New Oxford English Dictionary entries for 2013

• apols, pl. n. (informal): apologies.

• A/W, abbrev.: autumn/winter (denoting or relating to fashion designed for the autumn and winter seasons of a particular year). (See also S/S)

• babymoon, n. (informal): a relaxing or romantic holiday taken by parents-to-be before their baby is born; a period of time following the birth of a baby during which the new parents can focus on establishing a bond with their child.

• balayage, n.: a technique for highlighting hair in which the dye is painted on in such a way as to create a graduated, natural-looking effect.

• bitcoin, n.: a digital currency in which transactions can be performed without the need for a central bank.

• blondie, n.: a small square of dense, pale-coloured cake, typically of a butterscotch or vanilla flavour.

• buzzworthy, adj. (informal): likely to arouse the interest and attention of the public, either by media coverage or word of mouth.

• BYOD, n.: abbreviation of ‘bring your own device’: the practice of allowing the employees of an organization to use their own computers, smartphones, or other devices for work purposes.

• cake pop, n.: a small round piece of cake coated with icing or chocolate and fixed on the end of a stick so as to resemble a lollipop.

• chandelier earring, n.: a long, elaborate dangling earring, typically consisting of various tiers of gemstones, crystals, beads, etc.

• click and collect, n.: a shopping facility whereby a customer can buy or order goods from a store’s website and collect them from a local branch.

• dappy, adj. (informal): silly, disorganized, or lacking concentration.

• derp, exclam. & n. (informal): (used as a substitute for) speech regarded as meaningless or stupid, or to comment on a foolish or stupid action.

• digital detox, n.: a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.

• double denim, n.: a style of dress in which a denim jacket or shirt is worn with a pair of jeans or a denim skirt, often regarded as a breach of fashion etiquette.

• emoji, n: a small digital image or icon used to express an idea or emotion in electronic communication.

• fauxhawk, n: a hairstyle in which a section of hair running from the front to the back of the head stands erect, intended to resemble a Mohican haircut (in which the sides of the head are shaved).

• FIL, n.: a person’s father-in-law (see also MIL, BIL, SIL).

• flatform, n.: a flat shoe with a high, thick sole.

• FOMO, n.: fear of missing out: anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.

• food baby, n.: a protruding stomach caused by eating a large quantity of food and supposedly resembling that of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy.

• geek chic, n.: the dress, appearance, and culture associated with computing and technology enthusiasts, regarded as stylish or fashionable.

• girl crush, n. (informal): an intense and typically non-sexual liking or admiration felt by one woman or girl for another.

• grats, pl. n. (informal): congratulations. • guac, n.: guacamole.

• hackerspace, n.: a place in which people with an interest in computing or technology can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge.

• Internet of things, n.: a proposed development of the Internet in which everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.

• jorts, pl. n.: denim shorts.

• LDR, n.: a long-distance relationship. • me time, n. (informal): time spent relaxing on one’s own as opposed to working or doing things for others, seen as an opportunity to reduce stress or restore energy.

• MOOC, n.: a course of study made available over the Internet without charge to a very large number of people.

•omnishambles, n. (informal): a situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged, characterized by a string of blunders and miscalculations.

• pear cider, n.: an alcoholic drink made from the fermented juice of pears.

• phablet, n.: a smartphone having a screen which is intermediate in size between that of a typical smartphone and a tablet computer.

• pixie cut, n.: a woman’s short hairstyle in which the hair is cropped in layers, typically so as to create a slightly tousled effect.

• selfie, n. (informal): a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.

• space tourism, n.: the practice of travelling into space for recreational purposes.

• squee, exclam. & v. & n. (informal): (used to express) great delight or excitement.

• srsly, adv. (informal): short for ‘seriously’.

• street food, n.: prepared or cooked food sold by vendors in a street or other public location for immediate consumption.

• TL;DR, abbrev.: ‘too long didn’t read’: used as a dismissive response to a lengthy online post, or to introduce a summary of a lengthy post.

• twerk, v.: dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.

• unlike, v.: withdraw one’s liking or approval of (a web page or posting on a social media website that one has previously liked).

• vom, v. & n. (informal): (be) sick; vomit.

New Words in the Oxford English Dictionary 2011

alternative vote: an electoral system whereby voters rank candidates in order of preference, candidates being eliminated and votes redistributed until one candidate achieves the required majority.

domestic goddess: (informal) a woman with exceptional domestic skills, especially cookery.

mankini: (pl. mankinis) a brief one-piece bathing garment for men, with a T-back.

retweet: (on the social networking service Twitter) repost or forward (a message posted by another user).

sexting: (informal) the sending of sexually explicit photographs or messages via mobile phone.

woot: (especially in electronic communication) used to express elation, enthusiasm, or triumph

Binge Drinking

Britain’s Office for National Statistics has reported a sharp and alarming rise in the number of people dying from alcohol abuse. Binge drinking has become part of British culture and is now a serious social issue - people are literally drinking themselves to death. The figures are of near epidemic proportions. Alcohol-related fatalities among British adults doubled from 4,144 in 1991 to 8,758 in 2006. The steepest increase was the 132 percent rise in deaths among men in the 35 to 54 age bracket. They are suffering from liver failure and stomach cancers at a younger age than ever before. The figures for women in the same age group also show a dramatic rise of over 100 percent. These disturbing figures seem to be a legacy of people partying and drinking heavily in their twenties and early thirties.

