Exploring English: Shakespeare

Explore the English language through Shakespeare’s plays

This course will look at the life and works of William Shakespeare and take you from his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon to the Globe Theatre in London, from where he secured his central place in English literature.

We will look at five of Shakespeare’s plays with the help of actors and experts from around the world. They will explain and explore the universal themes Shakespeare addressed in his work.

This course is designed for people who are learning English and interested in the language and legacy of William Shakespeare.

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

• Shakespeare and his world
• Getting started
• Shakespeare's Stratford
• Falling in love with Shakespeare
• Shakespeare's London
• Shakespeare's plays: tragedies and comedies
• Round up
• Romeo and Juliet
• Welcome to Week 2
• The story of Romeo and Juliet
• Love and other themes in Romeo and Juliet
• The role of Juliet
• Shakespeare’s language in Romeo and Juliet
• Round up
• Macbeth
• The story of Macbeth
• The themes in Macbeth
• Shakespeare's idioms
• Shakespeare around the world
• Round up
• Much Ado About Nothing
• Introduction to Week 4
• The plot of Much Ado About Nothing
• Hero and Beatrice
• Shakespeare for everybody
• Round up
• Hamlet
• Introduction to Week 5
• The story of Hamlet
• Hamlet in Africa
• Shakespeare's language: words, phrases and verse
• Round-up
• The Tempest
• Introduction to Week 6
• The characters and the plot of The Tempest
• Playing Caliban in The Tempest
• Enjoying and understanding Shakespeare
• Shakespeare's words
• Round up