales durante el desarrollo de los temas y presentación y aprobación en cantidad y calidad del 80 % de trabajos prácticos obligatorios.
Evaluación Sumativa:
Examen Final Escrito
Al finalizar el segundo cuatrimestre, como requisito para aprobar la materia, los alumnos deberán presentar una monografía final, que deberá reunir los siguientes requisitos:
1. Deberá ser escrito a máquina o en computadora, en hoja A4 y fuente Times New Roman o Arial 12, interlineado 1,5 o doble.
2. Tendrá una extensión de entre 800 y 1,500 palabras.
3. Se pondrá especial cuidado a la adecuada redacción y ortografía, así como el uso correcto de las citas cuando se incluyan referencias. Se cuidará incluir el nombre del autor cada vez que no se usen palabras e ideas propias y luego se confeccionará una lista de referencias donde se incluirán todos los autores citados y las fuentes.
Normativa para la entrega de TP obligatorios y/o monografías para acceder a examen final oral:
a. Los trabajos prácticos y/o monografías deberán ser entregados al titular de cátedra, en el espacio institucional correspondiente, 15 (quince) días hábiles antes de la fecha de examen para su corrección final, como último plazo.
b. Los trabajos prácticos obligatorios y/o monografías deberán ser entregados en el espacio institucional en que el alumno desarrolla su actividad académica, a saber el I.S.A.R.M., 4to piso, Profesorado en Inglés.
c. Los trabajos prácticos obligatorios y/o monografías deberán, una vez aprobados por el titular de cátedra y devueltos al alumno, ser entregados por el alumno al vocal de mesa de examen con una antelación mínima de 5 (cinco) días hábiles.
Al realizar la entrega del TP obligatorio y/o monografía el alumno deberá consignar en la planilla elaborada a tal efecto, la fecha y hora de entrega, el título del trabajo y el espacio curricular, el nombre de quien realiza la entrega y el nombre de quien la recepciona. En ambos casos junto al nombre se estamparán las firmas.
El titular de cátedra deberá realizar un seguimiento del proceso de realización del TP obligatorio y/o monografía. Aquellos trabajos que no hayan sido evaluados en ese proceso por el titular de cátedra al menos una vez, no serán recepcionados para su corrección final, 15 (quince) días hábiles antes de la fecha de examen.
La entrega de trabajos obligatorios y/o monografías debe ser personal.
La devolución de trabajos obligatorios y/o monografías será personal, del titular de cátedra al alumno autor del mismo. La entrega se hará en el espacio institucional correspondiente 7(siete) días hábiles antes de la fecha de examen final.
h. No se aceptarán reclamos de ningún tipo de no cumplirse el reglamento.
Examen final oral:
Para iniciar el examen oral el alumno analizará su trabajo y lo relacionará con otros aspectos del presente programa de examen.
El alumno tendrá derecho a exponer durante cinco minutos sobre el eje /unidad elegido y la mesa podrá permitirle que continúe con el tema o interrogar sobre otros temas de la misma unidad o eje.
Finalizada esta primera fase del examen, se interrogará sobre otros temas del programa.
Cuando en cualquier momento del examen el alumno declare no conocer el tema que le corresponde exponer, la prueba quedará de hecho terminada.
CARRERA: PROFESORADO EN INGLES para EGB3 y Polimodal (Plan B)
PLAN: Resolución SPEPM Nº 329/01
PERIODO LECTIVO: 2010-2011
ESPACIO CURRICULAR: (anual) Aspectos de la Cultura de los Países de
Habla Inglesa
INSTANCIA: PRIMERA- Comisión “A”
HORAS RELOJ SEMANALES: UNA (1)
PROFESORA: Lic. María Martha Espíndola
1-OBJETIVOS DIDACTICOS: Que el alumno sea capaz de:
1-Describir las características culturales más sobresalientes de los países de habla inglesa.
2-Reproducir correctamente el vocabulario específico de los tópicos dados.
3-Interpretar y explicar la injerencia que tienen los aspectos culturales de las naciones en el desarrollo sincrónico y diacrónico de la lengua inglesa.
4-Representar en gráficos, láminas e imágenes las distintas características analizadas.
5-Reconocer los valores culturales que se transmiten a través de los textos propuestos desde este espacio curricular.
6-Demostrar honestidad intelectual.
7-Actuar con responsabilidad en el cumplimiento de las actividades propuestas.
