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Graphic card: Photograph of Baerbel Brash alongside the text "Meet the Tutors - Baerbel Brash, School of Languages & Applied Linguistics

Meet the Tutors: Bärbel Brash

From 1999 to 2021, Bärbel Brash taught German to hundreds of OU students. Recently taking on a new position at the OU in Scotland, she tells us about her time as an Associate Lecturer within the WELS School of Languages and Applied Linguistics (LAL), as well as her involvement in a course that challenges perceptions around learning languages later in life.

7th March 2023
A young Asian woman is in the street, looking at her phone, as an augmented reality projection emerging from it..

Using augmented reality to enhance language learning

Dr Lina Adinolfi joins researchers at the OU and across Europe to develop skills in integrating augmented reality into language learning.

8th December 2022
Three glass star trophies are pictured on an aqua background. The text overlaid says: WELS Tutor Awards 2022

WELS Tutor Awards 2022

Every year the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) recognises students and projects that have gone above and beyond what is expected of them.  The WELS Tutor Awards provided students with the opportunity to recognise the dedication and skill of their tutors. Overall, ten tutors received a WELS Tutor award, and a further eleven were highly commended.

15th November 2022
Three glass star trophies are pictured on an aqua background. The text overlaid says: WELS Student Awards 2022

WELS Student Awards 2022: Meet the winners

Every year, the OU’s Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) recognises students for their achievements through the WELS Student Awards. This year another nine talented students received awards in two categories, in a recent virtual ceremony.

15th November 2022
Three glass star trophies are pictured on an aqua background. The text overlaid says: WELS Awards 2022

WELS Awards 2022: Winners announced

The winners of this year’s WELS Student, Tutor and Teaching Excellence Awards were announced at the virtual WELS Teaching Excellence Day. In total, 33 awards were made across the three categories.

15th November 2022
A picture of golden meadow and blue sky above it, resembling the Ukraine flag.

Free course launched for people supporting Ukrainians in the UK launched by OU

A free online Ukrainian culture and language course has been launched, aimed at those working with Ukrainians in the UK. Alongside the new course, the OU has also translated into Ukrainian its package of free online resources for Ukrainian refugees. The course and the translated resources form the next stage in the package of support the OU is providing for Ukraine.

19th October 2022
Guests sat in a large room around large round tables at the Research Excellence Awards held in London

WELS researchers win at The Open University Research Excellence Awards

Now in its third year, researchers at the Faculty of WELS walked away as winners and runner ups at The Open University’s annual Research Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievement of the university’s research environment and WELS were no exception.

30th September 2022
Picture of An Nyugen with the OU logo and the heading An's journey

From a challenging start in education to creative PhD work during Covid-19 – An’s journey with WELS

When An Nguyen began her PhD with the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics at The Open University, she envisioned global field work to complete her research on English Medium Instruction. But then the Covid-19 pandemic happened and she found herself grounded. She tells us about the creative ways she’s navigated the issue, and the very personal experience behind her subject choice. 

6th September 2022
Photograph of glass Research Excellence Award trophies on a table at the 2019 ceremony.

‘Groundbreaking’ research among WELS projects nominated for 14 Research Excellence Awards

Research by WELS academics has resulted in 14 nominations at this year’s Open University Research Excellence Awards, including a project heralded as ‘groundbreaking’ by Dame Elizabeth Fradd DBE.

15th July 2022
Father and child holding hands walking on beach

International Father’s Mental Health Day: a reflection

Monday 20 June is International Father’s Mental Health Day, and its timing – directly following Father’s Day – is no coincidence. Dr Martin Robb, a Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Senior Lecturer specialising in Fatherhood and Masculinity, explains why this event is equally as important, if perhaps not more so. 

16th June 2022