Exploring English: Language and Culture (FutureLearn)

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.
What topics will you cover?

English: the global language

- Why is English so widely used?

- How does technology help you learn?

- Language focus: passives

- Useful expressions

Music: making a difference

- What does British music mean to you?

- Music and society

- Language focus: clauses

Countryside: a green and pleasant land

- What do people think about the British countryside?

- A visit to the Lake District in north-west England

- A look at the different parts of the UK

- Language focus: description

Literature: books and identity

- British literature

- Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre

- Anniversaries in British literature

- Language focus: comparatives and superlatives

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

- Reflect on different popular culture topics as well as ways of life in the UK

- Explore English as a global language

- Develop your listening skills as you watched authentic examples of people speaking English

- Reflect on language in use

- Develop language skills and practise using new language

- Discuss the countryside, music, and literature