Learning a language
At Edge Hill we offer the opportunity to learn a new language or consolidate your existing language skills. You can do this either as part of your degree (subject to eligibility) or as an additional enrichment activity.
- Language Modules – 20-credit language modules which form an integral part of a degree are available for eligible students to study in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin.
- Language Steps Evening Classes – if you are not eligible to study a language module as part of your degree, or wish to learn a language in your spare time, we offer three levels of evening classes in French, German or Spanish on one evening per week.
You can gain additional language experience through our Conversation Exchange Scheme and practice your language skills and pronunciation in our dedicated Language Lounge.
Our language learning opportunities are suitable for beginners or those with limited existing knowledge of the language. They are not suitable for native speakers of the target language or those with near-native fluency.
If you have any queries about our language modules or Language Steps classes, please get in touch with the Language Centre on (+44) 01695 650707 or email [email protected].
If you are interested in learning alternative languages, please complete our online contact form to let us know which language(s) you would like to see added to our portfolio.
No Fields Found.Benefits
There are many benefits to learning a language.
By diversifying, enriching and complementing your studies, learning a language provides an ideal opportunity to develop new skills or consolidate and enhance existing language skills.
Studying a language will help you to improve your communication skills, gain an insight into other cultures, and experience the rewards and enhanced employability that knowledge of a second language can bring. You will gain skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking in your chosen language.
Learning a language is also ideal preparation for spending time studying abroad or travelling overseas, whether as part of your degree or independently.
Modules
If your degree is based within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, you may have the opportunity to study an optional 20-credit language module in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin in each year of your degree, subject to timetabling requirements and approval. The modules run for 24 weeks across the autumn and spring semesters, comprising one two-hour class per week plus independent study.
The modules will help you to enhance and refine your skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening in the target language, in an interactive and communicative manner, using authentic materials. You will be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs when faced with the target language and to explore the strategies required to make progress.
There may also be the option to travel abroad for a semester to enhance your language learning, subject to successfully securing a placement and gaining approval.
Language modules are assessed in a range of different ways, for example through the creation of a portfolio, oral presentation, translation or essay, depending on the level of study.
Am I eligible?
The potential availability of language modules as an integral, credit-bearing part of a programme varies on a course-by-course basis. We specify in the module listings for each degree where this may be an option.
If you study a language module in Year 1, there is no obligation to continue to do so in Year 2 and Year 3. If you don’t select a language module in Year 1 or wish to switch to a different language in subsequent years, however, you will need to demonstrate knowledge of the language suitable for the target level of study.
On some degrees, it is only possible to select language modules in selected years of study (for example, Years 1 and 2 or Years 2 and 3). If the first language option is not available until Year 2, this will be suitable for beginners.
Please consult our course information for prospective students or check with your department to verify the language learning pathways available on your specific programme.
Evening classes
On selected degrees in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, particularly those accredited by external bodies, as well as all programmes in the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Health and Social Care, it is not possible to study language modules as an integrated part of your course.
In these circumstances, or if you don’t wish to study a Language module as part of your degree, you can learn Arabic, French, German, Italian or Spanish through our 10-week Language Steps evening classes. These two-hour weekly sessions, which are also open to University staff and members of the public, are independent of your studies and are completed in addition to your degree as non-credit bearing enrichment activities.
Language Steps classes are perfect if you want to take up a new hobby, prepare for travel abroad, or enhance your CV and employability. They will equip you with the ability to communicate in a country where the target language is spoken, as well as helping you to achieve a degree of confidence and accuracy in the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Topics covered are subject to the level of the class, however there will always be a focus on equipping you with practical and useful vocabulary and knowledge to help you in authentic everyday situations.
There are no assessment activities, however we can provide a letter of confirmation on completion in order to acknowledge your successful participation.
For further information about Language Steps classes, including a detailed breakdown of what you will study and advice on how to get the most out of the sessions, visit ehu.ac.uk/languagesteps.
Conversation Exchange Scheme
If you wish, you can supplement your study of a language module or participation in Language Steps evening classes, through our Conversation Exchange Scheme.
This initiative enables you to learn and practice with a designated language partner who speaks your target language and who wishes to learn or practise your first language.
You will meet with your language partner, receive one-to-one support from a native speaker, and enhance your language skills, while also helping your language partner develop fluency in their target language.
The scheme is flexible and is a great way to meet new people with a shared interest and put your language learning into practice. As well as arranging meetings with your language partner, you will also be invited to any language themed activities arranged by the Language Centre.
Further information, including details of how to register for the scheme and advice on getting the most out of the experience, is available at ehu.ac.uk/conversationexchange.
Language Lounge
The Language Lounge in the Law and Psychology building provides a dedicated space for language learning.
The facility includes 16 independent learning workstations and access to UTalk, Sanako and an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) toolkit.
- uTalk is a language learning app that can help you to learn a brand new language or practise your target language, improving your vocabulary and testing your pronunciation.
- Sanako is a digital language lab that can help you to develop your speaking and listening skills. You can use Sanako to record yourself speaking or practice your pronunciation.
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Toolkit is a set of online learning materials designed for international students whose first language is not English. It has more than 100 interactive learning resources that focus on language and study skills.
The Language Lounge additionally contains a choice of novels, graded readers, films and DVDs in different languages, a choice of newspapers (including Le Monde and El País), and dictionaries in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish. There is also a space for relaxing and meeting with your language partner on the Conversation Exchange Scheme.
Cost
If you are studying a language module as an integrated, credit-bearing element of a full-time undergraduate degree, the cost will be covered in your standard tuition fees.
If you are studying your degree on a part-time basis and wish to complete a language module as an integrated part of your studies, the cost will be in line with the standard tuition fee for your course. This is £77 per credit for UK and EU part-time undergraduate degree students in academic year 2023/24, meaning £1,540 per 20 credit module.
The cost of a 10-week course of Language Steps classes will be £95 for registered Edge Hill students in academic year 2023/24 academic year, however this cost will be covered by the University.
The cost of the Language Steps classes is £125 for a 10-week course for Edge Hill staff and £180 for members of the public in academic year 2023/24.