Main features of the course
- A detailed and in-depth study of spoken and written forms of three modern languages
- Practical applications of these languages
- Examination of aspects of the society and culture of these language areas
- Modules in European and World literature
- Modules in European and World cinema
- Modules in English linguistics
- Opportunities to study specific areas of interest
- Placements abroad
Why study Modern Languages at Chester?
Combining the study of three language subjects throughout your undergraduate degree programme gives you the opportunity to graduate with a highly competitive degree in a globalising market.
The course will enable students to achieve their full potential in the language. Programme staff are dedicated to effective teaching and learning, using a range of methods. You will be taught in a friendly, lively department in a pleasant learning environment, offering a high level of student support and every opportunity to develop your language skills.
The department has two digital language laboratories, multimedia facilities and video/satellite TV viewing rooms. Our library is newly stocked with the most up-to-date Modern Language and linguistics text books, specialist journals and electronic resources. On-line resources include e-books, newspaper archives and journals.
The Modern Languages programmes involve a variety of learning approaches, making extensive use of audiovisual media and computer-assisted learning as well as written sources. Language classes are in workshop mode and conducted mainly in the target language, and there is open access to the language facilities. You will have opportunities to study specific areas of personal interest.
One of the most distinctive features of the courses is the integration of up to three different placements abroad. These placements will give you vital, first-hand experience of working or studying abroad and will transform your command of the languages that you are studying.
Programme Structure
Each year you will take 120 credits worth of modules. Modules are worth either 20 or 40 credits.
Level 4 (Year 1)
The emphasis, in the core language modules, is on consolidating and developing your language skills and on extending your knowledge of aspects of the history and culture of the languages that you are studying.
You will take three core language modules of 20 credits each from the following list;
- French in context
- Spanish in context
- German in context
- Structures of English
Level 5 (Year 2)
You will study between 80 and 100 credits of core language modules (English language and Spanish Beginners have a higher core language weighting) from the following:
- Contemporary France
- Contemporary Spain
- Contemporary Germany
- Roots and Development of English
You will also take 20 credits of experiential learning either in the UK or a short placement in 1 European country or in Costa Rica.
If you core language modules only add up to 80 credits, you will also have the opportunity to study a 20 credit option from a choice that may include:
- Modern European Cinema
- European Politics and Culture
- Further Literature in translation
- English Phonetics and Phonology
- Regional Varieties of English
Modern Languages students will spend the third year of their four-year course on a placement in two of the three language areas studied. This will be as a student at one of our partner universities, or as an English language assistant in a school. Alternatively you may seek a work placement.
Level 6 (Year 3)
The focus in the final year is on high-level language skills. Following your placements abroad, you will demonstrate the linguistic proficiency you have acquired thanks to your first-hand experience of living in the countries whose languages you are studying.
You will continue the study of contemporary culture to provide you with further insight into the societies in question. The Dissertation and Special Study modules enable you to research and write about a specific area of interest, and there are modules which will allow you to develop the specialised skill of translation.
Assessment is varied and spread across each academic year. In the course of the programme you will be assessed via:
- Written coursework assignments, such as essays and translations
- Language portfolio
- Presentations, debate and other oral assessments in French
- Presentations in English
- In-class tests based on recorded or written sources
- End of module exams
- Dissertation, extended essay, extended translation
- Placement abroad projects and learning logs
There will be regular opportunities for formative assessment with feedback on your work.
In the global employment market, a qualification in Modern Languages will enhance your ability to look beyond Britain for all or part of your career. Employers in this country are becoming more and more aware of the value of staff who can use languages and are likely to be looking for more graduate linguists.
More than half of UK companies say that they would be more likely to hire a candidate with language skills than one without and that they pay bilingual employees up to 20% more.
You may wish to add a further qualification to your first degree, such as the MA in European Languages and Cultures here at Chester or the English MAs (in Creative Writing, and Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture).
Or you might consider language teaching, publishing, proof-reading, journalism, librarianship, advertising, public relations, customer services, speech therapy, marketing, equal opportunities and personnel management as a career. The transferable skills acquired during your studies of language and culture will be an asset whatever your future employment may be.
| UCAS points: |
A minimum of 280 UCAS points from GCE A Levels. |
| GCE A Level: |
For the study of French, German, English Language and post A level Spanish: a GCE A level in each of the languages that you choose to study. For English Language a GCE A level in English Literature or English Combined (Language and Literature) is also acceptable.
You may also enter the Spanish beginners stream with no prior knowledge of Spanish or a GCSE in Spanish. |
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