Languages around the OU
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Latest news, views, comment, debate and links for those studying, working with or with a passion for languages and language speaking
How your old phone can help you study
Dear Platform readers
Thought you may like this one from The Gadget Show. If like me you are on a limited budget and have an old phone with a slow internet connection, it can still become a useful study tool- by simply upgrading the browser.
Since installing the Opera Mini browser (m.opera.com) my phone is much faster and the websites are now legible. Downloading and using AV content is now quick and efficient and social networking is easy .
Click on the link for more details and enjoy.
http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/how-to-make-any-p...
Henry Poole
Studying BA Modern Languages
Dear Platform readers Thought you may like this one from The Gadget Show. If like me you are on a limited budget and have an old phone with a slow internet connection, it can still become a useful study tool- by simply upgrading the browser. Since installing the Opera Mini browser (m.opera.com) my phone is much faster and the websites are now legible. Downloading and using AV content is now ...
OU Level One Beginners Chinese
Hi All,
I'm intrigued to know more about the OU's Level One course in Mandarin. In particular I wonder how much oral practice is offered. I note with some regret that the price of the course (and for 'transitional' students at that) has jumped from £400 to £520 in the past couple of years, way ahead of inflation. Is this because the course has improved with extra facilities such as day schools or a summer school?
With many thanks in anticipation of comments about the course and any recommendations.
Russell
Hi All, I'm intrigued to know more about the OU's Level One course in Mandarin. In particular I wonder how much oral practice is offered. I note with some regret that the price of the course (and for 'transitional' students at that) has jumped from £400 to £520 in the past couple of years, way ahead of inflation. Is this because the course has improved with extra facilities ...
Looking for German learners
Hi everyone,
I’m a native German living in the near of Frankfurt. I’m looking for an English native speaker who is learning German and wants to practise with a German native speaker. I want to improve my spoken English, so we both could profit from this.
I’m thinking about one “session” per week about 60-90 minutes long but I’m flexible with that. During such a session we would speak half German and half English. For communication we could use the free program Skype. You just need a headset and a reliable internet connection.
If someone is interested you might want to contact me at kafeflasch@yahoo.de.
Regards,
Marvin
Hi everyone, I’m a native German living in the near of Frankfurt. I’m looking for an English native speaker who is learning German and wants to practise with a German native speaker. I want to improve my spoken English, so we both could profit from this. I’m thinking about one “session” per week about 60-90 minutes long but I’m flexible with that. During ...
First class languages degree on 25th birthday
A degree in foreign languages with the OU enabled Donna James to flourish both personally and professionally through her career development. 
“But without a doubt, after all of that, my greatest success was passing my degree with First-Class Honours on my 25th birthday – I practically screamed the house down when my result came through! I’d sacrificed so much of my time and cried so many tears of stress and frustration over the six years of studying, that to get that result was just fantastic” says Donna.
In 2012 Donna gained a BA (Hons) in Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) and believes her OU studies were one of reasons she got her current job.
“The company I work for has customers and distributors all over the world, so the fact that I can communicate in French and Spanish was one of the key factors that made them offer me the job in the first place. And I’ve been able to use my languages already, whether it’s following up enquiries or helping to translating quotations and other documents, either from French or Spanish into English or vice versa.”
Donna’s company is really supportive of her studies and would like to develop her skills further so she can engage in active sales with foreign customers. “It looks likely that I will enrol on a technical language course funded by the company and tailored to their specific needs.” Donna is also looking forward to using her language skills when travelling in the future.
Donna came to the OU after originally enrolling at a ‘traditional’ university but found it wasn’t for her.
“The OU seemed like the ideal alternative – I could study from home and get myself a job at the same time to support myself, and the fact that I haven’t got to worry about debt at the end of it is very satisfying.”
During her studies Donna faced some personal challenges including organising a wedding in her fourth year she says was quite stressful. However, now she has finished her degree Donna is really proud of her achievements. “Having to go to work and then motivate yourself to do two or three hours of studying when you get home each and every night is a real feat. But I’m so proud that I managed it, and I’ve proven to myself that with a lot of organisation and dedication it is possible to realise your potential.”
Find out more:
Posted 8 April 2013
A degree in foreign languages with the OU enabled Donna James to flourish both personally and professionally through her career development. “But without a doubt, after all of that, my greatest success was passing my degree with First-Class Honours on my 25th birthday – I practically screamed the house down when my result came through! I’d sacrificed so much ...
