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September 19th • Myths & Storytelling

Talk Like a Pirate Day

A parodic holiday created in 1995 that encourages people to talk and act like legendary sea pirates. While it started as a joke between friends, it has become a global phenomenon. Beyond the arrrghs and ahoy mateys, this day allows us to explore why society romanticises outlaws, the difference between Hollywood myths and the brutal historical reality of piracy, and the sheer joy of creative language play.

A classic pirate ship on the horizon

Speaking Discussion

  • Why do you think pirates are such popular characters in movies and books? Why do we find outlaws fascinating?
  • What are some of the most famous pirate myths (e.g., walking the plank, buried treasure)? Do you think they are true?
  • How does a parody holiday like this help people relieve the stress of modern adult life?
  • In your opinion, is it okay to celebrate people who were historically criminals and thieves?
  • How has the concept of piracy changed in the 21st century (e.g., digital piracy or modern sea pirates)?
  • If you had to live on a ship for a year with 50 other people and no internet, how would you survive?

Activity 1: The pirate code for Work

The Task: You are the Captain of a Corporate Office. You want to implement a pirate code to make work more exciting.

What are the 3 main rules of your office code?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most exciting thing about life at sea would be..."
  • "I think movies about pirates are..."
  • "In my opinion, everyone should occasionally..."