Unraveling Language Change: From Old English to Modern English

Unraveling Language Change: From Old English to Modern English

Learning Objective

Understand the key terms language change, lexicon, and standardization, and recognize the historical context of the evolution of English.

What do you already know about the evolution of the English language?

Key Terms

Define language change, lexicon, and standardization with examples.

Historical Context

Provide an overview of the evolution of English from Old English to Modern English.

Old English Texts

Read excerpts from Old English texts and analyze language changes.

Activity: Language Changes

Engage in a group activity to identify and discuss language changes in different contexts.

Homework

Research and write a short essay on the impact of the Norman Conquest on the English language.

Video Resource

Watch 'The History of English in Ten Minutes' video by The Open University.

Review and Discussion

Recap the key learnings and engage in a discussion about language change and its impact.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.