Exploring English: Language and Culture

Increase your confidence in English with the free online course Exploring English: Language and Culture

The first two times we organised this online course it generated an unprecedented interest around the world, with nearly a quarter of a million participants from over 200 countries. That is why we are organising it once again, so you can experience one of the most authentic courses focusing on the use of everyday English.

Based on the British Council’s high-quality language learning content, this course will give you a chance:

to practise your skills online
to engage with people all over the world
to improve your English and
to develop your understanding of British culture.
Our Exploring English: Language and Culture course is very comprehensive and it last six weeks, but at the same time it is extremely flexible as it will take up to two hours of your time per week, so you can practice at any time that suits you.
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 on Monday 22 June, 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 starting 11 May 2015.

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.