The best of British....

Quite often in lessons, we talk about stereotypes as well as what iconic things the students associate with England. I thought this might be fun to share these with you and see if you agree with my list or if I've missed something obvious.

So here goes. What Polish people associate with England. It's a very random list!

Being overly polite/apologising a lot

James Bond

Sunday roast

Full English breakfast

Fish and Chips

Tea drinking (with milk)/Afternoon tea

Queuing

Bad weather

The Royal family

The Union Jack flag

Pubs

London

Red buses/phone boxes

Stonehenge

Oxford/Cambridge universities

William Shakespeare

Premiership football

Phrases like, 'How are you?/Are you alright'?

'Special' English sense of humour

Crisps obsession

So there you have it. My top 20, in no particular order. I have to say that a week doesn't go by without one of the above being mentioned, either during a lesson or at home.

The Polish find it baffling that the English love drinking tea with milk and that we have to ask 'How are you?' after saying 'Hello'.

I also have to agree about being overly polite. Maybe I've been in Poland too long, but I really notice when I return to England just how chatty and polite, people are. I'm talking about staff in shops, supermarkets and pubs. I actually find it a little annoying...really! I feel bad saying it. Maybe I'm just becoming a grumpy old Polish man:)

So what do you think to my list? Have I missed something? What other things do you associate with England? Please let me know.

#nativespeaker, #teawithmilk, #bestofbritish

Until next time...….