Studying a language as part of a degree


How can I study languages as a part of my degree?

There are no whole degree programmes in languages. However, you can choose to take one of the languages we offer either as a free choice option or as a minor. If your degree programme does not have the flexibility to allow you to study a language, you can do so
outside your timetable as a volunteer, at no extra cost for full-time students at the University. Our modules run for six months.

  French Spanish
Minor Yes Yes
Free Choice Yes Yes
Volunteer Yes Yes

Free Choice: In some degrees (usually single honours programmes such as Law) you will have the opportunity to take free choice modules which will allow you to study outside your main department. You may choose to learn a language in some or all of these flexible timetable slots. The University recognises that studying more than one subject will make your degree more stimulating, and make you more employable

Minor: Many subjects can be taken with a languages minor (for example, Psychology, Law and many others). This means that a third of the programme is taken up by learning a language. Studying a language as a minor allows you to achieve a high level of ability in your chosen language as you’ll be learning it for two years.

Introduction to learning a language at Buckingham

Teaching methods How we will teach you
Assessment methods How we’ll assess you and why
Examples of coursework The sorts of activities and assignments you’ll be involved in

How do we cater for different language proficiencies?

Each language we offer is available to study at all levels – from beginners to advanced. You don’t need to worry about choosing which “stage” you are at when you opt to study a language – we will assess your level of language and place you into a group which is suitable for your abilities. As you learn more and more, you’ll move up through the stages. We offer the following modules subject to sufficient demand:

French Stage 1
French Stage 2
French Stage 3*
French Stage 4
French Stage 5*
French Stage 6
French Stage 7*
French Stage 8		 Spanish Stage 1
Spanish Stage 2
Spanish Stage 3*
Spanish Stage 4
Spanish Stage 5*
Spanish Stage 6
Spanish Stage 7*
Spanish Stage 8

* Not running in July – December 2011

Teaching methods

The Department adopts a communicative approach to language teaching. Lessons are conducted primarily in the target language, and one of the 3 weekly contact hours is devoted to the improvement of oral skills with small groups of students. Listening skills are further developed during independent study time and students are expected to complete exercises on a weekly basis in the Language Centre’s dedicated self-access multimedia rooms. The Department also emphasises grammatical accuracy, to facilitate linguistic development and to prepare students to operate in the target language in their chosen profession. Written tasks are chosen to perfect skills which will be required in the workplace and are graded to reflect proficiency levels among the groups.

Assessment methods

The Department is committed to the assessment of the four key linguistic skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. In the last week of each module, students sit oral and listening examinations, which count for 20% and 20% respectively of their final average. There follows a written examination, which accounts for a further 40%. Since language acquisition is a cumulative process, students are encouraged to work steadily throughout the module and not rely on last minute cramming. Consequently the continuous assessment element of each module is worth 20% of the final average. This total is derived from the student’s best results in assignments set throughout the 2 terms.

Examples of coursework

We offer a wide variety of activities to help you to learn the language you’re studying. Here are just some of the things you might be doing if you study a language at Buckingham:

Oral presentations

  • about a person (Stage 1)
  • about a region (Stage 6)

Listening exercises:

  • report writing from a radio broadcast (Stage 7)
  • report writing from a television broadcast (Stage 8 )

Writing assignments:

  • writing a curriculum vitae (Stage 2)
  • writing a job application (Stage 3)
  • writing a letter of complaint (Stage 4)
  • writing a résumé of newspaper article (Stage 5)