The Open University

From sun safety to sex appeal: what sunscreen ads reveal about beauty ideals and power

6 January 2026

Lauren Alex O’Hagan, The Open University and Lame M. Kenalemang-Palm, Shanghai University In the depths of winter, sunscreen might not be top of many people’s shopping lists. Yet it remains a staple in most households, and many of us are encouraged to use it year-round. But sunscreen’s history reveals more than just protection from the […]

OU / BBC radio series Word of Mouth returns

4 September 2025

Today (Thurs 4 Sept) a new OU/BBC radio series of Word of Mouth has returned to BBC Radio 4, airing weekly at 15:30 until Thursday 2 October and available to catch up on through BBC Sounds. The series is presented by celebrated author Michael Rosen and explores the world of words and how we use them. Michael explores various areas […]

Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration

20 May 2025

When Keir Starmer said: “If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English”, it laid bare an assumption – that English is the only language that counts in the UK, says Sarah Cox, Research Fellow at the Open University. This view not only overlooks the UK’s rich linguistic diversity, but also runs counter […]

Help for people supporting Ukrainians in the UK launched by OU

20 October 2022

The Open University (OU) has launched a new free online course for people housing, caring for or working with Ukrainians in the UK. The course focuses on Ukrainian culture and language and has been developed specifically for UK residents hosting refugees, and service providers working with people who have arrived from Ukraine. Providing an insight […]

Five ways emojis have reflected COVID culture

16 July 2021

Written by Dr Philip Seargeant, Senior Lecturer in Applied Statistics at The Open University. Over the past decade, emojis have become an integral part of the way we communicate, and have attracted attention from scholars in subjects ranging from linguistics to psychology. Just as the pandemic has impacted so many other parts of everyday life, […]

Enhance your skills in Chinese business culture with the OU’s new online short course

10 February 2021

China has a variety of diverse cultures and having an insight into its core cultural values can be hugely beneficial for business and social interaction. The Open University’s (OU) new online short course provides a great opportunity to grow your understanding and build your network. In 16 weeks, students will delve into the core values […]

Arrows pointing in opposite directions stating 'true' and 'false'

OpenLearn film ‘The Language of Lying’ wins this year’s MEDEA Award

2 November 2020

‘The Language of Lying‘ commissioned by The Open University’s OpenLearn team and produced by Hamlett Films has won the MEDEA Award 2020. The annual awards recognise and celebrate the very best in educational media from across Europe, with the aim of championing producers, designers and teaching staff of inspiring and innovative media-rich learning resources. Created […]

OU Language School launches beginner short courses

25 September 2020

The Open University’s School of Languages and Applied Linguistics (LAL) have launched a collection of new 16-week short courses in beginners French, German, Spanish, Italian, Welsh, Chinese and Chinese Business Culture Essentials for leisure, work, professional development and academic study. With European Day of Languages this weekend – a day to celebrate linguistic diversity and champion […]

The Language of Protest: political demonstration in the age of Covid-19

11 June 2020

Dr Philip Seargeant, Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at The Open University introduces, The Language of Protests, a film made in collaboration with Hamlett Films, who previously made the award-winning Grenfell Tower and Social Murder for the OU’s Criminology programme. The study of political protests is a theme which runs throughout the OU’s English Language Studies […]

What conspiracy theories have in common with fiction – and why it makes them compelling stories

19 December 2019

In an era dominated by “fake news” and disinformation, conspiracy theories are coming to play an increasingly influential role in modern politics. During the recent impeachment hearings in the US, for example, former National Security Council official Fiona Hill warned that “fictional narratives” pushed by Russia were undermining American security. But what’s the difference exactly […]

OU News

Category: Languages