1 February 2018

Overseas students and those who speak English as a second language are being offered the chance to practice their skills on York Castle Museum’s Victorian street, Kirkgate.

Two new workshops have been specially created for groups of students who are learning English to help them develop their skills while finding out more out more about the shops that were in Victorian York.

Using replica and original objects, students can practice their vocabulary and interact with the costumed customers and shopkeepers. The workshops are available for up to 15 students with one aimed at elementary level and a second for those at an intermediate level.

Sarah Mortimer, assistant curator of history learning (formal), said:

“We already have lots of groups of students who visit us while they are in York to learn English but these workshops are an exciting, new interactive way for them to develop their skills and find out more about how shopping has changed.

“We also have a museum trail available to help develop language skills whilst visiting so students can have a real focus to their visit.”

Each workshop takes one hour and 30 minutes and costs £70. Workshops are suitable for up to 15 students. The two workshops available are:

Elementary level – Kirkgate, our Victorian Street, houses reproductions of many shops that could have been found in York in Victorian times. Using replica and original objects, students will practice and develop their vocabulary before creating their own role plays based on the interactions between customers and shopkeepers.

Intermediate level – Kirkgate, our Victorian Street, houses reproductions of many shops that could have been found in York in Victorian times. Using replica and original objects, maps, census returns and other written evidence, students will find out more about some of the shops and the people who would have used them.

Click here for more information about workshops at York Castle Museum.