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

Task 12.5. Case study questions.

1.What are the official languages of Jamaica? Give your opinion about the linguistic situation in the country.

2.What was the role of Great Britain in the history of the country? Characterise the current relations of Jamaica with Great Britain and the USA.

3.What are the major economic problems of the country? What is meat by fiscal constraints and why the return to fiscal consolidation may be a solutioin?

4.What is the social situation in Jamaica? Give your opinion about the perspectives for young people in Jamaica who face crime, unemployment, and poverty.

Task 12.6. Prepare a description of Jamaican national symbols: the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, etc. Explain their historical meaning.

Task 12.7. Prepare a presentation on Jamaican traditional culture: a popular writer or poet / singer / artist / public figure / celebrity.

Task 12.8. Find any popular stereotypes about Jamaica. Discuss the stereotypes in your group. Are the stereotypes true or false? Can they help understand Jamaican culture?

13. THE BAHAMAS

Task 13.1. Read Text 13.1, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 13.1. A General Overview of the Bahamas

The Bahamas is a sparsely settled group of islands extending from a point 80 km off the east coast of Florida to just northwest of Haiti. The archipelago occupies a position controlling the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Central American region. Their strategic location has given the history of The Bahamas state a unique and sometimes stunning character.

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Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on the island of San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas close proximity to shipping lanes and sea roots. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management. Because of its proximity to the USA, as the nearest Bahamian landmass is near Florida, the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking, particularly to the USA mainland, as well as Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas, and the US Coast Guard assists Bahamian authorities in maritime security and law enforcement.

English is the only language native to Bahamians, even though, because of the influx of Haitian immigrants since the mid-20th century, French or the related Haitian Creole vernacular is spoken. The people of Bahamians are usually members of Christian churches and many of them are Protestants, with a smaller number of Roman Catholics. Bahamian culture is a blend of African and European heritages, also influenced by the peoples of the Caribbean.

Task 13.2. Using britannica.com prepare a brief history chart for The Bahamas (see the template in Table 13.1). 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 13.3. Using britannica.com and the information from previous topics about the government in Canada and Australia as a model, write a 150–300-word description of The Bahamas government. Consider the following questions: 1) the capital of the country; 2) the formal head(s) of the country and the organs

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of power; 3) the constitution and the participation in international organizations.

Task 13.4. Read Text 13.2, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 13.2. The Bahamas Economy Overview

The Bahamas is a state with high-income tourism and financial services economy. It is one of major tourist and vacation destinations for the US citizens, that is why the country has strong bilateral relations with the USA. As an island state, The Bahamas depends on food and commodities imports, and the US supplies a vast assortment of goods. In the 2020s the country is struggling to recover from Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 disruptions.

The government has recently introduced special economic recovery zones to extend support to the tourism sector and further efforts to enhance transparency in the financial sector. It also

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seeks to bolster household purchasing power and protect vulnerable households from inflationary pressures and poverty.

Task 13.5. Case study questions.

1.Can you give historic reasons why English is the dominating language of The Bahamas? Compare it to the presence of Spanish and French on the territory of the country.

2.What was the role of Great Britain in the history of the country? Characterise the current relations of The Bahamas with Great Britain and the USA.

3.What is the financial situation of people in The Bahamas? Why financial services is a dominating sector of the country’s economy?

4.What are the reasons why the country is engaged in such contrasting economic activities as tourism and illegal trafficking?

Task 13.6. Prepare a description of The Bahamas national symbols: the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, etc. Explain their historical meaning.

Task 13.7. Prepare a presentation on The Bahamas culture: a popular writer / singer / artist / public figure / celebrity.

Task 13.8. Find any popular stereotypes about The Bahamas. Discuss the stereotypes in your group. Are the stereotypes true or false? Can they help understand The Bahamas culture?

14. HONG KONG IN CHINA

Task 14.1. Read Text 14.1, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 14.1. A General Overview of Hong Kong

The present-day city of Hong Kong administratively is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong developed initially on the basis of its excep-

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tional natural harbour (its name means “fragrant harbour”) and the lucrative trade, particularly opium dealing. Originally a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing Chinese villages with a evolving sea port, it was seized by the UK in 1841 and was formally ceded by China at the end of the First Opium War; the Kowloon Peninsula was added in 1860 at the end of the Second Opium War, and was further extended when Britain obtained a 99-year lease of the area in 1898. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Great Britain in 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China in 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its “one country, two systems” formula, China’s socialist economic and strict political system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that the city would enjoy a “high degree of autonomy” in all matters except foreign and defence affairs for the subsequent 50 years.

Since the turnover, Hong Kong has continued to enjoy success as an international financial centre. To increase the influence of the state and local HKSAR governments China took several actions that reduced the city’s autonomy and placed some restrictions on the rights of Hong Kong residents. These moves were criticized to be in direct contravention of obligations under the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. the Chinese Government imposed a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong that criminalized acts such as those interpreted as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign or external forces. The law was used by authorities to target oppugnant activists, organizations, and media companies. In 2021, Beijing imposed a more restrictive electoral system, including restructuring the Legislative Council and allowing only government-approved candidates to run for office, claiming it was to ensure a system of patriots governed Hong Kong. The changes ensured that all seats were won by pro-governmental candidates and effectively ended political opposition to Beijing in the territory.

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Task 14.2. Using britannica.com prepare a brief history chart for Hong Kong (see the template in Table 14.1). 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 14.3. Using britannica.com and the information from previous topics about the governments as a model, write a 150–300-word description of Hong Kong’s administration. Consider the following questions: 1) the state government of China and the local authorities of HKSAR; 2) the difference between the Chinese and British traditions of the territory administration.

Task 14.4. Read Text 14.2, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 14.2. Hong Kong Economy Overview

In comparison to mainland China Hong Kong is characterized by high-income tourismand services-based economy. It retains its functions as a global financial hub; COVID-19 and political protests about the administrative reforms fuelled a recent economic recession of the territory. The new electoral system and expanded legal means to tackle political dissent indicate that there is a very low risk of social unrest flaring up again. Increasing housing supply is now a centrepiece of government policy. Political reform and pandemic-related re-

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strictions in 2020s have permanently diminished Hong Kong’s attractiveness to non-financial international firms, but the territory will remain a major global financial centre, owing mainly to its unparalleled links to mainland China.

Task 14.5. Case study questions.

1.What are the official languages of Hong Kong? What are the historic reasons for the coexistence of the languages? Give your opinion about the linguistic situation in the territory.

2.What was the role of Great Britain in the history of the city? What was the role of the UK in the Opium Wars with China?

3.Why in your opinion has Hong Kong become a global financial centre? Characterise the current role of Hong Kong as a global financial hub.

4.What were the political changes in Hong Kong from 1997 to 2020?

Task 14.6. Prepare a description of Hong Kong’s former colonial and present-day Chinese local symbols: the emblem, the coat of arms, etc. Explain their historical meaning.

Task 14.7. Find any popular stereotypes about the city of Hong Kong. How Hong Kong is different from the mainland China? Discuss the stereotypes in your group. Are the stereotypes true or false? Can they help understand the lifestyle of Hong Kong city?

15. KENYA

Task 15.1. Read Text 15.1, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 15.1. A General Overview of Kenya

Trade centres such as Mombasa have existed along the Kenyan and Tanzanian coastlines, known as the Land of Zanj, since at least the 2nd century. These centres traded with the

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outside world, including China, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Persia. By around the 9th century, the mix of Africans, Arabs, and Persians who lived and traded there became known as Swahili (“people of the coast”) with a distinct language (KiSwahili) and culture. The Portuguese reached the land in the 1490s and, using Mombasa as a base, sought to monopolize trade in the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese were pushed out in the late 1600s by the combined forces of Oman and Pate, an island off the coast. In 1890, Germany and Great Britain divided up the region, with the latter taking the north and the Germans the south, including pres- ent-day Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. The British established the East Africa Protectorate in 1895, which in 1920 was converted into a colony and named Kenya after its highest mountain. Numerous political disputes between the colony and Great Britain subsequently led to the violent Mau Mau Uprising, which began in 1952, and the eventual declaration of independence in 1963.

The founding president of Kenya and an icon of the liberation struggle was Jomo Kenyatta, who led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when vice president Daniel Arap Moi took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982, after which time the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) changed the constitution to make itself the sole legal political party in Kenya. President Moi acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud. President Moi stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai Kibaki, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of founding president Jomo Kenyatta, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centred on an anticorruption platform.

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Kibaki’s relection in 2007 resulted in two months of post-election ethnic violence that caused the death of more than 1100 people and the dislocation of hundreds of thousands. Opposition candidate accused the government of widespread vote rigging. African Union-sponsored mediation led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan resulted in a power-sharing accord in Kenyan government. The power sharing accord included a broad reform agenda, the centrepiece of which was constitutional reform. The new constitution eliminated the position of prime minister, introduced additional checks and balances to executive power, and devolved power and resources to newly created administrative counties. In 2022, William Ruto won the presidential elections; he assumed the office after the Kenyan Supreme Court upheld the victory.

Task 15.2. Using britannica.com prepare a brief history chart for Kenya (see the template in Table 15.1). 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 15.3. Using britannica.com and the information from previous topics about the governments as a model, write a 150– 300-word description of Kenyan governmental structure. 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.

Task 15.4. Read Text 15.2, find out the meaning of the new words, retell.

Text 15.2. Kenyan Economy Overview

Kenya is a fast growing, third largest Sub-Saharan economy with strong agriculture and emerging services and tourism industries. Today the country faces the current account deficit and high debt which cause surging inflation due to oil and food hikes. To maintain the economic issues the government develops plans for broadband and mobile-money platform investments and new investor-friendly incentives.

The mostly peaceful electoral process bodes well for Kenya’s institutional strengthening and political stability. Kenyan environmentally fragile economic development remains modest owing to heightened headwinds, including slower global growth and domestic interest-rate increases. However, a cur- rent-account deficit and a large external debt stock could expose Kenya to balance-of-payments stresses, if access to external financing continues to deteriorate.

Task 15.5. Case study questions.

1.What are the official languages of Kenia? Give your opinion about the linguistic situation in the country.

2.What was the role of Great Britain in the history of the country? Characterise the current relations of Kenia with Great Britain.

3.What is the religious situation in Kenya? Is there any connection between the religious beliefs of the population and the languages the people speak?

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