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Modern languages

Modern languages atHull | 1

Why studylanguages? | 3

Courses and UCAScodes at a glance | 6

Course structure | 7

Learning resources | 8

The Year Abroad | 10

CombinedLanguages | 12

French | 14

German | 16

Italian | 18

Spanish | 20

Other studyopportunities | 22

Courses for non-nativespeakers of English | 24

The typical entry offer for Single Honours and for most Joint Honours languagecourses is 260–300 points, but some combinations with other subjects havedifferent requirements. Typical offers for all courses are listed in the University’sUndergraduate Prospectus.

Mature students, international students and students with qualifications other thanA levels are encouraged to apply, and will be considered on an individual basis.

For a list of degree programmes provided by the Department of Modern Languages,with their UCAS codes, see page 6.

Admissions contactsKay NockAdmissions CoordinatorFaculty of Arts and SocialSciences

[email protected] 466059

Helen JohnstonAdmissions TutorFaculty of Arts and SocialSciences

[email protected] 465634

Dates of semestersSemester 127 Sep – 16 Dec 2011

Semester 230 Jan – 11 May 2012

Key facts

Modern languageswww.hull.ac.uk 1

The Department of Modern Languages provides …

A wide variety of coursesWe combine language study with modules in social and political history, literature,film, art, translation studies and other options.

Specialist teaching staffThe staff of the Department of Modern Languages are specialists in their fields.Their own research interests, and the books and articles that they write, arereflected in their teaching through tutorials, small option groups and larger lectures.

Native-speaker input to teachingOur students are able to interact with a large number of native speakers on a dailybasis. A group of lectors, who are in Hull for one or two years, lead oral classes andlanguage laboratory sessions; and more permanent native-speaker teachers providespecialised language tuition. You will also meet the numerous exchange studentswho come to the University of Hull from many European countries.

A year abroadOur courses normally include a year abroad in a country where a language that youare studying is spoken, either within Europe or further afield; for example, youcould go to Francophone Quebec or Spanish-speaking Latin America. You will havethe choice of spending your year abroad as an assistant in a school, as a student at auniversity, or working in an industrial or commercial placement.

Excellent accommodationThe Department of Modern Languages is a large and bustling community on thefirst floor of the Larkin Building, near the University’s main entrance, and in theconnected Ferens Building, which houses our purpose-built Language LearningCentre. The bright, airy and spacious accommodation provided by the LarkinBuilding includes teaching rooms, tutors’ rooms, and large central conversationareas which are regular meeting places for students.

Evaluation by studentsWe have staff–student committees and a forum made up of elected staff and studentmembers to allow any problems, suggestions or complaints to be debated. Recently,there have been discussions about topics such as examinations and continuousassessment, the availability of recommended books and the provision ofinformation to second-years about the year abroad. These committees fulfil animportant role in providing student feedback. Staff also seek student views onspecific modules informally through personal contacts, and more formally throughquestionnaires seeking objective, anonymous opinions. Naturally, we try to reactpositively to any constructive criticisms to improve what we can offer.

Modern languages atHull

The department’sstaff are specialists intheir fields, and theirresearch interests arereflected in theirteaching.

Modern languages2

Up-to-date resources• You will quickly realise the tremendous value of our Language Learning Centre,

with its interpreting suite, six audiovisual rooms and two digital multimedia labs,all equipped with the very latest facilities.

• The Brynmor Jones Library has almost a million volumes, including well-stockedModern Languages sections, as well as plentiful working spaces.

• Excellent IT facilities are available for all students across the campus and in hallsof residence.

Quality educationHull’s language department performed very well in the latest national assessmentsof all language departments by the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for HigherEducation) and HEFCE (the Higher Education Funding Council for England).

The teaching assessment was based on the full range of activities: observation ofteaching; methods of assessment; student achievement; curriculum; staffdevelopment; application of resources (library, IT, equipment); and student supportand guidance. This excellence is reflected in the department’s high score (94%) forstudent satisfaction in the 2009 National Student Survey.

Quality researchThe high quality of research carried out by Modern Languages staff wasacknowledged in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2008). ModernLanguages research – whether historical, linguistic, literary or cultural – reachedlevels of national and international excellence.


Modern languages are vital in a world of international interdependence,cooperation and trade. Whatever happens in other areas, a Single EuropeanLanguage is not on the horizon, so we must learn to understand each other’slanguages and cultures. Those who do put themselves at a real advantage.

What does a modern languages course offer?• You can choose from a range of languages and culture modules.• You acquire the practical skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening to the

foreign language(s), and of proficiency in translation, all of which an increasingnumber of employers expect.

• You equip yourself with a first-rate knowledge of the historical and culturalbackground of the country (or countries) you are studying. Selling abroad, forexample, is not just a matter of knowing your product and being able to presentit; your customers will expect you to know something of their culture.

• You improve your ability to think on your feet, to work to a deadline and to workalone as well as in a group.

