Monthly Archives: January 2023

Don’t want to do a language module? Let us change your mind!

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So you’re not taking a language module with the Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP). Don’t have enough time? Bad school experience? Already know multiple languages? Whatever your reason, read on to find out why you should seize the opportunity to do a language module after all. We’ve spoken to students across the University to find out the most common reasons why they haven’t picked a language module alongside their main degree modules. Is your reason on the list? Let us change your mind!

 

1. I didn’t know I could do a language module!
Yes you can! Our modules are open to all students in all years, undergraduate and postgraduate. We offer 10 languages at multiple levels. To find out more, visit our website.

 

2. I don’t have enough time! I’ve already got enough to do!
Most of our students do the module for credit. Credit modules fit into your existing timetable and credit allowance, not on top. You effectively exchange a degree-related optional module for a language module.

The most common positive feedback we get from students is that they really enjoy the variety that the IWLP module gives them: the changes in pace of class, the class environment, peers, assessment and homework style. Students have fun in their classes and learn useful things every lesson, which makes them feel more motivated and less like they are working hard. In fact, a third of our students are busy finalists, like Bella.

Once you leave university, you will be busy working, and fitting in learning a new language from scratch will be hard – university is the best time to seize the opportunity while it still fits into your weekly timetable.

 

3. I didn’t like it at school! I wasn’t good at it at school!

At the IWLP, we cater specifically for non-specialist language learners, so we know how to make the course work for you and how to help you find what works for you. Our courses have been running for years with experienced teachers, with proven successful results – we have students of all abilities and empower them all to succeed.

Our classes are also capped at 20, which means that your teacher gets to know you quickly and can respond to your needs. Everyone in the classroom has chosen the module and is engaged and willing to learn, which improves the learning experience for everyone.

 

4. I already know multiple languages!
Amazing! 😊 Why not expand your horizons even further? Think of the new places you can visit and the new people you can meet. No-one has ever regretted learning a new language. Many of our own teachers are multilingual – some know as many as five or six languages. When it comes to language learning, the sky is the limit!

 

5. I don’t have any optional modules left!
Even if you don’t have optional modules left, you can take our modules as a non-credit student for a small fee. You do the same course, but it is additional to your full credit timetable. We have many non-credit students every year and they are just as successful as credit students. Find out more here.

 

Convinced? Visit our website to find out more.

Already picked your modules for next year? You may still be able to transfer onto one of our modules. Email us today: iwlp@reading.ac.uk

Or don’t have any optional modules available? You can still take a module non-credit for a fee: https://www.reading.ac.uk/iwlp/how-to-apply

Any questions? Email us: iwlp@reading.ac.uk

 

8 great reasons to take a language module

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The Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) modules are open to all students and we would love you join us in the classroom! Not sure about signing up? Check out our list of 8 great reasons to learn a language and see if we can change your mind.

 

1. You’ll never have a better opportunity to do it.

Once you graduate, you will have lots of pressure on your time, but our language modules fit into your usual timetable and credit allowance. Take the chance now, just like Rhiannon and Annie did.

 

2. There are so many options to choose from.

We offer 10 languages: Arabic, British Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Modern Greek, Russian and Spanish.

 

3. You can re-start a language you had to drop in the past.

Many of our students have studied to GCSE or A-Level but had to stop. All languages have multiple levels, so you can pick back up something you started in the past, like Olga, as well as learn a new language, like Phoebe.

 

4. You learn a practical skill.

From your first day in the classroom, you will be using the language. We aim for communicative competence and confidence in manipulating the language, so even beginner students can use the language for travel, like Yagmur and Darcey, or for communicating with friends and family, like Iyla. Emily even found herself using Spanish at work in Ascot! And that’s not to mention the new worlds of film, television and music you open up.

 

5. You will meet people from all over the Uni.

IWLP classes are open to all students from all degrees and year parts. In our interactive, friendly classes you will quickly get to know your fellow students and make new connections as you practise together – even if you are nervous about meeting new people, like Beth.

