article icon
Languages
Methods in Motion: The middle children
Dr Sarah Crafter explores how child language brokers act as cultural mediators of identity and belonging.
article icon
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.
activity icon
Languages
Could you be a super linguist?
Whether you are monolingual or speak more than one language, test your linguist skills with our short quiz and see how many languages you correctly identify.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
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.
article icon
Languages
A Clockwork Orange: ultraviolence, Russian spies and fake news
Cinemas have re-released 'A Clockwork Orange' as part of thhe British Film Institute's celebration of Stanley Kubrick. Here Philip Seargeant delves into the famous and film, and dystopia in popular culture.
article icon
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.
article icon
Languages
Who was St David?
Where does St David's iconic status stem from and what is known of the man who lived 1500 years ago? Explore St David in more detail here...
video icon
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.
audio icon
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?
article icon
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.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Badge icon
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 ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
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. ...