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Session 1
3 ActivitiesIn a pickle
02 Oct 2016King James enjoys a bit of pickle with his dinner while he watches William Shakespeare's The Tempest. We bring you the phrase in a pickle - and lots more phrases for talking about difficult situations. Plus, pick up some great expressions to use when people are drunk!
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Session 2
1 ActivityAbout Shakespeare Speaks
05 Jan 2016Shakespeare Speaks was produced by BBC Learning English in partnership with The Open University. Find out about the series on these pages.
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Session 3
4 ActivitiesAs dead as a doornail
22 Jan 2016Thomas Swann fixes a broken door at the theatre… and gives William Shakespeare a great idea for his new play! Pick up some useful expressions with dead, hammer and nail in this episode.
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Session 4
3 ActivitiesI'll send him packing
29 Jan 2016Thomas, it's packing… I'll send him packing… Not packaged. You're not putting him in a box or parcel!
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Session 5
3 ActivitiesAll that glisters is not gold
05 Feb 2016William Shakespeare's daughter learns an important lesson when she buys a cheap gold ring... and we look at idioms and phrases relating to appearance.
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Session 6
3 ActivitiesStrange bedfellows
12 Feb 2016Music, magic and monsters! We learn how to use the phrase strange bedfellows from The Tempest - and lots of other useful expressions for talking about relationships.
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Session 7
3 ActivitiesThough this be madness, yet there is method in't
11 Feb 2016Maggoty dogs and crabs walking backwards teach us about the phrase though this be madness, yet there is method in't from William Shakespeare's Hamlet - and we bring you lots more useful expressions for talking about strange behaviour!
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Session 8
3 ActivitiesWild-goose chase
19 Feb 2016Are they chasing geese – or horses? We show you how to use the phrase wild-goose chase from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet - and bring you some other popular animal idioms!
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Session 9
3 ActivitiesWhat's done is done
26 Feb 2016Everyone's feeling guilty – except William Shakespeare. We show you how to use the phrase what's done is done from William Shakespeare's Macbeth - and bring you some useful expressions relating to guilt.
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Session 10
3 ActivitiesThe world's mine oyster
03 Mar 2016Meet Queen Elizabeth, her favourite explorer and 'The Real Housewives Of Shakespeare Speaks' while you learn how to use the phrase the world's mine oyster - and lots more idioms with the word world.
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Session 11
3 ActivitiesA tower of strength
10 Mar 2016What's in a name? We show you how to use the phrase a tower of strength - and bring you some useful phrases for talking about people you can rely on.
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Session 12
3 ActivitiesSpotless reputation
08 Mar 2016Queen Elizabeth isn't very happy today! We show you how to use the phrase spotless reputation from William Shakespeare's Richard II - and bring you some useful expressions for talking about both good - and bad - reputations.
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Session 13
3 ActivitiesThe green-eyed monster
24 Mar 2016William Shakespeare and Thomas Swann are enjoying a drink - or three - in their favourite pub. While they get drunk, we show you how to use the phrase green-eyed monster - and many more colour idioms - to make your English more colourful.
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Session 14
3 ActivitiesIn a pickle
31 Mar 2016King James enjoys a bit of pickle with his dinner while he watches William Shakespeare's The Tempest. We bring you the phrase in a pickle - and lots more phrases for talking about difficult situations. Plus, pick up some great expressions to use when people are drunk!
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Session 15
3 ActivitiesForever and a day
08 Apr 2016Everyone's in disguise in William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew - but William's daughter isn't hiding her true feelings! We show you how to use the phrase forever and a day - and introduce you to some more fun ways to exaggerate in English.
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Session 16
3 ActivitiesGive no words but mum
14 Apr 2016Ssshhhh… it's a secret! It's William Shakespeare's birthday and there's a surprise in store for him. Plus, we're bringing you the phrase mum's the word and keep mum as well as lots more useful phrases for talking about secrets!
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Session 17
3 ActivitiesA pound of flesh
21 Apr 2016King James needs to stay awake during this performance of The Merchant of Venice to find out why Shylock is talking about a pound of flesh. We'll explore the origin and modern day usage of a pound of flesh - and bring you some great expressions for talking about revenge.
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Session 18
3 ActivitiesA fool's paradise
28 May 2015Is Robert Harley really going to put a ring on Janet Bassett's finger? Or is Janet living in a fool's paradise? We'll explore the meaning of the phrase a fool's paradise - and bring you some great expressions for talking about reality and fantasy.
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Session 19
3 ActivitiesNot budge an inch
05 May 2016William Shakespeare and actor Thomas Swann have a disagreement. Can Bess the barmaid make Thomas see sense, or will he refuse to budge an inch? We explore the phrase not budge an inch and introduce some useful responses for when you are asked to do something you don’t want to do.
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Session 20
3 ActivitiesI must be cruel, only to be kind
12 May 2016The Queen is taking King James' wine away, but is she being cruel... or kind? Learn how to use the phrase cruel to be kind and expand your vocabulary by learning six synonyms of cruel - and the nouns that go with them.
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Session 21
3 ActivitiesWear my heart on my sleeve
19 May 2016William Shakespeare's daughter has fallen in love... again. But should she wear her heart on her sleeve - or keep her feelings hidden? We'll help you use the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve, and explore some other great phrases for talking about revealing - or hiding - your feelings. We also bring you plenty more heart idioms to expand your vocabulary.
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Session 22
3 ActivitiesGreek to me
26 May 2016Old Mother Howard predicts the future, but William Shakespeare's daughter is confused! We'll help you use the phrase It's all Greek to me - and other idioms with nationalities or countries. Plus, we'll explore some great phrases to say "I don't understand!"
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Session 23
1 ActivityFor teachers
09 Jun 2016Calling all English language teachers. Here you'll find lesson plans and worksheets to help you use the Shakespeare Speaks videos in the classroom.
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Session 24
3 ActivitiesShakespeare Speaks review
01 Jul 2016You enjoyed watching the videos - it's now time to review the facts, idioms and phrases from Shakespeare Speaks. How much can you remember about the series? Try these fun review quizzes to find out!