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Evening Language Courses

These courses are a suite of extracurricular evening language courses aimed at students, staff, and members of the community who wish to learn a new language or build on existing knowledge of a language.

Hear from our students

Our Edge Hill students talk about their experience on the Evening Language Courses.

Applicant typePricesTimeDelivery
Edge Hill studentNo charge (sign up required, fee of £95 will be covered by the Student Opportunity Fund)All classes run from 6 – 8pm. 
The evening of each course differs, see the individual page for details.
Courses commencing in the 2023/2024 cycle will be delivered in person on our Ormskirk campus.
Edge Hill staffFree (sign up required)All classes run from 6 – 8pm. 
The evening of each course differs, see the individual page for details.
Courses commencing in the 2023/2024 cycle will be delivered in person on our Ormskirk campus.
Member of the public£180All classes run from 6 – 8pm. 
The evening of each course differs, see the individual page for details.
Courses commencing in the 2023/2024 cycle will be delivered in person on our Ormskirk campus.

Support and resources

Language Course VLE
Course book 
Films
Support

Why learn a language?

Our language courses are perfect for individuals who wish to take up a new hobby, prepare for travel abroad, or for students who wish to enhance their CV and diversify their University studies.

  • Learn a brand new invaluable skill which is enjoyable and rewarding.
  • Gain an insight into a different culture through language.
  • Enhance your employability.
  • Improve the functionality of your brain and your problem-solving skills.
  • Improve your listening skills and comprehension.
  • Open up the possibility of living and working abroad.
  • See the world from a new perspective.
  • Become better at English.
  • Meet new people and boost your confidence.
  • Enhance your employability.

Language levels

Courses run at three main levels: beginner, elementary and intermediate. These levels accommodate beginners, those with a GCSE (or equivalent) and those with an AS or A Level qualification (or equivalent) in the chosen language. Please note that not all languages are offered at all levels. Each level consists of two parts: part 1 (October – December) and part 2 (January/ February – March/ April). The course you choose should be determined by your entry language level.

Language levelDescription
Beginner (A1)Very little or no prior knowledge of the language
GCSE grade 3 (D) or below in the language
Elementary (A2)GCSE grade 4-9 (C-A*) or equivalent in recent years, or completion of Beginners 1 & 2
Intermediate (B1-B2)AS or A Level pass or equivalent, or completion of Elementary 1 & 2
Guide to language levels

There may be some variation to language level descriptors above. For example, you may not  have a qualification in the language but may have lived in a country where the target language is spoken. If you are unsure of your language level, please contact the Programme Co-ordinator who will be able to advise you on the best route. 

FAQs

When can I sign up for the courses?
Will I get a certificate on completion of the course?
What do I need for the sessions?
What if I sign up and pay for a course, and it is subsequently cancelled?
Can I park on the campus?
Where will my class take place?
Why do you offer Mandarin as a module but not as an evening course?

Testimonial

Beginners’ Italian – I enrolled on the Beginners’ Italian Steps course in autumn 2021, having realised that I needed to improve my knowledge of both spoken and written Italian for my PhD research – I was writing a novel set partially in Italy, was planning a research visit to Rome, and was also faced with the prospect of reading several articles in Italian.  Although I already knew a bit of Italian, and had completed some of the Duolingo Italian course, the Steps course really met my needs and built my confidence in terms of holding a conversation in Italian, especially as I have always been nervous about speaking other languages.  Our teacher (a native Italian speaker with years of experience in teaching English-speaking students) was outstanding and all the lessons were meticulously planned, with a good mix of activities including games and quizzes.  The atmosphere was positive and encouraging, and I always came out buzzing with a sense of achievement.  I felt that I learned a lot more over the course of the year than I would have done just from studying the language independently.  I liked the course book – it was really helpful to have the book and its accompanying CDs to work through between lessons, to practise new skills and vocabulary.  As well as learning the language we also learned a lot about Italian culture, food, lifestyle and society.

I think the Language Steps courses are a great opportunity for undergraduates, postgraduates and university staff, but I also like the fact that members of the public can join the classes as well, which helps to create a wide age-range and a good mix of Italian conversation topics! I always looked forward to lessons and I made several new friends – I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new hobby or anyone looking to improve their language skills for holidays, research or  business purposes. 

Japanese – At the beginning of 2022 I approached the Language Department at EHU with potential funding for Japanese classes. This funding option fell through, but the university acknowledged the interest numerous Biology students had for Japanese language learning. With the help of Lucy McClennan (foreign language programme coordinator), Eliot Wright (director of the language centre), and the generous funding from the Bioscience department, a bespoke course was crafted for us. This has since developed into a credit-bearing module (from 2023 24). Edge Hill keeps their student’s interests at the forefront, and actively engages in developing their passions (Hannah Carbis, Biology Student studying Japanese).