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Distinguished Speaker Series - Open Centre for Languages and Cultures

Welcome to the Open University's Open Centre for Languages and Cultures bi-monthly Distinguished Speaker series which was launched in February 2022.

The online events last one hour and feature talks from a range of experts across the fields of languages, cultures and communication, with each talk aligning with one of the exciting new short courses from the Open Centre.

The Open Centre for Languages and Cultures is The Open University's home for non-accredited short courses in languages and intercultural communication, enabling students from anywhere across the globe, and in any time zone, to study a wide range of languages and language-related subjects, whatever their motivation – leisure, professional development or academic.

“We wanted to add a new dimension to the OU's Open Centre for Languages and Cultures. We have approached colleagues who are specialists in the academic areas covered in our short courses which speak directly to the OU's strategic goal number 1: greater reach” 

- Dr Mirjam Hauck (series convenor)
Associate Head for Internationalisation, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, The School of Languages and Applied Linguistics

Upcoming events

Crime fiction: past, present and future with Simon Brett, Wed 17 April, 13:00-14:00

REGISTER: Crime fiction, past, present and future (Eventbrite)

Crime fiction is the most popular literary genre in Europe today. In conversation with The Open University’s Dr Bill Alder (School of Languages and Applied Linguistics), author Simon Brett will lead us on a journey of discovery of crime fiction’s past, present and future.

He will share his thoughts on different types of crime fiction from the “golden age” mystery to the “hardboiled” thriller, from the “police procedural” to “cosy crime”, looking at different types of plots, detectives and approaches, and reflecting on the growing influence of non-Anglophone crime fiction from the latter years of the twentieth century to the present.

Past events

Cara (The Council for At-Risk Academics) with Stephen Wordsworth:  | 22 Feb 2024


Stephen Wordsworth: Cara (The Council for At-Risk Academics) from OU LAL on Vimeo.

Transcript - Stephen Wordsworth

How LLMs such as ChatGPT will Transform Adult Education with Prof. John Domingue | 3 Oct 2023


Prof. John Domingue: How LLMs such as ChatGPT will Transform Adult Education from OU LAL on Vimeo.

Transcript - Professor John Domingue

Equitable Multilingualism with Beverley Costa | 13 Jul 2023


Equitable Multilingualism - Beverley Costa from OU LAL on Vimeo.

Transcript - Beverley Costa [edited]

China and the shaping of its own modernity with Professor Roger T. Ames | 11 May 2023

Recording to follow

Intercultural communication issues for language learning with Professor Zhu Hua | 14 Mar 2023


Open Culture Open Language: The Key Intercultural Communication Issues for Language Learning from OU LAL on Vimeo.

Transcript - Professor Zhu Hua talk [edited]

The Languages of Crises with Professor Alison Phipps | 12 Dec 2022 

Transcript - Languages of Crises talk [edited]

Robots Interviewing Patients with Dr Heriberto Cuayáhuitl Portilla | 21 Nov 2022

Transcript - Heriberto Cuayáhuitl Portilla talk [edited]

Focus on Ukraine with Dr Olga Onuch | 19 Oct 2022


Focus on Ukraine from OU LAL on Vimeo.

Transcript - Focus on Ukraine talk [edited]

Chinese ‘face’ over centenaries with Professor GU Yueguo | 8 Apr 2022


GU Yueguo from OU LAL on Vimeo.

Transcript - GU Yueguo talk [edited]

Intercultural Competence with Professor Michael Byram | 12 Feb 2022

Transcript - Michael Byram talk [edited]

 

Contact

Please address all your correspondence related to this event series by email to Mirjam Hauck (mirjam-hauck@open.ac.uk)