This document provides an overview of Wales, one of the countries that make up the United Kingdom. It discusses Wales' national symbols, anthem, history, languages, arts and culture, food, celebrations, education system, and Welsh people. The purpose is to give a general introduction to Welsh culture and facts so readers can learn more about this English-speaking country. It emphasizes that Wales has its own distinct identity and traditions, including the Welsh language, which is one of the oldest in Europe and still spoken today.

1. Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas
Escuela de Lenguas Campus Tuxtla
Licenciatura en la Enseñanza del Inglés
Arte y cultura contemporánea
English speaking countries
WALES
Toledo, Sandra

2. Table of contents
Introduction
1. General facts
2. National symbols
3. National anthem
4. History
5. Languages
6. Arts & Culture
7. Food
8. Celebrations
9. Education
10. The Welsh
Conclusion
References

3. Introduction
The following project is about one of the speaking
countries that is part of the United Kingdom in
Europe, Wales.
The purpose of this project is to give a general
overview about this country so we can learn its
culture and interesting facts. It is important to
remember that English is not only spoken in
England but also in other many countries such as
Wales, that is why we should know more about
those countries and be aware that there is a lot of
different cultures involved in English language.

4. General facts
Capital City: Cardiff
Other major cities:
Swansea, Newport,
Wrexham
First Minister for Wales:
Carwyn Jones
Population:3,063,758
(Stats Wales 2011)
Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
Anthem:
Hen Wlad fy Nhadau /
Land of my fathers

5. National Symbols
The Leek
The Welsh flag
The Daffodil
The Prince of
Wales Feathers
The harp

6. National Anthem
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (translated in English as ‘Land of my Fathers’) is Wales’ National anthem.
It was written in 1856 by Evan James and his son, James James, from Pontypridd in Glamorgan. It
is traditionally sung before national sporting events.
English Translation - Land of My Fathers
This land of my fathers is dear to me
Land of poets and singers, and people of stature
Her brave warriors, fine patriots
Shed their blood for freedom
Chorus:
Land! Land! I am true to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land
May the language endure for ever.
Old land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,
Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards;
Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be
Her streams and rivers to me.
Chorus
Though the enemy have trampled my country underfoot,
The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat,
The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand
Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.
Chorus
•
..DownloadsWelsh anthem (Land of my fathers).mp4

7. History
1000 BC
The story of Wales begins with the Celts.
The Celts began migrating from their
central European homeland around 1000
BC.
48AD
The recorded history of Wales begins with the
arrival of the Romans on Welsh borders. At that
time people spoke a Celtic language –
Brythonic, the language that would eventually
evolve into Welsh.
1400
Charismatic national hero Owain
Glyndŵr begins his rebellion against
King Henry IV to establish an
independent Wales.
1997
The Welsh public votes yes to
the establishment of the
National Assembly for Wales,
allowing Wales to become a
distinct constitutional entity
within the UK for the first time
in 40 years.
1955
Cardiff is officially declared capital of
Wales. Cardiff is Europe's youngest
capital city.
1536
The first Act of Union was passed
between England and Wales. Wales
becomes united politically with
England and is governed by English
law.

8. Languages
English 81%
Welsh 19%
Our Celtic language is
closely related to
Cornish and Breton and
is one of Europe’s oldest
living languages

9. Arts & Culture Artes Mundi
The
Roald Dahl
Matilda and Charlie
and The Chocolate
Factory
Dylan Thomas
His play
“under milk wood”
Prize is held here
every two years
and is one of the
largest visual art
prizes in the
world. The
international
prize celebrates
and recognizes
artists across the
globe.
The
National
Museum in
Cardiff

10. Food
Laverbread
not actually bread at all
but seaweed, is often
fried into crisp patties
with eggs, bacon and
fresh cockles for a
traditional Welsh
breakfast.
Welsh cakes
a type of scone
cooked on a stovetop griddle.
Bara Brith (which
translates as
speckled bread), a
wonderful sticky
fruitcake smothered
in butter.

11. Celebrations
St. Stephen’s Day or Boxing day
New Year’s Eve
Feast of Epiphany
Pancake day
Sunday of flowers

12. Education
Education in Wales is compulsory between the
ages of 5 to 16 and we have about 1900 state
schools offering free education to more than
470,000 pupils. Another 65,000 students between
16 and 19 are in vocational training in further
education institutions.
A significant number of students all over Wales
are educated either wholly or largely through the
medium of Welsh and lessons in the language
are compulsory for all until the age of 16. Welsh
medium education is available to all age groups
from
nursery
through
to
schools,
colleges, universities and adult education.
Today the student population in Wales is large
and diverse; there are 10 universities and
17 further education colleges and institutions. We
have around 250,000 learners studying at further
education institutions per year.

13. Welsh people
•
The Welsh are famous for singing and talking and are noticeably
more open and friendly than most of the English. They tend to be
quite direct, especially in Swansea and Cardiff, but are quieter
and more pacific out in the sticks.
•
If you travel from north to south Wales, you may become aware
of a cultural ‘north-south divide’ between the ‘Hwntws’ of the
south and the ‘Gogs’ of north Wales.
•
A Welsh male voice choir is a unique sound and a real part of the
local culture.
•
The average Welshman (or woman) is much more romantic than
their English counterpart and are much more open and
forthcoming – if they fancy you, they’ll say so (and also if they
don’t!).
•
A good souvenir from Wales would be a traditional Welsh ‘lovespoon’ as carved by a farmhand for his fair maid in days gone by.

14. Conclusion
The importance of this work was to point out the relevance of
Wales as one of the English speaking countries. I learned that
English is spoken there but people want to preserve their identity
and traditions by speaking Welsh which is one of the oldest
languages in the world. This presentation helped me to enrich my
own culture as well as my general knowledge.
As English teachers we might be asked to talk about English
speaking countries so it is useful to have some knowledge about
them so we can satisfy our students curiosity .

15. Activity
Nivel: Básico /Pre-escolar
CAMPO FORMATIVO:
CAMPO SÉMANTICO:
Exploración y conocimiento del Cultura y vida social
mundo
DESARROLLO
DE LA
COMPETENCIA
Distingue
algunas
expresiones de
la cultura
propia y de
otras, y muestra
respeto hacia la
diversidad.
DESARROLLO DE LA
ACTIVIDAD
El maestro mostrará a los
alumnos la bandera de Gales y
les explicara el significado de la
misma. Luego, se les dará a los
niños un dibujo del dragón para
colorear y después recortar para
armar el dragón.
MATERIALES TIEMPO
Hojas de
trabajo
Colores
Tijeras
20
minutos

16. References
• http://www.britannia.com/wales/culture2.html
• http://www.wales.com/en/content/cms/English/About_Wales
/Wales_Fact_File/Wales_Fact_File.aspx
• http://www.roadjunky.com/guide/britain-uk-travelguide/welsh-people-and-culture/