Many people assume learning languages can only further your career if you work in teaching, translation, or the travel industry. Watch this video to hear how people in many different professions have benefitted from speaking languages.
From an employer's perspective too, there's growing evidence of the impact of language skills. A 2021 report from Aston Business School (comprising a survey of 415 UK Small Medium Enterprises) statistically shows that language capabilities add 30% in value to exporting success.
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Open Centre for Languages and Cultures
Learn more to access more details of Open Centre for Languages and CulturesCheck out a range of FREE language courses in this dedicated hub.
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Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture
Learn more to access more details of Introduction to Ukrainian language and cultureBuilding 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. ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course
Learn more to access more details of Beginners’ Tamil: a taster courseThis free course, Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course, provides a brief introduction to the Tamil language and its scripts and sounds. You will learn how to greet people and introduce yourself, as well as how to count from one to ten. You will also be introduced to Tamil society and culture and will learn about the food and music popular in ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Beginners’ Chinese: a taster course
Learn more to access more details of Beginners’ Chinese: a taster courseLearn about Mandarin Chinese as a tool for communication and gain insights into Chinese society and culture. This free course, Beginners’ Chinese: a taster course, provides a brief introduction to the Chinese language, its scripts and sounds, and how words are formed. You will hear short conversations where people greet each other and introduce ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to Arabic
Learn more to access more details of Introduction to ArabicIn this free course you will learn the Arabic alphabet, vowels, and also a little bit about the history of the Arabic language.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Gaelic in modern Scotland
Learn more to access more details of Gaelic in modern ScotlandModern Scotland is a multi-lingual country. Gaelic, Scots and English, along with newer introductions from Europe and beyond, all influence the way Scotland's people now speak to each other and to the rest of the world. Created with the positive encouragement of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and with support from BBC Alba, this free course, Gaelic in modern ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Croeso: Beginners' Welsh
Learn more to access more details of Croeso: Beginners' WelshThis 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 ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Download our Chinese characters learning apps
Read now to access more details of Download our Chinese characters learning appsDr 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.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Get ready for beginners’ French
Learn more to access more details of Get ready for beginners’ FrenchWhen 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 ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Getting started with German 1
Learn more to access more details of Getting started with German 1Almost 100 million people speak German as their main language. Most of them live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, making German one of the most widely-used languages in Europe. Although now associated with economic success and advances in science and technology, German has a long-standing reputation as the language of poets and thinkers, die...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Beginners’ Italian: food and drink
Learn more to access more details of Beginners’ Italian: food and drinkThis 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.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Getting started with Spanish 1
Learn more to access more details of Getting started with Spanish 1If you want to learn a new language for work or for leisure, this free course will introduce you to one of the most widely spoken languages in the world – Spanish. Whether this is the first time that you are learning Spanish, or you have already picked up some words and phrases from travelling across the Spanish-speaking world, this course ...
Level: 1 Introductory
The Open Centre for Languages and Cultures
For many more short courses that will help you get started with learning languages, check out the Open Centre for Languages and Cultures.
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Getting started with Spanish 1
Learn more to access more details of Getting started with Spanish 1If you want to learn a new language for work or for leisure, this free course will introduce you to one of the most widely spoken languages in the world – Spanish. Whether this is the first time that you are learning Spanish, or you have already picked up some words and phrases from travelling across the Spanish-speaking world, this course ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Getting started with Chinese 1
Learn more to access more details of Getting started with Chinese 1Have you always wanted to learn how to speak Mandarin Chinese? Are you fascinated by the sound, the script and its ancient civilisation? If so, this introduction will get you started on the essentials of reading, writing, speaking and listening in Chinese through a variety of online activities. A perfect introduction for absolute ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Getting started with German 1
Learn more to access more details of Getting started with German 1Almost 100 million people speak German as their main language. Most of them live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, making German one of the most widely-used languages in Europe. Although now associated with economic success and advances in science and technology, German has a long-standing reputation as the language of poets and thinkers, die...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Getting started with Italian 1
Learn more to access more details of Getting started with Italian 1Are you fascinated by the Italian culture and lifestyle, cuisine, historic cities, art and beautiful landscapes? Have you always loved the sound and musicality of the Italian language? Perhaps you’ve visited an Italian city and wished you could chat with local people. Or maybe you would like to be able to read a menu, talk about yourself, or ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Getting started with French 1
Learn more to access more details of Getting started with French 1Whether you want to visit, work or live in a French-speaking environment, you will get more out of the experience if you can communicate effectively with people. In this short course you will begin to develop your reading and listening skills in French and learn to speak and write the language to communicate in everyday situations. You will...
Level: 1 Introductory
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