Dialogue 3. A: You’ve been living in the U.K

A: You’ve been living in the U.K. for more than 2 years. What kind of people are they?

B: They are people who are famous for their habit of politeness. Nothing can be told without “Could you…?” or “Would you…?” or “Will you…?”

A: Really? And I also heard they keep their old traditions and are very proud of them.

B: Yes, surely! It’s common knowledge that the British are lovers of traditions and customs. In a whole year, each season in Britain is connected with various colourful traditions, customs and festivals.

A: I also know one old famous British tradition, it is the traditional love for tea. They have their 5 o’clock tea not only at home or in offices, but also in tea-rooms and tea-shops, which can be found in every town.

B: Yes, you are quite right. There is an old wisdom: “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”

A: And what about the weather? Are they really fond of speaking about it?

B: Surely, Britain is notorious for rainy weather. This changeable weather may be the reason why the British talk about the weather a lot. Weather conversation is one way to express your politeness and well-bred. If you are going to visit the U.K. study some expressions like “Isn’t it a beautiful morning?” or “Very cold today, isn’t it?”

A: It seems to me they are very thrifty. British women and hostesses try to go to the market every morning for buying foodstuffs, not to have plenty in the fridge.

B: Watching old British films I saw a lot of old or antique things around the British house.

A: Right you are! They are fond of keeping all their old stuff: letters, post-cards, vases, newspapers, recipes and posters.

B: Truly speaking I’m looking forward to visiting the U.K. I will send you e-mail every day to share my impression.

A: I wish you a nice trip!

B: Thank you very much!

Exercise 12. Make up your own dialogues with the following proverbs and expressions.

· East or West, home is best.

· My home is my castle.

· To be cold and reserved	· Not to show much emotion
· striking features	· do not rush
· habit of politeness	· don’t like to display their emotions
· don’t like boasting	· to respect their habits
· Their attitude to the monarchy	· to have a strong sense of privacy
· To be prudent and careful	· To be devoted to animals
· To be fond of sports	· To be the national of traditions

UNIT 17

American Character

Proverbs and sayings

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. Abraham Lincoln	Характер подобен дереву, а репутация, как его тень. Тень это то, что мы думаем о нем, а дерево это реальная вещь. Авраам Линкольн
Character is higher than intellect. Ralph Waldo Emerson	Характер выше, чем интеллект. Ральф Уолдо Эмерсон
A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think. Ralph Waldo Emerson	Великая душа будет сильной, чтобы жить, а так же сильной, чтобы думать. Ральф Уолдо Эмерсон

TEXT

American Character [16]

The United Sates is a society of immigrants. It is probably the most multicultural and multinational country in the world. In the 19th century it was called a “melting pot”, however, nowadays such terms as a “salad bowl” or a “pizza” characterizes it much better. It means that all ingredients (nations, ethnic groups, peoples) are mixed and separated at a time. It is evident, that in this case the problem of the national American character seems to be rather complicated. Nevertheless, it is essential to try to determine certain features of this mysterious character in order to understand the American world better.

The problem of national character is quite interesting and disputable itself. If to consider the American worldview, one of the major values seems to be freedom. The Americans consider their society to be the freest and the best in the world. They regard it as a haven for those who long for opportunities and freedom. They proudly state that even nowadays there are thousands of immigrants, who dream of entering their country, expecting to have a chance to start a new, better life. This value has developed historically through wars and struggle, revolutions and slaughter. It is the first right, mentioned in the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights and the most precious one. That means that the value of freedom is for sure one of the most significant components of the American national character.

Practicality is the next characteristic feature of the American nation. Historians explain it by the permanent need of survival in the wildness, settlers faced on the new continent. Robust individualists had more chances to succeed. The Americans believe that work is the only way to achieve their ambitious goals. Materialistic values seem to be more important for them than the spiritual one.

Individualism has strong roots both in the American history. It determines all aspects of American life, being the most important cultural peculiarity. Individualism means self-reliance, economic self-efficiency and self-assurance.

Individualism persists even in huge complicated corporations, where each person is more or less independent, responsible for his work and encouraged to display initiative. It is interesting that “I” is always capital letter in the American language and that is a symbol of individualism, because language actually forms the national character. Americans seem to be extremely concerned about time; time is money for them.

