Introduction to British Culture

Zoe RutterfordStudent Support Officer (Transition and Integration)

Back to cultural basics

“Each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice.”Michel de Montaigne

What have you seen so far?

How does culture shock shape your experience?

The Basics

• Punctuality• Queuing • Road rules• Polite conversation • Reserved or uninterested?

Language

• Hi, how are you? Do we mean it?• Hello• Politeness: Please, thank you, SORRY!• Colloquialisms

Loo, shattered,chav, trainers• Sarcasm

Check out Anglophenia on Youtube

Food

• Terrible reputation but can be delicious! • UK foods: Chips, fish and chips, roast dinners,

cornish pasties, cake, cream tea ….and marmite?• Pub etiquette• Tipping

Popular culture

• The BBC• Soap operas (Soaps) and Reality TV• British comedy

• Sitcoms (Situation comedies)• Satire• Sketch

• The Great British Bake Off

If in doubt, smile and talk about the weather!