Instructional Video7:01
Curated Video

Foreign Words We Need in English

6th - Higher Ed
English has more words than most other languages, but there are still so many familiar things and experiences that we don't have a word for... but other languages do! Here are some of our faves!
Instructional Video7:25
Curated Video

A Controversial Theory About Gossip

6th - Higher Ed
Gossip is an integral part of human social structure... and maybe the reason language evolved in the first place!
Instructional Video5:57
Curated Video

Pronouns: Little Words That Say a Lot

6th - Higher Ed
Pronouns may be little, but they say a lot, and they're always changing!
Instructional Video7:51
Curated Video

The Screwed-Up History of English Spelling

6th - Higher Ed
The English spelling system is a MESS... arguably more than any other language. How did it get this way?
Instructional Video6:19
Curated Video

How Do Clichés Evolve into Memes?

6th - Higher Ed
Adaptable clichés called "snowclones" are EVERYWHERE on the internet. We use them for memes, inside jokes, to show our membership of the group. But they weren't invented online. In fact, they're way older than you think!
Instructional Video6:09
Curated Video

Is Swearing Good for Your Brain?

6th - Higher Ed
Does swearing get a bad rap? There's evidence that the shouting obscenities has an evolutionary purpose... and may be good for your psyche!
Instructional Video7:12
Curated Video

60 Euphemisms for Death!

6th - Higher Ed
No topic is as universally avoided--yet universally unavoidable--as DEATH. So, it's got a lot of euphemisms in virtually every language.
Instructional Video7:00
Curated Video

What's the Longest Word?

6th - Higher Ed
Before we decide from a long list of contenders, we'll have to figure out what the word "word" really means...
Instructional Video9:42
Curated Video

Is Bilingualism a Superpower?

6th - Higher Ed
There was a time when psychologists thought growing up bilingual was harmful to brain development, but recent studies into bilingual children have turned that idea on its head!
Instructional Video8:01
Curated Video

The Unexpected Origins of the Word ‘Monster’

6th - Higher Ed
Words don't pop up fully formed... they evolve over thousands of years. What can we learn about our relationship to monsters by tracking the word down into the distant past?
Instructional Video8:32
Curated Video

Why Do These Words Get Mispronounced So Much?

6th - Higher Ed
We all love language but still sometimes we pronounce certain words wrong, and everyone does it. We’re not talking about speaking too fast or jumbling letters. We’re talking about good ol’ fashioned mispronunciations–things you didn’t...
Instructional Video6:38
Curated Video

How Queer Communities Created Secret Languages

6th - Higher Ed
Across the globe, queer communities have relied on secret lexicons known as "argots" to communicate safely, which have developed over the years into what some call "verbal jazz."
Instructional Video7:17
Curated Video

Where Alcoholic Drinks Got Their Names

6th - Higher Ed
There are no shortage of wacky names for alcoholic beverages, from Fuzzy Navels, to Sex on the Beaches, to the NSFW AMF. Humans have been enjoying alcoholic beverages since the dawn of civilization so there's plenty of linguistic...
Instructional Video4:00
Curated Video

Hamlet 3.1 What the Critics Say (89) - To Be or Not to Be

6th - Higher Ed
This video delves into the profound complexities of Hamlet's famous "To be, or not to be" soliloquy from Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." It explores the ongoing debate among scholars about the underlying meanings of the speech,...
Instructional Video1:00
Curated Video

Romeo and Juliet 2.2 Word Nerd: idolatry

6th - Higher Ed
This video explores the etymology of "idol," from its Latin and Greek roots to its transformation in English as a term for false gods. It highlights Juliet's unique, positive use of "idol" in "Romeo and Juliet," influencing modern usage...
Instructional Video4:44
Curated Video

Macbeth Context: Scottish History

6th - Higher Ed
This video explores how Shakespeare's use of Scottish history, particularly the reign of King James VI, influenced the narrative and themes in Macbeth. It delves into the historical backdrop of Scotland during Shakespeare's time, the...
Instructional Video6:47
Curated Video

Macbeth 5.3 Interview: Macbeth

6th - Higher Ed
This video analyzes Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," where the protagonist, Macbeth, confronts the looming threat of the English army and Malcolm's forces, while grappling with the prophecies that assure his invincibility....
Instructional Video0:57
Curated Video

Hamlet 1.3 Word Nerd: Habit

6th - Higher Ed
The word "habit" originates from the Latin term for having or holding, traditionally referring to one's demeanor, appearance, or even clothing. In contemporary English, while its usage to denote clothing is largely archaic, specific...
Instructional Video2:49
Curated Video

Hamlet 1.2 Solid vs Sullied

6th - Higher Ed
This video explores the textual discrepancies in Hamlet's soliloquy, focusing on the variation between "too too solid flesh" and "too too sullied flesh." It highlights the existence of three primary sources of the play—two early quartos...
Instructional Video15:50
Curated Video

Battle of Assandun, 1016 AD Cnut the Great conquers England

6th - Higher Ed
This video provides a detailed account of the power struggle between Cnut the Great and Edmund Ironside for control of England in the early 11th century. The narrative delves into political intrigues, betrayals, and battles that...
Instructional Video14:41
Curated Video

William Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 1297 First War of Scottish Independence Part 2

6th - Higher Ed
William Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 1297 First War of Scottish Independence Part 2
Instructional Video14:45
Curated Video

Battle Of Poitiers, 1356 AD Part 2 of 2

6th - Higher Ed
Battle Of Poitiers, 1356 AD Part 2 of 2
Instructional Video13:58
Curated Video

Siege of Harfleur, 1415 AD Battle of Agincourt (Part 1 / 2) A Baptism of Fire

6th - Higher Ed
Siege of Harfleur, 1415 AD Battle of Agincourt (Part 1 / 2) A Baptism of Fire
Instructional Video11:05
Rachel's English

ENGLISH VOWEL [æ] | BAT, CASH, MAD

6th - Higher Ed
In this video I show you everything you need to know about the A as in CAT sound. This speaking English tutorial is all about practice. I’ll give you loads of examples and teach you my Play It / Say It method. This approach to improving...