Individualism is impossible without competition. American society seems to be based on it. The Americans appear to enjoy competitions everywhere.

Personal success is another special feature of individualism. Every American citizen longs for success and besides, financial success appears to be much more important than the one in personal life.

It is essential to mention several main features of a typical American personality. It is, first of all, straightforwardness. The Americans usually would speak frankly and straightforwardly, trying to avoid unnecessary introductions. Secondly, the Americans seem to be extremely open-minded and usually sincere. And at last, it is necessary to state, that the Americans are very active. They cannot stand wasting time; the majority of Americans prefer active holidays and entertainment to staying at home.

Sports have an immense popularity in America. It is business and entertainment. It is a fundamental part of the American national character. Professional sportsmen are national heroes, symbols of success and prosperity.

The term “American Dream” is the most important part of the American national character means “the dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for every man with opportunities for each according to his abilities and achievement”. The Americans believe that the only way to reach the Dream is hard work and faith. The symbol of the American Dream, which is well-known all over the world, is the American smile, the brightest peculiarity of the American national character.

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

to be mixed and separated	быть вместе и по отдельности
certain features	определенные черты
practicality	практичность
slaughter [ˈslɔ:tə]	кровопролитие, резня
to be for sure	должно быть несомненно
survival in the wildness	выживание в дикой местности
settlers	поселенцы
to face	сталкиваться
robust [rəˈbʌst] individuals	сильные, крепкие люди
the spiritual one	зд. духовные ценности
strong roots	сильные корни
cultural peculiarity	культурная особенность
self-reliance	самонадеянность
self-sufficiency	самодостаточность
self-assurance	самоуверенность
to persist	сохраняться
capital letter	заглавная буква
to long for / to desire	страстно желать, жаждать
a typical [tɪpɪkəl] personality	обычная личность
straightforwardness [straitf’ɔ:vədnəs]	прямолинейность
trying to avoid	пытаясь избежать
to be open-minded person	быть открытым к познанию
sincere [sɪnˈsɪə]	искренний, чистосердечный
they cannot stand wasting time	они не могут тратить время попусту
immense [ɪˈmens]	громадный, огромный
symbols of success and prosperity	символы успеха и процветания
crucial [ˈkruːſjəl]	решающий (от опыте)
according to his abilities and achievement	в соответствии с его способностями и достижениями
faith [feɪθ]	вера, верность, честность
to encourage [ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ] to display	поощрять, проявлять что-то
who dream of entering	которые мечтают о въезде в страну

Answer the questions.

1. How is the USA now called?

2. What does “salad”?

3. How do the Americans consider the society they live in?

4. What do they proudly say about their country?

5. What is for sure one of the most significant components of the American national character?

6. Why do materialistic values seem to be more important for the Americans?

7. What does individualism mean?

8. Why do the Americans always write “I” with the capital letter?

9. What is straightforwardness?

10. What other features of the American character do you know?

11. Are they active or passive? What do they prefer doing on holidays?

12. What does sport mean for the Americans?

13. Who are the symbols of nation sports?

14. What is “American Dream”?

Exercise 1. Choose the necessary words from the box and put it in the sentences below.

freedom, the freest, self-help, straightforwardly, economic, nation, self-reliance, encourage, long for, open-mined, individualism, American smile, self-sufficiency, practicality

1. The symbol of the American Dream if the … ….

2. The Americans usually speak frankly and ….

3. Are they seem to be extremely … and sincere.

4. What does every American citizen … ….

5. Capital letter “I” is the symbol of ….

6. What does even large corporation … to display?

7. Individualism means …, …, ….

8. … is the next characteristic feature of the American ….

9. The right for … is the first right, mentioned in the U.S Constitution.

10. The Americans consider their society to be … and the best in the world.

Exercise 2. Are the following sentences true or false? Give your arguments.

1. The U.S.A. is English - speaking country.

2. The national American character is very complicated.

3. The major value for the Americans is their national flag.

4. The right for freedom is not essential in the U.S.A.

5. Wars and struggle didn’t give any results for the Americans.

6. There are thousands of immigrants who dream of entering to the U.S.A.

7. The Americans are alike the English.

8. The U.S.A. is considered to be the best place for living for everybody.

9. There is no difference between a “melting pot” and a “salad bowl”.

10. The spiritual values are the most important for the Americans.

Exercise 3. Translate the following sentences and put some special questions to them.