2-CONTENIDOS
2.1. CONTENIDOS CONCEPTUALES:
UNIT I:
Language and Culture. The concept of culture. The English-speaking world. The Commonwealth. The United Kingdom. Great Britain. The British Isles.
UNIT II:
The Geography of Britain. Historical overview of Britain. The geography of The USA. A historical overview of the USA. Main features of Canada.
UNIT III.
British and American Institutions. Monarchy. Democracy. Parliament. The Constitution and the Magna Carta. Religion.
UNIT IV:
Other English-speaking countries. Main features of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. The West Indies.
UNIT V
Education in Britain and in the UK. Traditions. A look at literature.
2.2.CONTENIDOS PROCEDIMENTALES:
UNIDAD 1:
Uso correcto de la bibliografía.
Detección de la estructura jerárquica de la información.
Organización y elaboración de síntesis.
Lectura comprensiva.
Elaboración de cuadros sinópticos y mapas conceptuales (mind maps).
Reflexión acerca de la propia manera de aprender, en un tiempo y espacio determinados.
Exploración y Apropiación de técnicas, habilidades y estrategias cognitivas.
UNIDAD 2:
Ubicación geográfica de lugares.
Interpretación de mapas y gráficos.
Elaboración de gráficos y mapas conceptuales.
2.3.CONTENIDOS ACTITUDINALES:
UNIDAD 1:
Curiosidad y espíritu de búsqueda para explorar el mundo y la/s culturas, en especial la de los países de habla inglesa.
Presentación en tiempo y forma de los trabajos prácticos obligatorios.
Participación activa en clase.
Cumplimiento de la ejercitación diaria.
Valoración y respeto por las lenguas y las culturas en general y en especial de la propia.
UNIDAD 2:
Respeto por las opiniones, aptitudes y diferencias individuales.
Actualización constante.
Actitud crítica de los textos literarios y no literarios propuestos.
Honestidad intelectual.
3-PRESUPUESTO DEL TIEMPO:
PRIMER CUATRIMESTRE:
Contenidos Conceptuales: Unidades 1 y 2
Contenidos Procedimentales: Unidades 1 y 2
Contenidos Actitudinales: Unidades 1 y 2
SEGUNDO CUATRIMESTRE:
Contenidos Conceptuales: Unidades 3, 4 y 5
Contenidos Procedimentales: Unidades 1 y 2
Contenidos Actitudinales: Unidades 1 y 2
4- ACTIVIDADES DE ENSEÑANZA-APRENDIZAJE :
El desarrollo del presente programa se llevará a cabo mediante:
a. Clases expositivas por parte del profesor.
b. Lectura comprensiva de textos.
c. Confección de cuadros sinópticos.
d. Confección de mapas conceptuales.
e. Análisis de vocabulario específico.
f. Observación activa de videos.
g. Comparación de los aspectos culturales propios y de los de los países de habla inglesa.
h. Análisis y memorizaciones de canciones tradicionales, poemas y rimas propias del acerbo cultural de los países dados.
i. Lectura extensiva de los temas dados en otras fuentes.
h. Análisis e interpretación de canciones tradicionales, poemas y rimas dadas.
TRABAJOS PRACTICOS OBLIGATORIOS:
v Exposiciones orales periódicas a modo de síntesis de cada tema tratado.
v Confección grupal de cuestionarios y crucigramas al término de cada unidad.
v Ejercicios de selección múltiple y palabras cruzadas elaborados por los alumnos.
v Elaboración de un cuadro comparativo de los distintos aspectos analizados.
5-BIBLIOGRAFIA:
OBRAS DE CONSULTA OBLIGATORIA:
Bromhead, P. (1988) Life in Modern America. The UK: Longman
Cleary, Maria (2006) Talking Culture. The UK. Helbling Languages.
Espíndola, M. (2010) Background to English-speaking Countries. Apuntes de Cátedra. Separata Bibliográfica. Material de circulación interna.
Hallewell, F. & Giggins, P. (1990) Introducing Great Britain. The UK:Longman 1990.
Hallewell, F. & Giggins, P. (1990) London. The UK: Longman.
Harvey, P.& Jones, R. (1994) Britain Explored. The UK: Longman.
Laird, E. (1983) Welcome to Great Britain and The USA. England: Longman.
Musman, R. (1977) Britain Today. The UK: Longman.
Musman, R. (1993) Background to English-speaking Countries. England:Macmillan Publishers.
