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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Course structure
Our degree programme has two options: 3 year, or 4 year with a placement year. In each year you will advance your practical language and translation skills whilst also gaining knowledge and understanding across the areas of intercultural communication, as well as selecting modules from the study of Business, Education, International Relations and Politics.
Overview
Our Modern Languages with Translation degree is designed for all language learners and you can choose from two routes: beginners, or intermediate.
You can join with no previous language study, choosing from French, Spanish, Mandarin or Japanese. We'll support you to go from beginner to fluent during your course.
If you already have language skills and want to advance your language proficiency we'll support you to achieve an advanced level (C1) in your chosen language (French, Spanish and EFL) and you can add a second language too (Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish).
Alongside your modern language studies you’ll gain key skills for working and living globally. You'll explore global identities, customs and even humour. You'll also gain translation skills valued by businesses worldwide. You can study modules from Business, International Relations, Politics and Education, including Marketing Management and Violence, Militarism and Terrorism.
You can choose to study or work abroad for a year, or you can finish your degree in 3 years and leave travel and work until after you graduate.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Culture, Identity & Society
In this module, you’ll gain core analytical skills for your degree as you explore the intercultural differences between societies and expressions of identity. You’ll also enhance your communication skills, which are essential for any future career.
Understanding Languages and Translation
In this module, you’ll get to grips with language and how to study it. You’ll look at language as a system, and how we use it in different instances of communication. You’ll understand language and its associated terms and definitions. You’ll gain core linguistic skills as you explore linguistic analysis in:
 sound (phonetics and phonology)
 language as meaning (semantics)
 language as structure (syntax).
You’ll gain a strong grounding in these concepts by studying instances of written and spoken language. You’ll develop valuable insights into language and its systems and uses.
Language Study
If you are joining the degree as a beginner learner, you will focus on one language (French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese) in this module. If you are joining as an intermediate learner (English as a foreign language, French, Spanish) you are able to take up a second language.
Optional modules
Placement 1: Understanding Education
This is your chance to work in the community and learn about education in real-life situations. The goal is to give you a wide range of experiences and show you that education also happens away from the school environment. You'll also discuss important things like:
 keeping people safe
 being fair and inclusive
 and doing the right thing.
You'll have the choice to pick a place locally that interests you, and we'll help you arrange your experience there.
Foundations of Marketing
In this module, you’ll dive into core marketing principles. You’ll develop a strong knowledge of key marketing content, and how it applies to business environments large and small. You’ll gain a firm grounding in different marketing concepts, ensuring that you succeed in your level 5 marketing modules.
Global Challenges in International Relations
In this module, you’ll explore the major issues in current world politics.
In Part 1, you’ll investigate the key figures, structures and processes in world politics. You’ll look at some core themes, including:
 international states
 multinational societies
 the worldwide political economy
 international organisations and institutions
 figures with worldwide, multinational impact.
You’ll also analyse concepts such as:
 anarchy
 order
 sovereignty
 conflict and cooperation among states, and non-state figures.
In Part 2, you’ll investigate the chronic issues of world politics, including:
 gender
 migration
 human rights
 humanitarian intervention
 energy resources and the environment
 development, inequality and poverty.
We’ll explore how different nations manage these issues and what this tells us about international governance.
Politics in Comparative Perspective
In this module, you’ll investigate politics, and the struggle for power, across the nations. You’ll have a clear introduction to how and why political systems differ in our world today. You’ll examine case studies from a wide range of states, and gain a strong insight into how different regimes function – from the democratic to the totalitarian.
Customs, Icons and Symbols
Explore the study and understanding of Culture and Society by looking at relevant Customs, Icons and Symbols with a particular emphasis on communicative practice of reading and written language in contexts.
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Cultural Competence for the World of Work
This module provides an introduction to organisations, their structure and culture, and the behaviour of individuals and groups within them. This module incorporates elements which will enable you to understand your personal tendencies and will significantly contribute to your further professional success.
Translation as Intercultural Communication
You will engage with key models and concepts that form the field of intercultural communication. This will help you as a basis for the analysis of practical examples taken from a variety of texts. Which will be in your main languages of study, including audio-visual support.
You will learn to detect intercultural components in the source text. Translating the text in respect of the target cultural and linguistic conventions. Building your linguistic and intercultural skills.
Working with different language combinations will show the importance of intercultural communication skills. Within a multilingual environment, and in the role of the translator as a cultural mediator.
Language Study
Continue to improve your language skills in your chosen language/s as a beginner or as an intermediate entry language student.
