Free courses

Produced by The Open University, a world leader in open and distance learning, all OpenLearn courses are free to study. We offer nearly 1000 free courses across 9 different subject areas. Our courses are available to start right away.

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Grid List Results: 76 items
Why study languages? free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Why study languages?

Learning languages and finding out about other countries can be fun, as well as useful, and this free course, Why study languages?, is an introduction to the differences in culture and language about which we all need to be aware. There are 10 independent sections: any selection of them can be studied in any order. Some are about why knowledge ...

Free course
5 hrs
Intermediate French: 14 July free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Languages

Intermediate French: 14 July

This free course, Intermediate French: 14 July, is taken from Ouverture, a language module that concentrates on French as a tool for communication, but it also provides some insights into French society and culture through authentic printed, audio and video materials. It will be of interest to all those who want to improve their language skills ...

Free course
10 hrs
Exploring languages and cultures free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Exploring languages and cultures

Explore the multiple relationships between languages and cultures. In this free course you will learn about the benefits and challenges of meeting people from different cultures and the ways in which language and human communities shape each other. You will look at the role of intercultural competence at the workplace, reflect on the use of ...

Free course
14 hrs
Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Money & Business

Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis

This free course, Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis, is designed to develop your writing skills for business. You will be taken step by step through the process of writing a SWOT analysis, with clear advice on selecting key information from a case study text, making concise notes, choosing an appropriate structure and using ...

Free course
8 hrs
Getting started on classical Latin free course icon level 1: introductory icon

History & The Arts

Getting started on classical Latin

This free course, Getting started on classical Latin, has been developed in response to requests from learners who had had no contact with Latin before and who felt they would like to spend a little time preparing for the kind of learning that studying a classical language involves. The course will give you a taster of what is involved in the ...

Free course
10 hrs
Language and creativity free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Languages

Language and creativity

This free course is an introduction to the relationship between language and creativity, to the roles that linguistic creativity plays in culture and society, and to the different approaches to its study.

Free course
8 hrs
Beginners’ Italian: food and drink free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Beginners’ Italian: food and drink

This free course, Beginners' Italian: food and drink, focuses on buying drinks and snacks in an Italian café, as well as on greeting and introducing yourself in Italian. It does not require any previous knowledge of Italian.

Free course
4 hrs
Understanding language and learning free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Languages

Understanding language and learning

Learning is understood broadly as any kind of activity, whether in a formal or informal context, that enhances an individual’s knowledge or skills in one way or another. The relationship between language and learning is approached in three ways: learning a language, learning about language and learning through language. This free course, ...

Free course
10 hrs
Language in the real world free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Languages

Language in the real world

This free course, Language in the real world, explains and illustrates why a knowledge about how language works (i.e. ‘linguistics’) is helpful – some might say essential – for different aspects of our everyday lives. It provides an introduction to ideas around what language is and to the field of Applied Linguistics, which is dedicated to ...

Free course
6 hrs
Croeso: Beginners' Welsh free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Croeso: Beginners' Welsh

This free course, Croeso: Beginners' Welsh, is taken from Croeso, a beginners' language module that concentrates on Welsh as a tool for communication, but it also provides some insights into Welsh societies and cultures through printed and audio materials. It will be of interest to all those who want to improve their language skills in order to ...

Free course
4 hrs
Мови в дії free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Мови в дії

Кожному з нас у нашому робочому житті все частіше потрібно співпрацювати з людьми, що належать до інших культур або з тими, чия рідна мова є для нас іноземною. Або нам, можливо, доведеться поїхати в іншу країну та працювати у ролі іноземця самим. Цей безкоштовний курс «Мови у робочому житті» дасть змогу зрозуміти відмінності між культурами та ...

Free course
6 hrs
Languages at work free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Languages at work

All of us in our working lives increasingly need to work with people from other cultures or those whose native language is foreign, or we may have to go to another country and work as a foreigner ourselves. This free course, Languages at work, is about how to understand differences in culture and how to make the most of existing language skills....

Free course
6 hrs