1. Sports have an immense popularity in America.

2. Even huge corporation encourage their staff to display initiative.

3. The Americans proudly state that even nowadays there thousands of people want to obtain “the green card”.

4. It means that the value for freedom if for sure one of the most significant components of the American national character.

5. Let’s try to determine certain features of this mysterious character.

Exercise 4. Use these expressions for making dialogues with your partner in English.

· to be mixed and separated	· the American dream
· to dream of entering	· individualism means
· the most important feature	· to be prefer active holidays
· symbol of success and prosperity	· to be impossible without competition
· practicality is one of them	· time is money
· robust individuals	· self-sufficiency

Exercise 5. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Символ американской мечты широко известен во сем мире – это американская улыбка.

2. Спорт в Америке – это бизнес и развлечение одновременно.

3. Американец постарается избежать не нужного предисловия, что бы сообщить вам информацию.

4. Кажется, что американское общество основано на соревновании; американцы испытывают удовольствие, соревнуясь в борьбе за то, чтобы быть лучшим во всем.

5. Стилистика американского языка, отражая дух и принцип индивидуализма, использует только заглавную букву для местоимения “Я”.

6. Американцы полагают, что их общество самое свободное и лучшее в мире.

7. Получение “green card” дает официальное право на работу и проживание в США.

8. Понятие “американская мечта” означает, что каждый человек может жить лучше, богаче и полнее этой стране

9. Каждый американский гражданин страстно желает достижения финансового успеха.

10. Свободолюбие, практицизм и индивидуализм, также как прямолинейность, открытость и искренность – всего лишь некоторые черты непостижимого американского характера.

11. “Green card” – это документ, полное название которого Карта постоянного проживающего на территории Соединенных Штатов.

12. Человек, имеющий “green card” не является гражданином США, но ему предоставляется право на трудоустройство.

Exercise 6. Mach the words and phrases:

1. говорить прямо	a. strong roots
2. выживать в дикой местности	b. to be based on it
3. сильные индивидуалы	c. to speak straightforwardly
4. соревноваться с удовольствием	d. US Permanent Resident Card
5. главная ценность – это свобода	e. certain features
6. определенные черты	f. to survive in the wildness
7. сильные корни	g. to prefer active holidays
8. быть основанным на чем-либо	h. robust individuals
9. предпочитать активный отпуск	i. to enjoy competitions
10. взаимодействовать, не будучи обезличенным	j. the major value is freedom
11. вид на жительство на территории США без предоставления гражданства	k. to be mixed and separated

Exercise 7. Give the English equivalents for:

· время-деньги	· обычный американец
· личный успех – особая черта индивидуализма	· формировать национальный характер
· казаться особенно открытым ко всему новому	· иметь шанс начать новую, лучшую жизнь
· достичь мечты	· быть весьма сложным
· способности и достижения	· страстно желать успеха
· получить официальное право на работу без гражданства	· духовные ценности

Exercise 8. Discuss the following problems in the group.

1. Green Card is desirable for thousands of new-comers. Why so?

2. Americans’ attitude to church and religion as an integral part of the culture.

3. American society seems to be much more informal than the British.

Exercise 9. Speak on the topic “American Character”.

Exercise 10. Learn the following words and word combinations and use them in your dialogues.

to make a long story short, I prefer seeing westerns to reading …	короче говоря, я предпочитаю просмотр вестернов чтению книг …
there is nothing like reading	ничто не может сравниться с чтением.
it's much more absorbing than the abridged screen versions	оно куда более увлекательно, чем сокращенные киноверсии
is restricted neither by	не ограничено
horse riding skills	верховая езда
manliness	мужественность
lack intelligence	нехватка интеллекта
prime	чопорный
taciturn	молчаливый
hospitable	гостеприимный
in spite of	несмотря на
values and beliefs	ценности и убеждения
open-hearted	открытые
straightforward	прямолинейность
beloved character	любимый герой
rugged guy	грубый парень
this idea is not groundless	это представление не беспочвенно
main traits of	основные черты
obey no one	никому не подчиняться
equality and prosperity	равенство и благополучие
to respect the ability to win	уважать способность побеждать
to value the ability to invent	ценить способность изобретать
tough	зд. стойкий / выносливый

Exercise 11. Read, translate and dramatize the dialogues.

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