TYPICALLY BRITISH?

Four foreigners in Britain talk about the people and the country...

Listen to what they say. Read the text while you are listening. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!
 

Nicolae from Romania works in a pub in Manchester


‘British people like children but not in restaurants or pubs. In my pub we have a rule: ‘No children under 12’. People in Britain drink a lot of coffee – cappuccino and espresso are really popular. They drink a lot of beer too – men and women.’

Alexandra from Russia is a student at Bristol university


‘This is not a good country for smokers! Many coffee bars and restaurants are ‘no smoking’. I live with three British students and they don’t smoke. When I want a cigarette I go into the garden.’

Carlos is a tourist from Spain


‘People read the newspaper everywhere – on the train, on the bus, at the bus stop. And the newspapers are really big! Cars stop in Britain when you stand on the zebra crossing – it’s incredible! Cars don’t stop for you in Madrid.’

Marília from Brazil works as an ‘au pair’ in Cambridge


‘I think my British family is typical. The woman doesn’t cook – she just puts a pizza in the microwave. But she watches cooking programmes on TV every day! The man cooks at the weekend – he makes fantastic Indian curries. Their child has a terrible diet. She eats ‘fish fingers’ and chips and she goes to Burger King every week.’