Professor Ian Gilmore, a leading British doctor, said: "Liver disease is often symptom-less until it becomes very serious, and so people often have no warning that they are destroying their liver until it is almost too late.” Frank Soodeen from the group Alcohol Concern called for immediate action: "It is vital that the government finally starts investing more in alcohol treatment to help problem drinkers address these issues before the situation becomes irretrievable,” he said. Britain’s public health minister Dawn Primarolo said the government was launching a $20m campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of too much alcohol, and was reviewing alcohol pricing and advertising. However, she warned: "We know we're not going to change people's attitudes to alcohol overnight - it's going to take time.”

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine's cards, or offering candy. It is very common to present flowers on Valentine's Day. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The mid-nineteenth century Valentine's Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

The January Sales (BBC)

For shopaholics, the post-Christmas period means only one thing - sales! Across the country,

prices are slashed on clothing, electronics, home furnishings and more, but London is the place for serious shopping, and you can certainly pick up some amazing bargains.

The sales start on Boxing Day - 26th December, and continue for the month of January, but the keenest bargain hunters get there early to be first through the doors. In Oxford Street queues formed outside shops ahead of pre-dawn openings for the start of their sales. At Brent Cross, in north London, more than 1,000 people were queuing at 3.30am for the 'Next' clothing store's sale which began at 4am. Some hardy individuals even camped outside the shops to be first in the line.

Consumers who hit the shops were rewarded with discounts of as much as 80% as department stores joined the sales frenzy. The shops are absolutely heaving as the sales got into full swing, with more than half a million people converging on London's West End.

Famous sales include the biggest, most prestigious shops such as Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty and John Lewis. Department stores are always a good bet - you're likely to find everything you need under one roof, including much-needed refreshments! It's a good time to stock up on cheap gadgets, and there's no better time to invest in some designer threads.

Some people are taking their partners shopping with them, and buying their Christmas presents in the sale - a practical but unromantic way of making sure you get the gift you really want. For a less exciting but less stressful shopping experience, online retailers are also getting in on the act with January sales of their own.

The most organised of all are those who are already doing their present shopping for next Christmas, in the January sales!

Vocabulary

shopaholics
people who are addicted to shopping

slashed
greatly reduced

bargains
goods on sale at a lower price than their true value

bargain hunters
shoppers who visit many shops to find bargains

pre-dawn
very early in the morning, before the sunrise

hardy
strong enough to bear extreme conditions or difficult situations

individuals
people, persons

camped
put up tents and stayed in them

hit the shops
went to shops in large numbers and with the determination to buy a lot of bargains

frenzy
feeling extremely excited

heaving
with a lot of people moving around

got into full swing
if an event gets into full swing, it has already been happening for a period of time and there is a lot of activity

department stores
very large shops which sell all kinds of items

a good bet
something that would be useful to do

under one roof
in the same building

to stock up on
to buy a lot of

gadgets
small devices or machines with a particular purpose

threads
clothes (colloquial)

unromantic
with no romance/love

getting in on the act
here, participating in the sales

AAE 117: 'GB, UK, Britain, Anglia, or the UK'

Hi,

What's the difference between

Great Britain,United Kingdom, Britain, Anglia and England ?

Thanks


Hi

Great Britain means the countries of England, Wales and Scotland considered as a unit. The term Great Britain is often used (incorrectly) instead of the UK. However, the UK and Great Britain are not equivalent since the UK is a state formed from the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Britain is a political and geographic term which can mean either the island of Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Anglia is the medieval and late Latin name for England and a name for the eastern part of England, more commonly known as East Anglia.


Hope this helps

Matt

Christmas in the United Kingdom

The English Christmas celebrations include the beautiful Christmas music, decorated Christmas Trees and hang up evergreen branches. The English gift giver is called Father Christmas and he wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings on Christmas Eve. However, the gifts are not usually opened until the following afternoon.


Christmas in England began in AD 596, when St Augustine landed on her shores with monks who wanted to bring Christianity to the Anglo Saxons. Father Christmas delivers them during the night before Christmas. The Children leave an empty stocking or pillowcase hanging at the end of the bed. In the morning they hope it will be full of presents.

In England the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day because boys used to go round collecting money in clay boxes. When the boxes were full, they broke them open. In England Christmas dinner was usually eaten at Midday on December 25, during daylight.

In England the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.

The Christmas tree is central to England's holiday celebration and, although it had been seen in various places in England, it grew extremely popular when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, brought the tradition to the Royal Family from his native Germany in the mid-nineteenth century. However, it has not entirely eclipsed the kissing bough (a mixture of evergreens and mistletoe).

AAE Q107: Religion and Food in Britain

Hi

What the customs for religions and food in British society?

Thanks


Hi,

Britain is traditionally a Christian state and most people living in Britain are Christian.

