Archived ebulletin: December 2006

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This bulletin contains information on the following:

1. Subject Centre activities
2. Subject Centre publications
3. Events, call for papers, news from other institutions or organisations
4. Policy- Dearing review into Languages at Key Stage 4
5. University Council of Modern Languages - Nominations for Chair

1. Subject Centre activities

1.1 Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning Group

Call for bids deadline: 15th November 2006
Researchers from any discipline are welcome to bid for up to £8,000 for either of the following research projects:

• Project C: Investigating the student experience of Interdisciplinary Masters Programmes
• Project D: An investigation of how Subject Centres can support academics teaching on emerging and uncovered courses.

Bids must be submitted to John Canning (j.canning@soton.ac.uk) by 15 December 2006. Further information is available at our news page.

1.2 Digital language labs: Exploring good practice

Thursday 15 March 2007
Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London
Call for presentations deadline: 15 December 2006

The Centre of Excellence in Multimedia Language Learning at the University of Ulster, is delighted to announce that it is organising a Symposium entitled: Digital Language Labs: Exploring Good Practice.

This one-day event, assisted by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies, will take place at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS at the University of London on 15 March 2007. It will provide an opportunity for colleagues critically explore pedagogy-led use of digital labs in language learning and to share best practice.

The organising committee is currently inviting contributions for 15 minute presentations. A short abstract (200 words) should be submitted to k.duffner@ulster.ac.uk using the Abstract Submission Form which can be found at our events page by 15 December 2006. Further details and registration form are also available at this address.

1.3 Routes into Languages programme

Three research projects in languages
Call for bids: Closing date for proposals - 18 December 2006

Routes into Languages is a major programme funded by HEFCE to stimulate demand for language study and to enhance the role of languages in civic and economic regeneration.

The Programme Steering Group invites bids for research in three areas:

• The current map of HE provision in Community Languages
• The role of HE language departments in high profile international events
• How HE Languages Departments enhance enterprise skills in their students

Up to £40,000 is available to fund each project. Work should begin in February/March 2007 and should be completed by 30 November 2007.

For full details on the projects and how to bid, go to our Routes into Languages page. Please note that calls for bids for other strands of the programme will be published in January 2007.

Routes into Languages is seeking to recruit a programme manager (£30,606 to £38,772), starting date 1 March 2007 to 31 July 2010. For more details go to the University of Southampton recruitment page.

Informal enquiries may be made by email to Liz Hudswell eja@soton.ac.uk.

1.4 Pedagogy and translation

26 January 2007
University of Salford

Following the successful event hosted by the University of Swansea in January 2006, the University of Salford is hosting a second event on 26 January 2007 on the theme of Pedagogy and Translation.

The themes include:

• translation project management;
• developing translator autonomy;
• the role of accreditation bodies and professional associations in improving quality in translation and interpreting;
• liaison interpreting as a language learning tool;
• National Occupational Standards in Translation
• elearning for translators

To view the programme and register, please go to our events page.

1.5 E-learning 2 day conference

1-2 February 2007
University of Southampton

LLAS, with the support of JISC funding, is organising this 2-day event. Each day will cover different themes so delegates may choose to attend one or both days. The conference will focus on the learner and how the latest technologies impact on the learning experience. Themes will be: student e-learning experience, mobile learning, Web 2.0 technologies, sharing and re-using learning resources (learning objects and repositories). Keynote speaker: Professor Grainne Conole, The Open University. To register, please go to our events page.

1.6 Area Studies and the globalised world conference

27 February 2007
British Library Conference Centre, London

LLAS has joined with the British Library (Eccles Centre), the UK Council for Area Studies Associations (UKCASA) and the Canadian High Commision in London to organise this high profile conference. Keynote speakers are Lord Giddens (London School of Economics) and John Ralston Saul, Co-chair of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. There is a charge of £27.00 to attend the conference. A full programme and downloadable registration form is available at our events page.