Optional modules
Language Study Option
Continue your study of a second language
Marketing Management
In this module, you’ll gain fantastic project management skills for your career, as you develop and construct your own marketing plan. You’ll gain a strong knowledge of marketing planning, and how to create effective strategies and groundbreaking products through this. You’ll deepen your knowledge of marketing, as you get to grips with core concepts of marketing management. You’ll understand how different elements of marketing integrate, and how we can use these to succeed over competitors in the business world.
English Language Teaching to Adults
Do you dream of working as an English language teacher? Do you want to help adult learners grasp the English language? In this module, you’ll get to grips with English language teaching. You’ll gain a strong knowledge of teaching English, and essential skills in effective language teaching. You’ll also develop key practical skills for teaching English to adult learners. If you take this course, you’ll be able to apply to British Study Centres Oxford to complete your teaching practice, and acquire a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). This is recognised by Cambridge Assessment as a pre-service training qualification.
Language, Culture and Globalisation
In this module, you’ll explore the relationship between language, culture and globalisation. You’ll gain key analytical skills as you observe how language operates in local and global contexts. You’ll look at language through a sociolinguistic approach - considering the relationship between language and society and how they affect each other. You’ll explore how English rose to become an international language, spoken in countries all over the world. You’ll explore a range of topics, including:
 language and gender
 language and politics
 language and standardisation
 globalisation discourses
 linguistic imperialism (when we impose our language on speakers of another language).
Borders & Solidarities in World Politics
How do we govern the world, when it’s no longer dominated by states and national governments? How do different types of migration shape the movement of people across the world? In this module, you’ll get to grips with a key part of international relations - borders and solidarities (groups with a common identity or interest). You’ll explore the various forms of borders and solidarities, including:
 movements across national boundaries
 regional organisations
 trade agreements.
You’ll link them to key forces and events, such as:
 NGOs
 corporations
 colonisation
 refugee movements
 the migrant ‘crisis’.
You’ll gain valuable practical and professional knowledge, as you explore major issues today, and how global governance or migration shape our lives.
State and Society: Europe and the United States
In this module, you can investigate the politics of either Europe or the USA, subject to student numbers and staff availability.
In the European strand, you’ll explore themes of democracy and citizenship. You’ll look closely at what democracy and citizenship might mean to people living in the UK, France, Germany and in Europe’s post-communist countries. You’ll also look at the future of European states and societies, and how they can adapt to challenges such as migration.
In the American strand, you’ll focus on governmental and political institutions. You’ll also explore explosive issues in American politics, including religion, race and capital punishment.
Independent Study in Modern Languages with Translation
This module gives you the chance to study a topic that interests you in Modern Languages with Translation. You’ll work independently, with the support of our expert academic team, and will carry out work on a small project of your choosing. You’ll gain core skills for work, including in:
 enquiry
 research
 analysis
 evaluation.
Year 3 (placement year)
Optional modules
Optional Study and Work Placement
In your third year you will have the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university or undertake a work placement, developing your vocational practice and cultural experience in a professional setting in the UK or abroad, depending on your language skills and programme of study.
Students have recently lived, studied or worked in other countries such as Uruguay, Spain, Taiwan, France, or Japan. Vocational practice may be paid depending on the country and role secured.
Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement)
Compulsory modules
Researching Cross-Cultural Experiences
In this module, you’ll analyse and present your experiences of your placement year. You’ll gain core critical skills for your final year, as you analyse your time living in a different culture, and the wider cross-cultural experiences of individuals or groups. You’ll do independent research on an aspect of the country you lived in that fascinates you. You’ll also present the outcomes of your research at an academic conference, giving you vital skills for your future career.
Translating Culture - Word and Image
On this module you'll have the the opportunity to:
 Improve your knowledge and competence in cross-cultural communications
 Explore challenges posed by visual culture; its translation and adaptation
 Understand the main translation strategies available for types of material in context
 Expand your cultural and/or linguistic understanding of the cultures of your chosen language
 Engage with a broad variety of materials from the target culture in its visual and written forms
 Advance and develop your presentation skills
 Improve and progress your ability to work well and collaborate as part of a team
 Undertake extensive research on material from the visual culture of your target language.
Examples of explored themes can include translation of cultural references. Such as:
 humour, of visual elements such as emoji
 censorship
 ideology
 translation/adaptation of pragmatic aspects such as register, politeness etc.
Language Study
Continue to progress your language skills in your chosen language/s as a beginner or as an intermediate entry language student.
