MORE ABOUT BRITISH AND RUSSIAN TRADITIONS
Every nation and every country has its own traditions and customs. In Britain traditions play a more important role in the life of people than in other countries. They say British people are very conservative. They are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. But when we speak about British traditions we always remember that there are four parts in Britain — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Traditions are different in these parts of the country.
You already know some of the English traditions and holidays. We hope you remember St. Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Hallowe'en which have also become traditional American holidays. Here are some more facts about old English traditions.
One of the old English legends says that London can be the capital of the country, rich and great until twelve black ravens live in the Tower of London. Each has got its name and the keepers carefully look after them. If one of the birds dies, another younger raven takes its place. Londoners believe this legend and always bring some food to give to the birds when they come to the Tower. The keepers cut the birds' wings a bit as they are afraid that they may fly away.
Another old English tradition is Guy Fawkes Day. Children go out into the streets on the 5th of November with figures like scarecrows. They stand in the streets and squares asking for the usual "Penny for the Guy". Then with the money they have collected they buy fireworks and burn the guy (the figure like a scarecrow) on their bonfire.
People watch fireworks and some people go to parties in the evening.
People in Russia have their own special traditions. One of them is Maslenitsa — the holiday, which lasts for a week, to say "goodbye" to winter. People celebrate it at the end, of February or at the beginning of March. During this holiday they celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. In old times people usually cooked pancakes, had fires, burnt straw1 scarecrows of winter, they sang songs and danced. Now during "Maslenitsa week" people always cook pancakes. They invite their friends, their nearest and dearest to see each other and eat pancakes with sour cream, fish, caviar or butter, sugar, honey.
Though different countries have different traditions and holidays people all over the world know some of them. They are — Easter, Christmas and New Year.
Карточка №1
Task.Put in the correct order:
1. The keepers cut the birds’ wings.
2. British people are conservative .
3. Children ask for the usual “Penny for the Guy”.
4. Other traditions are Easter, Christmas and New Year.
5. People celebrate the beginning of spring.
Карточка №2
Task. True', 'False' or 'Don't Know.
1.Every country has its own traditions and customs.
2.There are no common traditions all over the world.
3.English people celebrate Maslenitsa.
4.There are some common holidays in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
5.London can be great until 10 black ravens live in the Tower.
6.English people celebrate Guy Fawkes Day on the 5th of November.
7.Russian people seldom eat pancakes with caviar now.
Карточка №3
Task Divide the text into the logical parts and name them.
Text 3
The Unknown Southern Land
Even in medieval times there were stories about a large continent in the Southern Hemisphere. But Europeans had never seen it. They wondered what it was like and whether it was inhabited. They called this land terra australis incognita, or "the unknown southern land" — Australia.
Nowadays when people speak of Australia they can mean three things: 1) Australia as a continent; 2) Australia as an island and 3) Australia as an independent country. Australia is the world's largest island and its smallest continent. Asia is the continent nearest to Australia in the north. The icy shores of Antarctica lie to the south. New Zealand is to the east. To the west of Australia stretches the vast Indian Ocean. In the east the continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean.
Australia is a land of striking differences. In the centre of the continent and in the west more than 50% of the land is desert — dry and uninhabited. There are three deserts there — the Great Sandy Desert, the Great Victoria Desert and the Gibson Desert, situated between them. Naturally very few people live there. Most of them live on narrow coasts of the east and south-east. Main cities, where people live among tall office buildings, automobile plants and busy factories, are also situated there.
In the north-east tropical forests cover the coast. In the mountains of the south-east -the snow lies for seven months of the year.
Australia is divided into six states and two territories.
New South Wales is Australia's leading industrial state. Most people live along the east coast, and most of them are in Sydney. Sydney is also the largest city in Australia.
In Victoria most people live in the south. Melbourne is the capital of the state and the largest city. Sheep and wheat are the main products here. Citrous fruits, grapes, peaches and apricots are grown along the Murray River.