1.7 Postgraduate conference: Identity formation

4 April 2007
University of Manchester

This Subject Centre sponsored Lecture will be the first ever conference to incorporate all the departments in the Faculty of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures at the University of Manchester. This exciting inaugural event aims to be all inclusive and embrace all modern foreign languages; it will treat the notion of Identity Formation in literature, art, film and media studies. Full details, including a call for papers, are available on the University of Manchester website. For further details, please go to our events page.

1.8 CETLs

The Subject Centre is working with CETLs that have a language element or share common themes with our constituencies. For further details visit our resources page.

1.9 Departmental visits

The Subject Centre is happy to announce that it is now offering a new service to departments in Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies. Members of Subject Centre staff are available to visit individual departments on request. For a menu of visit options see our visits page.

2. Subject Centre publications

2.1 Hard going but worth it: a snapshot of attitudes to reading among languages undergraduates.

This report presents information on students' pre-university experience of reading in the foreign language; their attitudes to reading in both their first language and the foreign language and the difficulties experienced with foreign language reading. To order your free copy, please go to our publications page.

2.2 Outreach in Modern Languages: a DfES funded report mapping cross-sector collaboration.

This report presents the findings of a DfES-funded mapping project into cross-sector collaboration between universities and schools in England. Its many examples of good practice and detailed case studies will be a useful resource for higher education staff and school teachers involved in language outreach activities. To order your free copy, please go to our publications page.

2.3 Understanding and Developing Good Practice by John Klapper

The Subject Centre is pleased to offer the above book for sale at a special price of £17.00 + £2.00 for postage and packing. If you would like to receive a copy, please email llas@soton.ac.uk.

2.4 Why Study Languages? Subject Centre CD

There are still copies of this CD designed to excite, educate and encourage young people to continue with their language learning in KS4 and beyond. The CD is divided into two parts: 'The Language Lab' is aimed at pupils in KS3 and KS4 and 'Why study languages' is aimed at pupils in KS4 and post-16. There are quizzes, powerpoint presentations and much much more AND it comes with its own poster! Further information about the CD and ordering procedure can be found on the Why study languages page.

2.5 A wider perspective and more options: investigating the longer term employability of humanities graduates

Copies of this report are still available. To order your free copy, please go to our publications page.

2.6 Free poster about the Subject Centre available!

This poster introduces the LLAS Subject Centre and briefly explains its key activities. It would be a colourful addition to any staff notice board. Click here if you would like to order a free poster for your Department or Faculty. This offer applies to UK HEIs only.

3. Events, call for papers, news from other institutions or organisations

3.1 Other events

Please visit our other events page for events, calls for papers, news which are not organised by LLAS Subject Centre.

4. Policy

4.1 Dearing review into languages policy at KS4

Many of you will know that the Secretary of State has asked Lord Dearing to carry out a review of languages policy at KS4 to assess what can be done to stimulate language learning for 14-19 year olds. Lord Dearing is due to produce an interim report for Alan Johnson in December with a final report due by the end of February 2007. He has written a letter to all Vice-Chancellors in England encouraging them to support Modern Languages Departments in their work with schools. He has also sent the VCs a copy of our 'Why Study Languages?' CD and the Languages Work materials produced by CILT. You may wish to make contact with your Vice-Chancellor's office. More details and copies of the letters sent can be found on our news page.

5. University Council of Modern Languages - Nominations for Chair

5.1 Nominations for new chair of University Council of Modern Languages

UCML are seeking nominations for a new Chair to take up post in January 2007 when Roger Woods term of office comes to an end. Details of the role of Chair and a nomination form are available on our news page.

Nomination forms should reach the UCML Hon. Secretary Cecilia Garrido at b.c.garrido@open.ac.uk by 5 January 2007.

We would be grateful if your would forward this bulletin to colleagues and relevant mailing lists. Please do not hesitate to contact the Subject Centre if you have any queries regarding this bulletin.

Sue Nash
Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
Modern Languages
School of Humanities
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton SO17 1BJ

tel: 023 8059 4814
fax: 023 8059 4815
email: llas@soton.ac.uk

A Subject Centre of the Higher Education Academy