Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish. Now, is there
anything that makes you feel good about your country? This is what I'm talking
about with Finn today. Hello Finn.
Finn: Hi Rob. Yes, this is something we call national pride. Pride is a feeling of
pleasure and satisfaction that you get because you or people or places
connected with you have done something good.
Rob: So it is a good feeling. We can also say 'to take pride in something' so we feel
good about doing something.
Finn: Some people in Britain – or the United Kingdom - recently felt proud when it was
announced the first ever British astronaut is to go to the International Space
Station. An astronaut is a person who has trained to go into space.
Rob: We will talk more about this and what makes us proud soon. First I need to set
you a question, Finn.
Finn: And hopefully I will take pride in getting it right, Rob?
Rob: Maybe. Do you know the nationality of the first astronauts to live in the
International Space Station back in the year 2000?
a) Russian
b) Ukrainian
c) American
Finn: I'm going to say a) Russian.
Rob: I will let you know the answer later on. So, let's talk more about national pride.
Commander Tim Peake is to be the first British man to go to the International Space
Station.
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Finn: Many people in the UK feel pride that he is going to fly the flag for Britain. In other
words, he is going to represent Britain in space.
Rob: Yes, it's a good feeling to know that a person from your country is involved in space
exploration.
Finn: Well let's hear from Tim Peake. What words does he use to describe his feelings?
Commander Tim Peake:
I don't think I need to tell you I am absolutely delighted with this decision. It was an honour to be
selected in 2009 as an astronaut into the European astronaut candidate as British citizen. But it
really is a true privilege to be assigned to a long duration mission.
Rob: He feels good! He says he is delighted – so very happy – and he described being
chosen for the mission as an honour, so something he is proud to do.
Finn: And finally, he said it was a true privilege. That means he is very lucky to have the
opportunity to do it. I suppose, I would feel the same if I was the first astronaut to
represent my home country, Scotland.
Rob: Scotland, Finn? Not the United Kingdom!
Finn: Good point, I am both. As you know, the United Kingdom is made up of smaller
countries, one of which is Scotland where I am from. Rob, I know you're from
England which is also part of the United Kingdom, or the UK. Do you take pride in
being English or British?
Rob: Both. I am proud of our English history and countryside and I take pride in seeing
England winning at football, sometimes! But I am also proud that England is part of
the United Kingdom and how we have such a diverse population – so many different
types of people.
Finn: That's true and in the 2012 Olympics we were proud to see British athletes win lots
of medals.
Rob: Well, the British are not as proud as some countries are. A BBC survey discovered
people from developing and middle-income countries said the way their team
performed at the Olympics was very important to their national pride. We asked
people on Facebook what made them proud about their country and this is what
some of them said:
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Finn: Gilberto said: "In Brazil we are proud of Ayrton Senna who won Formula 1, and I am
proud because Brazil is a wonderful Country to live in: we have nice places like
beaches, waterfall, cities like São Paulo and good people."
Rob: Sambath said: "Angkor Wat is the 7th wonder of the world that makes me proud to
be Cambodian."
Finn: Nachiya from India said she is proud of the country's rich culture and that it has one
of the great wonders, the Taj Mahal, a wonderful place.
Rob: So people and places can make give you pride. One thing I am proud of is the BBC –
the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is something that is respected around the
world, something in the United Kingdom we can be proud of.
Finn: Yes, I think it's when you're abroad, in another country, that you realise what makes
you proud of your home country.
Rob: Yes, when I am abroad and I see something made in Britain or if I hear music by a
British band, it makes me patriotic. That means showing love for your country and
being proud of it. Earlier I asked you if you knew the nationality of the first
astronauts to live in the International Space Station back in the year 2000?
Finn: I said a) Russian.
Rob: You were sort of right. It was a bit of a trick question. The nationalities of the first
people to go to the International Space Station were Russian and American. Well
back here on planet earth we just have time for a reminder of some of the words we
have heard today.
Finn: Yes. We heard:
