Western Language and Culture

Presentation Topics and General Course Content

Government and Politics

(e.g. British, U.S. political system, Obama, a famous British, American politician, past or present) Mass Media

Music

Movies

Art (e.g. newspapers, advertising etc.) (e.g. famous singer/ group Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Beatles, Classical Music, jazz, ) (e.g. a film, actor, director you like – types of movies – love, comedy, horror etc) Literature

Fashion

Sport

Diet (e.g. a writer or book that you like) (e.g. an artist you like– Van Gough, Picasso, or you could do modern or any other type of art) (e.g. famous brands Gucci, Adidas, Nike etc. or clothes, Paris fashion) (e.g. football team, the English premiere league, Rugby, Basketball player/team, tennis etc)

(e.g. contrast between Western and Chinese food, also you could talk about McDonalds, KFC or fast food)

Western Economy, Capitalism

(Big Companies – Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Nokia, famous business people Bill Gates etc.) Education

(e.g. Oxford Cambridge Universities in England, Harvard in US, any western school you’ve or any friends have had contact with)

Religion

(e.g.Ghandi, Christianity – Protestant, Catholic, Mormons)

Culture Regions

(e.g. any place in Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand – London, Paris, New York, etc.) Personal Presentation

This could be about anything, but using your own photographs, for example your home town, an event you attended, so this could be about something which is not Western but is personal to you, but using your own material.

Do Not Download Your Presentations

No plagiarism, I will search the internet and you will be penalized definitely for downloading, copying

e.g I do not want to see anything from www.

 

第二篇：高跟鞋的历史主题 英文演讲词

The origin of high heels can be dated back to many centuries ago. The first precursors of high heels were discovered in a tomb in old Egypt. Shoes in the past mainly served as markers of gender, class, and race and so on. After centuries' development, high heels gradually become a fashion. Today let's take a look at the history of high heels.

These were pieces of leather laced onto the feet or sandals made of woven rushes. It is thought that Egyptian butchers would wear a heeled shoe to keep their feet away from the gore involved in their job.

In the late 16th century, fashionable heels were popular for both sexes, and a person who was powerful and rich was often referred to as "well-heeled". As a fashion accessory, high heels came into existence in 1533 because Catherine de Medici wanted to be two inches taller when she married Henry II.

In the early 1700s, France King Louis wore complex heels decorated with miniature battle scenes. The shoes won the name of "Louise heels" which were as tall as five inches.They became very popular among men and women of the time. Even today, men are embracing high heels.The king decreed that only nobility could wear heels and others heels should lower than his own. During the course of the century, heels became higher and slender, which could present feminine court style. In this way, high heels took on a refine, pure aristocratic and desirable look.

In the late 18th century, "Louise heels" disappeared with French revolution and Napoleon banished high heels to show equality. The heels were no longer the symbols of social status and wealth.

Trend to lower heels came into being. Due to influence of Rococo style （emerged in 18c,as a continuation of Baroque style,opulence(富饶),grace,playfulness,lightness）, gorgeous costumes became people's favorites. The shoes were usually made of satin（锻）, woven cotton and budge（羔羊皮）. The shoes are decorated with fine embroidery（刺绣） and precious stones and also with shoes buckles.

In 1860 heels again became a fashion which resulted from Industrial Revolution. Many inventions in industry and technology made great contribution to the development of high heels. The sewing machine allowed greater variety in high heels. The flourishing and blossom in economy and literature speed up the fashion of high heels.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, women's comfort received increasing attention. Visible and elaborate heels were encouraged to produce. High heels in lower and wider made up lion's share in the market.

During the last 60 years, high heels have fallen in and out of fashion several times. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, people were fond of wearing lower heels and in the late 1980s and early 1990s people preferred high heels. The shape of fashionable shape has also varied from block to taper and stiletto. Nowadays, high heeled shoes have become one of symbols of women. High heels made of different materials including satin and feather and so on are available in the market. The height of high heels can be as low as 1 inch or as high as 12 inches. Wearing high heels can enhance femininity of women and women look more slender and taller. The pursuit for happiness and beauty results in the fast growth of high heels today.