• You acquire an ability to communicate effectively in face-to-face situations.• You learn to think logically and to construct a convincing argument.• You gain a qualification that is highly marketable and enhances your

employability.

Careers with modern languagesGraduates in languages are valued by employers, but not just for their linguisticskills. You will be trained to think critically and perceptively. Essays on culturaltopics are not ends in themselves, but develop good habits in presenting materialand constructing arguments. On many courses, you will practise group work andhave to make presentations, again learning skills that employers value in graduates.

Students from the department follow many career paths. Some go on to furtherstudy and training. Others enter a variety of professions – including management,marketing, translation work, teaching and accountancy – in the UK, in Europe orelsewhere in the global market.

Graduates inlanguages are valuedby employers – andnot just for theirlinguistic skills.

Why study languages?

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Modern Languages at Hull won a EuropeanAward for Languages in 2003, 2004 and 2007,and gained a 94% student satisfaction rating

in 2009. One reason for the department’sexcellence is the array of high-tech resourcesthat support language learning and teaching.

With its interpreting suite, audiovisualfacilities, digital multimedia labs and

computerised learning centre (one of thecountry’s largest), we develop exceptionally

effective and confident linguists.Vive la technologie!

Modern languages6

If you wish to study one language and its cultures in thegreatest depth, we would recommend that you chooseone of the following courses.

If you wish to study one of our four language subjectswith a subject other than a language, one of thefollowing four-year BA Joint Honours degree courses willprobably be the best option for you.

If you would like to study two of the language subjectsthat we offer within a Joint degree, you can choose fromthe following range of four-year BA Joint Honourscourses.

In our four-year ‘with’ degrees, you can take a languageand another subject in a major/minor combination, thelanguage being the major subject.

Or you can take two modern languages ‘with’ anothersubject. Again, these are four-year degrees.

If your major interest is in language and you wish toacquire and develop competence in three of WesternEurope’s main languages, our Combined Languagesdegree may be ideal for you.

If you have family or other commitments, you may beinterested in our three-year course which involves thestudy of two languages with no formal Residence Abroadrequirement.

If English is not your first language, you may beinterested in one of the following courses.

Courses and UCAScodes at a glance

French Studies BA Hons (4 years) R110German Studies BA Hons (4 years) R210Italian Studies BA Hons (4 years) R310Spanish Studies BA Hons (4 years) R410

French German Italian Spanish orHispanicStudies

American Studies TR71 TR72 TR73 TR74Drama WR41 WR42 WR43 WR44English QR31 QR32 QR33 QR34Film Studies RP13 RP23 RP33 RP43History VR11 VR12 VR13 VR14Music WR31 WR32 WR33 WR34Philosophy VR51 VR52 VR53 VR54Religion RV16 RV26 RV36 RV46

German Italian SpanishFrench RR12 RR13 RR14German RR23 RR24Italian RR34

Business Management Marketing TranslationStudies

French R1N1 R1N2 R1N5 R1Q9German R2N1 R2N2 R2N5 R2Q9Italian R3N1 R3N2 R3N5 R3Q9Spanish R4N1 R4N2 R4N5 R4Q9

Two Modern Languages with Business R8N1Two Modern Languages with Management R8N2Two Modern Languages with Marketing R8N5Two Modern Languages with Translation Studies R8Q9

Combined Languages BA Hons (4 years) R800

Modern Language Studies BA Hons (3 years) R801

English as a Foreign Language,Literature and Culture BA Hons (3 years) QL39

English as a Foreign Language,Literature and Culture(incl Foundation English) BA Hons (4 years) QL3X

Modern Language Studies(incl Foundation English) BA Hons (4 years) RQ83


Credits and semestersThe University has a two-semester year, and uses a credit-based system to structureyour studies. Some flexibility is built in, but essentially the system means that youtake a total of 120 credits each year.

Types of degree

Single, Joint and BA in Modern LanguagesYou can apply to major in one language (French, German, Italian or Spanish) andspecialise in that language. You select other subject(s) for the rest of your creditsfrom a range of possibilities, including other languages. You can also take twosubjects throughout your degree. If you choose two languages, such as French andItalian, or German and Spanish, you have the option to choose 60 credits in eachwithin your 120 total for the year. This two-language structure also applies to thethree-year BA in Modern Languages. If you take one language plus another subject,such as film studies or philosophy, you normally take 60 credits each year in eachsubject.

Combined LanguagesIn this course you take three languages to degree level. The weighting of each isflexible, though you must take at least 30 credits per year in the main languagesstudied (see pages 12–13).

Language degrees with translation studiesIn these courses you take up to two languages to degree level, with the remainingthird of the course devoted to modules in translation studies.

Languages credit requirementThere is only one special credit requirement: that in every year our students mustnormally follow 40 credits, and must certainly take at least 30 credits, of practicallanguage in every language studied at degree level. This ensures that you acquireand maintain high levels of linguistic proficiency. The other modules that you takevary from one degree course to another.

