University-wide Languages Programme
The University-wide Language Programme (UWLP) consists of a ladder of 12 single-semester, 10 credit modules in French, German and Spanish, from beginner’s to degree level, with clearly defined entry requirements. These modules are available to our own students and to students of any department of the University whose degree programme makes provision for languages. Students may join at any point and progress as far up the ladder as they wish (timetabling permitting). We wish to improve access to language modules across the campus and would like to encourage all students to take advantage of the flexibility of the programme.
In 2009-10 we introduced beginners Mandarin Chinese modules. In 2010-11 we offered the next intermediate level. In 2011-2012 we are introducing a more advanced level.
University-wide Language Programme |
||
Module title & level |
Entry requirement |
Equivalent level achieved on completion |
French |
Complete beginners |
|
Intermediate Mandarin Chinese |
|
GCSE |
| Advanced Mandarin Chinese E & F |
‘AS’ level | |
F/G/S Language 3 |
GCSE |
|
F/G/S Language 4 |
|
‘AS’ level |
F/G/S Language 5 |
‘AS’ level |
|
F/G/S Language 6 |
|
‘A’ level |
F/G/S Language 7 |
‘A’ level |
|
F/G/S Language 8 |
|
Degree level Part A |
F/G/S Language 9 |
‘A’ level + 1 year |
|
F/G/S Language 10 |
|
Degree level Part B |
F/G/S Language 11 |
‘A’ level + 2 years |
|
F/G/S Language 12 |
|
Degree level Part C |
There are three main timetable slots:
A SLOT Thursday period 6 and Friday period 6
A SLOT+ Thursday periods 6 and 8, and Friday period 6 (Mandarin only)
B SLOT Thursday period 3 and Friday period 2
C SLOT Thursday period 4 and Friday period 3
C SLOT+ Thursday period 4 and Friday periods 3 and 8 (Mandarin only)
The A slot is designed for students from the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, the Business School and Economics.
In the B slot priority is given to students who are only allowed to take 10 credits per year, beginning in Semester Two.
Any spare places in A or B slot will be offered to students from other departments who are free at the correct times.
In the C slot priority is given to students taking 10 credits in both semesters, but we do usually take a few students who only want to do one semester.
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LEVELS OFFERED
|
Sem 1 |
Sem 2 |
A SLOT |
French 3 and 7 |
French 4 and 8 |
|
Spanish 1, 3 and 7 |
Spanish 2, 4 and 8 |
A SLOT + |
Mandarin Chinese A, C |
Mandarin Chinese B, D |
B SLOT |
French 3 and 4 |
French 1 and 3 |
|
German 2 and 4 |
German 1 and 3 |
| Spanish 1 | ||
C SLOT |
French 1, 3, 5, 7 |
French 2, 4, 6, 8 |
|
German 1, 3, 5, 7 |
German 2, 4, 6, 8 |
| Spanish 1, 3, 5 | Spanish 2, 4, 6 | |
C SLOT + |
Mandarin Chinese A, C |
Mandarin Chinese B, D |
The slots for Levels 9,10,11 and 12 vary. If you took Levels 7 and 8 or levels 9 and 10 in 2010/11 and wish to continue onto the next level, please contact Frances Seller for timetable details.
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WHICH LEVEL?
If you are a beginner or have a very limited knowledge of the language you should do level 1 (or Mandarin Chinese A and B)
If you have a GCSE grade C or above you have to join a level 3 group.
If you have an AS level you will begin at level 5
If you have an A level you will begin at level 7
To take Level 9 you must have studied Levels 7 and 8 and to take level 11 you must have studied levels 9 and 10.
If you have taken a language module before, you just move to the next level if you continue with the same language.
Valuing languages
Languages play a central role in many aspects of university. They add to the skills profile of many graduates, widening their career horizons in a demanding and competitive global market, they provide students with the required language skills to undertake periods of study and/or work abroad, they improve students’ understanding of the social, political and economic cultures of both their near neighbours in Europe and in the wider world, thereby encouraging a better grasp of the issues affecting our own multicultural society, they help students understand the nuances of business etiquette in foreign markets. British companies have vital international connections and, where less than a third of the world’s population understand English, there is a growing demand for UK graduates to be able to communicate in another language and to understand foreign business cultures. There are also enormous opportunities for graduates with foreign language skills in the fields of political administration, the media and cultural organisations, NGOs and in education. To compete in a global marketplace, UK graduates need to be able to communicate in continental European languages and increasingly in Asian languages like Mandarin Chinese. A good grounding in at least one modern foreign language will provide students with invaluable transferable skills for the job market – not just fluency in a foreign language but also confidence, independence, flexibility and adaptability. Graduates who have international experience and an expertise in languages are highly employable because they can demonstrate that they have drive, resilience and intercultural sensitivities, as well as language skills.
Acquiring another language can also help us to understand the subtleties of language-use in general and the need for accuracy in conveying meaning in our own language and in that of others. Language is, after all, the distinguishing feature of human societies. We prosper through communication. We understand better if we can communicate with members of other societies.
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Registration procedure
Students should complete the top section of the Option form. Students are not required to specify which level of language they will study – this will be determined by the information given in "9 – Experience in the Language".
Completed forms should be handed to the Administrator in the student's home department to indicate that a language module has been chosen. Departments will then send the form to the Department of Politics, History and International Relations who will allocate a place (or not) and inform the home department of the module code for which the student should be registered.
Download the UWLP 2011-12 option form by clicking here.
For further information, contact:
Frances Seller, Departmental Administrator, Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies
Arlette Williams, UWLP Co-ordinator and Senior University Teacher
Please note that, as well as expert tuition, we can offer first-rate multimedia resources in our Learning Resources Centre to facilitate directed self-study.