July 31st is Harry Potter's birthday, and while you may not be able to give him a copy of much-coveted Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, like his best pal Ron Weasley did on his 17th birthday, you can dig into our range of magical resources. We've got articles on the a range of exciting themes, spells and observances in Harry Potter, a piece on the use of magical creatures in children's novels as well as free writing courses to help you pen a brilliant story - all allowing you to learn in a fun manner for free. Always.
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Harry Potter and the Translator’s Challenge
Read now to access more details of Harry Potter and the Translator’s ChallengeHow did translators go about converting the anagram 'Tom Marvolo Riddle'? Fernando Rosell-Aguilar explores the tricky business of translating J.K. Rowling's fun and creative words into 80 other languages.
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Did Harry Potter’s extracurricular activities land him a job at the Ministry of Magic?
Read now to access more details of Did Harry Potter’s extracurricular activities land him a job at the Ministry of Magic?How did Harry Potter become an Auror despite never taking his NEWTs? Could the skills he learnt outside of the classroom at Hogwarts have made him employable?
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Harry Potter and death and bereavement
Read now to access more details of Harry Potter and death and bereavementWhat does the Harry Potter series have in common with our Muggle world when it comes to death and bereavement? Dr Sam Murphy explores.
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How does JK Rowling use Latin and other classical languages in Harry Potter?
Read now to access more details of How does JK Rowling use Latin and other classical languages in Harry Potter?To create a sense of the long history of wizardry in the Potterverse, JK Rowling drew heavily on classical languages. The OU's Joanna Paul explores.
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Harry Potter and Parenting
Watch now to access more details of Harry Potter and ParentingWhat does the Harry Potter series, and the protagonist's search for a home and family, tell us about parent-child relationships?
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Magical Modernity in a Muggle World? Witchcraft, Spirituality and Everyday Enchantment
Read now to access more details of Magical Modernity in a Muggle World? Witchcraft, Spirituality and Everyday EnchantmentDoes magic only exist in the wizarding world for the likes of Harry Potter? Dr Sara MacKian explores all the enchantment and spiritualities of our muggle-filled land.
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Do as Dumbledore does: the benefits of private speech
Read now to access more details of Do as Dumbledore does: the benefits of private speechIn one of the Harry Potter films, Dumbledore claims he finds talking aloud to himself very useful - is this true? Dr. Carlos Montoro explores the research behind self-addressed talk.
'Accio' (summon) your inner author and start writing fiction
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Start writing fiction: characters and stories
Learn more to access more details of Start writing fiction: characters and storiesStart writing fiction is a free course that helps you to get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Start writing fiction
Learn more to access more details of Start writing fictionHave you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This free course, Start writing fiction, will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and settings. You will also be able to look at the different genres for fiction.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Writing what you know
Learn more to access more details of Writing what you knowDo you want to improve your descriptive writing? This free course, Writing what you know, will help you to develop your perception of the world about you and enable you to see the familiar things in everyday life in a new light. You will also learn how authors use their own personal histories to form the basis of their work.
Level: 1 Introductory
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