Countries of the English language. Страны английского языка. Учебное пособие

Task 9.3. Using britannica.com and the information from previous topics about the governments as a model, write a 150–300-word description of South African government. Consider the following questions: 1) the capital of the country; 2) the head of the country; 3) the 3 branches of power; 4) major political parties and issues they deal with; 5) participation in international political and financial organizations and unions.

Task 9.4. Read Text 9.2, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 9.2. South African Economy Overview

South Africa is a country with upper middle-income economy, known as key rare earth goods exporter. It was hard hit by COVID-19 and has been struggling poor utilities management as well as high income inequality and rising unemployment, especially among youth. The country historically hosts Africa’s largest stock exchange and faces land rights changes connected with the developments in the coexistence of the multiracial population.

The president, Cyril Ramaphosa, expedites reforms, including measures to boost power supplies and fight corruption. His tightening grip on the government is positive for socioeconomic reform, but South Africa is in a race against time to curb the risk of civil disorder fuelled by poverty, unemployment, and inequality. The fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war, extreme weather events, the worst power outages on record and a tough global backdrop will weigh heavily on the country’s economic activity in 2020s. Growth is expected to be tepid, limited by fiscal constraints, slow progress on growth-enhancing reforms and low labour productivity.

Task 9.5. Case study questions.

1. What are the official languages of South Africa? Give your view on the linguistic situation in the country.

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2.What was the role of Great Britain in the history of the country? Characterise the current relations of South Africa with Great Britain, the USA, and Russia.

3.Who were the Afrikaners, also called “Boers”? What were the reasons and outcomes of the Anglo-Boer wars? What is the current position of Afrikaners?

4.What is called Apartheid? Give examples. Who was the iconic figure of the anti-Apartheid movement, and why? What is the current racial situation in the country?

Task 9.6. Prepare a description of South African national symbols: the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, etc. Explain their historical meaning.

Task 9.7. Prepare a presentation on South African culture: a popular writer / singer / artist / public figure / celebrity.

Task 9.8. Find any popular stereotypes about South Africa. Discuss the stereotypes in your group. Are the stereotypes true or false? Can they help understand South African culture?

10. ZIMBABWE

Task 10.1. Read Text 10.1, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 10.1. A General Overview of Zimbabwe

The hunter-gatherer San people first inhabited the area that eventually became Zimbabwe. Farming communities migrated to the area around AD. 500 during the Bantu expansion, and Shona-speaking societies began to develop in the Limpopo valley and Zimbabwean highlands around the 9th century. These societies traded with Arab merchants on the Indian Ocean coast and organized under the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the 11th century. A series of powerful trade-oriented Shona states succeeded Mapungubwe, including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (ca. 1220–1450), Kingdom of Mutapa (ca. 1450–1760),

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and the Rozwi Empire. The Rozwi Empire expelled Portuguese colonists from the Zimbabwean plateau but was eventually conquered in 1838 by the Ndebele clan of Zulu general MZILIKAZI during the era of conflict and population displacement known as the Mfecane. In the 1880s, colonists arrived with the British South Africa Company (BSAC) and obtained a written concession for mining rights from Ndebele King Lobengula. The king later disavowed the concession and accused the BSAC agents of deceit. The BSAC annexed Mashonaland and subsequently conquered Matabeleland by force during the First Matabele War of 1893–1894 to establish company rule over the territory. BSAC holdings south of the Zambezi River were annexed by the UK in 1923 and became the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. The 1930 Land Apportionment Act restricted Black land ownership and established structural racial inequalities that would favour the White minority for decades. A new constitution in 1961 further cemented White minority rule.

In 1965, the government under White Prime Minister Ian Smith unilaterally declared its independence from the UK. London did not recognize Rhodesia’s independence and demanded more voting rights for the Black majority in the country. International diplomacy and a liberation struggle by Black Zimbabweans finally led to biracial elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert Mugabe, who led the uprising and became the nation’s first prime minister, was the country’s only ruler (as president since 1987) from independence until his forced resignation in November 2017. In the mid-1980s, the government tortured and killed thousands of civilians in a crackdown on dissent known as the Gukurahundi campaign. Economic mismanagement and chaotic land redistribution policies following independence periodically crippled the economy and resulted in widespread shortages of basic commodities. In November 2017, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa became president following a military intervention that forced Mugabe to resign, and Mnangagwa cemented power by sidelining rivals Grace Mugabe (Rob-

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ert Mugabe’s wife) and Jonathan Moyo of the G40 faction of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party. In 2018, Mnangagwa won the presidential election after a close contest with opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa. Mnangagwa has resorted to the government’s practice of disrupting protests and opposition rallies as it is currently practiced worldwide. Economic conditions remained dire, with soaring inflation and the country’s export revenues declining dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Task 10.2. Using britannica.com complete a brief history chart for Zimbabwe (see the template in Table 10.1). Choose the most important events, that influenced the future of the country and the people. Compare the chosen events with your group members. Try to explain the priority of your choice. Add or remove events after the group discussion to make the final version of the history chart.

Task 10.3. Using britannica.com and the information from previous topics about the governments as a model, write a 150– 300-word description of Zimbabwe’s government. Consider the following questions: 1) the capital of the country; 2) the formal and ruling heads of the country; membership in unions. 3) the 3 branches of power; 4) major political parties and issues they deal with.

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Task 10.4. Read Text 10.2, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 10.2. Zimbabwean Economy Overview

Zimbabwe is a low-income Sub-Saharan economy characterised by political instability and protest crackdowns. The COV- ID-19 pandemic has damaged the economic potential of the country traditionally shattered by endemic corruption and ongoing hyperinflation. Today Zimbabwean economy is reliant on natural resource extraction and extensive agriculture.

Macroeconomic uncertainty arising from erratic policymaking, runaway inflation, a weakening currency (the Zimbabwean dollar is one of the lowest valued currency units in the world), rising borrowing costs and worsening electricity shortages will dampen economic growth in the short term. In the absence of structural reforms to improve the business environment, combined with inflation and shortages of foreign exchange, real GDP is growing modestly.

Task 10.5. Case study questions.

1.What are the official languages of Zimbabwe? What is the role of the English language in the country? Give your opinion about the linguistic situation in the country.

2.What was the role of Great Britain in the history of the country? What is the difference between the British South Africa Company (BSAC) period and the British colony of Southern Rhodesia?

3.What are the historical relations between the Black and the White population in Zimbabwe? What is the current racial situation in the country?

Task 10.6. Prepare a description of Zimbabwean national symbols: the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, etc. Explain their historical meaning.

Task 10.7. Prepare a presentation on Zimbabwean traditional culture.

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Task 10.8. Find any popular stereotypes about Zimbabwe. Discuss the stereotypes in your group. Are the stereotypes true or false? Can they help understand Zimbabwe lifestyles?

11. MALTA

Task 11.1. Read Text 11.1, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 11.1. A General Overview of Malta

Malta has been inhabited from around 5900 BC. With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and the French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial centre, and a tourist destination while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

Task 11.2. Using britannica.com prepare a brief history chart for Malta (see the template in Table 11.1). Choose the most important events, that influenced the future of the country and the people. Compare the chosen events with your group members. Try to explain the priority of your choice. Add or remove events after the group discussion to make the final version of the history chart.

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Task 11.3. Using britannica.com and the information from previous topics about the governments as a model, write a 150– 300-word description of the Maltese government. Consider the following questions: 1) the independence from 1964 to 1974; 2) the head of the country since 1974; 3) the 3 branches of power; 4) major political parties and issues they deal with.

Task 11.4. Read Text 11.2, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 11.2. Maltese Economy Overview

The island state of Malta is a high-income, EU-member European economy and a euro user/ Being a comparatively small island, the country is dependent on food and energy imports. At the same time, it has been developing strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors of the economy. The centrepiece aspects of Maltese economy are high North African immigration, large welfare system and highly educated workforce. Malta boasts with its globally known international schools of the

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English language which manage to merge both educational and touristic businesses.

The government faces challenges including criticism over the “golden passport” scheme, the rising cost of living and high energy prices. Real GDP growth will be slow in 2020s. High inflation is eroding real incomes and denting private consumption growth. However, Malta’s economy is buoyed by its tourism sector and can comfortably outperform the euro area, as its economic outlook remains positive. The biggest downside risk to Malta’s economy is remaining investor concerns about inherent corruption.

Task 11.5. Case study questions.

1.What is the role of the English language in the cultural, social and economic life of Malta as a touristic destination? What are the major tourist attractions of Malta for people from all over the world?

2.What was the role of Great Britain in the history of the country? Characterise the current relations of Malta with Great Britain and the European Union.

3.What is the religious situation in Malta? What was the role of Knight’s Orders in the history of the country? What are the historic connections of Malta with the Russian Empire in the 19th century during the rule of Paul I and Napoleonic wars?

4.What is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta? What is its humanitarian and diplomatic role on the present-day international scene.

Task 11.6. Prepare a description of Maltese national symbols: the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, etc. Explain their historical meaning.

Task 11.7. Prepare a presentation on Maltese cultural characteristics.

Task 11.8. Find any popular stereotypes about Malta and the Maltese. Discuss the stereotypes in your group. Are the stereotypes true or false? Can they help understand Maltese culture?

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12. JAMAICA

Task 12.1. Read Text 12.1, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 12.1. A General Overview of Jamaica

The island – discovered for Europeans by Christopher Columbus in 1494 – was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The Native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958, it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica withdrew from the Federation in 1961 and gained full independence in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, corruption, the COVID-19 pandemic, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.

Task 12.2. Using britannica.com prepare a brief history chart for Jamaica (see the template in Table 12.1). Choose the most important events, that influenced the future of the country and the people. Compare the chosen events with your group members. Try to explain the priority of your choice. Add or remove events after the group discussion to make the final version of the history chart.

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Task 12.3. Using britannica.com and the information from previous topics about the governments as a model, write a 150– 300-word description of Jamaican government. Consider the following questions: 1) the capital of the country; 2) the formal and ruling heads of the country; 3) the 3 branches of power; 4) major political parties and issues they deal with.

Task 12.4. Read Text 12.2, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 12.2. Jamaican Economy Overview

Jamaica is considered to be the upper middle-income Caribbean island economy. Prior to COVID-19 disruption, public debt and unemployment were declining. Jamaican economy is extremely environmentally fragile due to hurricanes and rising sea levels. Extreme weather conditions reverberate in persistently high crime, youth unemployment, and poverty.

The political scene of the country is stable. The prime minister of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party is in a strong position, as his majority is large, while the opposition is divided. The main policy challenge for the current government is to balance support for households in the face of squeezed incomes with a return to fiscal consolidation. Jamaica remains exposed to weather-related inflationary shocks. The country’s post-pan- demic economic recovery is still one of the slowest in the region, partly reflecting its long-standing fiscal constraints.

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