1. ‘The more languages you know, the better you are’: learners’ pride in being multilingual and their motivation for language learning is a recent open-access Taylor & Francis article by Giulia Sulis & Sarah Mercer from Graz University and Astrid Mairitsch from Klagenfurt University https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01434632.2025.2576616

The role of positive emotions in language learning has received considerable attention in recent years. However, research in applied linguistics has predominantly focused on enjoyment, leaving other emotions, such as pride, largely unexplored. While research in general education has linked pride to motivation and achievement, its role in language learning remains unclear. This qualitative interview study addresses these gaps by exploring 31 students’ experiences of pride in relation to multilingualism and the relationship between pride and language learning motivation.

2. I don’t claim to even understand the titles of most of these open access Cambridge Core Language & Linguistics titles, but it’s fun browsing! https://tinyurl.com/nhz7j2u9

3. Is this the end of the road for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor? However devoutly that might be to be desired, I somehow doubt it. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/58be80dcf6918581

4. Plus, taking full advantage (which feels especially good from a political perspective) of my Daily Telegraph subscription, here’s their 50 Greatest Albums of All Time, Ranked https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/7a5dfac0af602ef4 #43 should be further up the list!

5. And, finally and artistically, art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon’s website https://www.andrewgrahamdixon.com/index.html You need to register but once you’ve done so, you have access here to all Andrew’s Broadcasts https://www.andrewgrahamdixon.com/broadcast/members-videos.html

 I’m enjoying listening to his latest book, a biography of Vermeer, Vermeer: a life lost and found, on my way to and from Richmond at present. Here’s AGD’s ‘review’ of his own book from The Times https://www.thetimes.com/culture/art/article/the-hidden-meaning-of-vermeers-art-l6vlxt9vf