Shakespeare’s plays are still some of the most studied texts in school English.
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We compiled a list of the 15 most commonly cited books taught by English teachers we surveyed. It contains only two Australian writers, neither of which are Indigenous.
Teachers often assign older books.
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Stories like ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and ‘Jane Eyre’ are still relevant today.
A majority of South African school children are in the process of learning English by the time they start their schooling.
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South African parents want their children be taught in English despite the fact that research shows that academic progress is hindered if a child is taught in a language they aren’t proficient in.
Use it at your peril.
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The word ‘like’ has a grammar, and by looking at it, we can learn a lot about what ‘like’ means and what it contributes to someone’s speech.
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English will remain an official EU language – even after Brexit – and this will impact the way it evolves.
A little lipstick doesn’t change reality.
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Companies often go out of their way to avoid clearly explaining actions like firing people or informing investors and others of bad news.
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This explains why some aspects of English can be hard to learn for speakers of other languages.
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Debunking the myth that English is the only language you need.
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A decolonising curriculum would consider ways in which writers negotiate linguistic, literary and cultural legacies of the colonial era.
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Languages are said to be disappearing faster than endangered species with a different one dying every two weeks.
More spelling problems came in when French scribes introduced new spelling conventions — their own of course, and not always helpful.
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It was a rocky beginning for English spelling. Then things got worse.
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Why do some words sound pleasant to us, while others provoke disgust? Learning a new language can help us find out.
“Aitch” or “Haitch”? It’s long been a point of contestation among English speakers.
Felicity Burke/The Conversastion with apologies to Dr. Suess
An unspoken class war has long been waged around the pronounciation of the letter “h” - is it haitch or aitch? Despite a snobbish leaning to the latter, haitch makes more sense.
Australia and New Zealand are neighbours but our accents are quite different. We even have different words for things.
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The short answer is that the accent you have depends on the people you grew up with and the history of the place that you live in.
A great deal of teachers’ learning also happens in the classroom.
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Teachers who are just starting out often lack the subject knowledge needed for effective teaching.
Filtering information.
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Having English as a common language can and does lead to problems.
Medieval teaching scene.
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Back in the Middle Ages, as well as speaking English and Latin, many people living in Britain also spoke French.
Saint Patrick.
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There are many myths associated with St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. But Patrick’s own writings and early biographies reveal the person behind the legend.
Aussie slang such as ‘budgie’, ‘greenie’, ‘pollie’, ‘surfie’, and even ‘mozzie’ are now also making appearances in global English.
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Every few years there’s a furphy that our beloved ‘Strine’ slang is doing a Harold Holt – but in fact Aussies are still slinging true-blue slang.
Political arguments against high Latino immigration into the U.S. often play on fears that Spanish is pushing out English in American society. It’s not.
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Spanish is not overtaking English in the US, despite political fearmongering. In fact, due to the ‘three-generation pattern,’ Spanish speaking in immigrant families tends to decline over time.