WALES
& NOTHERN IRELAND
|
|
WALES
& NOTHERN IRELAND |
|
| |||
|
Have a look at these websites before the activities: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/europe/wales/wales.htm - for a map of Wales.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/wales/ - for more info about Waleshttp://www.visitbritain.com/VB3-en/destinationguides/Wales/index.aspx - Visit Britain - Wales homepage.http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-ukinfocus-regional-wales.htm – for information about living in Wales. | |||
Essential Wales Fact File: THE ESSENTIAL WALES FACT FILE
Wales foreverCheck the information in your fact file with the information here. You'll also find any missing information you need to complete the fact file. The name Wales comes from the Anglo-Saxon term Waleas, meaning foreigner. It's a small country with a population of just 2.94 million. The majority or people speak English; however, the Welsh language is popular and is now spoken by more than 20 per cent of the population. Welsh is one of Europe's oldest languages. Since 1999 all schoolchildren in Wales have had to study Welsh, either as a first or second language. The Welsh language has two additional vowels - w and y - to add to the English a, e, i, o and u. The Welsh for Wales is Cymru, and the country's motto is "Cymru am byth" ("Wales forever"). The capital city is Cardiff, in South Wales. Cardiff was once one of the richest cities in the world, thanks to the docks and the coal industry. Cardiff Council is currently creating a city museum. The museum is scheduled to open in 2010 and will tell the history of Cardiff through the eyes of its people. Other major cities and towns are Swansea and Newport, in South Wales, and Wrexham in the north. Wales has some spectacular scenery. It has three national parks and five designated areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Snowdon is the highest mountain at 1,085 metres (3,559 feet). Wales is also famous for its castles. In fact, Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in western Europe. The National Assembly for Wales with AMs (Assembly Members) as well as MPs represents the country in Westminster. The national flag of Wales has two equal horizontal stripes, white above green. A red dragon appears on the green-and-white background. The origins of the flag are unknown. One legend tells of the struggle between the red dragon of Wales and the white dragon of England. St David is the patron saint of Wales, and St David's Day is celebrated on March 1. The most famous story about St David tells how he was preaching to a crowd of people when suddenly the ground he was standing on rose up, so that he was standing on a hill and everyone could see and hear him. On St David's Day people wear daffodils or leeks. The daffodil and leek are famous emblems of Wales. According to legend, St. David ordered his soldiers to wear a leek on their helmets in a battle against Saxon invaders that took place in a field full of leeks. Shakespeare refers to the custom of wearing a leek as an "ancient tradition". Wales has two annual festivals - one national and one international - called Eisteddfodau. The festivals are famous for their singing competitions. The 2008 National Eisteddfod of Wales will be staged in Cardiff from August 2 to 9. You'll find more information at www.cardiff.gov.uk/eisteddfod. Wales has its own national anthem - "Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" - which translates as "The Land of My Fathers". The country also has its own patron saint of lovers - St Dwynwen - and people celebrate her special day on January 25. A lot of towns and villages in Wales have very long names. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the name of a Welsh town. The name translates as "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St Tysilio's of the red cave". You can also find it on the Internet. In fact, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.com is the longest single-word (without hyphens) dot-com domain name in the world. Rugby is the national game of Wales. From September15, 2007, the Rugby World Cup returns to Cardiff for the first time since the city hosted the tournament in 1999. Cardiff will host several matches during the tournament. Other popular sports are football and golf. Wales has some of the best golf courses in Britain, and the Ryder Cup is due to be played there in 2010. In June 1999 the Millennium Stadium opened in Cardiff. The Stadium is a multi-purpose, all-round venue with the first retractable roof in the United Kingdom. Each year over 1.3 million visitors visit the stadium to watch rugby or football, or to go to a concert. Bon Jovi, Robbie Williams and Stereophonics have all performed at the Millennium Stadium. One of Britain's most popular TV series is filmed in Wales. Doctor Who is a science-fiction series about a Time Lord who travels through space and time in a police telephone box. A Doctor Who locations map is available from the Cardiff Tourist Information Centre. Torchwood, a spin-off series, is also filmed locally. Wales is known for its great actors. Richard Burton, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones are all Welsh. Famous musicians include Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, and the groups Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, Stereophonics and Manic Street Preachers. Other famous names include Sir George Everest, the explorer, the poet Dylan Thomas, and the authors Jackie Collins and Roald Dahl. Many people around the world can trace their family roots back to Wales. Three U.S. presidents, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon, were of Welsh origin. Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, isn't Welsh, but he does have the title of Prince of Wales. Welsh food is usually made from local ingredients. Some traditional dishes include laverbread (made from seaweed), bara brith (fruit cake), and cawl cennin (leek stew). Welsh rarebit (or rabbit) is a traditional Welsh snack that is similar to cheese on toast. In the past, Wales was famous for mining coal, copper and iron. Today the major industries are agriculture, manufacturing and especially tourism. A recent survey of leisure activities in Wales showed that the most popular activity is visiting the pub, with around 58 per cent of those surveyed saying it is their favourite regular activity. All photographs on this page © Crown copyright (2007) Visit Wales Useful Contacts
|
|
| ||||
|
Have a look at these websites before the activities: http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-ukinfocus-regional-northern_ireland.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:British_Isles_Venn_Diagram.jpg http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-ukinfocus-regional-northern_ireland.htm http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/ - Northern Ireland tourist board.
