B1 LEVEL

Cockney Culture

B1 Worksheet

Vocabulary

  1. Cockney
    Traditionally, a working-class person from East London, known for their unique accent and slang.

  2. Working-class
    People who typically have jobs involving manual labor or service industries, often earning lower incomes and associated with traditional trades or industries.

  3. Upper-class
    The highest social group, often associated with wealth and privilege.

  4. Slang
    Informal words or phrases used by a specific group.

  5. Community
    A group of people who live in the same area or share something in common.

  6. Tradition
    A custom or way of doing something that has existed for a long time.

  7. Charity
    An organization that helps people in need.

  8. Lifestyle
    The way a person lives, including their habits and attitudes.

  9. Pearly King/Queen
    A person who wears clothes decorated with shiny buttons to raise money for charity.

  10. Generations
    Groups of people born and living around the same time.

Grammar Points

  1. Present Simple Tense:
    Used for facts and regular actions (e.g., "Cockneys are known for their unique accent.").

  2. Past Simple Tense:
    Used to describe completed actions in the past (e.g., "In the past, a Cockney was a working-class person born in East London.").

  3. Relative Clauses:
    Used to give extra information (e.g., "Cockneys are people who live in East London.").

  4. Comparatives:
    Used to compare two things (e.g., "Being Cockney is more about community than location.").

  5. Modals (can, might, should):
    Used to express possibility, ability, or advice (e.g., "Today, Cockneys can come from many different backgrounds.").

  6. Future Simple Tense:
    Used to express predictions (e.g., "Cockney culture will continue to connect communities.").

Activities

Activity 1
Writing Practice

Instructions
Write 3-5 sentences describing what you think makes someone a Cockney. Use the following words: accent, community, tradition, lifestyle.

Activity 2
Complete the Sentence

Instructions
Use the words in the box to complete the sentences about Cockney culture.

Words:
charity | working-class | Pearly King | Sylheti | accent

  1. Cockneys are known for their unique _______.

  2. A _______ is someone who wears clothes decorated with shiny buttons.

  3. Many Cockneys were traditionally part of the _______ community.

  4. Pearly Kings and Queens raise money for _______.

  5. Saif calls himself a _______ Cockney.

Activity 3
Personal Connection

Instructions
Discuss in pairs or small groups:

Describe a tradition or cultural feature in your own community that reminds you of Cockney culture. Use words like community, heritage, tradition, or charity.

Share your answers with the class.

Questions

  1. What is a Cockney traditionally known for and how has the meaning of being Cockney changed over time?

  2. Do you agree that being Cockney is more about lifestyle than location? Why?

  3. Who are the Pearly Kings and Queens, and what do they do?