The Language of London: Exploring London Slang

The Language of London: Exploring London Slang

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand what is meant by London Slang, know its origins, and give examples of London Slang.

Introduce the learning objective to the students and explain the goals of the lesson.

What do you already know about London Slang?

Slide 1: What is London Slang?

London Slang refers to the unique vocabulary, expressions, and language used by the people of London. It includes colloquial terms, abbreviations, and rhyming slang.

Introduce the concept of London Slang and explain its different components to the students.

Slide 2: Origins of London Slang

London Slang has its roots in various sources, such as Cockney Rhyming Slang, multicultural influences, and historical developments. It has evolved over time to reflect the diverse nature of the city.

Discuss the origins of London Slang, mentioning key influences and factors that have shaped its development.

Slide 3: Example of Cockney Rhyming Slang

Cockney Rhyming Slang is a popular form of London Slang. For example, 'apples and pears' means 'stairs' and 'trouble and strife' means 'wife'. It involves replacing words with rhyming phrases.

Provide an example of Cockney Rhyming Slang and explain its structure and usage to the students.

Slide 4: Multicultural Influences

London's diverse population has contributed to the development of its slang. Words from different languages, such as Yiddish, Jamaican Patois, and Bengali, have been incorporated into the local vernacular.

Discuss the multicultural influences on London Slang, highlighting specific language contributions from different communities.

Slide 5: Historical Developments

Historical events and subcultures have also influenced London Slang. For instance, the punk movement in the 1970s introduced new words and expressions into the local lexicon.

Explain how historical events and subcultures have impacted London Slang, providing relevant examples for better understanding.

Slide 6: Popular London Slang Expressions

Some common London Slang expressions include 'gutted' (meaning extremely disappointed), 'cheeky' (meaning playful or impudent), and 'sorted' (meaning organized or taken care of).

Present a selection of popular London Slang expressions, emphasizing their meanings and usage.

Slide 7: Interactive Activity

Create a matching activity where students have to match London Slang expressions with their meanings. Use a mix of common and lesser-known terms to challenge the students.

Engage the students by incorporating an interactive activity to reinforce their understanding of London Slang expressions.

Slide 8: Recap and Conclusion

In this lesson, we explored London Slang, its origins, and examples of popular expressions. Remember to use this knowledge responsibly and respect cultural diversity in language usage.

Summarize the key points covered in the lesson and conclude by highlighting the importance of respectful language usage.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.