Residence abroadAll courses include a year abroad except our BA in Modern Languages. The year isspent in a country where one of the languages that you are taking is spoken, or itcan be divided between two countries if you are a two-language Joint or a CombinedLanguages student. If one of your languages is not covered in your year abroad, youspend a month in a country where it is spoken. See pages 10–11.

Flexible coursesAs our degree courses have common language cores and similar overall structures,the department operates as flexibly as possible. If you find that your interests inlanguages change as you progress, you will find us prepared to consider favourablyyour moving from one type of degree to another. For example, we have allowedstudents to move between Combined, Joint and Single Honours degrees after theirfirst semester or first year, and even before their final year. Of course, you must havestudied appropriate modules to qualify to change course. But we try to be helpful.

As our degreecourses havecommon languagecores and similaroverall structures, thedepartment operatesas flexibly aspossible.

Course structure

A number of yourclasses will takeplace in our purpose-built audiovisuallaboratories.

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The Language Learning CentreThe Language Learning Centre – an integral part of the Department of ModernLanguages – hosts a wealth of material, available to you whatever languages youstudy. Facilities include

• a library of audio and video cassettes, CDs, DVDs, etc• teaching rooms equipped with the latest technology• Language Learning Advisers on hand

A number of your language classes will take place in our purpose-built audiovisuallaboratories. But there is also plenty of scope to take your language learning beyondthe classroom. There is no need to wait until your year abroad to get in tune withdaily life in your chosen country. The Language Learning Centre receives satellite TVbroadcasts and regularly buys films and records foreign-language news broadcastsand documentaries to update its already large collection.

You may be surprised at what you can learn from your daily dose of the Frenchnews or of the latest Italian soap opera! And you will get to meet exchange studentsfrom across Europe who have enrolled on one of our English Language courses.

Computers are an integral part of the language-learning environment, and theUniversity provides advanced computing and IT facilities for you. Your course islikely to involve computer-assisted language learning.

The Language Learning Centre is open to all students, providing everyone with thechance to learn languages, including Russian, Japanese and Chinese. The LanguageLearning Advisers can give advice to all learners on how to make the most of thelanguage learning facilities and support services on offer.

The Brynmor Jones LibraryThe Brynmor Jones is the University’s seven-storey library, which houses almost amillion volumes. You should find all the essential texts and reference works there,and the books and articles that your lecturers recommend.

There are expert library staff who can find information on almost any subject thatmight interest you. They can guide you to CD-ROMs or the internet, and runfrequent courses for students.

Ours is an open-access library. There are more than 1,600 seats so that you canstudy next to the books you need, plus some 300 computer terminals where you canwrite essays or surf the internet … and you’re never too far from the coffee shop!

Computing ServicesIn addition to those in the library, there are almost 1,000 computers located acrossthe Hull Campus. Most of these are in open-access clusters, and more than 100 areavailable around the clock, 365 days of the year. All give you access to the Universitynetwork and a huge range of software. Large areas of the campus are wireless-enabled, giving you extra flexibility, while most of the University’s student housesand all study-bedrooms in the halls of residence have a high-speed internetconnection.

Moreover, if you find computer technology daunting there are numerous workbooksavailable to help ease you into the essential skills. It is also possible to seek face-to-face assistance with tricky problems by visiting the Service Desk. You will find thatfamiliarity with information technology and keyboard skills will stand you in goodstead for future employment.

Learning resources


‘Before I decided on Hull, I had manypreconceptions about the city which were onlychanged when I visited on an open day. I wasreally surprised – the city was buzzing and theUniversity just had a great feeling.

‘The Languages Department really impressed me.The Language Learning Centre and other facilitieswere far superior to any others I had seen. Isettled into university life pretty quickly, helped bythe really friendly atmosphere. Help is always athand and the people in Hull must be among thefriendliest in the world.

‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my course and my yearabroad has really expanded my horizons. Workingand living in a foreign country opens your eyes tonew perspectives. I feel my greatest achievementhas been gaining excellent results which,alongside the university experience, have nowprepared me for the start of my professionalcareer.’

Alexander HancockBA French and History

The majority of ourcourses include ayear in a countrywhere your chosenlanguage is spoken –so you could go toFrancophone Quebecor Spanish-speakingLatin America.

Modern languages10

The Year Abroad will probably be one of the most exciting and challengingexperiences you will ever have. You will notice a dramatic improvement inyour spoken language, giving you greater confidence and more matureinsights into the life of your chosen country.

For the majority of our students the third year is spent abroad. Staff and final-yearstudents can offer advice so that you choose the best option for your needs. We havea well-developed programme, and there are three principal options.

• You can study at a European university, either as part of the EU Socratesprogramme on one of the University’s exchange schemes, or arranged directlywith the institution in question, with our help.

• You can work in a school as a language assistant. The language assistant scheme– organised through the British Council – has much to recommend it, even if youhave no desire to take up teaching as a career, as you work in a local communityand are paid a regular wage.