| ||||
|
Reading task - UK in focus. Living in Northern Ireland Where it is Northern Ireland is part of the UK but is physically separated from mainland England, Wales and Scotland by the wild and sometimes treacherous Irish Sea. Northern Ireland has sea to the north and east, and borders the Republic of Ireland on the west and south, making it the only UK country with a European border. Unsurprisingly these physical characteristics affect the mindset of its population, and it is not unusual to find some people who feel simultaneously a UK citizen, an Irish citizen and a European citizen. Alternatively, others shun their UK identity and embrace their Irishness, and many others insist on being ‘British’ and ignore their Irish neighbours. In a population of 1.5 million nearly 60% are under 40, making it a country with an influential youth culture. Religion and identity Identity tends to be polarised according to the religious divide – Protestants tend to see themselves as ‘British’ and part of the UK (except when the Irish rugby team is in action and allegiance conveniently switches!), and Catholics tend to embrace the Irish identity and an all- Ireland ethos. As with any such sweeping statement there are many exceptions to the rule, and Northern Ireland is home to many people of other religions and cultural identities. There are also a huge number of people from both the Protestant and Catholic communities who value each other as friends and fellow citizens, and to whom religion takes a back seat. Language In common with the UK, people in Northern Ireland speak English (with a distinctive, hard to mimic accent). There also exist the lesser-used languages of Irish and Ulster Scots and many associated cultural activities. Political devolution Northern Ireland shares the Westminster government with the UK but has had its own devolved Assembly, currently suspended, with local control over various issues including education and arts. The population waits for local politicians to come to agreement so that the Assembly can be reinstated as independence from Westminster is valued. Stereotypes Stereotypical images of Northern Ireland often centre on its troubled and violent past: bombs, shootings, brutality, along with the more positive: building the Titanic, the Giants Causeway World Heritage Site, linen industry and musicians such as Van Morrison and Ash. Northern Ireland – True or false? 1) You can drive to Northern Ireland from Scotland. 2) The famous ship ’Titanic’ was built in Belfast. 3) Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have the same currency. 4) Most people in Northern Ireland speak English. 5) The capital city of Northern Ireland is Dublin. Match the questions 1-5 with their answers a – e below.
The Northern Ireland Quiz. How much do you know about Northern Ireland?