Britain has one of the most religiously diverse populations in the European Union. British people are free to choose and follow their own religious beliefs. Although Christianity is the main religion, there are also large communities of Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Jews, and smaller communities of Baha'is, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians.

The most recent (2007) survey by Tearfund discovered that 53% of the population identified themselves as Christian, compared with almost three-quarters who had in the last census in 2001.


The Census

Since 1801, every 10 years the nation has set aside one day for the Census - a count of all people and households. It is the most complete source of information about the population that we have. The latest Census was held on Sunday 29 April 2001.

The following results are from the religions section in the 2001 census:

* Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%,
* Muslim 2.7%,
* Hindu 1%,
* other 1.6%,
* unspecified or none 23.1%

For information about British food click here.

Hope this helps

M

Halloween: 31st October

The History of Halloween

Halloween is an ancient festival, which has its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain (Sah-ween), this was when the Celts (the ancient inhabitants of Great Britain) celebrated their New Year and the day they believed that the souls of those who had died that year progressed to the underworld. It was said to be a night when ghosts, demons and witches roamed the earth and people tried to placate them with offerings of nuts and berries.

Nowadays these offerings are more likely to be the Mars Bars and Snickers (formerly Marathons) given out to children trick or treating, but it remains a day when we can acknowledge our fears and celebrate forces we do not understand. Today in the UK it is celebrated on All Hallows Eve, the night of October 31, the last night of October which was originally the eve of Samhain.

Trick or Treat

Many of today's Halloween traditions are associated with America, however they originated in Celtic history. For example the custom of 'trick or treat' originated in England as ‘Mischief Night' when children declared one ‘lawless night' of unpunished pranks (usually May Day eve or Halloween). In the late 19thC, the Irish belief that 'the little people' or fairies played pranks on Halloween, led boys and young men to carry out practical jokes on that night, Nowadays children dress up in costumes and go from door to door to 'trick or treat'. The idea being that the owners of the house give the children a treat (sweets or money) or the children will play a trick on them - I believe that in legal terminology this is called extortion!

Jack o' Lanterns

It was the Irish who brought the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern to America. The practice of carving Jack-o'-lanterns goes back to the Irish legend of Jack, a lazy but shrewd farmer who tricked the Devil into a tree, then refused to let the Devil down unless the Devil agreed to never let Jack into Hell . The story goes that the Devil agreed, but when Jack died, he was too sinful to be allowed into Heaven, and the Devil wouldn't let him into Hell. So, Jack carved out one of his turnips, put a candle inside it, and began endlessly wandering the Earth for a resting place. He was known as Jack of the Lantern, or Jack-O'-Lantern.

Nowadays the typical Jack-o'-lantern is a pumpkin whose top and stem have been carved off and inner membranes and seeds scooped out to leave a hollow shell. Sections of a side are carved out to make a design, usually a face. It is possible, using thicker and thinner sections cut with differing tools, to create surprisingly detailed and realistic designs. A light source (traditionally a candle) is placed inside the pumpkin and the top is put back into place (often after a "chimney" is carved in the lid in order to allow heat to escape). The light illuminates the design from the inside. Jack-o'-lanterns are generally made for Halloween, and were originally made from large turnips, beets and swedes, before the introduction of the now more familiar pumpkin from the Americas.

Superstitions associated with Halloween

It was believed to be the night when the barrier between the living world and that of the spirits was at its weakest. In the old days people lit bonfires to ward away evil spirits and in some places they used to jump over the fire to bring good luck.

Now we light candles in pumpkin lanterns called Jack-o'-Lanterns. This is intended to scare away evil spirits from the home.

Halloween was also a time to honour the dead, and divine the future.

Hazel Nuts

The hazel nut was sacred to ancient Celts, they were believed to have divining powers and was sacred to poets. The magic power of this nut was considered to be especially powerful on Halloween -- and was often used in marriage divinations.

Robert Burns wrote about this Halloween custom in Scotland: ... "Some merry, friendly, countra folks Together did convene, To burn their nuts, an' pu their stocks, An' haud their Halloween Fu' blithe that night."

Hazel nuts were sometimes named after an individual, and the thrown into the bonfire on samhain eve. The manner in which it burned would determine the "fate" for that person for the next year.

Apple-bobbing

Float a number of apples in a bowl of water (representing the Cauldron of rebirth) , and try to catch one using only your teeth. When you have caught one, peel it in one unbroken strip, and throw the strip of peel over your left shoulder. The letter the peel forms is the initial of your future husband or wife.

Nut-cracking

Place two nuts (such as conkers) on a fire. Give the nuts the names of two possible lovers and the one that cracks first will be the one.

The Edinburgh Festival

Summer in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, is the time for festivals. In August and September there are several different festivals which take place there.Summer in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, is the time for festivals. In August and September there are several different festivals which take place there.

The original Edinburgh International Festival started in 1947, and offers visitors a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance. The same year that the official festival began, a handful of theatrical companies gatecrashed the festival and organised their own event, which grew into what is now called the Fringe Festival.