• You can work in industry or commerce. The department has a small number ofsuch placements to offer, but you can also arrange your own, with our help.

Work during the year abroadDuring the year you will be required to do some work for your department in Hull.The marks received for this work will normally form 10% of your overall degreemark. Staff will discuss this work with you before you go, and will offer advice andassistance during your time abroad.

Regulations for the year abroad• All students combining a language with a non-language subject spend the Year

Abroad in a country where the language they are studying is spoken.• Students taking two languages may spend the Year Abroad in one country of their

choice and fulfil a one-month residence requirement in the other country in thevacation before they start their final year. They can, however, also split the yearbetween two countries.

• Combined Languages students may spend the Year Abroad in one country of theirchoice, and are required to spend one month in each of the other two countrieswhose language they are studying. They can, however, split the year between twocountries, and spend one month in the third.

Exceptionally, and if justified by personal circumstances, it is possible to be allowedexemption from the Year Abroad. Each request for exemption is considered as aspecial case, at the appropriate time. We also offer the three-year BA in ModernLanguages, a single- and two-language course without a Year Abroad.

Financial arrangements• If you study, you are entitled to the same support as when a student in this

country. In addition, if you are on an exchange supported by the EuropeanUnion, you will get an Erasmus/Socrates grant to help you and you will pay nofees for the year.

• Those who work as language assistants are paid by their employers to cover theirliving expenses abroad. A fee waiver also applies to assistants working in Europefor the required period.

• For those on placements, support depends on the agreement made with theemployer.

The Year Abroad


FrenchYear 3 is spent in a French-speaking country. Most students who spend their year inFrance (one or two head further away to places such as Quebec or Martinique!) go asassistants in secondary schools, taking practical language classes for between 9 and12 hours a week. It is an opportunity to see the French education system from theinside and to acquire professional work experience, all very useful for the CV!

Alternatively, you may prefer to be one of the 25–30% who opt to spend the yearpursuing their studies and following courses largely of their own choosing.Currently we have arrangements with institutions in Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille,Lyon and Strasbourg. Another option for about 10% of students is a workplacement, found via your contacts or ours.

GermanYou can spend your year abroad in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. We use theBritish Council for those who want to go to schools as language assistants. Some,however, prefer to study at a university, and the University of Hull has exchangeschemes with the Universities of Erlangen, Osnabrück, Potsdam and Jena. We alsohave informal arrangements with a number of other institutions. Other studentssecure suitable paid employment via our work placement links, and this providesvaluable work experience.

ItalianMost students spend the year at one of the Italian universities with which we havean EU-supported exchange agreement. These include the Universities of Bergamo,Bologna (Forlì), Genoa, Perugia, Rome (Tor Vergata), Siena, Trieste and Urbino. Youcan also apply to become a language assistant in a state school, paid by the Italiangovernment. At an Italian university there are teaching staff you can consult, andmembers of our staff visit you. The purpose of the visit is to ensure thatarrangements are working well (particularly your accommodation), to help youplan your work and to assist you with any practical problems. At university youfollow courses of your choice alongside Italian students, and take the related oralexams at the end of the year.

SpanishThe Year Abroad will result in a dramatic improvement in your spoken Spanish, andyour familiarity with a new and different culture will also improve beyond allrecognition.

When you reach your chosen country, you will spend your time either working orstudying. If you want to study you will go to one of the universities with which wehave an exchange agreement. Currently, these are Córdoba, Huelva, Granada,Murcia, Oviedo, Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, Valladolid and Iberoamericana(Mexico).

Many of our students spend the year as assistants in schools or colleges. In thiscase, the Spanish (or Spanish-American) government pay you in return for up to 12hours a week of English classes, usually conversational. You have the chance tointegrate closely into the life of the school and its local community. Some studentsget work placements of other kinds.

You will noticea dramaticimprovement in yourspoken languageskills during the YearAbroad, giving yougreater confidenceand increased insightinto your chosencountry.

Modern languages12

Places available 25Typical offer 260–300 points

We normally require an A level or an equivalent qualification in a modernEuropean language.

Combined Languages is a degree for language specialists. The course offersthe opportunity to acquire and develop competence in three languages, with ayear studying or working abroad. It offers you the chance of pursuinglanguages you know already, as well as starting new languages. Our graduatesare highly employable and can be found worldwide in careers such astranslation, interpreting, and business and commerce.

Which languages?Students choose to specialise in three of French, German, Italian and Spanish. AllCombined Languages students also have the opportunity to pick up additionalcredits in another language such as Chinese, Dutch, Japanese or Arabic (subject toapproval and availability). The European languages that we teach can all be studiedfrom scratch, but we do restrict your choice of languages so that you can take nomore than two languages as a beginner (that is, without A level or equivalent priorknowledge).

What are we looking for?Applicants for Combined Languages should have A level or equivalent proficiencyin at least one of the modern European languages on the course. We encouragestudents who are interested in acquiring new languages as well as developing theirexisting language competence and who seek a career in which language skills andfluency in a range of modern European languages are an essential or useful asset.We welcome applications from mature students.

