LLAS Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies

Language diversity in Scottish universities: practical strategies to support teaching and learning
Event date: 20 February, 2009
Location: Western Infirmary Seminar Rooms, Dumbarton Road, University of Glasgow, G11 6NT

Languages of the wider world: valuing diversity
Event date: 15 September, 2008 - 16 September, 2008
Location: School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London

Student diversity and the assessment dilemma

Widening access to higher education has implications for modern foreign language learning, teaching and assessment. This paper addresses dilemmas when assessing increasingly diverse cohorts of students. It draws on analysis of questionnaires with 88 students taking free modules at ab initio level at University of Worcester in 2007-08. The aim was to study students’ previous language learning experiences. The paper considers the benefits and drawbacks of a portfolio-based approach to assessment, assessing students with visual impairment and dyslexia, and questions how to encourage students of diverse backgrounds to enter into language learning whilst maintaining rigorous standards of assessment.

Big is beautiful: Institution-wide language provision for two universities
In this paper, the author describes the operation of a Language Centre which offers its services to two institutions, the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. The advantages of such a system are described, especially with regard to size and diversity. The Centre sees its role as an engine of cooperation between the two institutions.