BS CULTURES - 1 - INTRODUCTION

• Engels
• Basisschool
• Groep 8

BE STRONG FLEX: CULTURES

CLASS 1: INTRODUCTION

In this class, we will:

- find out which countries are officially English speaking

- find out more about Great Britain and flags

- find out about the history of the English language

- listen to some accents and determine where they're from

- color a world map of countries where English is a first or an official language.

Let's get started!

Form groups of four students. 

For the first assignment, you will be given a sheet of A3 paper. 

Each student also needs their own felt tip pen (4 colours per group + 1 extra blue or black felt tip pen). 

Put the paper in the middle in such a way that all students can write in one corner of the sheet. 

In silence, take two minutes to write down as many countries as you can where English is a / the first language. 

Then (at a signal from the teacher), you are allowed to discuss your answers, pool your knowledge and make a list in the middle of the sheet, using a blue or black pen.

en.wikipedia.org

Check your work!

Put away the felt tip pens - only one student per group now has a red pen. 

We look at your lists together. 

In order to get a point, your country needs a "yes" in the column "primary language" on the website OR it needs to be a "predominant" language.

Every single right answer gets 1 point - use the red pen to mark all correct answers. 

Tally up your points and write the total on your sheet. 

Upload a picture of your group's work here.

Great job!

You will find out more about where English is spoken as a first language and where English is an important second language. 

But first... a quiz!

Quiz Part 1:

English all over the world

There are more than 50 countries where English is an official language.

1. True
2. False

English is recognized as an official language in a total of 67 different countries

English is the most spoken FIRST language (=mother tongue) in the world.

1. True
2. False

Quiz Part 2: 

Great Britain & Flags

Which country is NOT a part of Great Britain?

1. England
2. Scotland
3. Wales
4. Ireland

What is the name of this flag?

1. Union Jack
2. Union Stripes
3. Stars and Stripes
4. King's Cross

How many stars does the American flag have?

1. 49
2. 50
3. 51
4. 52

Quiz Part 3:

The history of the English language

English is a global language. Can you guess how it became so important?

00:20

How long has English existed as a language?

1. 500 years
2. 1000 years
3. 1500 years
4. 2000 years

01:28

Which groups of people added words from their language to English?

1. The Celts and the Romans
2. The Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes
3. The Vikings and the Normans
4. All of the above!

01:53

What was special about Henry IV?

1. He was born in 1399.
2. He was the first king who spoke English as his mother tongue.
3. He was the first king of a country called "England".
4. He was the first Anglo-Saxon king of England.

02:06

How did English spread across the world?

1. The British spread English to all their new colonies.
2. Because it was the language spoken in America.
3. Because people decided it was a great language.
4. By boats.

02:27

How did English become so important in the 20th century?

1. It spread through politics, the media and technology.
2. The English won both World wars.
3. It was the easiest language to learn.
4. Nobody knows, it's a mystery.

02:56

What is meant by "global" in "English has become a global language"?

1. It is an easy language.
2. It is a beautiful language.
3. It is spoken all over the globe / world.
4. It is always changing.

So what are the two waves that made English into a global language?

1. First it was spread by the Anglo-Saxons and then by the Americans.
2. First it was invented by the Romans and then spread by politics.
3. First it was invented by the Vikings and then Hollywood promoted it.
4. First it was spread by the British Empire and then by media and technology.

Quiz Part 4

Accents!

0

What accent do you hear?

1. American
2. British
3. Irish
4. Scottish

0

What accent do you hear?

1. Australian
2. British
3. Irish
4. Scottish

0

What accent do you hear?

1. Indian
2. American
3. Irish
4. British

0

What accent do you hear?

1. Indian
2. American
3. Irish
4. British

0

What accent do you hear?

1. Canadian
2. American
3. Irish
4. British

Homework! Yay!

You get an empty world map. 

For the next class, color all countries and territories where people speak English as a first or official language. 

Name at least 15 countries on your map as well. 

Of course, if there's any time left, you can get started right away. 

1. How did you like this class?
2. What will you remember from this class? Name at least two things.
3. What English speaking country would you like to learn about next week, and why?