Papp, M. & Iantorno, G. (1990) Famous British and American Songs and their Cultural Background. The UK: Longman.
OBRAS DE CONSULTA FACULTATIVA:
Duranti, A. (1997) Linguistic Anthropology (Reprinted 1999) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Eagle, S. (1991) American Music. The UK:Longman.
Fadiman, C. Ed. (1990) The World Treasury of Children’s Literature. New York: Quality Paper Book Club
Graham, C. (1994) Mother Goose Jazz Chants. Oxford: OUP.
THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
Tomscha, T. (1992) American Customs and Traditions The UK: Longman.
**********************************************************************
6-EVALUACION:
Evaluación Inicial : a través de diálogo con los alumnos.
Evaluación Formativa: exposiciones orales durante el desarrollo de los temas y presentación y aprobación en cantidad y calidad del 80 % de trabajos prácticos obligatorios.
Evaluación Sumativa:
Examen Final Escrito
Al finalizar el segundo cuatrimestre, como requisito para aprobar la materia, los alumnos deberán presentar una monografía final, que deberá reunir los siguientes requisitos:
1. Deberá ser escrito a máquina o en computadora, en hoja A4 y fuente Times New Roman o Arial 12, interlineado 1,5 o doble.
2. Tendrá una extensión de entre 800 y 1,500 palabras.
3. Se pondrá especial cuidado a la adecuada redacción y ortografía, así como el uso correcto de las citas cuando se incluyan referencias. Se cuidará incluir el nombre del autor cada vez que no se usen palabras e ideas propias y luego se confeccionará una lista de referencias donde se incluirán todos los autores citados y las fuentes.
Normativa para la entrega de TP obligatorios y/o monografías para acceder a examen final oral:
a. Los trabajos prácticos y/o monografías deberán ser entregados al titular de cátedra, en el espacio institucional correspondiente, 15 (quince) días hábiles antes de la fecha de examen para su corrección final, como último plazo.
b. Los trabajos prácticos obligatorios y/o monografías deberán ser entregados en el espacio institucional en que el alumno desarrolla su actividad académica, a saber el I.S.A.R.M., 4to piso, Profesorado en Inglés.
c. Los trabajos prácticos obligatorios y/o monografías deberán, una vez aprobados por el titular de cátedra y devueltos al alumno, ser entregados por el alumno al vocal de mesa de examen con una antelación mínima de 5 (cinco) días hábiles.
Al realizar la entrega del TP obligatorio y/o monografía el alumno deberá consignar en la planilla elaborada a tal efecto, la fecha y hora de entrega, el título del trabajo y el espacio curricular, el nombre de quien realiza la entrega y el nombre de quien la recepciona. En ambos casos junto al nombre se estamparán las firmas.
El titular de cátedra deberá realizar un seguimiento del proceso de realización del TP obligatorio y/o monografía. Aquellos trabajos que no hayan sido evaluados en ese proceso por el titular de cátedra al menos una vez, no serán recepcionados para su corrección final, 15 (quince) días hábiles antes de la fecha de examen.
La entrega de trabajos obligatorios y/o monografías debe ser personal.
La devolución de trabajos obligatorios y/o monografías será personal, del titular de cátedra al alumno autor del mismo. La entrega se hará en el espacio institucional correspondiente 7(siete) días hábiles antes de la fecha de examen final.
h. No se aceptarán reclamos de ningún tipo de no cumplirse el reglamento.
Examen final oral:
Para iniciar el examen oral el alumno analizará su trabajo y lo relacionará con otros aspectos del presente programa de examen.
El alumno tendrá derecho a exponer durante cinco minutos sobre el eje /unidad elegido y la mesa podrá permitirle que continúe con el tema o interrogar sobre otros temas de la misma unidad o eje.
Finalizada esta primera fase del examen, se interrogará sobre otros temas del programa.
Cuando en cualquier momento del examen el alumno declare no conocer el tema que le corresponde exponer, la prueba quedará de hecho terminada.
Welcome to Background to English-speaking Countries
Hi, everyone!
Today I am starting this blog to publish materials related to our subject at 1st Year Instituto Superior Antonio Ruiz de Montoya (ISARM) in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.
English Speaking Countries- Map
Today I am starting this blog to publish materials related to our subject at 1st Year Instituto Superior Antonio Ruiz de Montoya (ISARM) in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.
English Speaking Countries- Map
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