Participants needed for OCD study
The research is investigating whether the brains of people with OCD function differently to those without OCD.
Preliminary findings suggest some systematic and interesting differences between brain activity in people with OCD, and non-OCD controls, even in a relaxed state. However, to obtain a more detailed picture researchers need to find more participants with OCD.
They are looking for people between 18 and 60 years of age, who have been diagnosed with OCD and have no learning disabilities.
If you decide to participate, they will need four hours of your time. The timing of these sessions can be flexible and scheduled according to your convenience.
During this time, your brain activity will be recorded using a safe, non-invasive and painless technique known as Quantitative Electroencephalography, or QEEG. You will also be interviewed and asked to fill in a questionnaire.
The study generally takes place at the OU in Milton Keynes or in Camden in London. Travel costs will be reimbursed. In some cases researchers will be able to come to your town or a town near you to perform the scans and interviews.
By participating in this study, you will be contributing to scientific advancements in OCD research. Additionally, you will gain interesting insights about how your brain may have been affected by OCD.
You can get more information from the QEEG and Brain Research Lab project page. If you wish to take part, or have any enquiries, please contact Loes Koorenhof by calling 01908 659 472, or email loes.koorenhof@open.ac.uk
(6 votes)
The Open University is recruiting people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to take part in an ongoing research project. The research is investigating whether the brains of people with OCD function differently to those without OCD. Preliminary findings suggest some systematic and interesting differences between brain activity in people with OCD, and ...
Is there an OU Mastermind out there?
BBC's Mastermind is looking for contestants now.
For more information, or to book a place on one of the nationwide auditions, visit the Mastermind website and click on Audition Information; or call 0161 836 0315; or email mastermind@bbc.co.uk
Posted 25 March 2013
(6 votes)
Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a quizzer? BBC's Mastermind is looking for contestants now. For more information, or to book a place on one of the nationwide auditions, visit the Mastermind website and click on Audition Information; or call 0161 836 0315; or email mastermind@bbc.co.uk Posted 25 March 2013 1.5 Average: 1.5 (6 votes)
French Courses in France
Are you studying French with the Open University? Would you like some extra practice?
Why not attend a French course in France where the language is spoken. We offer Frenchcourses for students of all ages and abilities in the following fantastic locations: Nice, Paris, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Biarritz, Lyon and Antibes. Students can choose a course of anywhere from 1 week to 52 weeks starting throughout the year. Accommodation is also arranged in French host families for that extra practise speakingFrench.
I am a student of OU myself, having studied Portales (Spanish) last year and am set for En Rumbo (Spanish) this year I know how useful it is to practice the language outside of the OU and use other resources. I will be offering 10% off French tuition to any student that is studying French or any other language with the Open University.
Contact me for details:
gemma@livelanguagesabroad.com 01736 740000
http://www.livelanguagesabroad.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/LiveLanguagesAbroad
We also offer courses in Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Greek.
Are you studying French with the Open University? Would you like some extra practice? Why not attend a French course in France where the language is spoken. We offer Frenchcourses for students of all ages and abilities in the following fantastic locations: Nice, Paris, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Biarritz, Lyon and Antibes. Students can choose a course of anywhere from 1 week to 52 weeks ...
OU academic wows Chris Evans with Latin
Chris' limited previous experience with classical languages had primed him to be an enthusiastic learner, as he explained: "I've done crosswords with my pals who've studied Latin at university, and you can guess the definitions of words."
But he was slightly stunned when Paula explained how the language functions: "You can put any order of words in a Latin sentence and get the meaning, because it is the ending that tells you what role it plays."
Paula extolled the advantages of learning Latin "the foundation of so many languages – and all great literature deserves to be read in the original" and of modern Latin teaching to the Radio 2 breakfast listeners.
Teaching is "a lot buzzier than it used to be and tries to link up with what is happening today, " she said.
In her teaching, she uses the fact that most people are already familiar with a great many Latin words and phrases to launch the study of cases and endings.
"What I've done at summer schools in the OU is just get a list of mottos and we sit looking at the meaning, and then we look at how the endings of Latin words might change. Because that is something that rather freaks people out – why is this word changing its shape all the time?"
She then talked Chris through the meaning of "curriculum vitae", telling him "you have already learnt a genitive case!"
