Exploring English: Language and Culture

This ExpertTrack by the British Council will help you to understand the culture and history in the UK, as well as improve your English skills and provide opportunities for you to practice at every stage.

The ExpertTrack courses cover some aspects of British culture. They also look back at the roots of British culture through the works of William Shakespeare and Magna Carta, which are the foundations of our modern democracy.

You will hear real English spoken in interviews with people from all over the UK. Language activities based on what you hear will be conducted and you will share your thoughts, experiences, and opinions at each step.

This course is the first in ExpertTrack Language & Culture. It will examine some key elements of British culture.

You will first consider English as a universal language. How did English become the language for business education and popular culture across many countries?

Next, we'll examine the role of music within British culture. What are your favorite British artists? Can listening to songs help with learning a language?

Although the British countryside is known for its greenery, what do you know about four other countries that make up the United Kingdom's borders? This will give you an idea of each.

Who is your favorite British author? We'll be looking at famous authors and sharing our own experiences with reading from the UK.

William Shakespeare is Britain’s most beloved and famous writer. The second course will teach you about Shakespeare's life at Stratford-upon-Avon.

We'll also be looking at five of Shakespeare's most well-known plays, including Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. Actors will share their experiences with Shakespeare's characters. You'll also learn about Shakespeare's impact on the English language. You might even have the chance to play a bit of Shakespeare!

This course will begin by exploring the events that led up to Magna Carta's 1215 signing. This document was almost forgotten for hundreds of years. How did it play such an important role in shaping history? We'll examine its role in the formation of modern Britain.

Learn more about other struggles throughout the centuries, from American independence to the right of vote, and from Gandhi to Nelson Mandela.