Language or ‘culture’?Your course may include language modules on colloquial or commercial language,liaison and consecutive interpreting, public speaking, and computer-basedtranslation. Many of our language modules offer the opportunity for vocationaltraining. They provide, along with detailed knowledge and understanding ofmodern languages and cultures, critical and analytical skills, and transferable keyC&IT skills.

There are classes with native speakers in each of the languages offered. Material isdrawn from a range of sources, including television, current affairs, film andmultimedia. The department benefits from the excellent open-learning andlinguistic facilities, including an interpreting suite and subtitling equipment, in ourLanguage Learning Centre.

Flexibility is built into the course: you can select your three languages and can alsovary the amount of time you spend on each. Each year you take modules totalling120 credits. Those wanting to concentrate on language only take 40 credits in eachlanguage.

Combined Languages

You may, however, want to opt for 30 credits in two of the languages, in which caseyou make up the 120 credits by adding a module giving knowledge of the cultures,communities and societies where the language is used. Alternatively you couldchoose from our range of interdisciplinary modules, including European Cinema,European Detective Fiction and Modern Women Writers, or take a free elective in afourth language or from another department.

The Year AbroadSee pages 10–11.

CareersGraduates in languages have the highest employability rates of all humanitiesgraduates, and graduates of the University of Hull have a very good record of findingemployment after graduation. With competence in three or more languages, you willbe well equipped for a range of careers including translation and interpreting,journalism, teaching, the service industries and the commercial sector.


‘The Department of Modern Languages at Hull provides afriendly and supportive learning environment and offersmodules which give you the skills to develop your languageabilities. The facilities for language learning here are verygood. I spent my year abroad in Mexico studying atuniversity – an experience that enriched me in so manyways.’

Alexandra Tincu-StratonBA Combined Languages

French at Hull won ahighly prestigiousEuropean Award forLanguages in 2004.

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Places available 40Typical offer 260–300 points (but see inner front cover)

For details of the various degrees within which French can be studied,see pages 6–7 and page 23.

If French is your main area of interest, then the French Studies course (R110) isthe one for you. It offers the widest range of French modules, but it does notrestrict you to one language. On the contrary, it ensures that you can study asubject or subjects outside French. You can choose a second language (frommany on offer) or a free elective module from those offered by a number ofnon-language departments.

If you read French in conjunction with a second language, you may follow eachsubject equally (and decide in which country you will spend your year abroad). Ifyou take a Joint Honours degree in which your second subject is not a language (forexample, film studies or philosophy), the two halves of your degree will usually beequally balanced throughout your course, except that you will spend your third yearin a French-speaking country.

Seals of approvalFrench gained an ‘excellent’ rating in the Teaching Quality Assessment by the QAA,with top marks for the design, content and organisation of the course, for thequality of the support and guidance given, and for the learning resources availableto students. In the 2009 National Student Survey, students in our French subjectarea gave our degrees an overall satisfaction rating of 100%. In addition French atHull won a European Award for Languages in 2004.

AdmissionsWe encourage applicants with formal A level qualifications as well as those withouta conventional A level background in French. If you have no advanced knowledge ofFrench, you will follow our intensive language programme in Year 1.

We invite applicants to open days. These are a way of enabling you to see thedepartment and the campus, to talk to students and staff, and generally to confirmwhat you think will suit you best. If at any stage we can’t offer you a place on yourchosen course, we try to find an alternative for you to consider.

You are very welcome to visit us before you apply if you think we can help you sortthings out. The department runs three open days for applicants each year, and youare very welcome to participate in one of these. If you apply to Hull through UCASyou will be sent information about open days.

French


French languageThe study of the language is naturally of vitalimportance, and our language modules are designed tohelp you develop your communication skills. Weemphasise practical small-group language training. Thelanguage skills modules combine a variety of approachesand activities, ranging from exposé work and grammarto translation methodology and practice.

Contact time includes work with native French-speakers,who form an important part of the teaching team. Youwill be in regular contact with some of them to work onyour oral skills. You will also have access to the excellentfacilities of the Language Learning Centre (see page 8).

Making the most of the opportunities that come yourway will help you achieve the confidence and fluencywhich most students are seeking. These opportunitiesinclude business French. There is the possibility ofgaining an extra qualification, the Diplôme de Françaisdes Affaires (1er degré) awarded by the Chambre deCommerce et d’Industrie de Paris.

French cultureThe course is continually under review to enable us totake advantage of available staff interests and expertiseand maintain variety and flexibility in the range ofcultural subjects. Our central aim is to developawareness and understanding of aspects of Frenchculture grouped around certain themes – such asnational identity, representations of women, France atwar or the Francophone world – and selected tostimulate interest and to offer intellectual enrichment.

You will also be given the opportunity to develop moregeneral abilities linked with future career needs: forexample, how you manage your time, handleinformation, work with other people and tackle thetasks set.

