Modern Languages and the Year Abroad Prof. Margaret Topping Head of French School of Modern Languages

Why spend a year abroad? What do ML students do on their year abroad? How do we prepare students for the year abroad? How do we support sudents during the year abroad? Why spend a year abroad? What do ML students do on their year abroad? How do we prepare students for the year abroad? How do we support sudents during the year abroad?

A life-changing experience Enhanced awareness of cultural diversity, difference, relativism Global citizens Linguistic and cultural fluency Acquisition of skills that are attractive to employers Flexibility and adaptability Resilience and independence Thinking outside the box Communication skills Ability to make connections

LOUVRE, PARIS, FRANCETEOTIHUACAN, MEXICO

LA CITADELLE, HAITILA ALHAMBRA, SPAIN

Go for it!! Dont be afraid to try something new on your year abroad and take advantage of every opportunity. Stephen McKenna, BA French and Spanish, Scene From On High, Allevardles- Bains, France

Here are some things I know about moving to a foreign country: 1. It is really hard and scary and exciting and hilarious. All of these will prove mutually inclusive. 2. Everything that you have filed away in a box in your brain labelled Ill cross that bridge when I come to it will suddenly burst forth unbidden, and you will spend at least a fortnight dealing with the ensuing catastrophe that is now your life. 3. All the vocab you ever learned about racism, drugs, homelessness or any other scourge of society will turn out to be quite shockingly useless. Learn how to say direct debit. Or gas meter. 4.Whatever the room, whoever the occupants, you will become rapidly accustomed to feeling like the stupidest person in it. Still want to go, then? I hope so. The Erasmus experience is of course completely unique for all of its thousands of participants across Europe each year; it is like a kaleidoscope of moving parts, every combination all too brief, but each as cchaotic and colourful as the next. I can therefore speak only from my own experience – but can say, without exaggeration or hesitation, that my time sspent as a law student in Bordeaux, France, was one of the best years of my my life. Niamh Hargan – Law and French

Going to university was amazing but going to Mexico was the best experience in my entire life – it was absolutely fantastic. It was the Mexican culture and generally being in such a fantastic country – it was just so different Final-year Spanish and Portuguese student

Being able to speak another language in what is now a truly global marketplace can be a key differentiator when it comes to employability.. Steve Shacklock, Managing Director of Euro London Appointments The value of [a students] international experience goes beyond purely the acquisition of language - it lies in the ability to see business and personal issues from other than your own cultural perspective. Charles Macleod, Head of Global Sourcing and UK Talent Leader, PriceWaterhousCoopers Rolls-Royce recruits graduates from a wide range of disciplines, not just engineering. We are looking for graduates who can be our future leaders who demonstrate qualities of courage, judgement and breadth. Where do we find such qualities... linguists or arts graduates. Miles Cowdry, Director - Global Corporate Development, Rolls-Royce plc

CBI Education Skills Survey 2011: on___skills_survey_2011.pdf on___skills_survey_2011.pdf British Academy Languages Matter More and More report: s11.pdf s11.pdf

English-language assistant 8-9 month contracts organised via the British Council From 5-20, village and city, Europe and beyond Work placements University-based Erasmus exchanges Supplemented by intensive language courses

Staff-led briefings from Oct/Nov before placement year Preparation for living abroad embedded in the curriculum Student networks of information via student societies British Council/in-house TOEFL courses

Interim reports Pastoral visits Open communication Student-led facebook sites