Surviving the UK

1
Surviving the UK

• A quick introduction to the experience of the UK
  for international visitors

2
Britain and You

• Why are you here? apart from the obvious!
• What are you going to take from this experience?
• Have you thought about the problems you might
  face?
• Do you have a plan apart from study?

3
UK Culture

• Study abroad - often the first time you are
  totally surrounded in another culture and
  expected to act like it is normal
• This constant adjustment and adaptation is always
  tiring and sometimes worse, a culture shock

4
The culture shock curve
happiness
The difference a little help can make!
Stage 4 Adaptation
Stage 1 Before leaving
Stage 3 Crisis time
time
5
This talk will cover

• Culture and British Culture
• English language as used in the UK and locally
• The UK and the local area what there is to enjoy

6
UK stereotypes

• What are yours??
• Cups of tea?
• The Queen?
• Gentlemen?
• Football hooligans?

7
And the reality.?

• It depends where you are, who you are with and
  what you are doing.
• So lets start with Keele and British university
  life

8
Student Life

• British undergraduates have left home for the
  first time and are enjoying their freedom
  freedom to do what?
• Generally a lot of socialising
• it can seem like study is the last thing on
  their mindslots of alcohol
• UK students get involved in clubs, societies,
  volunteering and the Students Union KUSU/KPA

9
the alcohol issue

• The fact the British drink a lot of alcohol
  should not be a surprise
• The way they drink it can be a nasty surprise,
  binge drinking, etc.
• Often causes incidents
• In public -dont look drunks in the eye
• Just say No

10
How open are we?

• UK is a tolerant society with a history of
  accepting diversity, immigration, and unusual
  behaviour -eccentrics
• Cities (and towns) can be multi-racial but the
  countryside..
• Multi-racial ? Multi-cultural
• Multi-racial means there is no status attached to
  looking different

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As soon as you open your mouth..

• We will make judgements, in the way we have been
  trained to do
• We will immediately jump to conclusions about
  many aspects of you
• We may change our language to suit you (often
  unsuccessfully) we are English after all.

12
Visible and Invisible Culture

• The obvious differences in culture can be seen
  and heard immediately
• The less obvious differences can be the most
  important for your success
• Spend some effort to OBSERVE the Brits and learn
  language used, body language

13
Visible culture

• Manners
• Customs
• Language
• History
• Literature
• Music
• Etc.

14
Invisible culture ?

• Values (what is and isnt important)
• Work and learning styles
• Negociation styles
• Attitudes to authority
• Motivations
• Patterns of interpersonal relationships

15
Laws can be invisible too

• UK Data Protection Act..means
• We cant even tell your parents that you are a
  student here! (unless you give us permission)
• We cant give you contact details of students
  from your country
• Health and Safety Law
• Staff are told not to help carry students bags
• Wierd Laws (amusing but not relevant)
• In nearby Chester, after midnight, it is still
  legal to shoot a Welshman.........if you use a
  bow and arrow.

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UK, a changing society

• Britain is moving away from a society based on
  common sense, mutual trust, etcincreasingly
  everything has to be on paper, written and agreed
  to
• More and more laws and regulations
• Big differences between young and old people

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But!

• We are not all turning into robots/hooligans!
• UK society is still basically a polite one,
  where people value helping and respecting each
  other and value common sense

18
Culture Shock

• Remember you will be under secret stress
  because you will be
• Being careful about how you present yourself to
  other people (tiring) adapting (also tiring)
• Concentrating on communication using natural
  British English

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How should I behave?

• British people generally like people who
• are polite (2faced?)
• have a sense of humour
• are not too fashionable (!!)
• are interested in serious discussions of
  various kinds
• dont complain about weather/food (!)

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Cynicism

• Brits may appear very cynical
• We are trained to question everything
• Especially not to believe hype we smell a
  rat
• So we like black humour and are constantly
  criticising and analysing
• But this is changing too

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Language

• Natural UK English- can be hard to understand at
  first
• Slang, idiom, humour, irony, sarcasm, unusual
  words, speed, pronunciation, dialects...
• So, dont be disappointed if youve just arrived
  and cant catch 100

22
Brits reactions to you

• Colour of skin no problem BUT if you have an
  accent
• Remember it is not your fault
• When you dont understand you should say things
  like
• Im sorry, I dont get the joke
• Im sorry, what was that last word?

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The local dialect

• Orrai? /Orraimay?
• Taa du
• ageenupanley?
• Qui maitherin mi

• All right, mate?
• Thank you, duck
• Are you going to Hanley?
• Stop hassling me

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Dialects are not the only problem

• Text book UK English
• Im tired
• How unexpected
• Unacceptable
• Great!
• Useless/bad

• New UK English
• Im done in
• Thats well random
• Out of order
• Wicked!
• Pants/Mingin?/Gay

25
Solution to the language barrier??

• Just listen and Learn
• Your UK English comprehension will not magically
  improve by itself
• You have to have exposure
• You have to make conscious effort

26
Where can you get exposure to real UK English?

• Friendships
• Work
• Societies and Clubs
• Socialising in Halls of Residence
• Radio (via internet) Television
• Reading magazines and novels

27
Im here to study

• OK, but there are other forms of learning
• You will remember your experiences in the UK,
  people, conversation, more than you will remember
  your studies
• So get out there!!! (Force yourself, if shy!)

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The UK What to enjoy?

• Depends on your interests, but each country has
  different things to enjoy
• UK strengths?
• The countryside
• The heritage
• The music
• The (free) public facilities
• Organisations

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Where do I start?

• Join an activity -get off campus
• Visit the local area (see British Tourist
  Authority)
• Ask British students about where they come from
  and where they would recommend you to visit
• How well do you know the UK?

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It helps if you know stuff

• Where does the Arsenal football team come from?
• Where is the West Country?
• What is the most popular pop band?
• How many TV personalities can you name?
• All this will help you integrate with us

31
Locally you should explore

• Keele Hall
• The Peak District
• The Potteries/Wedgwood
• Birmingham
• Manchester
• Liverpool European City of Culture 2008 so
  there are many events

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For more information

• http//www.keele.ac.uk/depts/aa/class/internationa
  l/
• And if anything puzzles/annoys you, bring it to
  me

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Taa, shugs.