Teaching and learningWe use various approaches – lectures; seminars; projectsand presentations; individual and group work – but allare directed to the same end: to help you become acompetent linguist with a trained mind and a secureknowledge base. In a typical week you are likely to be ina lecture theatre, in a seminar group discussing a film ora novel or essay writing, in a group debating the nextstage of a project, in an oral class giving a brief accountin French of a topic that you have been investigating,and in a language class working on some aspect ofgrammar.

AssessmentMost practical language modules are subject tocontinuous assessment, with some formal examinationsor tests ranging from summaries and brief essays totranslation and transcription.

If you obtain a Distinction in Spoken French in yourfinal-year examination it will appear on your degreecertificate.

The non-language modules are assessed in a variety ofways, which in some cases include group project workand presentations. While a few are assessed byexamination at the end of the module (though notalways an ‘unseen’ examination), most modulescurrently involve one or two essays or a combination ofessay and examination.


CareersHull graduates are rated highly by employers, who haveconsistently placed this university among their top 10 forgraduate employability.

Our graduates are to be found in both the public and theprivate sector: they are civil servants, diplomats,teachers, bankers, journalists, industrialists, andmembers of the police force and the armed services.

A few examples of careers chosen by recent graduatesshow the range of opportunities: international customerliaison at Harrod’s; business analyst; United Biscuits;Customs and Excise executive officer; English teachingassistant in Japan; lectors teaching English atuniversities in Dijon and Reims, and at the Sorbonne inParis; translator, Netherlands National Press Bureau;International Office at Lloyds Bank.

We offer our studentsa range of modulescovering threeaspects of life andculture in theGerman-speakingworld: literature,history andcontemporarysociety.

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For details of the various degrees within which German can be studied, seepages 6–5 and page 23.

The BA in German Studies is the one to choose if German is your main area ofinterest. This degree offers the widest range of German modules. Taking thisdoes not, however, mean that your choice is limited to one language. TheUniversity’s modular system enables you to choose modules from elsewhere.You can select a second language from the many on offer or choose modulesranging from English to politics, from business studies to sociology.

The Joint Honours courses enable you to study German and another subject in equalproportions. So half your time will be spent studying German and half in your otherdepartment, with your third year spent in Germany.

AdmissionsWe usually ask for B or C in German, with occasional variations, but we alsoencourage applications from mature students and others without a conventionalA level background. We invite you to one of the various open days held throughoutthe year, and welcome anyone who would like to visit before making a finaldecision.

We will also accept applications from people with no previous knowledge ofGerman but with proven linguistic ability, for whom we run separate ab initiolanguage modules in the first year.

German languageThe key to an adequate understanding of German culture and society andGermany’s view of itself and its position in the world is a thorough knowledge of theGerman language. For this reason the study of language is of central importance toour degree courses. In all three years in Hull you will attend weekly practical classesfocusing on the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and in particularon active and practical skills. The Language Learning Centre runs a TandemLearning scheme, which will put you in touch with native speakers of German withwhom you can exchange English conversation for German. And you have theopportunity to improve your German by using satellite TV, the internet andcomputer language programs, all available through the Language Learning Centre,which also has staff to advise you on their use.

German cultureWe aim to produce graduates with a linguistic proficiency that comes as close aspossible to that of a native speaker. However, communicating with foreigners alsorequires you to have some understanding of their cultural background, becausewithout this you will not understand why they say what they say or what they meanby it. In extreme circumstances, not having this understanding could cause thegreatest offence. It is for this reason that we offer our students a range of modulescovering three aspects of life and culture in the German-speaking world: literature,history and contemporary society.

This course is continually under review to enable us to take advantage of availablestaff interests and expertise and to react flexibly to changing student interests. Inthe first year we are at present concentrating on the historical and political

German


development of Germany from the beginning of the 19thcentury to the present day; in the second year you havethe opportunity to study representations of Germanidentity and nationhood in a variety of forms; and in thethird year there is a module on the response of writersand film-makers to the reunification of Germany in 1990.

You are also able to learn something about the place ofGerman culture in the wider European context throughthe range of departmental interdisciplinary modulesoffered at all levels, to which staff in German make a fullcontribution.

Teaching and learningOur aim is to enable you to become a competent linguistwith a secure knowledge of the German-speaking world,but also with a trained mind and the transferable skillsthat will equip you for work after you leave university.

To this end we use various approaches: lectures andseminars, projects and presentations, and individualand group work. In a typical week you might findyourself attending lectures, discussing a film or a pieceof writing in a seminar, in a group with other studentsdebating the next stage of a project, preparing an oralpresentation on a particular topic, and in a languageclass working on some aspect of grammar.

An advantage of our size – German is not a large unit atHull – is that most classes are of fewer than 20 studentsand some are smaller, which means that most studentsget to know each other and the teaching staff veryquickly.

