COURSE : BRITISH- AMERICAN STUDIES COURSE BOOK : Br- Am STUDIES compiled by LVS LECTURER : LE VAN SU WEEK I THE BRITISH CROWN & THE PEOPLE THE AMERICAN AT HOME I PAIRWORK : Work in pairs to elicit the contextual meaning of each of the following: 1.- the crown: - constitution: - a constitutional monarch: - a constitutional monarchy: - The Queen ( or King) reigns but does not govern: - While she may not take sides in politics, she is free to offer advice on political matters: - at many critical times - members paid similar tributes to his wise advice 2.- the Commonwealth: - the granting of audiences to a large number of official visitors: - regular appearances at public functions: - she studies the minutes of meetings and reports from her ministers on a wide range of subjects - the Foreign Office = _(British English) = _ (American English) - Foreign Secretaries = _( British English) = ( (American English) - She must personally authorize details: - Service uniforms: - Decisions regarding the management of the Royal estates must also be referred to her: 3.- They are independent communities, self_sufficient, self_contained, and proud of managing their own affairs: - to be superior to # : - suburbanites: Page of 4.- setting: - the rolling prairie: - the business section: - the residential section: - apartment ( American English) = (British English ) II.GROUPWORK: Work in groups to find the in-depth answers to the following content questions , using your own words as far as possible Present the best solution of each group to the whole class under the guidance of the teacher Q1: What is a constitutional monarchy? Q2: Give a few examples showing the various aspects of the British Queen’s daily work Q3: What characterizes small American towns and suburbs of large cities? Q4: What the residential distrists in small American towns look like? WEEK II THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT & POLITICS – THE AMERICAN SYSTEM I PAIRWORK 5.- Parliament (Br) & (Am) The House of Lords: (Vietnamese) The House of Commons: - The Lower House has far more political power than the Upper House Page of - All major legislation is initiated in the House of Commons: - The House of Lords can delay highly controversial legislation for a year: 6.- Heredity does not and can not qualify a man to legislate: - In the House of Commons the ordinary citizen finds less that he wishes to change: - The public would be more fairly represented if M.P.s were elected by proportional representation, instead of by majority vote: - His powers are considerable - He negotiates treaties with foreign governments - Both houses may initiate legislation - … whether laws are in accordance with the Constitution of the U.S - The Republican party is farther to the right than is the Democratic Party: - Its right wing shelters the remnants of isolationism: II GROUPWORK Q5: Point out the differences between the two Houses of the British Parliament Q6:What proposals for the reform of the House of Lords have been made recently? Q7:What are the powers of the U.S president? Q8:What you know about the U.S Congress? Q9:Which are the two major political parties in the U.S.A? WEEK III THE COMMONWEALTH & EMPIRE – NEW YORK CITY I PAIRWORK 10.-The Colonial Empire consists of a rapidly dwindling number of dependent territories - To come into being: Page of - British subjects: - Some territories have been ceded: - Some territories have been conquered: - In external and internal affairs: - Ultimately: - Self_governing members: 11.- They are in no way subordinate one to another: - United by a common allegiance to the Crown: - The Act of Parliament: (Vietnamese) - The Statute of Westminster: (Vietnamese) 12.- Borough: - The granite island bounded by the Hudson River,… - Lower Manhattan: (Vietnamese) Midtown Manhattan: Uptown Manhattan: - Bohemians: ( Vietnamese) 13.- There are so few signs that second sight and a sixth sense are needed to change lines successfully: - Commuters: (Vietnamese) - To expound: II GROUPWORK Q10: How did the Commonwealth and Empire come into being? Q11:When was the Status of the self_governing countries in the Commonwealth clearly defined? Q12:Which are the four main districts of Manhattan in New York city? Q13:How New Yorkers travel? WEEK IV THE CHURCH IN BRITAIN - THE CHURCH IN AMERICA I PAIRWORK 14.- the episcopal system: Page of - the apostolic succession: - a beautiful form of sung service: 15.- Anglican protestant doctrine was formulated: - deviated from: - dogma: - There was no scriptural authority: - ordained by Christ: 16.- imposed their doctrines on New England: - to establish the principle of complete religious tolerance in the New World: 17.- adherents: - the Mormons (Latter_day Saints): ( Vietnamese) - on any scale: 18.- contemplative orders: ( Vietnamese) - founding colleges: - a good deal of attention: - communicants: - gaining esteem: - psychiatric clinics: - The churches show a notable regard for their members: - ministers: ( Vietnamese) - in the sphere of human relations: - to counterbalance: II GROUPWORK Q14: In what circumstances did the Church of England come into being?Q 15: Point out the principal differences between Anglican Protestant doctrine and catholic belief.Q16: In what circumstances did the Pilgrim Fathers come to America in the 17th century? What kind of religious beliefs did they hold?Q17: Are there many religious sects in the U.S? How have they grown up?Q18: Give a few examples of the practical character of American religion Page of WEEK V THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN BRITAIN – MANY NATIONALITIES IN AMERICA I PAIRWORK 19.- They are willing to abide by its decisions: - incorruptible: - It dispenses “justice tempered with mercy”: - This aspect of the system is particularly prized: - magistrates or Justices of the Peace: ( Vietnamese) - verdict (n) - a salaried judge: ( Vietnamese) - jury: 20.- County courts, Magistrates’ Courts, Courts of Quarter Sessions, The High Court, The Court of Criminal Appeal, The House of Lords, The Lord Chancellor - the judicial system: 21.- reached its peak: - to dwindle: 22.- underdeveloped countries: - famine: - disastrous harvests: - to be oppressed: - to be dissatisfied with the regime: II GROUPWORK Page of Q19: Why the British respect their legal system?Q20: Name the various Courts of Law together with cases they have to try.Q21: Give some details of the Great Migration which took place in the USA between 1815 and 1914.Q22: Give the three main reasons which drove people to America WEEK VI SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES IN BRITAIN – THE COLOUR PROBLEM IN THE USA I PAIRWORK 23.- on the whole: - equal standards are maintained in both types of school: - come under the general oversight of the Ministry of Education: - are administered by the local education authority: - nursery schools ( – 5) primary school (5 – 11) secondary grammar schools or secondary modern school or secondary technical schools ( 11 – 16) - with a more practical bent: - nursery schools & kindergartens (under 7) preparatory school ( -11, 12 or 13) public schools ( boarding schools or old grammar schools 24.- to be dominated by: - in this sheltered, almost monastic setting: 25.- At these older universities there is more scope for individual study: - Individual brilliance gains greater recognition: - Sheer book learning is often the key to success in its very stiff examinations: 26.- to a large extent: - to mingle with: - the colour bar has always been strong: - to abolish slavery: 27.- The Confederate States: ( Vietnamese) # The Union: (Vietnamese) - to secede from the Union: - the abolitionist: Page of - an amendment to the constitution: II GROUPWORK Q23: Name the various kinds of school in Britain and point out the differences between them Q24: What makes Oxford and Cambridge exceptional centres of learning? Q25: Why is the university of london so different from the older universities? Q26: In what circumstances were the first slaves brought to Virginia? Q27: Give the main facts about the Civil War in the USA from 1861 to 1865? WEEK VII BRITAIN & THE SECOND WORLD WAR – THE U.S HISTORICAL BACKGROUND I PAIRWORK 28.- in alliance with: - contigents: - the Allied Force: - 90 consecutive nights: - occasional respites: - Raids continued intermittently over London: 29.- until the German frontier was reached: - Germany surrendered unconditionally: 30.- Air_raid damage: - to be mobilized for service in the Armed Forces: - in the Home Guard: - rationing: 31.- four main phases: - colonial status: - the Pilgrim Fathers: - along the eastern seaboard: - a chain of forts & trading posts: Page of - This territority was ceded by the French to Britain & Spain: 32.- to revolt against: - in particular: II GROUPWORK Q28: What you know about the Battle of Brttain at the beginning of the second World War ( 1940 – 1941)? Q29: How was the liberation of Europe achieved towards the end of the second World War? Q30: Give a few figures showing what the second World War meant to Britain Q31: When did the first settlers come to America? Q32: What important events happened in America in 1775, 1783 and 1789? Page of ... the British Queen’s daily work Q3: What characterizes small American towns and suburbs of large cities? Q4: What the residential distrists in small American towns look like? WEEK II THE BRITISH... - the business section: - the residential section: - apartment ( American English) = (British English ) II.GROUPWORK: Work in groups to find the in-depth answers to the following content... remnants of isolationism: II GROUPWORK Q5: Point out the differences between the two Houses of the British Parliament Q6:What proposals for the reform of the House of Lords have been made recently?