Reflection

I learned about UK in this semester. Before I studied about UK, I didn't know much information. I had only one image about UK that is UK's foods are terrible. But after this semester, my image changed well.

In UK, there are many different points each scene. For example, educational system, foods culture, and class system. I have two big impacts in those. First is educational system. First, public school and private school are special meanings in UK. In generally, Public school is low costs than private school and smart, and Private is rich. On the other hand, UK has different meaning. Upper class people go to public school. Most of public schools are boarding school and Most of students go to very famous universities like Oxford and Cambridge.

Second is class system. UK has three class system which are Upper class, Middle class and Working class. Upper class compose Royal family or These systems are unfamiliar in Japan. Middle class is lawyer or doctor or bourgeoisie. Working class is cleaner or electricians or homeless.

If I didn't study about UK, I couldn't know these detail systems. Now, I want to go to UK and I want to go to Oxbridge. If I go there, I occur to this class. I'm glad to take this class and study with Simon.

Minority Languages

United Kingdom has many minority languages such as Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Celtic and Cornish. Most of languages speakers are little none.



*Welsh*

This language is spoken in west of England. About 500,000 people use Welsh. This is about 20.5 percent of all Welsh. In the past, English is a public language. So Welsh is prohibited in school or town. But in 20th century, Welsh was recovering. Now, Welsh is a public language with English. Road signs or archives are written in both languages.

In 20th century, people who speak Welsh are decreasing but Wales population is increase reentry. So, people who speak Welsh are increasing now. The main reason that Wales education is practiced at elementary school or junior high school and broadcast on TV or radio.

*In 1992, the Department of Wales recorded that how many Welsh can they speak Welsh? The results are here.

3-15 people→32.4%, 16-29→17.8%, 30-44→16.7%, 45-64→18.7% and over 55→24.2%.

*In addition, this department ask that are you a good Welsh speaker ? Answer is here.

I speak Welsh mainly→12.0%, I can speak Welsh well→13.4%, I don't know Welsh enough→66.1% .
This result announce that Welsh speakers are decreasing now.

*Reference*
http://tokyo.cool.ne.jp/wanis-crew/page034.html

Girl's school Roedean

I researched British girl's school which is Roedean. It has senior School and Junior School.


*history*

In 1885, Lawrence family established Roedean school in Brighton. Theresa Lawrence who is the youngest sister and Katherine Margaret Earle sailed to South Africa with the intention of establishing second Roedean school.



*location*

Senior school locates in Brighton and the scene looks like a chalk. Brighton's population is 200,000 and there are known for the biggest resort in UK. From the London to Brighton, it takes 50 minutes by train. Roedean locates eastern edge of Brighton. It reached 15 minutes from the Brighton station.


*education system*

Roedean has three educational systems. First is Lower School which are 11-12 years old. Subjects are Art, History, Biology, Latin, French,Dance, Classical studies, Mathematics, Drama, English, Sport and so on.

Second, middle school is 13-15 years old students. Middle school is the most important period in their development. Students begin preparation for GCSE(General Certificate of Secondary Education). It means the examinations to graduate school. This three years are so important for them because they have to make independent study habits and to take more personal responsibility for their own work. This term help for them to be good adults for future.



Finlay is sixth form and the age is over 16 years old. Sixth form students are treated for adults. They live own boarding house. Their activity is high level to understanding of the way the world works.






*Reference*

http://www.roedean.co.uk/

http://www.roedeanschool.co.za/

Oxbridge

Oxbridge means University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. Both universities are very traditional and they have long history. Last year, Cambridge was 800 year anniversary.


In UK, public school and private school mean opposite other countries. In generally, public school is low costs image and private school is so expensive and rich people. On the other hand, public school in UK is rich, gentleman, and smart. Actually, most of this school students are so rich and they go to so famous university like Oxbridge. In addition, it is boarding school. UK's public schools are Westminster school, Eton collage, Harrow school, Rugby school and Winchester collage. Winchester is the most oldest collage in UK. It founded in 1382 in Hampshire in Winchester. These are all men's school.


*University of Oxford*


Oxford is the oldest university in England. It constructed in 11 century and very traditional. 47 Nobel laureate and 25 prime minister and over 50 Olympic player graduated Oxford.