AssessmentYour progress in language modules is monitored in allfour years by means of regular written work which ishanded in, marked and then returned to you. Some ofthis work will be graded and count, together with eitherwritten or oral examinations, towards end-of-semesterassessments. In other modules, assessments take theform of a combination of essay and examination. Youneed to pass a minimum number of modules in eachyear to pass on to the next, and the actual marks gainedfor second- and final-year modules (together with thework done during the Year Abroad) are used to calculateyour class of degree. You can also earn a Distinction inSpoken German if you perform particularly well in oralexams.


CareersDemand for linguists is expected to grow with thewidening of the EU internal market. Some studentsbecome teachers (including TEFL), but increasingly theyenter business and commerce of some kind, withaccounting, banking and jobs involving computersbecoming increasingly popular. Marketing and exportingare also sought-after areas. Many of our students applyfor management training of some kind, in either theprivate or the public sector. About half of our graduatesenter jobs which have a European or internationalaspect.

Our choice ofmodules enables youto combine a deeperunderstanding ofItaly with a broaderknowledge ofEuropean culture.

Modern languages18


For details of the various degrees within which Italian can be studied,see pages 6–7 and page 23.

The BA in Italian Studies is for those who want Italian to make up the majorproportion of their studies, with the option of choosing modules from a vastrange of subjects including other languages within the Department of ModernLanguages. Joint Honours students take Italian and another language or asubject from another department in roughly equal proportions. CombinedLanguages students take three languages to degree level.

AdmissionsYou can come to Hull with A level Italian or without any previous knowledge of thelanguage. (By far the majority of our students have no knowledge of the languagewhen they begin.) We normally ask for two or three A levels (or equivalent),including one in a modern language. For a Joint Honours degree with anotherforeign language, an A level in the other language is required if you are a beginnerin Italian. In addition, we encourage applications from mature students and otherswithout a conventional A level background.

We hold open days throughout the year and welcome any candidate who would liketo visit us before making a final decision. Once an offer has been made, you will beinvited to an open day to meet staff and students doing Italian and to look aroundthe campus.

Italian languageLanguage is central to our courses. Throughout your degree, you will focus on theareas of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and in particular on active andpractical skills.

Much of your time will be spent with native speakers of the language, and you willfind Italian exchange students on campus each year to help you practise yourItalian. The Language Learning Centre also runs a Tandem Learning programme,whereby you can exchange practice in English conversation for Italian. Moststudents take a minimum of 40 credits of Italian language in each year of study.Separate modules are given in the first year for students with and students withoutA level Italian (or the equivalent). Thereafter all students follow the same corelanguage modules.

Our advanced language teaching after the Year Abroad includes computer-basedliterary and technical translation and liaison and consecutive interpreting. We alsoencourage you to improve your Italian using satellite TV, the internet and computerlanguage programs in all years of study.

Facilities in the Language Learning Centre (see page 8) include an interpretingsuite, a digital language lab and teaching rooms equipped with video, DVD,computer and audio. The centre is one of the country’s largest and best equipped,and Language Learning Advisers are on hand to help you work out what is the bestway for you to learn and improve your Italian.

Italian


Italian cultureIn the first year there are lectures and tutorials on post-war Italian history and film. In the second and fourthyears we offer modules in which you can study aspects ofItalian culture and history from 1300 to the present.There are survey modules which provide information onthe political, social and cultural history, texts, andintellectual history of four major periods: the MiddleAges, the Renaissance, the 19th century and the 20thcentury.

These specifically Italian options enable you to combinea deeper understanding of Italy with a choice ofinterdisciplinary and multidisciplinary modules whichgive you a broader knowledge of European culture.

Optional modules available during your three levels ofstudy include Italian Renaissance Art in Rome andVenice (travel grants are available to explore the art andcharacter of Rome and Venice on short field trips),Representations of the Past in European Film, EuropeanDetective Fiction and Modern Women Writers.

AssessmentThere is a strong element of continuous assessmentthroughout the course. Assessed work and examinationsin the first year do not count towards your final degree.Your degree classification is based on work done in Years2, 3 and 4. A Distinction in Spoken Italian is awarded forexcellence in the spoken language or in liaison andconsecutive interpreting.


CareersOur objective is to make you fluent in written and spokenItalian and to give you a sound knowledge of Italian lifeand culture, while also fostering the critical andanalytical skills and the confidence and maturity whichwill make you attractive to employers.

Modern languages are vital in a world of internationalcooperation, interdependence and trade. Italian is one ofEurope’s major languages and, since it is not taught inmany UK schools, you will find yourself in demand whenyou graduate.

Recent data reveals that language graduates are the thirdmost employable group of graduates in the UK, and Hullgraduates enjoy a position within the top 10 in graduateemployment league tables.

In recent years our graduates have gone on to pursuecareers in, for example, business management, teaching(Italian in UK schools and universities or English inItaly), the Civil Service, journalism, computing,academic publishing, tourism, translation andinterpreting work, and librarianship.

Spanish scored amaximum mark inthe national TeachingQuality Assessment –the only Spanishdepartment in thecountry to do so.

