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History of the British Empire – HearSay

English B1

Explore the vast and complex history of the British Empire. Practise listening to historical narratives and speaking about global impacts on the go.

Lessons

Origins of the empire
Arthur introduces Beatrice to the earliest maps of the British Empire.
Vocabulary
- an empire (an empire)
- a century (a century)
- vast (vast)
- to encompass (to encompass)
- a population (a population)
- a landmass (a landmass)
Objectives
- Describe early historical periods
- Discuss the size of landmasses
Early overseas trade ventures
They examine 16th-century ship models used by England and Scotland.
Vocabulary
- a venture (a venture)
- overseas (overseas)
- trade (trade)
- an ambition (an ambition)
- an origin (an origin)
- to trace (to trace)
Objectives
- Talk about ocean travel
- Describe trading ambitions
Colonial expansion and wealth
Arthur explains how resources from colonies fuelled British expansion.
Vocabulary
- a colony (a colony)
- an expansion (an expansion)
- wealth (wealth)
- a resource (a resource)
- to fuel (to fuel)
- significant (significant)
Objectives
- Explain economic growth
- Identify colonial resources
The industrial revolution
Beatrice sets up a display about manufacturing and early machinery.
Vocabulary
- a revolution (a revolution)
- industrial (industrial)
- a factory (a factory)
- cotton (cotton)
- to manufacture (to manufacture)
- machinery (machinery)
Objectives
- Discuss factory work
- Explain manufacturing processes
At the historical zenith
They discuss the empire at its peak in the 1920s.
Vocabulary
- a zenith (a zenith)
- global (global)
- a quarter (a quarter)
- to rule (to rule)
- a territory (a territory)
- historical (historical)
Objectives
- Describe historical peaks
- Talk about global territories
Spread of the language
Arthur explores how English became a widespread global language.
Vocabulary
- a language (a language)
- official (official)
- native (native)
- to communicate (to communicate)
- extensive (extensive)
- widespread (widespread)
Objectives
- Discuss language adoption
- Explain global communication
British institutions and laws
Beatrice reviews documents showing the export of British legal systems.
Vocabulary
- an institution (an institution)
- a court (a court)
- legal (legal)
- a norm (a norm)
- deeply (deeply)
- a system (a system)
Objectives
- Talk about legal systems
- Describe cultural norms
The sporting legacy
They curate a section on sports popularised by the empire.
Vocabulary
- a sport (a sport)
- cricket (cricket)
- rugby (rugby)
- tennis (tennis)
- popular (popular)
- worldwide (worldwide)
Objectives
- Name traditional British sports
- Discuss global pastimes
Migration and cultural ties
Arthur highlights global migration patterns linked to British history.
Vocabulary
- a migration (a migration)
- a pattern (a pattern)
- cultural (cultural)
- a tie (a tie)
- to settle (to settle)
- a border (a border)
Objectives
- Explain migration patterns
- Discuss cultural ties
The modern commonwealth
Beatrice maps out independent nations that form the Commonwealth today.
Vocabulary
- a commonwealth (a commonwealth)
- independent (independent)
- a nation (a nation)
- to govern (to govern)
- modern (modern)
- to maintain (to maintain)
Objectives
- Identify independent nations
- Talk about modern governance
Examining a complex legacy
They prepare the exhibition's section on modern historical debate.
Vocabulary
- scholarship (scholarship)
- complex (complex)
- a debate (a debate)
- to examine (to examine)
- an aspect (an aspect)
- positive (positive)
Objectives
- Discuss historical debates
- Express different viewpoints
Global economic impacts
Arthur evaluates both positive and negative economic routes.
Vocabulary
- an economy (an economy)
- a route (a route)
- negative (negative)
- profound (profound)
- an impact (an impact)
- to import (to import)
Objectives
- Evaluate economic impacts
- Discuss international trade
Contemporary political discourse
Beatrice looks at how the empire's narrative shapes modern society.
Vocabulary
- a discourse (a discourse)
- contemporary (contemporary)
- a structure (a structure)
- political (political)
- a narrative (a narrative)
- to acknowledge (to acknowledge)
Objectives
- Discuss political discourse
- Acknowledge historical events
Opening the exhibition
Arthur and Beatrice welcome guests to reflect on the lasting history.
Vocabulary
- a legacy (a legacy)
- an exhibition (an exhibition)
- to reflect (to reflect)
- lasting (lasting)
- a community (a community)
- to discuss (to discuss)
Objectives
- Welcome guests to an event
- Reflect on historical summaries