The term 'fringe' means something on the outside of the main event, but over the years, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has become the largest of all the festivals, and indeed the largest arts festival in the world! The Fringe features performers and acts which are less traditional and more unconventional than those in the International Festival, and includes a lot of stand-up comedy shows, music and children's entertainment. The Edinburgh Fringe is seen as an important place for up-and-coming stand-up comedians to perform at.

At the same time in Edinburgh there are various other festivals, such as the Jazz and Blues festival, the Book Festival, the Film Festival, and even an Internet Festival! There is also a multicultural festival called Mela, which celebrates the diversity of people living in Edinburgh, in particular people with South Asian origins.

Edinburgh Castle is the site of one of the most spectacular events - The Military Tattoo. A military tattoo has nothing to do with a tattoo on your skin! It means a performance of military music, for example, by marching bands. In Scotland the military tattoo traditionally includes bagpipes and drums. This year the display will also feature dancers, horses and motorbikes!

Though you have to pay to attend most of the events at the various festivals, there are several groups who organise large numbers of free events as well.

Vocabulary

festivals
a festival is an organized set of special events, such as musical performances

a handful of
a small number of, not many

gatecrashed
came uninvited

traditional
well-established (e.g. practice or custom) within a social group

unconventional
unusual, original

stand-up comedy
when a performer stands before an audience and tells jokes

up-and-coming
making good progress, likely to succeed

multicultural
including people who have many different ways of life, traditions, customs and beliefs

diversity
here, when people of different backgrounds live in one place, variety

spectacular
an event or performance that is very exciting to watch and usually involves a lot of people

military
connected with the armed forces

tattoo
a permanent image, pattern or word on the skin which is created by using needles to put colours under the skin

marching bands
a marching band is a music band (usually playing brass instruments) that plays as it moves along

bagpipes
a type of musical instrument, played especially in Scotland and Ireland, from which you produce sound by blowing air into a leather bag and forcing it out through pipes

Universities in the UK (BBC)

Universities in Britain are a magnet for overseas students. There are currently over 200,000 from outside Britain studying at British universities. The largest single group is Chinese students. There are currently 50,000 in the UK. The British government expects the total number of overseas students to be around 900,000 by 2020, and also thinks that a quarter of these will be Chinese.

But why is the UK such a popular destination for university students? Well, the quality of your course is guaranteed. All courses are assessed by an independent system, so you can be assured that your course is officially approved and has wide international recognition.

The British education system is very flexible in order to provide for the needs of a modern, complex society. It is also cost-effective. Degree courses are usually shorter and more intensive than in other countries. There are lots of scholarships available. You normally need 3 A-levels, which are the exams taken by people leaving school at 18, in order to enter an undergraduate degree course. You also need an IELTS score of at least 5.5, but many universities offer foundation or access courses to prepare students for their studies.

British universities offer a personalised but independent approach. The emphasis is on creative and independent thought, which helps develop the skills you will need to compete in the global job market. Tutors not only teach but also provide support and guidance. As a result, international students have a very low drop out rate and a very high pass rate.

It is very simple to become an international student in the UK. The British Council offers a free and impartial service to anyone who is interested in studying in the UK, and an organisation called UCAS assists you in finding a course and making an effective application.

The UK is a dynamic and cosmopolitan place. The countryside is beautiful, and the theatres, museums, architecture and rich history make it a fascinating place to live and study. Why not give it a go?

Vocabulary

magnet
a thing that attracts (literally, a piece of metal that attracts or repels iron)

overseas
coming from abroad, foreign

guaranteed
promised and assured

assessed
evaluated, ranked

recognition
accepting that something (e.g. a course) is of high quality

cost-effective
here, provides good education for not too much money

degree
here, providing further education

scholarships
payments from a sponsor's funds to maintain a good student in full-time education

IELTS
short for International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking

foundation
here, basic, preparatory

personalised
focused on individual students

emphasis
special importance

global job market
jobs that are open to people all over the world

guidance
help and direction

drop out
when you have to stop your university studies before you have completed your course

pass rate
marks that you need to get in order to begin/continue to study at a university

impartial
fair, unbiased

dynamic
where a lot happens and changes happen quite often

cosmopolitan
including people of many different backgrounds

fascinating
very interesting, irresistibly attractive

British Culture: Teenage Pregnancy

Britain has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in western Europe, twice that of Germany, three times higher than France and six times that of the Netherlands.

While the rest of the continent has seen dramatic falls in teenage parenthood since the early 80s, the UK's rate has remained high since 1977.

Each year, around 56,000 babies are born to teenage mothers in Britain with nearly 8,000 conceived by girls under 16 and 2,200 by under 14-year-olds.

The difficulty of solving the problem is made worse by the fact that there is no single identifiable reason for such high rates.

Poverty, poor educational opportunities, being born to a teenage mother, and lack of work opportunities are all factors, while rates of pregnancy have been found to be highest among the most vulnerable girls, those in deprived areas and those in care.

One recent report, for the National Children's Bureau, showed a quarter of girls leave local authority care pregnant with a further quarter becoming pregnant within 24 months of leaving.

