Bachillerato Culture Classes:

BRITISH TRADITIONS AND FESTIVALS (ESO 1/2)

In this session, we go through the calendar and stop on certain days when an important festival or holiday is celebrated in Britain. From Halloween to Bonfire Night, Boxing Day to April Fool’s Day, learn about some strange and curious traditions and festivals, some of which are only celebrated in Britain.

A TRIP TO BRITAIN

This Culture Class for Bachillerato really helps to motivate students. They will discover why the British drive on the left as well as learning about the world’s first underground system. They will also discover more about the cultural differences between the different parts of the UK and the different languages that are spoken in Wales and Scotland.

UK CULTURE CLASS (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)

The students learn about the different countries that make up the UK. We look at the flags, national symbols, the Royal Family, food, languages, pop music and other aspects of life in Britain in a fun way.

LONDON CALLING

In this class, we take a trip around London, travelling on the Underground and stopping at different stations to visit some of the many sights in this great city. Students learn about both traditional London culture and the multi cultural attractions of life in the capital.

USA CULTURE CLASS (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)

This class focuses on US culture including topics such as food, sport, television and other aspects of American pop culture. We also look at some of the differences between British and American English.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

In this class, we take the students on a trip around the Big Apple. They will find out about the history of this great metropolis and about the different generations of immigrants that have contributed to its success. We also take a look at the city’s various sports teams and musical heritage.

ENGLISH AROUND THE WORLD (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)

In this class, we go beyond the boundaries of the UK and take a look at some other English-speaking cultures such as Australia, Canada, India and Jamaica.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

This class focuses on more detailed foodrelated vocabulary, with particular emphasis on pronunciation. We look at some traditional dishes from different English-speaking countries, as well as the fast-food culture in the USA.

A TRIP TO LONDON (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)

In this class, we take a trip around London and visit some of the many sights this great city has to offer including the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and Madame Tussauds. We visit Sherlock Holmes’ London and discover the origins of the British police. Students also learn about British money and the best places to shop and eat.

AROUND THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD

In this humorous but informative talk, we take a look at a number of different English-speaking countries. We will be travelling around the globe, stopping off at various points to examine some cultural and linguistic curiosities.

USA ROAD TRIP

Travel with us along the historic Route 66 highway. Along the way we will be finding out about American car culture and eating habits. We will also be looking at the best places to stay. Finally, we will take you on a musical tour of the whole country, discovering the geographical roots of different musical genres.

A TO Z OF ENGLISH

In this vocabulary-based class, we go through the English alphabet, taking one word for each letter and explaining some fascinating facts relating to that word. Along the way, we discover some ‘false friends’ and explain the origins of a number of idiomatic expressions.

Bachillerato Literature Lessons:

Animals in Literature (ESO 1/2)

From classics like Moby Dick or The Jungle Book, to modern fiction such as Jaws or The Lion King, some of the most celebrated characters of English literature come from the animal kingdom. In this lesson, we take a look at some animal characters from children’s literature.

General Literature

This culturally diverse lesson is full of new vocabulary and is a fun way to learn about eight of the English language’s most important writers, many of whom are featured authors in the Burlington Readers series. Just like Sherlock Holmes, the students will have to play detective, as each author is presented through a series of clues.

Characters in Literature (ESO 1/2)

English literature has created characters that have become an integral part of our culture. The appeal of Hamlet, Sherlock Holmes or Robinson Crusoe is universal, and is not confined to the original stories or the historical period in which they were written, but is reflected in film, television and other aspects of contemporary culture. In this lesson, we focus on the characters rather than the stories from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Gothic Legends (Bachillerato)

Gothic fiction became fashionable in Victorian Britain before spreading to the rest of the English-speaking world. In this lesson, we look at some of the characters that emerged during this period and have remained legends to this day: Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Sweeney Todd and the real-life legend of Jack the Ripper.

Ghosts and Legends (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)

This lesson touches on themes from various Burlington Readers. From some of the better-known phantoms to Britain’s most popular legends, the students will have the opportunity to expand their vocabulary and knowledge on all things scary and mysterious.

Shakespeare

Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights ever. In this lesson, the students will also discover what an impact Shakespeare had on the English language, and learn about the evolution of English since the Elizabethan era. They may also be surprised by Shakespeare’s personal life, the secrets he kept and the importance of his death.

General Literature (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)

What do Shakespeare, Conan Doyle and Mark Twain have in common? They are all among the most widely read authors in the English language. In our General Literature lesson for ESO, we take a look at some of the most important authors from around the English-speaking world, their greatest works and the characters that made them famous.

Women in English Literature

Discover the lives of the renowned women writers of timeless classics such as Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice and Little Women. In this lesson, we take a closer look at these authors who have made such important contributions to English literature. Who is the best-selling novelist of all time? What was the inspiration for the novel, Sense and Sensibility? These questions and more are answered in the lesson.

Villains in Literature (ESO 3/4)

How did Sweeney Todd dispose of his victims? Which real historical figure inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula? In this lesson, we take a look at the darker side of English literature, including characters from crime fiction, such as Sherlock Holmes’ arch-enemy Moriarty, as well as real-life characters, such as Jack the Ripper, who have inspired fictional works.