ebulletin: March 2007
News summary
The monthly Subject Centre e-bulletin gives information on events, news items and newly available resources.
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This bulletin contains information on the following:
- Subject centre events
- 1.1 Postgraduate Conference: Identity information, 4 May Manchester
- 1.2 3 Pedagogic Methods workshops, May 07
- 1.3 Foundations in Language Testing and Assessment, 25 May Leicester
- 1.4 Linking Teaching and Research, 10 July Southampton
- 1.5 Virtual Learning Environment Languages User Group - 3rd Annual Meeting
- 1.6 Subject Centre Departmental Visits
- Funding opportunities and calls for bids
- 2.1 HE Academy e-Learning Research Observatory : deadline 21/03/07
- 2.2 Routes into Languages Update - March 2007
- 2.3 Student Award 2007 : deadline 30/03/07
- 2.4 Assistive technology to support accessibility: call for bids deadline 31/05/07
- Important information for colleagues in scotland
- 3.1 Invitation to join an LLAS mailing list for Scotland
- 3.2 UCML Scotland
- 3.3 ESD : Call for Scotland Mini-Project Bids
- 3.4 Introduction to Pedagogic Research Methods, 16 May Dundee
- Survey/questionnaire
- 4.1 UKCOSA Survey
- 4.2 Report on ab initio language teaching in UK language degree programmes
- Subject centre website update
- 6.1 New websites
- 6.2 Internationalisation: free copies of Exchange available
- Events, publications, news from other institutions or organisations
- 5.1 Link to other events
- 5.2 Subject Centre News Blog
- Opportunity for a study visit to china - chinese government scholarship
- Memorial event for Alison Piper - Friday 11 May 2007
1. Subject centre events
1.1 Postgraduate conference: identity information
4 April 2007,
University of Manchester
The Subject Centre is sponsoring a lecture at this event, which will treat the notion of Identity Formation in literature, art, film and media studies. For further details, please go to our event page
1.2 Pedagogic methods workshops April/May 2007
The Subject Centre is offering free of charge the following workshops:
Introduction to methods for pegagogic research: Workshop A
2 May 2007, London or
16 May 2007, Dundee
This workshop is suitable for those who are new to pedgagogic research. No prior knowledge of social science or educational research methods is assumed. To ensure the workshop is interactive, places are limited to 16 participants.
Stage 2: methods for pedagogic research: Workshop B
22 May 2007
In response to demand from participants at previous workshops, LLAS has designed a follow-up workshop. Participants would normally have attended Workshop A or a previous 'Introduction to methods for pedagogic research' workshop
For further details and to register go to: our events page
1.3 Foundations in language testing and assessment
Friday 25 May 2007,
University of Leicester
This is a one-day workshop organised by the School of Education, University of Leicester and LLAS. It will introduce the main concepts in language testing and assessment. The workshop will focus on a range of assessment issues including validity, reliability, the role of self and peer assessment, the assessment of speaking and practical ways of using external standards and frameworks.
For further details, go to our event page
1.4 Linking teaching and research in languages, linguistics and area studies
Tuesday 10th July 2007,
Avenue Campus, University of Southampton
Cost 40 (20 for postgraduate students) Debates about the links between teaching and research in UK higher education have intensified in recent years, as both teaching and research have come under increased pressure for performance, accountability and assessment.
Keynote speakers:
Clare Mar-Molinero, Head of Modern Languages, School of Humanities, University of Southampton. Alan Jenkins, Westmininster Institute, Oxford Brooks University. Registration is now open for this event. A provisional programme is available on the event page
1.5 Virtual learning environment languages user group - 3rd Annual Meeting, New Horizons in VLE use for languages
29 March 2007,
Nottingham Trent University
This event is being organised by the VLE Languages User Group and the LLAS Subject Centre is assisting with registrations.
For further details please contact Trevor Pull at Trevor.pull@ntu.ac.uk and to register please email the Subject centre at: llas@soton.ac.uk
1.6 Departmental visits
Members of Subject Centre staff are available to visit individual departments on request.
For a menu of visit options see our departmental visits page
2. Funding oppportunities and calls for bids
2.1 HE Academy e-learning research observatory
To launch the new HE Academy e-learning Research Observatory this year's 200k research call has just been released. It will fund up to 6 projects in total. It is focused on the student learning experience within an institutional context but 2 of the 4 themes relate to discipline/subject issues.
Full details can be downloaded at the HE Academy website or for more information please contact e-Learning Research Project Co-ordinator Gareth Long gareth.long@HEAcademy.ac.uk.
2.2 Routes into languages update - March 2007
A reminder to all bidders to consult the Frequently Asked Questions document on the Routes web pages. This was last updated on Friday 2 March 2007.
Also on the Routes web pages: invitation to tender to carry out evaluation of the Routes into Languages Programme. Deadline for submission of tenders: 2 April 2007
For more information, go to the Routes website
2.3 Student award 2007
This is a last reminder that the Subject Centre is giving students the chance to offer their opinions and experiences in a 1000-word essay entitled What advice would you give to students starting your course? This opportunity is open to anyone studying Languages, Linguistics or Area Studies as part of their HE course. There is a 250 prize for the winning entry, which will be featured on the Subject Centre website. For further details see our website. If you would like some competition postcards and/or posters, please contact the Subject Centre at llas@soton.ac.uk.