Women in deprived areas are six times more likely to get pregnant by the age of 20 than those in the richest areas of Britain, according to the Family Policy Studies Centre.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed the number of pregnancies per 1,000 among under-18s in 1998 was highest in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham (82.7), Manchester (68.3), Sandwell (67.8), and Sunderland (65.5).

The areas shown to have the fewest teenage pregnancies were East Surrey (22.5), West Surrey (25.7) Kingston and Richmond (25.7), and Oxfordshire (29.9).

While the government is committed to reducing the rate, there has been widespread concern that efforts to tackle the problem of teenage parenthood should not be reduced to moralising.

A study by the Policy Studies Institute recently revealed that most teenage mothers do not plan their pregnancies.

One in four of those interviewed said they had planned to have a baby and 40% were pleased to find they were pregnant. However, a quarter were shocked or surprised to find out they were pregnant and a further quarter were "horrified".

Placing an emphasis on prevention has always been seen as an essential part of the strategy but sustained action to understand and address the needs of teenagers during and after pregnancy is now being recognised as a fundamental requirement.

There is a strong link between teenage parenthood and an increased risk of poor health, economic and social outcomes for both mothers and children, according to several studies.

Research cited by the Family Policy Studies Centre found that, compared to those who became first-time mothers in their 20s, teenage mothers were four times more likely to be living in social housing, over eight times as likely to have been lone parents, and almost three times more likely to lack qualifications, by the age of 33.

In its report, published in June 1999, the government's social exclusion unit identified three possible reasons for Britain's higher teenage birth rates: low expectations in terms of job prospects, ignorance about contraception and the reality of motherhood, and mixed messages about sex.

Modern British Families (BBC)

Modern British Families

Listen to the story

Father leaves for work in the morning after breakfast. The two children take the bus to school, and mother stays at home cooking and cleaning until father and the kids return home in the evening. This is the traditional picture of a happy family living in Britain. But is it true today? The answer is - no! The past 20 years have seen enormous changes in the lives and structures of families in Britain, and the traditional model is no longer true in many cases.

The biggest change has been caused by divorce. As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce, leading to a situation where many children live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or holidays.

There has also been a huge rise in the number of mothers who work. The large rise in divorces has meant many women need to work to support themselves and their children. Even when there is no divorce, many families need both parents to work in order to survive. This has caused an increase in childcare facilities, though they are very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas. In addition, women are no longer happy to stay at home raising children, and many have careers earning as much as or even more than men, the traditional breadwinners.

There has also been a sharp increase in the number of single mothers, particularly among teenagers. Many of their children grow up never knowing their fathers, and some people feel the lack of a male role model has a damaging effect on their lives.

However, these changes have not had a totally negative effect. For women, it is now much easier to have a career and good salary. Although it is difficult to be a working mother, it has become normal and it's no longer seen as a bad thing for the children. As for children themselves, some argue that modern children grow up to be more independent and mature than in the past. From an early age they have to go to childminders or nurseries, and so they are used to dealing with strangers and mixing with other children.

So while the traditional model of a family may no longer be true in modern Britain, the modern family continues to raise happy, successful children.

Vocabulary

divorce
when a marriage ends and the former husband and wife separate from one another

a huge rise
a very big increase/growth (opposite to fall/decrease/decline)

to support
here, to provide with a home and the necessities of life

childcare facilities
special institutions whose job is to look after children while parents are working

raising
bringing up and educating

breadwinners
a breadwinner is the person who earns the most money in their family

sharp
here, big and happening over a short period of time

single mothers
women who raise their children by themselves because they live separately from the children's fathers

lack
if there is a lack of something, there is not enough of it

male role model
a man who thinks and acts in the way that is traditionally perceived as being typical of men

nurseries
places equipped for looking after very young children

dealing with
managing, doing what is necessary to achieve the result you want

mixing with
socialising, living together with, joining

Facts about the UK

General:

• Full Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Geographic Coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W
• Flag: The Union Flag (Union Jack)
• Type of Government: Constitutional monarchy
• Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II
• Capital City: London (population: 6,770,400) is the capital of the UK and of England. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Cardiff is the capital of Wales.
• Main Cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff
• Highest mountain: Ben Nevis in Scotland, at 1,343m (4,406 ft)
• Longest river: The Severn, 322 km long, which rises in central Wales and flows through Shrewsbury, Worcester and Gloucester in England to the Bristol Channel.
• Largest lake:Lough Neagh 396sq.km (153 sq miles)
• Deepest Lake:Loch Morar in the Highlands of Scotland, 310 m (1,017 ft) deep
• Highest waterfall: Eas a'Chual Aluinn, from Glas Bheinn, also in the Highlands of Scotland, with a drop of 200 m (660 ft)
• Deepest cave: Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, Powys, Wales, 308 m (1,010 ft) deep
• Most northerly point on the British mainland: Dunnet Head, north-east Scotland
• Most southerly point on the British mainland: Lizard Point, Cornwall
• Most easterly town in England: Lowestoft, Suffolk

Climate:

• Temperate, normally not going much below zero even in the depths of winter, and never much above 25 degrees centigrade in summer. Most of the time it is between 10 and 20 degrees centigrade during the day.
  