Regarding Latin pronunciation, she told listeners: "The jury's out on what kind of accent we give it. I like to give it a bit of Italian, rather than sounding as though I am straight out from Oxford."
Finally she suggested Chris join thousands of others and sign up for an OU Latin course. "I'm yours! " he replied.
The interview took place on 28 February. It is re-playable for seven days here. The Paula James interview is at 2:10.05 into the programme.
1 March 2013
Useful links
(1 vote)
DJ Chris Evans took his first steps in Latin when OU Classical Studies senior lecturer Dr Paula James (pictured) featured as the mystery guest on his BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Chris' limited previous experience with classical languages had primed him to be an enthusiastic learner, as he explained: "I've done crosswords with my pals who've studied Latin at ...
How do you become fluent in 11 languages?
Twenty-year-old Alex Rawlings has won a national competition as the UK's most multi-lingual student.
The Oxford University student began learning Dutch at age 14 and developed a passion that has led to him speaking 11 languages.
In this fascinating BBC report he demonstrates his skills and gives some insights into how he does it.
(2 votes)
Twenty-year-old Alex Rawlings has won a national competition as the UK's most multi-lingual student. The Oxford University student began learning Dutch at age 14 and developed a passion that has led to him speaking 11 languages. In this fascinating BBC report he demonstrates his skills and gives some insights into how he does it. 3 Average: 3 (2 votes)
Spanish in Spain & Latin America
Are you studying Spanish with the Open University? Would you like some extra practice?
Why not attend a Spanish course in Spain or Latin America where the language is spoken. We offer Spanish courses for students of all ages and abilities in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Buenos Aires, Playa del Carmen to mention just a few fantastic locations. Students can choose a course of anywhere from 1 week to 52 weeks starting throughout the year. Accommodation is also arranged in Spanish host families for that extra practise speaking Spanish.
I am a student of OU myself, having studied Portales last year and am set for En Rumbo this year I know how useful it is to practice Spanish outside of the OU and use other resources. I will be offering 10% off Spanish tuition to any student that is studying Spanish or any other language with the Open University.
Contact me for details:
gemma@livelanguagesabroad.com 01736 740000
http://www.livelanguagesabroad.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/LiveLanguagesAbroad
We also offer courses in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Greek.
(2 votes)
Are you studying Spanish with the Open University? Would you like some extra practice? Why not attend a Spanish course in Spain or Latin America where the language is spoken. We offer Spanish courses for students of all ages and abilities in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Buenos Aires, Playa del Carmen to mention just a few fantastic locations. Students can choose a course of anywhere ...
Help needed: are you studying languages?
If you have a story to share, please email platform@open.ac.uk and we will send you some questions.
In particular we are looking for those who are studying or studied German, Spanish, Chinese, Italian and Welsh.
(1 vote)
We're currently seeking OU stories from students and alumni about study experience. How you found the OU, how study has helped you, has it impacted on your career or opened up new opportunities? If you have a story to share, please email platform@open.ac.uk and we will send you some questions. In particular we are looking for those who are studying or studied German, ...
Languages: Are you ready to 'MOOC'?
The OU’s Department of Languages is planning the OT12 MOOC, a Massive Open Online Course on open translation tools and practices.
The pilot will run for eight weeks from 15 October to 7 December 2012 with the accompanying course website onow open. If you’re are interested in taking part, go to the "Get involved" tab on the OT12 website.
Not sure what this is all about?
MOOCs are free online courses, open to anybody and everybody anywhere in the world. They usually bring together large numbers of learners and instructors across a common field of knowledge. While MOOCs provide weekly topics, activities, discussions and resources, learners actively engage in all aspects of the experience, sharing ideas in forums, undertaking collaborative or reflective activities, and using a variety of social media.
Open translation tools and practices
Open translation practices rely on crowd sourcing, and are used for translating open resources such as TED talks and Wikipedia articles, and also in global blogging and citizen media projects such as Global Voices.
There are many tools to support open translation practices, from Google translation tools to online dictionaries like Wordreference, or translation workflow tools like Transifex. Some of these will be explored in the OT12 MOOC.
Bridge to success (B2S) ... in more than one language!
The content (translations into Spanish and potentially also other languages through the MOOC), includes the highly successful B2S modules available in the free, standards based OpenLearn Labspace:
There will also be captioning and subtitling activities using a variety of videos in English and Spanish.
