In 1943, the Central Department of BBC World Service started broadcasting English language teaching programmes. This department was the forerunner of BBC Learning English. Over time, the department's name changed to, amongst other things, English by Radio (or ExR), English by Radio and Television and BBC English before becoming BBC Learning English.

This week, to celebrate the last 70 years of the department and to look forward to the next 70 years, we will be publishing a number of special programmes and materials. We have photo galleries and interviews with you, our audience, bi-lingual celebrities talking about what English means to them, English at Work returning for a 5 part special, The Teacher investigating the future of English language teaching and much more. There will also be our regular content; most with a special 70th birthday twist.

We hope that you like it.

However long you have studied English with us, we thank you and we look forward to you being part of our English language learning community long into the future.

Now go and watch, listen or interact with some our content. This is what's coming up today:

1)

2)

3)

4)

5) Then and Now - how English language teaching has changed