Britons are the main tourists to France and French to main tourists to the UK, that's why we, as French, need to understand UK culture. It is also about symbols, gastronomy, or stereoptypes.

1. British symbols and culture!
• Why study the UK?

3. British symbols and culture!
• Which symbols come to your mind?
• What do you know about the UK?

4. British symbols!

5. BULLDOG
• The BULLDOG
symbolises the very
essence of Britishness.
• He is solid, reliable,
loyal, very individual,
VERY nice when you get
to know him!
• He also bears a startling
resemblance to Winston
Churchill, Britain's great
wartime leader.

6. John Bull
• The Americans
have Uncle Sam,
the British have
JOHN BULL.
• He is a fictional
character, used to
personify the
British nation.

7. Lion passant gardant
• The Lion is the emblem
of England.
• It is actually a "lion
passant gardant" - a
walking lion, and was first
used by the father of
William the Conqueror.
• In heraldry (blason), the
lion stands for "deathless
courage" and the lion
passant gardant for
"resolution and
prudence"

8. Lion rampant
• The Scots also
have a lion as their
heraldic emblem:
theirs is a red lion
rampant (standing
on its hind legs,
looking straight
forward.)

9. BRITANNIA
• BRITANNIA is the
personification of British
nationalism.
• The Romans called their
newly-conquered province
Britannia.
• Britannia became a popular
figure in 1707 when Scotland,
Wales and England were
finally united to form Great
Britain.
• She was immortalised in 1740
when James Thompson wrote
the words of the song "Rule
Britannia". (music)

10. Rule, Britannia!
Britannia, rule the
waves: Britons
never will be

11. "Rule Britannia"
• Britannia has
featured on several
British coins.
• At present it is on the
50p coin.
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:
Britons never will be slaves.

12. CRICKET
• There is no "British"
national team, the team
that competes with the
other great cricketing
nations (A…, S A, P…,
I… and the W… I…) is
England.
• Cricket is a leisurely
(=quiet) game: Test
matches (internationals)
take up to five days, and
three or two-day matches
are usual at the higher
levels of play.
• Even a village cricket
match may take all day.

13. BOBBY
• The British BOBBY is
called after the founder
of the modern police
force, Sir Robert Peel.
• British policemen are
not routinely armed
and there is
considerable public
support for it remaining
that way.
• The British have a
natural aversion to the
everyday use of guns.

14. ENGLISH PUBLIC HOUSE
• A good pub will have
"atmosphere" - a cheerful
and friendly landlord (or
landlady), helpful and chatty
bar staff and "locals" willing
to gossip with any visitor.
• A good beer is made from
malted barley (orge) and
flavoured with real hops
(houblon) and is served at
cellar (storage) temperature.
• Lagers are served chilled,
but then no true Englishman
would consider lager as real
beer.

15. Beers
• Ale
• Lager
• Stout

16. Union Jack
• Flag of St George
(England)
• superimposed on the
diagonal red cross of
Saint Patrick (patron
saint of Ireland)...
• which is superimposed on
the diagonal white
cross of Saint Andrew
(patron saint of
Scotland).

17. British
gastronomy!

18. Full English Breakfast
• What’s missing?

19. Yes, black pudding!

20. Fish and chips

21. Sausage and mash

22. Cornish pasties

23. Meat pies

24. Sunday Roast

25. Shepherd’s pie

26. Jelly and Marmite

27. British culture!

28. Queuing up!
• English people love to
queue!
• And they hate queue
jumpers!

29. Antiques and tradition
• They love
antiques,
traditions, arts and
crafts and
therefore flea
markets, car boot
sales and antique
fairs!

30. Being embarrassed.
• They are afraid of
being
embarrassed.
• They avoid
embarrassing
situations as much
as they can.
• « For those of us with
a clumsy disposition
and a constant fear of
saying or doing the
wrong thing –
otherwise known as
English people –
embarrassment is a
constant
companion. »

31. British humour.
• Sarcasm and self-
deprecation
(autodénigrement)

33. Memory of the blitz!

37. British mind.

38. British mind.
• ‘keep a stiff upper lip’
– Meaning: do your duty and show no emotion.

39. British mind.
• ‘Take it on the chin’
– Meaning: being brave and accept defeat or
criticism

40. Stabbing rather than shooting!

42. Dos and don’ts
Dont’ say « no », but …
•« I’m afraid it’s not possible ».
•« I’m not sure it’s good idea »
•Don’t stare at people in public
Do say:
•Sorry, thank you, please, excuse me, are
you in the queue?, indeed!?
•Do smile

43. Stereotypes which are not true!
• False: it rains everyday in Britain.
• False: Pubs in Britain only serve warm
beer.
• False: all Britons have bad teeth

44. Stereotypes which are true!
• True: Britons drink tea all day.
• True: Britons love to queue.

45. Stereotypes which are true!
• True: Britons are obsessed
with the class system.

46. Stereotypes which are true!
• True: Britons love to celebrate Royal
occasions.