(2 votes)
The OU’s Department of Languages is planning the OT12 MOOC, a Massive Open Online Course on open translation tools and practices. The pilot will run for eight weeks from 15 October to 7 December 2012 with the accompanying course website onow open. If you’re are interested in taking part, go to the "Get involved" tab on the OT12 website. Not sure what this is all ...
New social media handbook launched
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of blogs, wikis, social networking and information-sharing websites out there?
Help is at hand with a new Handbook of Social Media for researchers, developed by OU Computing academics Shailey Minocha and Marian Petre.
It provides a wide-ranging overview of social media sites and tools that are useful for research and includes the results of interviews with social media users.
The Handbook, funded through Vitae Innovate is aimed primarily at postgraduate and early career researchers and their supervisors.
Download the Handbook of Social Media free.
(6 votes)
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of blogs, wikis, social networking and information-sharing websites out there? Help is at hand with a new Handbook of Social Media for researchers, developed by OU Computing academics Shailey Minocha and Marian Petre. It provides a wide-ranging overview of social media sites and tools that are useful for research and includes the results of interviews with ...
New Beginnings ;-)
Hi everyone,
I am starting the L192 AND L194 language courses in October and i have just received my Bon Depart French pack today. Is anyone else starting a new language course? I cannot wait to get stuck into it now it's here. x
Hi everyone, I am starting the L192 AND L194 language courses in October and i have just received my Bon Depart French pack today. Is anyone else starting a new language course? I cannot wait to get stuck into it now it's here. x
New series: China on Four Wheels
The first broadcast of China on Four Wheels -in which the presenters embark on two epic journeys across China - is on Sunday 9 September at 8pm on BBC2 and BBC HD.
In this new two-part series Anita Rani and Justin Rowlatt embark on two epic car journeys through China, navigating congested cities and winding mountain roads to explore how the country's economic growth, symbolised by its booming car industry, is affecting people's lives.
Dr Qian Kan and Dr Daphne Chang are the academic consultants on the series for The Open University.
The OpenLearn website also offers more information on Chinese language. You can view a series of short films called ‘Chinese at the tip of your tongue’ and download the OU’s Chinese mobile app.
(6 votes)
The first broadcast of China on Four Wheels -in which the presenters embark on two epic journeys across China - is on Sunday 9 September at 8pm on BBC2 and BBC HD. In this new two-part series Anita Rani and Justin Rowlatt embark on two epic car journeys through China, navigating congested cities and winding mountain roads to explore how the country's economic growth, symbolised by its ...
L193 Rundblick - beginners' German
Hi
I'm starting the course in October 2012 and wondered if there are any other people in the West Yorkshire / Lancashire area doing the same.
Hi I'm starting the course in October 2012 and wondered if there are any other people in the West Yorkshire / Lancashire area doing the same.
OU on the BBC: The Hairy Bikers: Bakeation
The Hairy Bikers embark on a tour of Europe, sampling the baked goods of many nations attempting to get round the language barrier.
Over the last few months, Simon King and Dave Myers have cooked and tasted their way round Europe, bringing the bread, cakes and biscuits of twelve nations into our living rooms through their popular Bakeation series, developed in collaboration with The Open University.
Find out more:
- Details of the series and episodes on OpenLearn
- Explore the concept of intercultural communicaitons
(5 votes)
The Hairy Bikers embark on a tour of Europe, sampling the baked goods of many nations attempting to get round the language barrier. Over the last few months, Simon King and Dave Myers have cooked and tasted their way round Europe, bringing the bread, cakes and biscuits of twelve nations into our living rooms through their popular Bakeation series, developed in collaboration ...
Shall vs. Will ... question from a gate-crasher
Good day to you all!
I have an admission… I do not belong to the Language faculty, but that of Science. A distinct foreigner in the world of prose and grammar, I hope you can help this endeavour prove fruitful for my query lies firmly within the bosom of the English language.
Shall or will?
I will be using the word ‘will’ from now on, as this is my lecturers’ preference and perhaps more suited to the world of science; but it made me curious to which word you should use in which context. A little research has simply made things more complicated; nobody seems to truly know!
‘Shall’ seems to be dropping out of favour so it may simply be a question of personal preference. Others say it’s a question if perspective; I shall, we shall, they will. Or perhaps a question of intent, I shall do that (intending), I will do that (definite). And so the list goes on.
Can anyone help shed light on this conundrum?
