Learning

Free workshops and tours for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) groups

The British Museum runs a variety of guided 90-minute group tours for ESOL learners studying for QCA Skills for Life qualifications. The tours are suitable for all Entry levels (pre-Entry, Entry 1–3, and Levels 1–2).

General introductory tour

Students are introduced to the history, purpose and collection of the British Museum by experienced language teachers. After a short introduction, the students are given a general tour of the Ground floor of the Museum, including the Great Court, Enlightenment Gallery, Egyptian and Assyrian Sculpture Galleries and the Parthenon Gallery.

Students then engage in gallery-based activities, using worksheets appropriate to their Entry level. Activities are designed to develop students’ grammar and vocabulary of both historical and everyday words. Groups can choose between activities in galleries covering Africa, Asia, the Islamic world, and ancient Greece.
Also suitable for Literacy learners.

Citizenship – Making of the UK

Students are introduced to the settlement and development of the British Isles from prehistory to the Tudor period. The guided tour looks at the different migrations of people from Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Norman French and their impact on the development of the English language.

History of Writing

Explore the history of ancient Mesopotamia with this hands-on workshop designed for ESOL and literacy students. Students will explore the history of writing through the British Museum’s permanent collections and practice writing the ancient script of cuneiform.
Also suitable for Literacy learners.

Word in Islamic art

This workshop explores the power of the word in art and architecture. Learners will look at the Islamic collections and look at the impact of the word in art. Learners will create their own tile to take away.
Also suitable for Literacy learners.

Nebamun: life and afterlife in ancient Egypt

This workshop looks at the tomb paintings of Nebamun from ancient Egypt and considers the objects and things that we value in this life and the afterlife. Learners will make a visual description of their own to take away.

ESOL and numbers

This workshop look at the ways that numbers are used in the Museum. Using the Enlightenment Gallery and Museum materials, learners will use their numerical literacy skills to decode the Museum. Includes handling with ancient and modern coins.