Queensland is Australia's second largest state. Brisbane, its capital, is situated on the east coast: Queensland has long beautiful sandy beaches. Its coast is a popular place for holidaymakers. The climate along the east coast is hot and humid. It is the tropical corner of Australia. Bananas and other tropical fruits are grown here. Most of the land in the south is too dry for farming. Some of Australia's most unproductive desert lands occupy the bigger part of the state.
The state of Western Australia is dry and inhospitable except the south-western corner of the state. Nearly all of the state's farms, sheep stations and fruit gardens are situated there. The rest of the state is dry desert land with very few towns or lonely cattle stations.
South Australia is the third largest state. Most of South Australia's people, farms and industry are in the south-eastern part of the state. Adelaide is the capital and the largest city. Most of South Australia is too dry for farming. Farming very much depends on irrigation or underground water. Some of Australia's most unproductive desert lands occupy the greater part of the state. Wheat and fruit (apricots, pears, peaches, nectarines and grapes) are grown along the lower part of the Murray River.
Tasmania, the island state, is sometimes called the apple isle because it produces most of Australia's apples. Tasmania is one of the few places in Australia that have enough rain all year. Tasmania is Australia's leading producer of pears and berries of different kinds. Potatoes are also grown in some areas.
Northern Territory is the least populated and least developed part of Australia. Crocodiles still live in some of the swamps along the coast. Darwin is its capital and the only large settlement in the north. Alice Springs, generally called Alice or the Alice, is the only town in the south.
The capital of Australia is Canberra. The city doesn't belong to any state. It is situated on the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which occupies an area of 2,432 square kilometres.
Предтекстовой этап.
Task: What do you know about Australia?
Текстовой этап.
Класс делится на 4 группы по 3-4 человека. Каждая группа работает над карточками. Затем идет обмен информацией между группами. В качестве проверки понимания текста использую прием “quiz” (card 5)
Card 1. True, false or don’t know.
1)Australia is the largest continent in the world. 2)Australia is situated in the Southern Hemisphere. 3)Vast areas of desert cover most of Central and Western Australia. 4)Melbourne is the Capital of Victoria. 5)The official name of the country is the Commonwealth of Australia. 6)There are 6 states in Australia. 7)Tasmania’s an island state.
Card 2. Put in the correct order.
1)The capital of Australia is Canberra. 2)There are three deserts in Australia. 3)Queensland is popular with holidaymakers. 4)Tasmania is the apple isle. 5)When we speak about Australia we mean three things. 6)Darwin is the only large settlement.
Card 3. Fill in the table: what are Australian states and territories famous for. Put “+” where necessary
| Region | Famous for | ||||||||
| Few cities | Too dry land for farming | Leading industries | The capital of Australia | apples | sheep, wheat as main products | inhospitality | The largest size | ||
| New south Wales | |||||||||
| Victoria | |||||||||
| Queensland | |||||||||
| Western Australia | |||||||||
| South Australia | |||||||||
| Tasmania | |||||||||
| Northern Territory | |||||||||
| ACT | |||||||||
Card 4. Make up the Mind Map.
Card 5. Quiz
1)What is the meaning of “terra australis incognita”?
a)a famous land; b) an unknown land;
c) a desert
2)How many great deserts are there in Australia?
a) 3 ; b) 4; c) 2
3) How many territories and states are there in Australia?
a) 7 and 2; b)6 and 2; c)2 and 6
4)Which state is famous for its fruit harvest?
a) Queensland; b) Tasmania;
c)Northern Territory.
5) Which state is famous for its holiday places?
a)Queensland; b) Tasmania;
c)Northern Territory.
6)Which state is the largest and the driest one in Australia?
a) South Australia; b) ACT;
c) Western Australia
7) Which state is the industrial centre?
a) South Australia; b) ACT;
c) New South Wales
8) Where the capital of Australia situated?
a) South Australia; b) ACT;
c) Victoria
9) Where sheep and wheat are the main products?
a) Tasmania; b) ACT;
c) Western Australia
Послетекстовой этап.
Task: Get ready to speak about Australia.
· The geographical position of the country;
· Its main states and territories;
· The main Australian cities;
· The most and least populated areas;
· Things the country produces.