Thomas Liggett (Accents, Culture, Scotland)

English and Rap: British Culture and Language through Rap, Counting Games and Nursery Rhymes

Event type: Workshop
Facilitator: Thomas Liggett
Minimum age: 11+
Level: Elementtary / Pre-intermediate + / Intermediate / Upper-intermediate / Advanced
Time: 80 min. (35 zł)
* Contents will be tailored to groups's needs and levels

Thomas leads an energetic, cross-level workshop that mixes music, rhythm, and tradition to explore Britain’s language and identity. Students from elementary to advanced join in live rap sessions about cream tea, the “keep calm” British mentality, and the pulse of major cities like London and Manchester. Classic nursery rhymes and playground chants add a playful twist: familiar lines such as “Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star,” echo alongside the lively cadence of “Eenie, Meenie, Miny, Moe,” inspiring participants to experiment with their own verses. To give a taste of authentic London flavor, Thomas also introduces Cockney rhyming slang, with fun examples like “The trouble’s waiting at home” (wife) and “I tripped going up the apples” (stairs), showing how language can be playful and culturally rich. By blending traditional rhymes, modern rap, and local slang, Thomas creates a vibrant space where learners practice English, discover cultural quirks, and feel the beat of modern Britain.

The Culture of England and Great Britain

Event type: Workshop
Facilitator: Thomas Liggett
Minimum age: 13+
Level: Pre-intermediate + / Intermediate / Upper-intermediate / Advanced
Time: 80 min. (35 zł)
* On demand contents, level and timing can be tailored to groups? needs.

This session will focus on the following questions: What is meant by ‘culture’? What is Englishness? What is English culture? The students will be asked to, explore the idea of what culture is, and what they already know about England and the English. Together, we will try to separate out ideas of the English, putting them into different cultural categories or groups. These categories – for example, English cuisine/food – will then be explored, to examine their history, importance, and roles in English life.

Wordwall exercise 1: Multiple Choice History of England
Wordwall exercise 2: True or False Geography of England
Wordwall exercise 3: Gap-fill reading English versus British Culture
Wordwall exercise 4: Matching parts of sentences English Culture

 

In this session we will talk about how the British and American societies have changed over the past decades. We will discuss questions such as how society is represented in film, what society do we want to represent, and how film and drama influence a society and its values. We will also look at social issues, ethnicity, neurotypicality and people seeing themselves reflected on the big screen as well as the role of casting in providing us with that representation, including blind casting. How do we feel about a woman being cast in the role of Hamlet (Maxine Peak), should actors of colour play the parts traditionally played by white actors, or should they be eternally condemned to the roles of maids, butlers and slaves. Would Idris Elba make a good James Bond? The session will be illustrated with examples from shows such as Eastenders, Coronation street, Casualty, Good Doctor, House, Peaky Blinders, and Black Mirror.

Wordwall and learnclick exercises:
Definitions

Cultural Imperialism Discussion points
British History and Identity in a few sentences

Event type: Workshop
Facilitator: Thomas Liggett
Minimum age: 13+
Level: Pre-intermediate + / Intermediate / Upper-intermediate / Advanced
Time: 80 min. (35 zł)
* On demand contents, level and timing can be tailored to groups? needs.

 

 

Wordwall exercise: Ireland Basic Facts Quiz

Event type: Workshop
Facilitator: Thomas Liggett
Minimum age: 13+
Level: Pre-intermediate + / Intermediate / Upper-intermediate / Advanced
Time: 80 min. (35 zł)
* On demand contents, level and timing can be tailored to groups? needs.

 

The United Kingdom hasn't always been united - is a mixture of peoples, cultures and place. Scotland, Wales and (Northern) Ireland have had to resist English domination in terms of money, culture and control. Identity has therefore been very important in the history of the British Isles - people, fighting and mixing, both keeping and sharing what is theirs.St Andrew's Day is a symbol of this resistance: when the Scots take the time to celebrate themselves. In this workshop we will take a look at this celebration, and examine what lies behind. We'll take in Scotland's history and culture,  and what makes it distinct.

 

Wordwall exercise 1 Quiz: The History, Geography and Culture of Scotland

Wordwall exercise 2 Matching:  The History, Geography and Culture of Scotland

 

United Kingdom in the News

Let's have a look at the modern United Kingdom, it's challenges and highlights. This session will cover recent changes in politics, economy, and culture. We will talk about how Britain’s multi-ethnic society is changing, how the new King is doing; how the future looks, with the advent of AI. Climate change, and culture wars will be examined, as will the status of women as reflected by events reported in the news. Other headlines and topics will help us ascertain which current world issues are discussed, and how the UK responds. While we will concentrate on recent events, historical context will be recruited, where necessary, to aid a better understanding of current events.

Event type: Workshop
Facilitator: Thomas Liggett
Minimum age: 10+
Level: Pre-intermediate + / Intermediate / Upper-intermediate / Advanced
Time: 80 min. (35 zł)
* On demand contents, level and timing can be tailored to groups? needs.

 

We will look at what Christmas is, its history and where it’s come from. We’ll also examine what Christmas has been in our customs, practices and beliefs. Where did the idea of  the Christmas Tree come from?  What are Christmas crackers? What's a German Market? There’ll be time, too, for a look at the ideas that surround Christmas - a bit of Charles Dickens, perhaps , or the psychology of some other literature. Finally we will turn our attention to the present, with supermarket Christmas Pudding, Coca Cola, excessive eating and drinking, and how we buy and sell love.

Wordwall exercises:
Christmas in Great Britain vocabulary