How To Be English (Part One)

During January we are going to explore not just the English language and how it is used but how to be English. Over centuries the English set the standards of how to behave in public. Yes of course, the English have many faults as a race and during our colonial period we have things that we would rather forget. However, one thing is for certain, good manners play a critical part in our culture. These can stretch from how to behave at the dinner table, to having respect for the law and other peoples rights. 

Part One: GRAMMAR SECTION

Part Two: READING SECTION

Part Three:  LISTENING SECTION

Part Four: HOMEWORK SECTION ( Self-study)

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Grammar Section: Part One

Understanding Intensifiers: The Words That Pack a Punch

Ever notice how some words make everything bigger, stronger, or more dramatic? These are called intensifiers – the verbal equivalent of turning up the volume on your radio. They’re the difference between being “tired” and “completely exhausted,” or between liking something and “absolutely loving” it.

Think of intensifiers as the seasoning in your language soup. Just as a pinch of salt can transform a bland dish, words like “really,” “very,” “totally,” and “absolutely” can spice up ordinary statements. But like any seasoning, they’re best used sparingly.

Let’s look at some examples in action:

She’s smart → She’s incredibly smart
I’m tired → I’m utterly tired
The movie was good → The movie was absolutely brilliant
It’s cold → It’s freezing cold

Some intensifiers pack more punch than others. Compare these:

• Mild: pretty, quite, rather
• Medium: very, really, truly
• Strong: absolutely, completely, totally
• Extreme: utterly, intensely, extremely

But here’s where it gets interesting: intensifiers tend to wear out over time. Words like “very” and “really” have been used so much they’ve lost some of their impact. That’s why we sometimes reach for stronger options – it’s not just cold anymore, it’s “ridiculously cold” or “insanely cold.”

One warning: overusing intensifiers can weaken your writing. It’s like adding too much hot sauce – it overwhelms the actual flavour. Strong writing often relies more on precise words than intensifiers. Instead of saying “very big,” try “enormous.” Rather than “really beautiful,” consider “stunning.”

The best writers know when to deploy intensifiers for maximum impact. They’re like exclamation points in your verbal toolkit – powerful when used strategically, but exhausting when overused.

MANNERS: Part Two (a)

Introduction (Spot the intensifiers)

The English approach to manners is less about rigid rules and more about making others feel very comfortable — though they have a peculiar talent for making this pursuit feel rather uncomfortable at times. Take the sacred art of queuing: an English person would sooner wrestle a lion than jump ahead in line, and cutting in front of someone might well spark a series of tuts and meaningful glances that constitute social warfare in Britain. Tea drinking comes with its own unspoken protocol, where offering someone a cuppa is less a question and more a social obligation, and declining one without an excellent excuse might raise eyebrows. The English also excel at the art of apologising for things that aren’t remotely their fault — saying “sorry” when someone else steps on their foot is not just common, it’s practically mandatory. This excessive politeness might seem baffling to outsiders, but it’s woven into the fabric of English society like rain into a London afternoon.

Afternoon Tea: Part Two (b)

The English tradition of afternoon tea, born from one woman’s hunger pangs in the 1840s, transformed into one of Britain’s most cherished social rituals. Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, found herself battling that dreaded period between lunch and dinner when hunger struck and energy dipped – a time we might now call the mid-afternoon slump. Her solution? A pot of tea and a light snack, served in her private quarters at Woburn Abbey. This private indulgence soon became a social affair as she began inviting friends to join her, and the practice spread through aristocratic circles like wildfire. Today’s afternoon tea bears all the hallmarks of its refined origins: delicate finger sandwiches with their crusts meticulously removed (cucumber being the most iconic), warm scones served with clotted cream and strawberry jam (though the eternal debate rages on whether Devon’s cream-first or Cornwall’s jam-first approach is correct), and an array of dainty cakes and pastries arranged on a tiered stand. The tea itself – usually a robust English Breakfast or refined Earl Grey – is poured from elegant china teapots into matched cups, with milk added according to personal preference (though traditionalists insist that milk goes in last, a custom dating back to when poor-quality cups would crack from the heat of the tea). While the daily ritual has largely given way to a hastier cup of tea and a biscuit, proper afternoon tea remains a beloved luxury, served in grand hotels and tea rooms across Britain, where locals and tourists alike can step back in time and experience a slice of English elegance, complete with silver spoons tinkling against bone china and the gentle murmur of polite conversation.

Video Listening Section: Part Three

Questions:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. At the beginning of the video what was the first thing he did?
            2. What kind of tea did he insist on using and what piece of equipment did he use to catch the tea leaves?
            3. Describe how to prepare sandwiches.  What is the origin of the word ‘sandwich’?
            4. What are the people called in the south west of England and why?
            5. What two types of cake are served in the summer and winter during afternoon tea?

Homework: Part Four

Finally, search the text for words with silent letters.  Make a list.