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1、A Brief Introduction to the Culture of the English-speaking Countries,Unit One,General Introduction to the English and the English-speaking Countries,Introduction to the Course,The goal for learning: To get a general understanding for the English and English-speaking countries in order to better kno
2、w about the English culture. To be involved in English culture. To help English learning To help better communicate with people from English-speaking countries,Requirements,Please enroll the class on time Please listen attentively and actively in class and take notes if necessary Read the books or a
3、rticles introduced or of related topics Submit the homeworkon time if there is a written work.,Rules,Not only the teacher can speak and ask questions your participation is needed Break time can be used for telephone calls and SMS For today, our language is English! Please get involved!,Part I Englis
4、h in the World,According to research by the British Council, “English has official* or special status in at least seventy-five countries with a total population of over two billion. English is spoken as a native* language by around 375 million and as a second language* by around 375 million speakers
5、 in the world. Speakers of English as a second language will soon outnumber those who speak it as a first language. Around 750 million people are believed to speak English as a foreign language*. One out of four of the worlds population speak English to some level of competence. Demand from the othe
6、r three-quarters is increasing.“,NL, OL, SL and FL,* Native- the language you learned at home with your family when you were small. * Official- the language that is used in official documents, spoken on the radio and on television *Second language - language you learn because you have to live in the
7、 country where the language is spoken. *Foreign language - languages spoken abroad, a language you can choose to study at school.,The Inclease of English-speaking Population,1500 4 million 1600 6 million 1700 8.5 million 1800 20-40 million 1900 116-123 million Today First Language 375 million Second
8、 Language 375 million Foreign Language 750 million About 1 in four speaks English,9,Braj Kachru came with three concentric circles: the inner circle, the outer circle, and the expanding circle.,9,Expanding circle,Outer/expanded circle,Inner circle: e.g. USA, UK 320 - 380 million,e.g. India, Singapor
9、e 300 - 500 million,e.g. China, Russia 500 - 1000 million,English-Speaking Countries,United Kingdom 214,809,000 United States 58,200,000 Canada 18,232,195 Australia 15,581,334 Ireland 4,400,000 South Africa 3,673,203 New Zealand 3,500,000+,The United States of America (USA),Official name: United Sta
10、tes of America Abbreviations: U.S. / U.S.A. Capital: Washington, D.C. Size: 9,529,063 km (plus approximately 10,360 km for outlying territories and other politically associated areas) Population: 281.4 million Borders: Canada (north), Atlantic Ocean (east), Mexico and Gulf of Mexico (south), Pacific
11、 Ocean (west) Currency: US Dollar Official language: English Nationality / People A person of American nationality is an American.,USA - Photos,USA,The United Kingdom (UK),Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Abbreviation: UK Capital: London Size: 244,101 km Population
12、: 60 million Borders: Ireland (south of Northern Ireland), Atlantic Ocean (north), North Sea (east), English Channel (south), Irish Sea (west; east of Northern Ireland) Currency: Pound Sterling Official language: English Nationality / People: A person of British nationality is a Briton.,UK Photos,Ca
13、nada,Official name: Canada Capital: Ottawa Size: 9,970,610 km Population: 29.1 million Borders: Arctic Ocean (north), Atlantic Ocean (east), USA (south), USA (Alaska), Pacific Ocean (west) Currency: Canadian Dollar Official languages: English, French Nationality / People: A person of Canadian nation
14、ality is a Canadian.,Canada - Photos,Australia,Official name: Commonwealth of Australia Capital: Canberra Size: 7.7 million km Population: 21 million Borders: no direct borders; Timor Sea and Arafura Sea (northwest), Torres Strait (northeast), Great Barrier Reef (northeast), Tasman Sea (southeast),
15、Indian Ocean (south) Currency: Australian Dollar Official language: English Nationality / People: A person of Australian nationality is an Australian.,Australia - Photos,Ireland,Official name: Republic of Ireland Irish name: ire Capital: Dublin Size: 70,282 km Population: 3.5 million Borders: Northe
16、rn Ireland (north), Irish Sea (east), Atlantic Ocean (south, west) Currency: Euro Official languages: English, Irish Nationality / People: A person of Irish nationality is an Irishman or an Irishwoman,Ireland - Photos,22,New Zealand,Maori name: Aotearoaan (= land of the white cloud) Capital: Wellington Size: 270,534 km Population: 3.5 million Borders: no direct borders; surrounded by sea (South Pa
