LLAS Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies

Language Partnerships across Sectors: Seminar and Discussion Workshop
Event date: 1 May, 2013
Location: University of Strathclyde, Graham Hills Building, level 5, Room 5.13

Life and work in academia: event for new and aspiring lecturers in languages, linguistics and area studies
Event date: 12 April, 2012
Location: Conference Aston, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET

Life and work in academia: event for new and aspiring lecturers in languages, linguistics and area studies
Event date: 15 April, 2011
Location: Jesus College, Ship Street Centre, Oxford

Life and work in academia: event for new lecturers in languages, linguistics and area studies
Event date: 15 April, 2010 - 16 April, 2010
Location: Aston Business School Conference Centre, Birmingham

Life and work in academia: event for new lecturers in languages, linguistics and area studies
Event date: 16 April, 2009 - 17 April, 2009
Location: Clare College, Cambridge

Pragmatics and intercultural communication (27 Mar 06)
Event date: 27 March, 2006
Location: The British Council, London

Language assistants: enhancing the learning experience
The development of the British Council Personal Development Portfolio arose from a desire to recognise the transferable skills and experience acquired during the language assistantship in a more formal way. A collaboration with several universities and the Centre for Recording Achievement has resulted in a 'default' PDP which universities can customise in accordance with their own QA requirements for dual certification from the BC and the home institution. Response from participating students and tutors has been very favourable - 'for the first time, students were able to acknowledge the changes they go through which are usually obvious to members of staff who see them return from their year abroad.' This paper will describe the various elements of the British Council PDP, and will also outline the pedagogical support and materials available on the dedicated Language Assistant website, developed with the co-operation of ELT specialists in the British Council.

'Sharing Words': Conversation, collaboration and cultural connections
This paper examines the way in which native speakers of taught languages can be mobilised by universities for use in outreach activities. The authors suggest an empowering approach to facilitate cross-cultural communication. A questionnaire following such a scheme was administered to AS and A2 students, the results of which showed several benefits to the learners.

Foreign assistance: working in a French school for a gap year
What is it like to work in a French school during a year abroad? Katie Phipps reports in the Guardian Newspaper, 23rd August 2005.

Resources for independent language learning: design and use

This handbook discusses individual learning styles and how best to support them; the selection and design of self access independent language learning materials; the types of resources available along with their location and organisation; and also tandem learning; the role of the language assistant and language exchanges.

General introduction to modern languages in today's UK universities
Drawing on a wide range of official data, this survey provides a clear, comprehensive and reliable picture of student numbers in LLAS between 1994 and 2001. It reveals a significant downwards trend in some subject areas, particularly with respect to the uptake of certain single subject degrees, but shows that this is balanced by growth elsewhere and by an increasing variety in available subject combinations. The article explains how the figures are derived, and their limitations (especially for combined subjects). An appendix analyses key factors in student choice and highlights areas in which myth (e.g. exam difficulty) may prevail over an encouraging reality (employability).

Work and Study Abroad
This website is the product of the FDTL Residence Abroad Project (University of Portsmouth) and was produced in collaboration with the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies. It contains advice for both staff and students and includes a taxonomy of objectives devised by Professor Jim Coleman (Project Director) which covers the following aspects of Residence Abroad: Academic; Cultural; Intercultural; Linguistic; Personal; Professional.

Teacher training: Development of Postgraduate and Language Assistants (DOPLA)
Staff development materials specifically for the training of Postgraduate Teaching Assistants and Foreign Language Assistants, but which can be used for the staff development of any language teaching staff who are new to the profession.