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Three Irish poets - introduction
OpenLearn Ireland

Three Irish poets - introduction

...English courses and qualifications. [Ellen o'Leary, Katharine Tynan and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill] In this collection of articles we look at three female Irish poets. The first two - Ellen O’Leary (1831-1889) and Katharine Tynan (1859-1931) - wrote in English. Though these poets are not very widely known today, they were extremely popular and influential during their...
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Article 5 mins
Beginners’ Chinese
Languages

Beginners’ Chinese

...English about Chinese-speaking cultures. Our guide to the language and culture of mainland China is Dr Kan Qian, who is chair of The Open University course: L197: Beginners’ Chinese You can also download transcripts for all the tracks... Beginners' Chinese A short introduction to this album. Beginners Chinese: Pronunciation and tone Mandarin Chinese speech sounds and...
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Audio 43 mins
"I was so depressed yesterday..." - or were you?
Languages

"I was so depressed yesterday..." - or were you?

...everyday emotion. The problem is that mental health disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and bi-polar disorder are not simple and fleeting and everyday. They are complex illnesses that require treatment. But when the technical terms for them begin to mean something everyday, it becomes harder to express when something is really, seriously wrong. If...
View article "I was so depressed yesterday..." - or were you?
Article 5 mins
Understanding Classical terms
History & The Arts

Understanding Classical terms

...English equivalent. For instance, you will find Kyros as well as Cyrus, Aegyptos as well as Egypt. The reason is that there are different conventions for transliterating words from Greek into the English (Roman) alphabet. At the OU we generally use ‘Latinised’ spelling (eg ‘c’ rather than ‘k’, ‘ae’ rather than ‘ai’) and the more familiar English names...
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Activity 5 mins
Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic
History & The Arts

Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic

...in the value of hard work into our everyday ethic. ...How does religion fit with the world of business? Perhaps more closely than you think. The sociologist and economist Max Weber argued that after the Reformation one form of Christian Protestantism, Calvinism, encouraged a different attitude to work, with far-reaching effects. Delve deeper into some of the themes raised...
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Video 5 mins
The Unsung Women Who Shaped the Blues
Languages

The Unsung Women Who Shaped the Blues

...everyday life. By the early twentieth century, distinct regional varieties of the blues had developed across the country, such as Piedmont, Delta and Texas. Gradually, the genre reached a mainstream level of popularity when composer W.C. Handy transcribed and orchestrated blues numbers in a symphonic style, introducing them to white audiences through nightclub and theatre...
View article The Unsung Women Who Shaped the Blues
Article 5 mins
Describing language Badge icon
Languages

Describing language

...English in our everyday lives. These three classes will be the focus of Weeks 2–5 of the course. If you’re still a little unsure of which word goes where, don’t worry – things should become clear over the next few weeks...Week 2: Nouns: naming things, places, people and ideas: 1.1 Word classes - The video in the next activity discusses some of the major word...
View course Describing language
Level 1: Introductory 24 hrs
Why do England fail in international football competitions?
Health, Sports & Psychology

Why do England fail in international football competitions?

...English football which have impeded success at the international level. And its author, who now joins me, is Anthony King, who’s Professor of Sociology at the University of Exeter. [Supporters of England] On their way to more disappointment? I suppose we’ve got to go on being masochistic for a moment, I’ve got to ask you really, for the benefit of those people who...
View article Why do England fail in international football competitions?
Article 5 mins