22 things you should know about Northern Ireland So what does Northern Ireland have to offer the tourist and the language student? Northern Ireland is in the northeast of the island of Ireland and is part of the United Kingdom. The population is approximately 1,710,300. That's between a quarter and a third of the island's total population. Northern Ireland consists of six counties situated within the province of Ulster. The capital city is Belfast. English is spoken as a first language by almost 100 per cent of the Northern Irish population, though under the Good Friday Agreement, Irish and Ulster Scots (one of the dialects of the Scots language) are recognised as "part of the cultural wealth of Northern Ireland". According to the 2005 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey*, 59 per cent of the population prefer Northern Ireland to be part of the United Kingdom, while 22 per cent would prefer to be part of a united Ireland. The division of opinion is related to the religious split in the country. In the 2001 census, 53.1 per cent of the Northern Irish population were Protestant while 43.8 per cent of the population were Roman Catholic. Traditionally, those claiming to represent Nationalists are predominantly Catholic and want Northern Ireland to be unified with the Republic of Ireland, while those claiming to represent Unionists are predominantly Protestant and want it to remain part of the United Kingdom. It is the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to be Irish or British citizens, or both. While the euro is the currency in the rest of Ireland, Northern Ireland uses the British Pound. Most large shops accept the euro, but it's best to ask first. The Northern Ireland economy is the smallest of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The country was once famous for its shipbuilding and textiles. More recently, however, large multi-national corporations have invested in high-tech industries. Tourism also now plays an important role in the local economy. A measure of the country's renewal has been the increase in hotel room numbers in Belfast: they've trebled in just five years. Tourist authorities are keen to promote Northern Ireland as a safe place to visit. According to one United Nations report, Northern Ireland has the second-lowest crime rate in the developed world. There are so many rivers, lakes and so much coastline in Northern Ireland, it's no surprise that many of its best-known sporting activities are water based. Golf is also a popular sport. There are lots of places to visit in Northern Ireland. One of the most famous is the Giants Causeway on the north coast. Legend has it that the Causeway was built by Finn McCool, a giant who commanded the king of Ireland's armies. He built the Causeway as stepping stones to Scotland. Northern Ireland is famous for its legends and storytellers. The writer C. S. Lewis was born there. Near his East Belfast birthplace there's a life-size bronze sculpture showing a figure - Lewis's alter ego - stepping through the magic wardrobe into the Kingdom of Narnia. Nobel Laureate poet and author Seamus Heaney was born on a farm near Bellaghy. Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett were schoolboys in Enniskillen. And Brendan Behan found employment painting the Donaghadee lighthouse and spent his wages in Grace Neill's Bar, the oldest pub in the country. Northern Ireland is also famous for its history of shipbuilding. The world's most famous ship, the Titanic, was built here in 1911. You can take a trip to see where the ship was created or walk the Titanic Trail around Belfast. This year there's a special Titanic festival from April 7 to 14 that celebrates the ship, her city and the skills of the people who created her. Samson and Goliath are two famous cranes that belong to the shipbuilding company Harland & Wolff. Each has a capacity of 840 tonnes, and London Bridge would look minute beside them. Harland & Wolff, who built the Titanic, once employed tens of thousands of people. St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and every year on March 17, St Patrick's Day, it seems the whole world wants to be Irish. Northern Ireland has numerous celebrations. You can also take the ultimate pilgrimage and visit St Patrick's grave in Downpatrick. After years of controversy over St Patrick's Day celebrations in Belfast, the city now holds one of Northern Ireland's largest events and is set to become one of the world's leading destinations for St Patrick's Day celebrations. Another important date is July 12, when the Orangemen march accompanied by marching bands often described as "blood and thunder bands". The Orangemen are members of a Protestant fraternal order who march to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The largest celebration is in Belfast when thousands of people cram into Belfast city centre and the drums echo through the streets. Apart from marching bands, Northern Ireland has also produced some famous rock bands, including Snow Patrol. The band was formed in late 1994 by Gary Lightbody and Mark McClelland, two students from Northern Ireland who were studying in Dundee, Scotland, at the time. The group's song "Chasing Cars" has been nominated for one of this year's Grammy awards. Other famous Northern Ireland names include the singer/songwriter Van Morrison, and the footballer George Best, who is regarded by many as the greatest football player of all time. In Northern Ireland there is a local saying: "Maradona good; Pelé better; George Best." Northern Ireland is looking forward to the future, but there are still reminders of its troubled past. Belfast is famous for its sectarian murals that can be found on the Falls Road or Shankhill. They depict other famous names from the past such as hunger striker Bobby Sands. Today's tourists can see the murals on guided tours. It is strange to think that Belfast, which not so long ago was a ghost town at night, monitored by tanks and checkpoints, is now a Mecca for clubbers. Several years ago the local authorities introduced the slogan "Belfast is Buzzing" in order to attract visitors. It seems like the description is now very appropriate. To find out more about Northern Ireland, visit the sites listed in the Useful Contacts section of Destinations.
|
ACTIVITIES BASED ON DIFFERENT SOURCES.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO
© BBC | British Council 2007 http://www.its-teachers.com/destinations/
