Self-study
The Learning Resources Centre on the third floor of the Schofield Building (A3.03), incorporating the Language Centre, offers facilities and services to students and staff from the Department of Politics, History and International Relations and throughout the University. It aims to deliver quality materials and resources in a friendly environment conducive to independent learning and directed self-study. The Learning Resources Manager and desk staff provide advice on ICT and language learning as well as training in the use of presentation and recording equipment.
The Centre comprises an open-access computer laboratory with 15 networked PCs, equipped with DVD drives and headsets, and a printer, plus a library of materials - books, videos and audio resources - available for use in the Centre during opening hours. English, French, German and Spanish television programmes on most major channels can be watched live via satellite and news broadcasts are recorded on a daily basis. Recent issues of a range of foreign language newspapers and magazines are available in the reception area of the Centre and back issues may be consulted on request.
The computer laboratory provides access to the University Central Services menu (internet, web-based email, Learn Server etc) as in every networked lab on campus.
Language learners can choose from a range of self-study materials in over 25 languages, including DVD/video recordings and a small library of course books and bilingual dictionaries.
Other information stored in the Centre includes details of language courses run by the University and by other institutions, together with information about partner universities abroad.
Self-Study Materials
We have a range of materials available for use in the Centre:
Audio
We have audio courses in the following languages:
Arabic Brazilian Portuguese Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) Czech Danish Dutch English Finnish French German Greek Hebrew Hindi & Urdu Italian Japanese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Punjabi Russian Slovene Spanish Swedish Turkish Thai Welsh
Audio materials in French, German and Spanish for directed self-study are available to students studying languages as part of the University-wide Language Programme.
Video
We have a range of material available on DVD/video which will allow you to improve your cultural knowledge of various countries. This is especially so in the case of France and Germany where we have news reports, documentaries and feature films, some of which are subtitled.
We have a growing library of DVD/video materials to support students of Politics, History and International Relations.
Periodicals
Periodicals are available in French, German and Spanish. Unlike the rest of the material available for use in the language centre, periodicals can be loaned out for short periods.
English as a Foreign Language
We operate a lending system for books provided by the International Student Centre. These include graded readers, general purpose and subject specific coursebooks.