Scottish/English Law

Related Section of pack: Knowing the Law

Aim: To raise awareness of some of the differences between Scottish and English law; to practise modals of obligation e.g. must, can and their negative forms.

Materials: A task sheet for each learner. A task sheet cut up into cards for each group of 2/3 learners. Flashcards of flags OHT/P

ESOL level: Intermediate 1

SCQF level: 4

Time: 40 – 60 minutes

Preparation: Photocopies of the task sheet Task sheet copied onto card and cut up. Copy of task sheet on OHT for feedback

In class: 1) Show learners flashcards of flags and ask them to identify the countries. Focus on Scotland and

England. Elicit some of the differences between the 2 countries before asking the learners to continue the activity in pairs. (e.g. food, weather, etc.)

2) Learners feedback to the whole class, giving more detail about differences (e.g. it’s colder in Scotland than in England etc). Elicit ‘law’. Ask learners to predict which types of laws may be different. Pre-teach ‘will’ (noun).

3) Place Scotland and England flags on wall at opposite ends of the classroom. Read some laws from the worksheet to the learners and ask them to stand at the flag of the country they think the law comes from. Tell learners the correct answer after each question. (This could be played as a point scoring game – 1 point for each correct answer).

4) Give groups of 2/3 a set of law cards and ask learners to categorise them under the Scottish/English flags from the task sheet. Answers can be checked using a copy of the task sheet on an OHT or learners can check using a complete version.

5) A class discussion can then follow as to which of the laws surprised the learners and which ones they found most lenient / sensible.

Variation: Learners can search the web to find further differences. This activity can be extended by learners comparing the laws in Scotland with their own

countries and discussing this with other learners. Learners can write a report using the language function of expressing opinions about their

views on these particular laws.

Assessment: The task helps prepare learners for the following summative assessment:Intermediate 1 English Language Study Outcomes 1 & 2 (DA9E 10)

Scottish/English LawCut up the laws into cards and categorise under Scottish/English law.

The identity of children under 16 is protected during legal/court cases.

The identity of children under 18 is protected during legal/court cases.

Any person aged 12 and above can make a will. You must be 18 to make a will.

There can be 3 verdicts in court – guilty, not guilty and not proven.

There can only be 2 verdicts in court – guilty and not guilty.

It takes 1 year to get divorced if both people agree.

It takes 2 years to get divorced if both people agree.

A man/woman can marry any of their in-laws (e.g. mother/father-in-law).

A man/woman cannot marry their mother/father-in-law.

The wife doesn’t have to take her husband’s surname.

It is unusual for a wife not to take her husband’s name.

There are 15 people in the jury when trying serious crimes in the High Court.

There are 12 people on the jury when trying serious crimes in the Crown Court.

People aged 16 and above can marry without their parents’ consent.

People under 18 cannot marry without their parents’ consent.

You cannot smoke in any workplace, including bars and restaurants.

You can smoke in many public places, such as stations, bars and restaurants.

Only hotels can serve alcohol 24 hours aday.

It is legal to serve alcohol in bars and hotels 24 hours a day.