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Hundreds of educational interactives, games, quizzes, videos and podcasts, plus 1000s of articles written by academic experts and guest contributors.
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Languages
Download our Chinese characters learning apps
Dr Qian Kan, Head of Chinese at The Open University, led the development and the update of the Chinese@OU app, which is ready to download. She explains below why it is important to learn Chinese.
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Languages
Write it right: seven common writing mistakes
Tutors told us that students make several of the same common writing mistakes which can impact the grades they receive for their Open University assignments.
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Languages
A short introduction to the English language
This free course, A short introduction to the English language, will look at the role language plays in our lives, with a particular focus on the English language. It will examine the history and the future of the language, from the Anglo-Saxons and Shakespeare to social media communication and stand-up comedy.
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Languages
“Beagán ar bheagán: Pobal Teanga Faoi Bhláth” - Athbheochan na Gaeilge ó thuaidh i ré Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta
What was the effect of The Good Friday Agreement on the Irish language? Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh traces the language's history and recent revival.
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Languages
“Pobal Teanga Faoi Bhláth” - The Irish Language Revival and the Good Friday Agreement
What was the effect of The Good Friday Agreement on the Irish language? Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh traces the language's history and recent revival.
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Education & Development
Social media - fake news, filter bubbles and sharing wisely!
Meet Frank and travel with him on his adventures through the (sometimes foggy) realms of social media. Explore sharing, filter bubbles and fake news- maybe you can learn from Frank's mistakes with the help of Josie Long.
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Languages
Year of the Rabbit: Chinese New Year
兔年快乐！tǔ nián kuài lè! Happy Chinese New Year of the rabbit! Why not learn how to say some Chinese New Year’s greetings to celebrate Chinese New Year?
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Languages
The interplay of language and culture in times of crisis: COVID-19 and beyond
How important is language and culture in times of crises? This article explores some examples, including zero-COVID China and the war in Ukraine.
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Languages
Get ready for beginners’ French
When you hear people speaking French, do you wish you could join the conversation? Do you feel passionate about French culture and being more able to immerse yourself in it? Or do you have an opportunity to work in a French-speaking country? There are lots of reasons for wanting to learn French, so if you have decided that now is the time for ...
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Languages
Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture
Building on the experience developed since the launch of the Open Centre for Languages and Cultures, this free short course provides an introduction to Ukrainian languages and culture. This course is for everybody who is interested in finding out about Ukraine and its people and wants to get a first insight into its rich cultural heritage. ...
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Education & Development
Learning with braille – more than just joining the dots
Did you know the origins of braille lie in Ancient Greece? Explore a brief history of the tactile writing language.
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Languages
Messaging apps – paying attention and timing it right
How do we get it right? Caroline Tagg explains the importance of timing and attention in managing our mobile conversations through apps such as WhatsApp.