Why Remote Learning is Failing Our Kids
Over the last 4 weeks, I’ve been teaching a group of 8-year-olds online. I’m a good teacher, but they haven’t learned much. “Ok everybody, please switch on your cameras, we’re about to start” was the battle cry at the beginning of every lesson this month as I did my best to make myself sound enthusiastic…
How to Fall in Love With a Fish
What’s in a name? Everything. That’s why in recent years, several UK fish species have undergone name changes in the hopes of reeling in new fans. You say Pilchard, I say Sardine. Does it really matter? Well apparently, it does. Food names influence consumer behaviour enormously, to the point that whole species of late have…
Were the Plymouth Shooting Victims Racist? Ask The Guardian
News outlets have a responsibility to report events of major national and international significance in a neutral and sympathetic tone. Sadly, they don’t always manage this. Last week, in the aftermath of the Plymouth, UK shooting that tragically claimed the lives of 5 innocent bystanders, I read an article in the Guardian newspaper that made…
Alright Mate? Why Do We Change Our Accent When Talking to Manual Workers and Tradesmen?
We all talk differently depending on where we find ourselves and who we’re talking to. But why do we code-switch? Read on to find out. “Alright mate. Yeah, cheers for fixin’ the sink. Fancy a cuppa?” said my public school educated brother to the plumber one day after he’d helped us out with a leaky…
A Spot of G-dropping, My Lord? British Attitudes to Accent and Class
The legendary linguist David Crystal in his book “A Little Book of Language”, estimates that only 5% of the population of the United Kingdom speak English with an RP accent. RP or ‘Received Pronunciation’ has traditionally been spoken by those in the upper echelons of society- doctors, bankers, lawyers and so on, as well as…
Migrant Crisis? Stemming the Tide?- The UK’s Stance on Immigration in 2021
Immigration, that is “the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country”, regularly tops lists of British people’s concerns. Or at least it did until 2016. After the UK voted to leave the EU in the Brexit referendum, the importance placed on immigration by much of the British public waned significantly. In the…
Has the Word ‘Proud’ Lost All Meaning?
The mutilation of meaning by those looking to align themselves with the progressive zeitgeist continues apace, argues Nick Simpson. A quick google of the definition of the word ‘proud’ gives you: Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely…
The Shocking State of Britain’s Health in 2021
This article looks at some of the key statistics surrounding health and healthcare in the UK in 2021 and highlights the gaping health inequalities in the country. The health of a country’s population is one of its biggest assets. If the people are healthy, they are able to work, have children and participate in a…
Caught in the Middle of the Culture Wars- The British Empire
The British Empire lasted for nearly half a century and covered nearly half of the globe. It was a major political force and trading power and, among many other things both good and bad, it helped establish the English language as the predominant global means of communication. I suppose I should be thankful; after all,…
The British and Seafood- Why Don’t We Eat It?
The UK is an island surrounded by some of the coldest, deepest, most pristine fishing waters in the world. The north sea contains huge stocks of cod, herring and other species. Brown crab, scallops and salmon grown in UK waters are considered to be among the best in the world in terms of quality and…
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
The British Culture Review 