• Annual mean temperature: London 9.7C
  
• Annual mean rainfall: London 753mm

Land:

• Total land area (sq.km) 244,110 sq km (94,251 sq miles) Just under half the size of France
• Coast Line: 12,429 km
• Length: Just under 1,000 km (600 miles) from North to South
• Width: About 480 Km from east to west
• Agricultural land: 76% (farming)
• Forests: 11%
• Other land use: 13%
• Natural Resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land.

People:

• Nationality: Briton(s), British.
• Major languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic.
• Main Religion: Church of England, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh
• Major ethnic groups: Anglo-Saxons, Scots, Welsh, Irish, West Indians, Pakistanis, Indians
• Total population 59,054,800 (2002)
• Annual population growth rate: 0.29%. (2004 est.)
• Population density per sq.km 245
• Population by region:
  - Scotland 5,119,000
  - England 49,753,000
  - Wales 2,937,000
  - N. Ireland 1,692,000
• Top 5 populous cities:
  - London 7,285,000
  - Birmingham 1,018,000
  - Leeds 725,000
  - Glasgow 611,000
  - Sheffield 529,000

Everyday Life:

• Average area of home (sq. m): 97.6
• Percentage of homes owned: 68%
• Life expectancy: men 75, women 80
• Passenger cars: 24 million
• Consumer durables owned (% of households)
  - Colour TVs 22%
  - Satellite/cable TV 68%
  - CD players 32%
  - Computers 69%
  - Cars 97%
• Household expenditure (% of disposable income)
  - Food and alcohol 6%
  - Clothing14%
  - Rent/mortgage5%
  - Furniture1%
  - Medical care10%
  - Transport13%
  - Education & leisure 27%
  - Household savings 3%

Britain's Dreams

This is from an article in the Independant

Happiness of friends and family most important to Britons

Britons have little regard for wealth and fame and aspire instead to a comfortable life and happy family, a study has found.

The survey of the nation's dreams and aspirations revealed that most people sought happiness from close personal relationships rather than material gain.

Britons' top aspiration is for family and friends to be happy and successful (29.9 per cent) followed by financial security and a comfortable life (27.2 per cent), compared with 6 per cent who crave celebrity and wealth, The National Lottery Dream Study found. Don Slater of the London School of Economics, who led the study, said: "Popular culture suggests that our dreams are in the main about great wealth, celebrity, power and fame.

"Across all phases of the research we found the opposite is true. People's dreams are generally rather modest, on the whole realistic - an extension of who they are and how they live."

Just over 12 per cent of the population has "lifestyle" aspirations to give up work or live abroad, while 7.4 per cent hope to keep or regain good health and 6.6 per cent dream of world peace and the eradication of disease and poverty.

The poll also found that 66 per cent of people aspired to a better quality of life for themselves and the people closest to them.

Mr Slater said: "Caring and charitable Britain is alive and well. The majority of the nation's dreams are generous, not selfish, and realistic, not ridiculous. Dreams are above all not greedy or individualistic."

British School System

Primary school

In England, Scotland and Wales, children under the age of five can either choose to go to the parent and toddler group where a parent must be there to supervise her child or a nursery school, where a child can enter at the age of three or four and a fee is normally charged. At the age of five, which is the official age to go to school in England and Scotland, a child attends a local school where the school must accept the child without any conditions. Children may also be sent to a state or coeducational school, or a high reputation or religious school. The school time usually runs between 0900 hours and 1500 hours. The students go to school from Monday to Friday for three terms and have twelve weeks of holiday; mainly at Easter, Christmas and in the summer. Class sizes vary; there are usually between twenty five and thirty pupils, thirty five being the maximum. For a practical class, the class sizes are smaller due to safety reasons.

A single teacher teaches the pupils all subjects, which are art, analysis, drama, English, geography, history, mathematics, Scottish Gaelic for some pupils in Scotland, and science. In some Primary Schools, an introduction to a Modern Foreign Language such as French is introduced, where pupils will learn basic language such as saying what day it is, and what pets they have, etc. The teachers are also responsible for teaching them independent thought, group work and develop their social conscience, meaning to teach them how to behave well in society. There are tests known as SATs and are taken at the end of Key Stage 1 [Infants] and Key Stage Two [Juniors]. However, these are not examinations. These are for the governmental statistics. Nevertheless, the schools receive criticisms if the pupils do not do well in the tests.

Secondary school

Students in Wales, England and Scotland, attend their secondary education at the age of eleven. They go either to a coeducational comprehensive school, a grammar school or public school (which in England is a privately-operated school). Comprehensive schools, by law, cannot discriminate on ability of students, though can operate as religious institutions- only admitting pupils of the particular religious denomination. Grammar Schools are fairly rare, remaining widespread in only 5 counties. Every student has a Form Tutor who is responsible for all his or her registered children, and a Guidance teacher who he or she is responsible to the programme and students' development. The class may run between 0845 hours and 1630 hours, though schools set their own hours. The students go to school from Monday to Friday for three terms and have thirteen weeks of holiday which are Easter, Christmas and the summer, with a week breaking up each of the three terms (Half Term).

