Close message Due to scheduled maintenance on Friday 19th April 2024 between 7:00PM and 9:00PM AEST, the Scootle website may face disruption in service. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Search results

Refine by resource type

Refine by year level


Refine by learning area


Refine by topic

Main topic
  • No suggestions
Specific topic
  • No suggestions
Related topic
  • No suggestions

Your search returned 115 results

Listed under:  Language  >  Natural languages  >  English language
Video

David Malouf on short story writing

  • TLF-IDM019971

Some writers can write a short story in one sitting, whereas for others – like David Malouf – it can sometimes take a bit longer to figure out where a story is going. Watch as David explains that although writing is about an "enthusiastic rush", it is also about patience.  Have you ever written a story that you didn't know ...

View detailsView resource
Audio

Radio National: Different meanings for the same word

  • TLF-IDM015614

<span style="line-height: 1.4;">You've heard people speaking English with different accents, but have you noticed that the differences in accent come down to the way words are pronounced? Listen to this interview with linguist David Crystal and find out about accents and why the same word can mean something different or ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Story development and plot holes with Andy Griffiths

  • TLF-IDM020466

How do you move your characters forward in a story? A trick Andy Griffiths uses is asking a lot of questions. His favourite question to ask is "what's the worst thing that can happen next?" Try asking yourself that question if you get stuck when writing your next story. In this clip Andy also talks about plot holes. What ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Plum puddings, yelks to yolks and elfs to elves

  • TLF-IDM015555

Why are Christmas puddings called 'plum puddings' when they have no plums in them? How did the egg yolk get its name and why are the plurals for 'hoof' and 'roof' are spelt differently? Find out how Professor Kate Burridge answers these questions that the audience of 'Wise Words' send in for her.

View detailsView resource
Video

How to be funny

  • TLF-IDM020220

What is the key to being funny? As Tim Ferguson explains, if you can laugh, you can write comedy. Has something funny happened to you lately? Or is there something in particular that you find puzzling or amusing about the world around you? Put your thoughts on paper and experiment with telling your story in different ways. ...

View detailsView resource
Video

What's With Poetry?, Ch 4: Sounds count!

  • TLF-IDM020392

In poetry every word, syllable and sound counts! Poetry is usually much shorter than stories so it is important for a poet to convey as much as possible using as little as possible. Sounds can be a very powerful tool in expressing mood and emotion when used correctly. Watch as Matt from the Sydney Story Factory gives examples ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Developing script ideas with Hannie Rayson

  • TLF-IDM019983

How do you come up with ideas to write about? Watch this clip to find out how Australian playwright and screenwriter Hannie Rayson begins her writing process. She begins with a "big question" - if you were writing a play, what big question would you ask?

View detailsView resource
Video

ABC Open: Preserving the Badimaya language

  • TLF-IDM020138

The Badimaya language covers areas ranging from Paynes Find, Ninghan Station and Mount Magnet in Western Australia, but the language is in danger of becoming extinct. How important is it to preserve a language? Watch this video to find out the importance of language to identity and culture.

View detailsView resource
Video

How to Build Stories, Ch 1: What is a story?

  • TLF-IDM020120

Stories are all around us and they're happening all the time. But what exactly is a story? Stories teach and explain things, create emotion and entertain us. Watch this wonderful video and find out more.

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Word histories: how extraordinary!

  • TLF-IDM015524

Words can change over time and so can their meanings. The word 'extra' broke away from other words to become a word on its own. Professor Kate Burridge explains how this impacts on words like 'extraordinary'. She also explains the origins and meanings of the words 'hearse' and 'rehearse''.

View detailsView resource
Video

How many versions of the English language are there?

  • TLF-IDM019873

Did you know that in Australia the way we use, pronounce and spell some words is different from the way they are used, pronounced and spelt in America? Can you list all the countries in the world where English is used? See if you can think of countries not mentioned in this clip.  

View detailsView resource
Video

Sally Rippin on authors and illustrators

  • TLF-IDM020133

Watch this clip to find out about the relationship between authors and illustrators. What role does the publisher play in this relationship? What does Sally Rippin say about the role of illustrations in books for young children?

View detailsView resource
Video

Rebecca Lim's advice for writers

  • TLF-IDM020109

Do you want to be a writer? Watch this clip to get some tips from author Rebecca Lim. What are some of the things she suggests? Find out about writing competitions - and enter one!

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Dude: American words and pronunciations

  • TLF-IDM015546

Where does the word 'dude' come from? Why do speakers of English often pronounce words differently depending on their country of origin - not only because of their accent? Find out with Professor Kate Burridge when she takes on these questions from viewers.

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Conquest: the process of language change

  • TLF-IDM015525

When the Normans conquered England in 1066, they brought a lot more than fancy clothes and castles; they also brought the French language. Discover the impact that this momentous event continues to have today.

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Challenging grammar rules, darlings and crowbars

  • TLF-IDM015528

Find out that what appears to be a straightforward grammar rule behind the use of the words 'fewer' and 'less' may not be as straightforward as it seems! Professor Kate Burridge explains that this grammar rule has been under challenge for centuries. She also explains the origins of the word 'darling' and why the 'crow' ...

View detailsView resource
Audio

Radio National: Learning Dharug, Aboriginal language of Sydney

  • TLF-IDM015584

Imagine a time when the Aboriginal language Dharug was the official language spoken in the Sydney area. During this audio clip, reflect on how the language was considered almost 'lost', but (and) discover how Richard Green and others are piecing the Dharug language back together. Find out about how it is being taught at ...

View detailsView resource
Audio

Big Ideas: Evolving English and the role of social media

  • TLF-IDM015587

How many times have you heard teenagers berated for using the term 'like'? Yet this term has existed at least since 1586 when the term, 'Yon man is like out of his mind' was written into history. The truth is, our language is constantly evolving, with new words added, others dying off and some resurfacing again. In this ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Four Corners: I speak, you guess

  • TLF-IDM017861

Listen to the voices of a small selection of students from around Australia to see if you can guess where they live. Is place the most important thing that shapes their language, or are there other factors that influence how people speak?

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: The keys to clearer explanations

  • TLF-IDM015533

G'day cobber! Are you a true-blue, dinky-di Aussie? Australian slang can be quite bewildering for anyone who is new to this country and even for those who've lived here quite a while. In this clip Professor Kate Burridge explores how to use verbal and non-verbal language to explain difficult concepts.

View detailsView resource