Exploring English: Language and Culture

On this online English course, you will learn about British life and culture, and improve your English language skills and knowledge.

Through short videos, you will learn about different popular culture topics as well as ways of life in the UK, including English as a global language, the countryside, music, and literature. Filmed in Great Britain, these videos will help you to develop your listening skills as you watch authentic examples of people speaking English. You will also examine some of the language used in the videos and analyse its use and learn how to use it again in practice.

This English language course draws on the British Council’s expertise in online learning. On this British Council courses page you can find out more about the other courses they offer for people who are learning and teaching English.

You can find out more about this course in Chris Cavey’s post for the FutureLearn blog: 3 tips for getting the most out of Exploring English.

This course is for non-native English speakers who have studied English to around intermediate level (approximately B1 on the CEFR).

• English: the global language
• Getting started
• Why is English a global language?
• Technology and language learning
• Language focus: passives
• Useful expressions
• Summary of Week 1
• Music: making a difference
• Introducing the topic - British music
• Music and society
• Language focus: clauses
• Live Music
• Summary of Week 2
• Countryside: a green and pleasant land
• Introducing the topic - what is Britain like?
• Looking at the countryside
• The United Kingdom
• Language focus: description
• Summary of Week 3
• Literature: books and identity
• Introducing the topic - Literature
• The Globe Theatre
• Language focus: comparatives and superlatives
• Roald Dahl
• Summary of Week 4