In some schools, especially for subjects such as Mathematics and Modern Languages, schools stream pupils on ability, otherwise pupils are taught with the other members of their form; all students study the same subjects and they are English, modern Foreign Languages, usually French, Spanish or German, geography, history, social education, religion, cooking, music, and physical education. In Grammar and Public schools, it is more common for traditional subjects- such as Greek and Latin, to be additionally taught. All students between the age of fourteen and sixteen in England sit the General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations, whereas the students in Scotland sit the Standard Grade at the fourth year of their schooling. The Standard Grade is broadly equivalent to that of the English General Certificate of Secondary Education. Students who do the General Certificate of Secondary Education sit five examinations at the minimum and may sit up to twelve examinations, sometimes even more for Gifted and Talented students. Students sitting Standard Grade examinations sit eight. Thereafter, students may choose to leave school or to continue school.

Unlike the systems on Continental Europe, a student in the United Kingdom automatically progresses to the next level of year and do not repeat the year even if the student fails his or her examinations. Increasingly, gifted and talented students are entered for examinations early, e.g. Mathematics is sometimes taken a year or a few terms early and then another GCSE such as Statistics or an FSMQ is taken in the remaining time of the year. Additionally, in some schools, students who fluently speak a GCSE Course Language [French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Urdu etc.] are allowed to take this GCSE early, possibly in Key Stage 3 to enable them to take an additional GCSE when entering Key Stage Four.

AAE Q48: 'The Proms'

Hello!

Could you explain me briefly what does mean "The Proms"? I just know that it is some festival in England.

Thank you very much!

Simona


Hi Simona

The Proms is an 8 week summer season of daily classical music concerts and other events, mainly held at The Royal Albert Hall in London. It is the biggest classical music festival in the world, consists of over 70 concerts and is now over 110 years old.

What I remember most from growing up is the 'Last Night', although this concert is very different from the others and is traditionally with popular classics being followed by a series of patriotic pieces in the second half of the concert. These include Hubert Parry's Jerusalem (a setting of a poem by William Blake), Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory), Sir Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs, and Thomas Arne’s Rule Britannia. This single classical music concert is watched and listened to by an audience of many millions around the globe.

The 2007 season will run from 13 July–8 September.

For more info click here

Hope this helps

M

Happy St. George's Day!

Today (April 23rd) is St. George's Day and, as he is the patron saint of England, it is also England's national day. However it is only by chance that I found out it was today (on the internet) because like 80 percent of the English population, I normally don't know when it is. In fact, 25 percent of English people don't even know who the patron saint is!


St. George's emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. This emblem was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. The king's soldiers wore it to avoid confusion in battle.

Saint George is popularly identified with England and English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry, but actually he wasn’t English at all. In fact, very little is known about the man who became St George.

Some Facts about St George

St. George is believed to have been born in Cappadocia (now Eastern Turkey) in the year A.D. 270. He was a Christian. At the age of seventeen he joined the Roman army and soon became renowned for his bravery. He served under a pagan Emperor but never forgot his Christian faith.

The Emperor Diocletian gave him many important missions, and it is thought that on one of these he came to England. It was while he was in England that he heard the Emperor was putting all Christians to death and so he returned to Rome to help his brother Christians. He pleaded with the Emperor to spare their lives. Diocletian did all he could to persuade St. George to give up his faith, but he refused and was finally beheaded on 23 April, 303.

In 1222, the Council of Oxford declared April 23 to be St George’s Day and he replaced Edward the Confessor as England’s patron saint in the 14th century. In 1415, April 23 was made a national feast day .

Patron Saint

St George is patron saint not only of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine and Portugal amongst others, although he is celebrated on different days.

St George is also patron saint of soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, and he helps those suffering from leprosy, plague and syphilis.

The Dragon-Slayer

The most famous legend of Saint George is of him slaying a dragon. In the Middle Ages the dragon was commonly used to represent the Devil. The slaying of the dragon by St George was first credited to him in the twelfth century, long after his death. It is therefore likely that the many stories connected with St George's name are fictitious.

There are many versions of story of St George slaying the dragon, but most agree on the following:

A town was terrorised by a dragon A young princess was offered to the dragon and when George heard about this he rode into the village, slayed the dragon and rescued the princess.

St George is always depicted as a knight carrying a shield with a red cross (or a banner with a red cross), generally sitting upon a horse and always killing a dragon.

How does England celebrate St George's Day?

By tradition, April 23rd is the day for a red rose in the button hole, the national flower. However, unlike other countries, England does not celebrate it like Americans celebrate 4 July with fireworks. In fact, you are more likely to see big St Patrick parades in England celebrating Ireland's National Day, more than you would see any sign of St Georges Day being celebrated. This was certainly true in Manchester in 2003, when St George's Day was virtually ignored soon after the biggest St Patrick's Day Celebrations in the city's history.

For most people in England St George's Day is just another ordinary day. Sad but true...

