What do you know about Wales? Wales the country, not the big fish! Learn all about The Welsh and their beautiful country and traditions in this episode of Aprender Inglés con Reza y Craig
Voice message from Mamen
Hi to Katy
New Year’s Resolution – audio diary Episode 186 (self-study tips with Anna)
Accountability! SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant/Realistic, Time-based)
Email from our Patreon sponsor Igor Garmendia De La Vega
Hi Craig,
About the topics for your future programs. Next year perhaps I´m going to work for some weeks or months with my company to (in) Wales, There, close to Newport, the company where I work has built a new factory and it’s very probably (probable) I’ll have to go there. I work as an electrician, or a sparky, as you say colloquially, in a company that makes all kinds of trains. The thing is that I know nothing about Wales, their history, how they speak, their accent, customs, etc, what could you tell me about Wales? Have either of you been there?
Other (Another) thing, this one I guess it can be Reza´s interest (comment to him please), Did you know Reza that the flag of the Basque Country (Ikurriña) is inspirated in (inspired by) the Union Jack and has many similarities to it. As far as I know, in the Union Jack each cross with its color represents one country of United kingdom, in the Basque country they did the same inspirated in (inspired by) that, three colors for different crosses representing each one of a region of the Basque Country. Interesting, don’t you think?
That’s a very interesting fact from Igor that I didn’t know about the Basque flag. I wonder if Igor or any listener knows why Wales is not represented in the British flag?
Wales vs. Whales (ballenas) 
Have you ever been to Wales?
Welsh (adj. or language)
Wales is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain
There’s a dragon on the flag
Population – just over 3 million
Capital and largest city – Cardiff (nearly half a million)
Not very big – 20,779 km2
Quite a lot of coastline: (2,700 km)
Fairly mountainous – Mount Snowdon – 1,085 metres (3rd highest peak in the United Kingdom, apart from the Scottish Highlands)
After the Romans left Britain in the 5th Century, a Welsh national identity was formed and Wales is regarded today as one of the 6 modern Celtic nations (Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man)
The whole of Wales was annexed by England and incorporated within the English legal system under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542.
Some people in Wales want independence from the UK. Plaid Cymru (formed in 1925) is a social.democratic political party that wants independence for Wales inside the European Union. The Welsh language society was formed in 1962. Wales is officially bilingual.
Two-thirds of the population live in south Wales, mainly in and around Cardiff (the capital), Swansea and Newport, and in the nearby valleys.
Used to mine coal in South Wales. These days income is mainly from light industries, service industries and tourism.
Known for (male-voice) singing and rugby.
The longest place name in the UK is in Wales: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
Do you know any famous Welsh people?
Richard Burton
Dylan Thomas
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Bertrand Russell (philosopher)
Roald Dahl
Anthony Hopkins
Laura Ashley (fashion designer)
Shirley Bassey
Tom Jones
Michael Sheen (Tony Blair in The Queen with Helen Mirren)
Charlotte Church
Rob Brydon
Rhys Ifans (Spiderman, Notting Hill)
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English. Have you been to Wales? What did you think of it? Send us a voice message and tell us what you think. https://www.speakpipe.com/inglespodcast
Send us an email with a comment or question to [email protected] or [email protected].
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On next week’s episode: Coffee and Cafe Culture
The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’