Opotopics Secondary

In this episode we dive into the golden age of American literature; a time of important shifts and literary innovation between 1850 and 1900. At this point, the United States was a young nation with less that 100 years of history bursting with contradictions and wrestling with questions of identity, democracy and individualism. It was a perfect setting for someone to write about it, and boy, did t...

In this episode we will be delving into the invisible force that shapes our words, structures our thoughts, and breathes life into our communication: grammar. Without a grasp of grammar, language becomes a chaotic jumble of words, similar to a symphony without a conductor, producing discord rather than harmony. Grammar is not a mere set of rigid rules to be memorised, but a dynamic framework that...

In today’s episode there is much to talk about, as we will be travelling back in time to the 18th century Britain. What happened during this period of time? What social, political and cultural changes did the country experience during the century? Who were the most representative authors of the time and what did they write about? All of these questions and more will be answered in this great topic...

The focus on this episode is on narrative texts, a specific type of text that students will encounter time and again. These texts are the bedrock of storytelling as they represent the very fabric of literary creation, history and everyday communication. Understanding their structure and characteristics is vital, not just for recognising them but for mastering the art of narratives. What structure...

Topic 43 deals with the oral transmission of medieval literature and it highlights one of the greateste stories of all time: King Arthur’s Legend. Who was king Arthur? What was magical about Camelot and Excalibur? How was literature transmitted during the Medieval ages? Who was Geoffrey Chaucer and what were his Canterbury Tales about? All of these questions and more will be answered throughout th...

In this episode we will dive into de phonological system of the English language. There are 3 parts to this set of topics dealing with the English phonological system: topic number 7, that deals with vowel sounds; topic number 8, that deals with consonants and this topic, number 9, that deals with stress rhythm and intonation. So, what is stress? What is rhythm? And what is intonation? What role d...

This episode will delve into de cultural dimension of English. It is no secret that the English language and way of life has strongly influenced other cultures. But how do British and American English differ? Which one has had a greater impact in our society? How has Spanish adapted to the rapid expansion of English as today’s lingua franca? What role do anglicisms play in Spanish? All of these qu...

In this episode we will understand how language can be used to form the process of communication. How should language be taught to non-native speakers? What is more important to speak with correct grammar or to make yourself understood although presenting obvious mistakes? What is the communicative competence and what role does it play in language learning? Listen to the episode to answer all thes...

In today’s episode we will unravel the theory behind a text and its relation with the context. What types of texts are there? What role does context play when talking about texts? What is the register of a text? All of these questions will be answered through the lens of modern trends in  Linguistics , which have demonstrated that texts are not just a collection of sentences out of context, but a...

In this episode we journey back to 1861 and we will unravel all the mysteries in American history up to 1945. It was an era of monumental change. A century marked by profound transformation, stretching from the presidency of Abraham Lincoln to the end of Roosevelt’s time in the White House.

In this topic we will analyse the fascinating dance between cultures and stereotypes of English-speaking countries, such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland. These cultures and their customs have created a wide range of symbols that are seen in society as a way of defining these cultures, giving birth to stereotypes that socially define these communities.

This topic analyses the word as a linguistic sign as a tool to delve deeper into the rich tapestry of language and the endless imagination of lexical creativity, where every syllable carries the weight of centuries past and the promise of endless exploration. It also provides a thorough explanation on homonymy, synonymy and antonymy and deceptive cognates, also known as false friends.

In this podcast, we will delve into the complexity of Anglo-Irish relations, tracing the arc of history from centuries of religious conflict to the present-day challenges posed by Brexit. Through the lens of two literary giants, James Joyce and Sean O'Casey, we will explore the profound impact of violence and upheaval on the collective psyche of both nations.

In this episode we will dive deep into the profound impact of William Shakespeare in language, literature, and the cultural tapestry of the English Renaissance.

In this episode there will be a linguistic journey through the ages, where the echoes of the Roman Empire still resonate in the centre of the English language. We will unravel what the Romanisation of Britain stands for and the deep-seated influence of Latin in English.

A brand new podcast for you to learn new topics for the oposiciones.