A British Institution:The Local

Image found on flickr here

Part of school duties is to go to the pub with students on a Thursday evening. This is one of the perks of the job! The evening is a chance for students to practise their English and also to sample one of the greatest of British traditions with teachers. Tonight we are going to The Head of the River, which as the name suggests, is on the river!

20 Questions Game
As an introduction to the theme of "pubs", I put a coaster (like the one at the top of the page) in an envelope and then ask my students to guess the traditional British "thing" which is inside the envelope. They can only ask me 20 questions and I will only answer yes or no. Once they have guessed the object, I write up the words PUBLIC HOUSE on the board. I ask them to brainstorm vocabulary connected to pubs, eg drinks, food, items that are found in a pub, by using the letters in the words eg.

Pint
draught
Bitter
Lager
pIssed
Crisps
Half a pint
my rOund
drink Up
bar Stool
pEanuts

A Pub Quiz
I hand out a sheet which contains 20 questions relating to pubs. The quiz can be played open class or in small groups/pairs of students. You set a time limit. This quiz tests general knowledge about pubs. Here are a few questions:

1. What do you call a tour of pubs in one area where you have a drink in each one?
2. How old do you have to be to buy alcohol in Britain?
3. What is shandy?
4. What is draught beer?
5. What does "stright or on the rocks" mean?
6. What do you say when you are going to buy drinks for everyone?
7. When do you hear "last orders"
8. What is the difference between bitter and Lager?
9. What time do pubs close in England?
10. What is the female equivalent of barman?

To be continued later....