Closing date 16th March 2007
2.4 Assistive technology to support accessibility: call for bids
TechDis (the JISC-funded advisory service for inclusion and technology) are offering funding under the HEAT2 scheme to support the purchase of technology for small projects by academics or Subject Centres to uncover or develop good practice in an aspect of inclusive teaching. Details of projects funded in the first tranche of funding are available on the techdis website as is the bid form for HEAT2 projects.
Go to the TechDis website.
Deadline for applications for HEAT2 projects: 31 May 2007. All bids must be submitted through a subject centre.
3. Important information for colleagues in Scotland
3.1 Invitation to join an LLAS mailing list for Scotland
Many of you will know that LLAS has a partnership with Scottish CILT at the University of Stirling. SCILT and an LLAS Advisory Board for Scotland organise events for colleagues in HE in Scotland. If you are based in Scotland and would like to join a mailing list to receive information directly from SCILT and the LLAS Advisory Board for Scotland, please email Hannah Doughty on hannah.doughty@stir.ac.uk.
3.2 UCML Scotland
Dr Pam Moores, recently elected Chair of UCML, is working with colleagues in Scotland to re-establish UCML Scotland so that there is a body which can effectively respond to political developments North of the border. The letter should be sent to all Modern Languages departments in Scotland in the next two weeks. If you do not receive this letter, or wish to discuss this further, please email Pam Moores at: p.m.moores@aston.ac.uk.
3.3 ESD : Call for Scotland mini project bids
The HE Academy Education for Sustainable Development Project has issued a call for grant funding bids from Scottish HE Institutions designed to promote and disseminate good practice in this area.
For more information, please email John Canning at jc9@soton.ac.uk. DEADLINE : Midday on 16 April 2007
3.4 Introduction to pedagogic research methods
16 May 2007,
University of Dundee
This workshop is suitable for those who are new to pedgagogic research. No prior knowledge of social science or educational research methods is assumed. To ensure the workshop is interactive, places are limited to 16 participants. For more information, go to our events page.
4. Surveys / Questionnaires
4.1 UKCOSA Survey
Feasibility study for an online pre-arrival induction tool for international students
UKCOSA: The Council for International Education has commissioned a feasibility study for an online pre-arrival induction tool for international students. It is anticipated that this may lead to the development of an online interactive induction package for international students from which all UK universities might benefit.
A researcher based at the University of Southampton is conducting an initial survey to ascertain what existing provision of this kind is available at individual institutions and how the proposed development could enhance this. If you wish to participate, please email Julie Watson at J.Watson@soton.ac.uk before 15 March.
4.2 Report on ab initio language teaching in uk language degree programmes
Thank you to everyone who participated in last year's survey on ab initio language teacing in UK language degree programmes. The survey report is now available on our website
5. Subject centre website update
5.1 New Websites
Conference papers from Cardiff 2006
Papers from the third biennial conference for languages in higher education; "Crossing frontiers: languages and the international dimension", are now available. This conference was held from 6-7 July 2006 at Cardiff University.
http://www.llas.ac.uk/cardiff2006/
New teaching materials
Academic presentations: teaching presentation skills to foreign students video
Author: Rosemary Jane, SLAS, University of Portsmouth
http://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/mb/2722
5.2 Subject Centre news blog
A new site for news and discussion in the areas of Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies is located at www.llasnews.blogspot.com. This blog presents news from both the subject centre and more general interest topics to the LLAS communities. The blog is maintained by John Canning, and reader comments are welcomed.
6. Events, publications, news from other institutions or organisations
6.1 Third-Party Events
Please visit our other events page for events, calls for papers, news items which are not organised by LLAS Subject Centre.
6.2 Internationalisation: Free copies of Exchange available
The most recent edition of Exchange, the Higher Education Academy publication focuses on internationalisation in HE. If you would like a free copy of this publication, please email the Subject Centre at llas@soton.ac.uk giving your full postal address.
7. Opportunity for a study visit to china - chinese government scholarship
Thanks to the Chinese Embassy and the DfES, there is an opportunity for a student or an academic to spend between 3 months and one year at a Chinese University studying Chinese or any subject of their choice. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation and includes a small monthly allowance. There is no language requirement as the successful applicant will be given language training if needed. Applications will need to be completed by the end of April for a scholarship in 2007-8. For further details are available from Dr Lid King, National Director for Languages at the DfES. For more information, email Shaukat Bashir at Shaukat.Bashir@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
8. Memorial event for Dr Alison Piper - Friday 11 May 2007
The Modern Languages discipline at the University of Southampton is holding a memorial event for Alison Piper from 4pm on Friday 11 May at the Avenue Campus, University of Southampton. Anybody who wishes to join this celebration of Alisons professional life should give their email address to Gail Combes at g.combes@soton.ac.uk, Modern Languages Administrator so that you can be informed of the planned arrangements.
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.
Jane Copeland
Administrator
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
LLAS: A Subject Centre of the Higher Education Academy
