Exploring English: Shakespeare
Explore Shakespeare’s life, discover famous Shakespeare plays, and improve your English language skills with the British Council.
Duration
6 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
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.
What topics will you cover?
- Romeo and Juliet
- Hamlet
- Much Ado About Nothing
- The Tempest
- Macbeth
Our video tutor will guide you through the course and look at some of the words and expressions that Shakespeare introduced to the English language.
Short quizzes will check your understanding and you’ll be asked to share your ideas and opinions on the topics Shakespeare raises.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the life and works of William Shakespeare.
- Investigate five of Shakespeare’s plays and look at the universal themes Shakespeare addressed in his work.
- Reflect on words and expressions that Shakespeare introduced to the English language.
Who is the course for?
This course is 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).
What do people say about this course?
"It was a fantastic course to do. I learnt new things that I wanted to know. It also helped me in understanding Shakespeare a lot and also in my studies. "
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.
Endorsers and supporters
supported by
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Ways to learn | Upgrade this course | Unlimited | Basic access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $64 | $23.33/month Billed at $279.99 for a year | Free |
| Unlock your expertise | Endless possibilities! | Try before you upgrade | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 6 weeks |
| Access to ALL eligible short courses with additional benefits, for a year | cross | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Ways to learn
Buy Unlimited to access this course and hundreds of other short courses for a year or Upgrade just this course for extra benefits. Or, join with basic access.
Unlimited
$23.33/month
Billed at $279.99 for a year
Endless possibilities!
- Access to this course
- Access to ALL eligible short courses with additional benefits, for a year
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Upgrade this course
$64
Unlock your expertise
- All of the above* for this course only, plus a printed certificate when you’re eligible
*Excludes access to all eligible short courses with additional benefits for a year
Basic access
Free
Try before you buy
- Limited access to course content for 6 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Upgrades or Unlimited. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Upgrades or Unlimited.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps, but you can complete them as quickly or slowly as you like
- 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
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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