London: An Overview

London, the capital of England and the UK, is the world's ninth-largest city. Its history spans over 2,000 years, which began with the arrival of the Romans soon after their invasion of Britain in AD43. London is situated on the banks of the river Thames and consists of two ancient cities which are now joined together:

The City of London is known simply as 'the City' which is the business and financial heart of the United Kingdom. It is also known as the Square Mile (2.59 sq km/1 sq mi) and was the original settlement (ancient Londinium).
The City of Westminster is where Parliament and most of the government offices are located. Also Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal family are located there too.

London is a huge multi-cultural city (almost 8 million residents) which supports a wide range of different cultures and lifestyles. Although most of the population is white and Anglo-Saxon, over a quarter are not, making it the largest non-white population of any European city. As a result the average Londoner is a tolerant, friendly and open-minded character. The English that is spoken in London today is a mix of borrowed foreign words, traditional cockney rhyming slang and a standard south-eastern accent.

London is an exciting place for a tourist and since winning the right to host the 2012 Olympics the general mood of Londoners has been positive. In the last ten years almost every one of London's world-class museums, galleries and institutions has been renovated or reinvented, from the Royal Opera House to the British Museum. The city now has the world's largest modern-art gallery: the Tate Modern, the tallest observation wheel: the London Eye, and two new pedestrian bridges that have attracted many people to the south bank of the Thames. London now has its own elected assembly, situated in an eye-catching building within sight of Tower Bridge, and a mayor who's trying to solve one of London's biggest problems: transport.

London's traditional sights – Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London – continue to attract millions of tourists every year. Monuments from the capital's past are everywhere to be seen, from medieval banqueting halls and the great churches of Christopher Wren to the Victorian architecture of the British Empire. There is also much enjoyment to be had from the city's quiet Georgian squares, the narrow streets of the City of London, the riverside walks, and the benefits of what is still identifiably a collection of villages. There are also surprisingly large areas of greenery: Hyde Park, Green Park and St James's Park are all within a few minutes' walk of the West End, while, further away, you can enjoy the larger parklands of Hampstead Heath and Richmond Park.

You could spend days just shopping in London too, mixing with the upper classes in Harrods, or the offbeat weekend markets of Portobello Road, Brick Lane, Greenwich and Camden. The music and clubbing scenes are second to none and in the arts there are regular opportunities to see brilliant theatre companies, dance troupes, exhibitions and opera. London has a lot of high-quality restaurants, as well as a large range of low-cost, high-quality Chinese restaurants and Indian curry houses. Meanwhile, the city's pubs have a lot of atmosphere, especially away from the centre – and exploring the communities away from the centre is essential to get the complete picture of this metropolis.

Do's and Don'ts in England

This is a general list of things that you should do and shouldn't do in England. It is mostly common sense and is only a rough guidline.

It is said that the British are reserved in manners, dress and speech. We are famous for our politeness, self-discipline and especially for our sense of humour. Basic politeness (please, thank-you, excuse me) is expected.

How to greet someone English etiquette
British people are quite reserved when greeting one another. Greeting can be a bright 'Hello' 'Hi' or 'Good morning', when you arrive at work or at school. Read more here.....

Names we may call you
You may be called by many different 'affectionate' names, according to which part of the Britain you are in. Do not be offended, this is normal. For example, you may be called dear, dearie, flower, love, chick, chuck, me duck, me duckie, mate, guv, son, ma'am, madam, miss, sir, or treacle, according to your sex, age and location.

In England...

* Do stand in line:
In England we like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait for our turn e.g.. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take your correct turn and not push in front. 'Queue jumping' is frowned upon.
* Do take your hat off when you go indoors (men only)
It is impolite for men to wear hats indoors including restuarants and churches.
* Do say "Excuse Me":
If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move say excuse me and they will move out of your way.
* Do Pay as you Go:
Pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.
* Do say "Please" and "Thank-you":
It is very good manners to say "please" and "thank-you". It is considered rude if you don't. Whenever You will notice in England that we say 'thank you' a lot.
* Do cover your Mouth:
When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.
* Do Shake Hands:
When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand.
* Do say sorry:
If you accidentally bump into someone, say 'sorry'. They probably will too, even if it was your fault! This is a habit and can be seen as very amusing by an 'outsider'.
* Do Smile:
A smiling face is a welcoming face.

In England...

* Do not greet people with a kiss:
We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.
* Avoid talking loudly in public
* It is impolite to stare at anyone in public.
Privacy is highly regarded.
* Do not pick your nose in public:
We are disgusted by this. If your nostrils need de-bugging, use a handkerchief.
* Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging
This is only done among close friends.
* Do not spit.
Spitting in the street is considered to be very bad mannered.
* Do not burp in public
You may feel better by burping loudly after eating or drinking, but other people will not! If you can not stop a burp from bursting out, then cover your mouth with your hand and say 'excuse me' afterwards.
* Do not pass wind (fart) in public
Now how can we say this politely? Let's say that you want to pass wind. What do you do? Go somewhere private and let it out. If you accidently pass wind in company say 'pardon me'.
* It is impolite speak with your mouth full of food
* Do not ask personal or intimate questions
We like our privacy. Please do not ask questions such as "How much money do you earn?" "How much do you weigh?" or "Why aren't you married?".
* It is not usual to tip in bars, although in restaurants it is normally including in the bill.