Good day to you all! I have an admission… I do not belong to the Language faculty, but that of Science. A distinct foreigner in the world of prose and grammar, I hope you can help this endeavour prove fruitful for my query lies firmly within the bosom of the English language. Shall or will? I will be using the word ‘will’ from now on, as this is my lecturers’ preference and perhaps more suited ...
Student returns to scene of crime!
A thriller writer and former Open University student who ‘returned to the scene of the crime’ as an OU teacher, hopes her second novel will be published before Christmas.
Jennie Finch joined the OU as a student in 1980 and completed two degrees (BA Hons and BSc Hons Psychology) as well as post graduate modules and a certificate in French.
And she believes her studies opened the door to fulfilling her desire to be a successful writer, while combining her work as an associate lecturer for the OU’s Openings course in psychology.
“In the beginning, I studied what interested me, but then the psychology degree was for my work with special needs students,” said Jennie.
Jennie, who now works predominantly as an author and screenwriter, has had much success with her first novel, Death of the Elver Man, which was short-listed for the Impress Prize in 2010 under its original title On the Level. The second novel, The Drowners, is due out towards the end of the year with Jennie aiming to plot out the last two books in the series next year.
“I've found the OU studies invaluable, especially the psychology, which has helped with the crime thrillers. I was considered a failure at school, a waste of a grammar school place. But I know now I can do anything I want if I try hard enough; my self-discipline is so much better than when I was younger.
“I am mildly dyslexic and I have dyspraxia and I find being in a strange place and meeting new people very stressful. With the OU I could control my environment completely.”
She funded her courses through a small council grant for summer schools, and used an instalment plan for many of the modules.
Of all her achievements she is most proud of her French certificate.
“With my dyslexia I was told I would never be able to learn another language, but the
OU language courses are excellent. My BA helped me get a post in an art college teaching Higher and Further Education students and the BSc Psychology enabled me to test and support students with learning difficulties. It has also helped in my new career as a writer of crime thrillers.”
Jennie regularly attends and takes part in readings with other authors, most recently at Middlesbrough Literary Festival in June and the University of Teeside in May.
Find out more:
(1 vote)
A thriller writer and former Open University student who ‘returned to the scene of the crime’ as an OU teacher, hopes her second novel will be published before Christmas. Jennie Finch joined the OU as a student in 1980 and completed two degrees (BA Hons and BSc Hons Psychology) as well as post graduate modules and a certificate in French. And she believes her ...
‘Bouncebackability’ is down to the OU
Simon Moody, 45, is an enthusiastic champion for the OU, having gained diplomas in European Humanities and Geography, a BA (hons) in History and Social Sciences and this year he hopes to finish his MA in Applied Linguistics.
“I dropped out of a comprehensive in the early 80s,” said Simon. “It was a very unhappy experience and I just had a rag bag of CSEs in woodwork and biology.
“The idea of going back to Uni at 28, during the Britpop summer of ’95, did have some appeal to me – but the idea of living on baked beans in baggy jumpers with no disposable income soon waned.”
After seeing general advertisements for the Open University, Simon signed up in 1995, and has been studying on and off with them ever since.
“When I saw the OU materials I was just so impressed, they really are first rate,” he said. “In my view the OU is the only choice for a mature student. And paying in monthly instalments is such a bonus for working people as it takes all the angst out of paying a lump sum.”
Simon works in commercial research and training, and firmly believes that a degree still retains respect.
“Vocational qualifications are coming back into vogue now, but a degree is still a great foundation and retains respect. Everyone needs a foot in the door sometimes, and graduate qualifications give you that.
“I’ve more than doubled my salary since 2000, and haven't been out of work in 22 years even though I’ve been made redundant three times. I have no doubt that my 'bouncebackability' is down to the OU.”
Simon says when he finishes his MA he’d love to study for a Phd: “I feel there are issues which I could genuinely contribute to but ultimately, thanks to the OU, I just love to study. I can’t see that ever changing.”
The Open University journey for Simon so far has, he says, been both hilarious and stressful.
(1 vote)
A self-confessed school drop-out has credited the Open University with giving him the ‘bouncebackability’ that has kept him employed for the last 22 years, despite being made redundant three times. Simon Moody, 45, is an enthusiastic champion for the OU, having gained diplomas in European Humanities and Geography, a BA (hons) in History and Social Sciences and ...
