What topics can't be discussed when studying in the UK?

When I first arrive in Britain, my friends will surely find out why there is such a big cultural gap between China and Britain. Let's analyze what we can't talk about when studying in the UK.

1, sex

In the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral, hugh grant (who always plays a traditional English man) asks a guest how his girlfriend is at the wedding. The guest replied, "She is no longer my girlfriend." It was embarrassing enough, but then Grant's character tried to comfort the guests, and things got worse. He casually mentioned that the lady in the conversation split her leg with the guest. "Ex-boyfriend" choked over champagne and said, "She is my wife now." Most British people would rather have a picnic on an active volcano than be in such an embarrassing situation.

This British habit of not talking about explicit topics can be traced back to19th century. The prude of Victorian people is well known. They even think the legs of the table look too dirty, so they should be covered. After the "sexual liberation" in the 1960s, we became more open (no one would waste time covering the table feet), but in polite conversation, sex is still a big taboo.

2. Religion

During the Tudor period in British history, expressing one's religious position may be sentenced to death. Modern Britain is multicultural, and talking casually won't get you beheaded, but religion is still a dangerous topic. Belief belongs to the private category, and it is considered impolite to ask others what church they believe in. Let's put this topic aside until you get to know each other better.

3. Politics

There is an outdated tradition that once spread in the dark days when Oxford only accepted boys (it was extremely dark for boys …): at a formal dinner, no one should mention sex, religion or politics. A person who breaks the rules will have to drink a large pot of beer by force. If he can't eat it all at once, the man will have to pay. I mentioned sex and religion before, the third taboo? Politics? As dangerous as the other two. Just like religion, it is especially impolite to ask a person what political party he supports or who he voted for. Many political topics have caused great differences among the British people. For example, when I wrote this article, the most popular questions were whether Britain would stay in the EU or whether Scotland would be independent. Let's discuss political topics in depth when you get to know each other better.

4. Money

The last major taboo is personal wealth. If you ask someone about their salary, wait for them to be dumbfounded. But it's okay to discuss celebrity income, especially football players. Wayne? Rooney earns 300,000 pounds a week, which is more than 10 times the average annual salary of the British. If you are angry about it, don't worry that no one agrees. Even the craziest Manchester United fans will admit that it is unwise to pay so much; Stop talking when you meet Rooney himself.

But you can talk about it ...

It seems that you can't talk to the British about anything. Don't be afraid, there are actually many things to talk about. You can usually talk about the weather. The weather in Britain changes a lot, so this stalk can be used many times a day. It's best to be pessimistic at the beginning, so that when the wind changes, we can start talking about happy rhythm. For example, you can say, "The weather is fine, but it changed in the afternoon" and "The weather is terrible, so it will be next year".

After talking about the weather, there is usually no time to talk about anything else, or come back when the weather changes. It's rare to talk about yourself after talking about this topic sometimes. Most English people are naturally curious and want to know where you come from and your life there. Then you can imitate him and ask questions: For example, if they ask you where you are from in China, you can also ask them where their hometown is in Britain. In this way, you can make new friends immediately. Even if you can't make friends, at least you will know more about the weather forecast or British geography.

Hot comments from educators studying abroad;

Although foreign students have mastered English by studying in China, don't be surprised when you find spoken English difficult to understand here. People speak faster than you think, and they will express themselves in many unfamiliar vernacular languages. This is because there are many different accents and dialects in this country. If you don't understand, please ask others to repeat it slowly, and you will get used to the English spoken by the British.

It is difficult for foreign students to pronounce the place names accurately. For example, a place name in Wales has 52 letters, so it is impossible to give the pronunciation rules of British place names. In this case, it is a clear practice to write down the name of the place you want to go or need to know, and then ask someone to help you confirm it.