This university is known for the top level school in the world. Times Higher World University rankings always record from second to five for Oxford. The entrance examination is the most difficult such as University of Cambridge. It located in Oxford city. This town is located the North of England and it takes for an hour by train from London.

Oxford is composed 39 college and it has over 16000 students. The students who come from overseas are 10 percent. Some of the collage students have to wear Formal Hall after dinner. This habit is unusual. Oxford has many unusual habit like this. For example, when people take the entrance examination, they have to wear white shirt and black bottom or skirt, and men have to wear jacket and gown. In addition, the library which is Bodleian libraryis the largest in the world and all of books which published in England are here.

*University of Cambridge*

In 13 century, scholars who escaped from Oxford constructed Cambridge university. Peter house is the oldest collage and it was constructed 1284. Over 47 Nobel laureates and Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and John Maynard Keynes graduated this University. In addition, 2009 is 800 years anniversary.

How to go to Cambridge is easy. We take British Rail from King's Cross station or Liverpool Street station in London. It takes an hour and a half. Cambridge compose 31 collages. The Times Higher World Education Supplement records second. The first is Harvard University in the US.

Cambridge is opposition with Oxford. They often hold friendly match. Especially, boat race is very famous. It is hold at Thames river in London in spring.

*opinion*

I was surprised that public and private meanings are different. I confused the first. If I go to UK, I am careful to use wrong meaning.

Classes.

British Society has three classes. These are called Upper Class, Middle Class and Working Class. Upper Class is so wealthy people and only 2~3 % of British people, and Middle Class people is over 20% , and Working Class is remain.

But in fact, they can divide more detail like below.

1, Upper Class

This class is so wealthy like Royal family, politicians. This class compose gentle and royal and most of them are landowners. So, they don't need to work because they can live only land income.

2,upper middle class

Senior bankers, top businessman, top lawyers



3, Middle Class

This class compose bourgeoisie and expert. Experts are doctor, lawyer, architect, and artist. In addition, all members are white color people.

4, lower middle class

Office workers, small shopkeepers



5, Working Class

They get bread to work themselves and they tend to work after they graduate junior high school. In addition, their English are different another two classes. Upper Class people use Queen's English, Middle Class people use BBC English and Working Class use Cockney English.

6, skilled working class

Electricians

7, unskilled working class

Cleaners

8,under class

Homeless


*Reference*
http://www13.ocn.ne.jp/~uk_fan/jpage/library/lb_q006.htm

English Breakfast

It is said English food is too much volume. These are English Breakfast. But a little special and it's so gorgeous. Mostly, it is more easier in normal day.

This is fresh fruits juice and a few kind of fruits. In addition, people eat yogurt or serial.
I saw English men who bring many serials at the hotel in Yokohama. Maybe the hotel's break fast baking is Japanese food.
They add much milk and fruits jams.

This is main English break fast. The menu is bacon, sausage, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and scrambled egg. Sometimes people eat soy beans.

This is triangle toast and sunny-side up eggs(medamayaki) . Most of people eat toast with butter, jam, marmalade and marmite.

About England

England has four seasons like Japanese. In addition time difference is 9 hours between England and Japanese but during summer time is 8 hours. England has many famous building such as building, food and music.
Now, I will introduce about very famous building. I picked up two places in many lists. Both of them are London.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster locates Mill Bank along with Thames river. It is the World Heritage Site with Westminster monastery. But now, it is used as the House of Parliament. It has 1000 rooms and length is 300 meters.
But in 1834, it was disappeared by big fire. So Charles Barry was reconstructed in 1870. Nevertheless in 1941, this was destroyed by the Luftwaffe. After that, in 1950, Giles Gilbert architected West minster Place.

Big Ben

Big Ben is the very big bell on the House of Parliament. Its height is 97 meters and weigh is 13 tons. It rings loud chime to Thames river every 15 minutes.
The House of Parliament was constructed in 1850 and the reader of it was Sir Benjamin Hall. Big Ben was named after his name. On July 11th was 150 anniversary this ring. So some letters wrote on the wall and the ring picture lighted up there.