LLAS Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies

The Listening Log: exploiting listening opportunities beyond the classroom

When Erasmus and Study Abroad students come to the UK they are exposed to a great deal of language in their new environment. This exposure presents them with a wealth of listening opportunities, many of which can be exploited for learning and skills development. This paper explains why the Listening Log was introduced and what it entails. Samples of Listening Log entries will be used to illustrate how keeping a Listening Log can encourage learners to apply skills covered on the course and reflect on their own performance, thus achieving autonomy.

Insurance and residence abroad
Insurance is not a large expense for students, but the consequences of not having it could be devastating. A recent discussion on a mailing list highlighted that many residence abroad organisers are uncertain about insurance matters governing residence abroad. Failure to alert students of the need for insurance may be a breach of an institution's Duty of Care if a problem occurs.

Embedding global learning through in-country study
Event date: 14 May, 2009
Location: George Eliot 219 (ICAN) (pdf), Clifton Campus, Nottingham Trent University

The Ning thing: using a social network to support the year abroad
Event date: 8 May, 2009
Location: The Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool, 1 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GL

Public consultation on British Standard to benchmark good practice in safety management systems (overseas activities)
A new British Standard for the provision of adventurous activities, expeditions, visits and fieldwork, undertaken for educational, training or recreational purposes outside the UK. This standard could have important implications for Residence Abroad in languages and area studies programmes.

Year abroad survey
In response to requests from language departments, the LLAS Subject Centre wishes to gather and disseminate information on fee structures for students during their period of residence abroad.

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.

Residence Abroad

Residence or study abroad can be the most rewarding element of a degree programme, bringing enhanced maturity, cultural insights and valuable transferable skills as well as improved language proficiency. This article traces the development of student residence abroad, summarises research findings, describes how best to implement a programme, and points to the many resources available to help staff and students involved in residence abroad.

Assessing risk for residence abroad
Risk assessment is a commonly used technique in preparing for fieldwork in the Earth Sciences. The technique can be adapted for use by students going on Residence Abroad. By identifying potential hazards and the likelihood of them occurring, students can be better prepared for their year abroad and decrease the possibilities of problems occurring or ensure that they are better prepared when difficulties arise.

American Studies

A general overview of the nature and variety of American Studies degree courses in United Kingdom universities, including notes on the differing structures and content of degree courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, opportunities for study abroad and the wide range of resources available for students and lecturers in American Studies.

Intercultural issues in foreign language learning and ethnographic approaches to study abroad
The article outlines current emphases on interculturality, ideas of the 'intercultural speaker' and revised approaches to language-and-culture learning. Related research activity in the UK is described. The content and method of ethnographic courses for language learners are outlined and there is detailed consideration of the implications for learners and teachers of ethnographic preparation for periods of residence abroad.

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.