Optional modules
Advanced Translation Skills
For this advanced module, you need a very high linguistic competence in French or Spanish. You’ll translate texts from the target language into English. We’ll cover a broad span of texts, contexts, styles and registers, including newspapers, literary texts and blogs. You’ll enhance your ability to translate texts creatively and precisely, following parameters of
 register
 style
 purpose
 audience
 meaning.
Language Study Option
Continue further with your study of a second language .
International Marketing
How can a powerful marketing strategy put international businesses at the forefront of the corporate world? How can marketing help businesses sustain their competitive edge? In this module, you’ll explore and build on the concepts you learned in your level 5 marketing modules. You’ll apply marketing theory to real-life business situations, allowing you to analyse the most successful factors in the international marketing context. You’ll pick up the ethics, professionalism and social responsibility to succeed in the international marketing world.
Language Teaching: Learning & Creativity
In this module, you’ll explore approaches to language learning and teaching, as well as theories of creativity, both inside and outside language learning contexts. You’ll be exposed to different ways of teaching reading, writing, speaking and listening. You’ll also discover approaches to creativity in language students, and how teaching resources - such as course books and tests - impact learning.
Tandem Language Learning
In this module, you’ll build fantastic teamwork skills for your career, and accelerate your knowledge of the Japanese language. You’ll come together as a mixture of native Japanese and English speakers, and work in groups to improve your language skills, and learn more about each other’s cultures. You’ll increase your skills in oral communication, allowing you to speak in Japanese on topics from culture and politics, to life in the UK or Japan. You’ll gain critical knowledge of your own language development as you set goals to improve your language skills, and support each-other as students.
The politics of public space: The EU and Russia
In this module, you’ll develop key critical skills as you explore the democratic challenges facing Russia and the EU. Both are currently facing enormous social, political and economic transformation.You’ll gain a strong grounding in the key issues of diverse, multi-ethnic states and multinational organizations. You’ll look at core themes, such as:
 the role of the media,
 the role of civil society and political institutions
 in identity, and the formation of states.
In this module, you can choose to study Russia or the EU. You’ll take either Democratic Challenges in Contemporary Russia: State and Society, or Democratic Challenges in the European Union: Integration and Disintegration, depending on staff and student availability.
Violence, Militarism and Terrorism
How does violence occur in different societies? How do people’s ideas of violence affect their cultures? In this module, you’ll look at how states manage violence such as terrorism. You’ll also consider how social norms and military values of violence shape our lives. You can choose to specialise in terrorism or counter-terrorism, or critical militarism studies.
Independent Study Module
This module gives you the chance to study a topic in depth that interests you. You’ll work independently, with the support of our expert academic team, and will carry out work on a small project of your choosing. You’ll gain core skills for work, including in:
 enquiry
 research
 analysis
 evaluation.
Entry Criteria
Entry requirements
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 104
A Level: BCC
IB Points: 29
BTEC: DMM
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
You can study the beginners route with no language A level, but our intermediate programme requires an A level in French, Spanish or English as a Foreign Language.
Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses.
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and teaching
Year 1
In your first year you will either choose one language to learn as a beginner;
 French
 Spanish
 Mandarin
 Japanese.
Or, if you have previous language study, you can choose up to two languages in your first year, from;
 Chinese
 French
 Spanish
 Japanese
 English as a Foreign Language.
Year 2
In year 2 you will continue your language studies. You will also have the chance to take part in our International collaborative online learning - Virtual Exchange Britain Algeria (VEBA). This project aims to develop your ability and confidence to work in all disciplines.
Year 3 (optional placement year)
In your third year you will have the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university or undertake a work placement. You'll develop your vocational practice and cultural experience in a professional setting in the UK or abroad, depending on your language skills and programme of study.
Year 3 (4 with a placement year)
You will study 4 compulsory modules and 4 optional modules.
Assessment
Our assessment methods vary. For some modules, continuous assessment may take the form of essays, in-class tests and oral presentations. For others, you will take an end of module examination.
On average we expect you to graduate with a C1 Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level of proficiency in your primary language.
Career Opportunities
Careers
You’ll graduate with a unique combination of skills that are prized by international employers.
You’ll have highly developed language skills - and you’ll competently speak two languages or more. Your advanced intercultural awareness will equip you for any transnational workplace. You’ll have a professional specialism relevant to major international careers. And you’ll have credible work experience on your CV.
Graduates from our language programmes have progressed into fields such as:
 media and journalism
 tourism and travel
 publishing
 NGOs and international development
 governmental and diplomatic posts
 teaching
 banking and insurance.
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