Curated OER
Languages in Contact, Socio-spatial Diversity: Language Varieties
Spend some time considering the functions and types of language such as vernacular, standard, and pidgin. This lengthy presentation would benefit a college-level linguistics course with its accurate descriptions and plenty of examples....
Curated OER
Basic Linguistics: Fun Trivia Quiz
Meta-cognition can transform learning. If your syllabus includes linguistics to enhance learners' comprehension and expression in English, here is an interactive online quiz to assess what they have learned. Titled "Basic Linguistics,"...
TED-Ed
How Languages Evolve
Do all languages have a common ancestor? Although no one yet knows the answer to that big question, the narrator of this short, animated video explains how linguists use migration patterns, geological features, and word clues to...
Curated OER
Exploring the Complexities of Language
An interview with Dr. Rosemary Beam de Azcona launches a study of the complexities of language and how meaning changes across languages and cultures. The investigation continues as class members view clips of the film, The Tailenders,...
Curated OER
Chapter 12 Writing: the ABCs of Language
Providing a thorough presentation on the art of written language (and not just English), this slideshow will open your students' eyes to the sociological and linguistic issues surrounding writing systems, both modern and historical. The...
Curated OER
Language Dialects and the Film "Nell"
Students view the film "Nell" and analyze it for presentation of language pathologies and dialects. They consider the definition of dialect, research phonetic representation of dialects and observe their own communities for speech patterns.
Curated OER
English as a Global Language
A discussion of English as a global language is presented in these slides, along with a history of the English language's influence on other cultures throughout the 20th century. The presentation also provides reasons why English makes a...
Curated OER
European Day of Languages
Young adult or adult English learners complete activities that test reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar skills, listening and speaking, as well as writing skills. After reading a document on the European Day of Languages, they...
Curated OER
Teaching Debate to ESL Students
Language learners use the debate format to practice formulating, expressing, and defending their ideas. Working in teams, class members develop resolutions, use opinion indicators to express their opinions and reasons, and prepare...
Curated OER
What is Language?
Intended to be used along with the first chapter of An Introduction to Language textbook, this PowerPoint is full of linguistic terminology that is not necessarily explained. This tool can be used to complement a lecture or a text, but...
Curated OER
Linguistics 472
Elementary English Language Learners practice following directions by participating in a treasure hunt. Adapt this resource to suit individual learners.
Curated OER
Analyzing the Language of Presidential Debates
Scholars assess how word choice and linguistic patterns affect a presidential debate. They examine candidates' words for repetition and analyze what this repetition means. Then they locate countries that fit the expression free world. In...
Curated OER
A Discourse on the History of Language
Analyze and make inferences from the information used by linguists to construct the evolution of languages. They research different dating techniques to explain how scientists infer age with evidence.
Curated OER
Slang and Language Change
Slang, as an example of language change in action, is the focus of a short lesson that asks learners to contribute examples to a class list of terms that they use to separate themselves from other groups or adults. Consider expanding the...
Curated OER
Introduction to the Study of Language
Though the presentation doesn't have any actual information, these slides detail the reading requirements and exam schedule of a sixteen-week class on the study of language. If you are planning a class on this topic, the presentation...
Curated OER
Linguistic Diversity. Languages in Canada - Elementary
Create a language mosaic to reveal the linguistic diversity in your community. Pupils interview a person with a home language other than English and contribute to a bulletin board display representing the variety of languages spoken. The...
Curated OER
Communicative Choices & Linguistic Style
Start by watching a video entitled Do You Speak American? and respond to discussion questions about the various dialects showcased throughout the video to identify the regional linguistic styles throughout America. As a culminating...
Curated OER
Language Variation: Sociolinguistics and Dialectology
Sociolect? Jargon? Morphosyntactic? Labov? Ebonics? The fifteen slides in this presentation serve to introduce terms and concepts used in the discussion of how ethnicity, age, social class, education, religion, and gender influence...
Curated OER
Phonology: The Sound Patterns of Language
Use this straightforward and informative phonology presentation in your speech and language class. Addressing the finer points of phonetics such as palatization and consonant assimilation, this is a great way to provide your students...
Curated OER
Capturing and Sharing Language Acquisition
Practice language development and linguistics with a lesson plan featuring audio recordings. As kids record the ways they pronounce words and sentences, they learn to upload and organize their audio files into iTunes.
Curated OER
How Has Colonialism Led to Multilingualism in Africa
Prepare yourself for a top-notch presentation on colonialism in Africa! Discussed are the reasons for African multilingualism. Maps and a country-by-country look at various colonists that made their mark on the African continent are...
Global Oneness Project
Recording a Dying Langauge
Is there value in preserving indigenous languages that are almost extinct? That's the question posed to viewers of a short film about the attempt of one Native American woman who is creating a dictionary for Wakchumni, the language of...
VIF Learning Center
Languages as Reflection of Cultures and Civilizations: French Speaking Countries
Expand your class's vision of the French-speaking world by conducting this research project. Pupils focus on building 21st-century skills while they look up information about a French country and put together presentations.
Curated OER
English Cognates in Various Indo-European Languages
Studying the history, influences, and cognates of the English language, this presentation provides students in linguistics and language classes with several charts of information on cognates from languages around the world. The slideshow...