This course is for people who are learning English and who are interested in finding out more about British culture and improving their English language skills.

The course will use short videos to present a different topic each week, including English as a global language, the environment, entrepreneurship 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. Our experienced tutor will examine some of the language used in the videos and will draw your attention to useful points that will help you improve your spoken and written English.

The course does not follow a language syllabus but takes authentic English in context as its starting point. Short quizzes and discussions will help you measure your understanding and practise your English throughout the course. At the end of each week you will be asked to describe your own feelings and experiences about that week’s topic in a short piece of writing.

The course draws on the British Council’s expertise in online learning. It is one of three courses from its Exploring English course collection.

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.”

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When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now
Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

Who is the course for?

What level of English language do I need in order to understand the course?

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

Is the whole course really free?

Yes, it is free to take part in the whole course.

Is the course live or recorded? I am not based in the UK - will time difference be a problem?

You will be able to access every step of the course whenever suits you. The videos are recorded (not live) and will be available to watch at any time of day, wherever you live.

Do I need a web camera in order to communicate within the course?

You do not need a web cam as there is no ‘live’ video discussion.

I cannot stream the course videos. Can I download them?

Yes - if you have trouble streaming the videos in the course because your internet connection is slow, you can download them to watch offline. You will see a pink ‘Download this video’ under each one.

When are the classes going to be held?

The course is delivered fully online. Each activity is a series of steps which you can study at your own speed. Once the course starts, you can study at any time that suits you. You should allow roughly two hours per week to study all of the material.

Is the course equivalent to IELTS?

The Exploring English course is NOT an IELTS equivalent and there is no formal test at the end of the course. If you are thinking of taking the IELTS test, you might be interested in our free Understanding IELTS course.

How do I get a certificate after the course?

If you complete more than 50% of the steps in the course, you will be eligible to purchase a Statement of Participation.

Will online discussions during the course take place using written comments or face to face chat?

Discussions take the form of written comments on pages of the course, not face-to-face. Learners will be able to post comments and ask questions on most steps of the course.

Who will be monitoring the discussions? Will there be an English teacher observing and helping learners?

Online tutors from the British Council will be monitoring and guiding the discussion, responding to learners and answering their questions.

How old do I have to be to join the course?

You must be at least 13 years old to create a profile on FutureLearn. Parents may register using their own name and then supervise a child throughout the course using this profile.

Can English teachers join the course?

Teachers are welcome to join the course and participate in discussions with learners.

Will there be any opportunities to speak with native British people?

The British Council tutors on the course will be British native speakers and some of the learners on the course may also be native speakers. But you should take the opportunity to talk to English speakers from all over the world.

Who will you learn with?

Genevieve White

I've taught English in Hungary, Romania, China and the UK. At the moment I teach in Shetland and I also write English language teaching materials.

Who developed the course?

British Council

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million people overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn