LEARNING SECTION ONE

Speaking British or American

1. PREREADING ACTIVITY
Now you are going to read about some differences between British and
American English. To know these differences will help you to understand more
clearly this important language.

But before you read the passage, answer orally the following questions:

1.1 Do you like English?

1.2 Do you know how to speak English?

1.3 Have you spoken with a native English speaker?

1.4 Would you like to meet with both an American and a British
speaker?

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 2. READING

Now, read about Speaking British o American. But do the following:

2.1 Read it silently.
2.2 Don’t stop when you find unknown words.
2.3 Do it at an adequate reading rate.

SPEAKING BRITISH OR AMERICAN

There are some important differences between British and American English. First of
all, they sound very different; the two languages have different words for some things, many
expressions are also different in the two countries and there are also some differences in
grammar.
Often Americans don’t say all the letters in each word, especially consonants like‘t’
and‘d’. For example American would say I “dunno” instead of “I don’t know” or they may say
“whadday say” instead of “what do you say?”. However the British usually pronounce their
consonant more carefully. Also some letters have different sounds. For example, American
says the “a” in half like the “a” in cat, but the British say the “a” in half like the “o” in soft. The
“r” is sometimes said differently, too. When an American says “farmer”, you can usually hear
the “r”. But you can hear the “r” in British English. The British say “fahmah”.
Also there exists a difference in the use of some words. For example, the words for
clothing are different. Americans use the word “sweater” but the British say “jumper”.
Americans wear “vest” over their shirt, but in England they wear “vest” under their shirts. An
American man wears a “tuxedo” to a very fancy party, but an English man wears a “dinner
jacket”. American talk about “pants” or “slacks” but the British talk about “trousers”.
The expressions are also different in the two countries. In England if you are going to
telephone friends, you “ring them up”. In American you “give them a call”. The British use the
word “lovely” to describe something they like. Americans use the word “nice” or “great”.
There are also some differences in grammar. For example, Americans always use the
auxiliary “do” with the verb “have”. They may say “Do you have money”? .The British often
ask the question in different way. “Have you got money?”

Taken from: Mickulecky, B. and Jeffries, L.

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 3. POSTREADING ACTIVITIES
3.1 Guess the meaning of the unknown words from context

3.2 Circle the words which are similar or identical in English or Spanish

3.3 Identify prefixes and suffixes

3.4 Translate into good Spanish the following sentences.

 British and American English have some important differences in grammar,

expressions, words and sound

 British and American English have different words for some things; many
expressions are also different in the two countries.

 There are also some differences in grammar, also they sound very different and
some expressions are also different in the two countries.

3.5 Complete the following outline.

The differences between

American and British English are

GOD BLESS YOU!

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