Christopher Brumfits British Studies - Essay Example

This research will begin with the statement that “British Studies” by Christopher Brumfit examines the growing interest in British studies from various points of view— the curriculum developer, teacher-mediator, students from within the UK and from outside, and from an omniscient socio-cultural, economic, political, and philosophical vantage view. As stated by Brumfit, “… the learners construct their own meanings by a process of engagement with appropriate data.” The writing of this analysis is the researcher's engagement with data.

Further, according to Brumfit, “… construction of effective meaning depends on being able to integrate new understanding with the sets of categories that are already used to deal with the previous experience. This paper illustrates that thus learning depends on the interaction between the new and the old.” The present research has identified that although Brumfit said this within the context of the students’ learning about Britain as integrated with the knowledge and understanding they already have, the researcher find it worthy to cite this premise, because it is also within this mindset that he is doing this critical analysis of the generic British studies, not Brumfit’s “British Studies,” as critical analysis of the latter also invites reading of many other equally interesting sources.. (BritishCouncil.org) The 1991 British Council list of library materials includes books on economics, education, geography, language, law, literature, politics, science, religion, sports and theatre along with customs, food, monarchy, television, and other less serious topics.

(Brumfit 45). More than the content of the studies, what matters more is the realistic assessment of what the learners bring to the study in the beginning (Brumfit 51) such as their understanding of their own culture, specifically in the case of foreign students, as well as their understanding of the British culture. Why study Britain To perpetuate the vested interest of the powerful Brumfit's work is full of complexities and ambiguities, presenting so much ideas without sewing them up with a single thread that will unify and conclude into something concrete and optimistic.

It is fortunate that clear goals and constant purpose have been achieved by the government for British studies now and up to 2010 and beyond. In the 28-page Making a World of Difference (2006) publication by the British Council, it can be gathered that British studies is intercultural and for the sake of the changing world. The purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries. Some 10,000 influential young people in the UK and a range of other countries will have the skills and relationships to take the world community into a new era of intercultural exchange and understanding.

British studies has come to mean the study of Britain by foreign students. The policy makers, with the support of universities have intended this to be so because of these crucial 21st century UK imperatives-the growing importance of the relation with China, India, and