 

6. You will enrich your university experience.

Students often worry that they don’t have time to learn a language as well as their main degree, but our modules slot into your credit allocation. Students enjoy the change of pace and way of thinking in an IWLP module, which gives them variety overall, keeps their studies interesting and boosts their motivation – in fact, this positive aspect of language learning is in nearly all our student testimonials!

 

7. Your language can take you places you never expected.

Bella found that doing German directly influenced the film she chose to study for her dissertation. After learning Chinese, Giang travelled on an exchange programme to Nanjing and Morgan decided to do an internship in Taiwan. And Esmé’s future career was decided by taking BSL.

 

8. You will learn something that will stay with you forever.

IWLP modules equip you with the passion, practical skills and confidence to continue your language learning journey outside of the classroom. You will remain a lifelong language learner, even after you have graduated.
No-one has ever wished that they hadn’t learnt a new language!

 

Convinced? Visit our webpage.

Already picked your modules for next year? You may still be able to transfer onto one of our modules. Email us today: iwlp@reading.ac.uk

Or don’t have any optional modules available? You can still take a module non-credit for a fee:

Any questions? Email us: iwlp@reading.ac.uk

 

IWLP German: Talking to native speakers for the Stage 3 Project

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In this post we hear from Bee, an IWLP German Stage 3 student. Students on the German Stage 3 module complete a short research project as part of their Spring term assessment, which includes the opportunity to interview to German native speakers. Students prepare in classes beforehand and then use the interviews to feed into their findings for the project. This is a great opportunity for students to really use and develop their language skills authentically.

Hi everyone! My name is Bee and I’m excited to have got the opportunity to write this blog post. I’m a first year studying Creative Writing & Film, however I am currently taking a German module due to a general interest in learning languages and the fact that I took German for both GCSE and A-Level. I hope to do my best in learning as many languages as I can in the future, but German seemed like a great place to start. I definitely needed to brush up on it as I spent the year I took out before uni not using it at all.

As a part of the module, we got the opportunity to interview some native German speakers in preparation for a project that we have to write. It was a really interesting experience – although I have to admit I was a little nervous for it as I’ve never had to utilise my skills in German in front of those who speak it natively. I’ve met a few native German speakers before, but have always been so scared to speak it to them.

Throughout the experience, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I got through it with mostly no issues! I’m sure my German wasn’t perfect due to nerves, but I feel like that’s something that is bound to happen in a situation like that. Learning a new language can be really scary, but I feel like you’ll never get anywhere with it if you don’t put a little bit of trust in yourself, and this is something the experience with the native speakers taught me. It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you recognise them, correct them and are ready for further learning. Overall, I can say that the experience was very beneficial and I felt very accomplished afterwards.

See below for some pictures from the interviews:

two people stand opposite each other in a corridor two groups of people sit at tables and speak to each other a group of three people sit around a table and talk to each other

IWLP Italian: Engaging classes where you learn quickly and make new friends

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a young woman with long brown hair smiles into the cameraCiao, mi chiamo Alex! I am currently studying BA Modern Languages: French and Spanish. I took Italian as an IWLP in my first year as an extra module. Originally, I thought I would study Russian or British Sign Language as I have always had an interest in these. I went to a few of the taster sessions and really enjoyed the Italian one and realised that it fit in well alongside my course as the languages are fairly similar.

I have continued with Italian in my second year and am still enjoying the classes as well as making progress in my language learning. The classes are engaging, interactive and I really enjoy them. The coursework, the portfolio, is very flexible in that you can do it with others or on your own and the people you meet are on courses either similar or very different to your own, so you can meet a large variety of people. With the classes being so engaging I feel that the speed in which you learn the language is quite quick, and by the end of the year I was able to put sentences together and speak at a basic level, which was a fulfilling feeling. I think that the way in which the course is structured is helpful as it is less intense than if it were part of your degree.

The culture behind the language was one of the things which I found more interesting and through the portfolio I was able to touch on elements from the classes on a more profound level. Although I am learning an extra language, I found it manageable alongside my degree as the deadlines lined up and were very similar in nature. I feel that Italian will be useful in the future for me as I plan on working abroad, potentially in Italy, so I feel having begun to learn will only benefit me.