Modern languages20


For details of the various degrees within which Spanish can be studied,see pages 6–7 and page 23.

The BA in Spanish Studies is for those who want Spanish to make up themajor proportion of their studies. Joint Honours is for those who want tostudy Spanish and one other subject in roughly equal proportions, whileCombined Languages is for those who want to take three languages to degreelevel.

AdmissionsYou need an A or AS level in Spanish or another modern foreign language. If youhave no advanced knowledge of Spanish, you are given intensive training in yourfirst year. We are also very happy to consider applications from those who do nothave traditional qualifications but can demonstrate the ability to learn a foreignlanguage. We hold few interviews, preferring to invite you to an open day so thatyou can see us and the University without feeling under pressure.

Seals of approvalSpanish scored the maximum in the national Teaching Quality Assessment. It wasthe only Spanish department to do so. This is evidence not only of the high qualityof the teaching and learning here, but also of the happiness of our students withwhat they find.

Language and cultureIn each year you take modules in Spanish language and can also study Hispanicculture, while to complete your full course you may choose another subject from arange of options. Our aims are

• to make you fluent in using and understanding Spanish• to make you understand how the Spanish language works• to inform you about Spain, Spanish America and their cultures• to enable you to deal intelligently with well-informed native speakers• to make you think constructively and critically• to let you develop particular areas of expertise

For all courses, we accept students with or without previous study of Spanish. Thereare separate language modules initially for different levels of backgroundknowledge, but groups combine in Year 2.

Native speakers on the staff and among students from exchange universities meanplenty of opportunities to improve your oral skills, which are, in any case,reinforced in classes conducted in Spanish. And there is always the Year Abroad(see pages 10–11).

In our language classes, we include task-based work such as letter and reportwriting. We also try to ensure that the material used is informative about currentaffairs and significant facets of the Hispanic world. There are, too, our culturemodules, designed both to inform you and to develop your awareness,understanding and analytical powers.

Spanish


By the time you graduate, you will have valuablepractical skills, as well as the critical abilities andperceptions that make graduates in languages attractiveto employers.

Year 1 modulesLanguage modules are available at different levels toallow for the background of our students. You can takeSpanish from scratch with us, but we also have manystudents with A or AS level Spanish (or equivalent) eachyear. We encourage you to improve your Spanish inmany ways, including use of IT skills and the internet.

Culture studies offer an introduction to modern Spainright up to the present day and an introduction to LatinAmerica.

Year 2 modulesOur language modules focus on developing yourpractical skills prior to the Year Abroad. Preparationsbegin as early as September of Year 2. The second yearalso offers you the chance to learn how Spanish is usedin the world of work. This can lead to the Certificado deEspañol Comercial, awarded by the Madrid Chamber ofCommerce but taken in this department by specialagreement.

Other modules let you expand the breadth and depth ofyour Hispanic studies. You may, for example, studyhistory or consider concepts of identity among LatinAmericans and Spaniards.

Year 3is spent abroad: see pages 10–11.

Year 4 modulesYou keep up your language skills in various ways. Youalso have the chance to explore more specialised areas inwhich our lecturers are acknowledged experts. Theserange over Spain and Spanish America, and from novelsand film to education and development. There are alsomore student-led seminars and presentations than inprevious years, as you take on more responsibility foryour learning. Depending on your course, you may havethe chance to undertake an extended project. By the end,you will have acquired many skills that will stand you ingood stead for the rest of your life. Among other things,you will know how to learn.

AssessmentYour progress is monitored by means of written workwhich you hand in and have marked at regular intervals.At the end of each semester there are examinations,although almost all modules are examined through amix of exams and assignments. Modules taken in yoursecond and final years, along with the grades gained inthe other subjects that you have studied with Spanish,form the basis for awarding you your class of degree. Aswith other languages, you can earn a Distinction inSpoken Spanish if you perform particularly well in oralexams.

Life in the department … and afterWe are small – but friendly! There are four permanentmembers of staff and two lectors. Although we teachover 200 students of Spanish at various levels, mostclasses are of fewer than 20 and many are a lot smaller.The teaching of quite a few modules is carried out bymore than one person in a form of rotation, which meansthat most students get to know most of the staff quitequickly. This is usually thought of as ‘a good thing’.

Our graduates go on to an extraordinary range of jobs,from financial services to the caring professions, fromcommercial management to teaching. Recent Spanishgraduates have been employed by Aetna International,British Steel, Diskxpress, Heffers, Lloyds Bank, theMetropolitan Police, Reuters, Royal Life Holdings, UnitedBiscuits and Weetabix; others have entered teachertraining, management courses and local radio; and somehave gone on to teach English in Spain and elsewhere.

Modern languages22

Languages with Business,Management or Marketing

French, German, Italian or Spanish• with Business• with Management• with Marketing

In these degrees you take 60 credits of language-specificmodules in Years 1 and 2 and at least 80 in Year 4. Youspend Year 3 in a country in which the language isspoken, either as a student or in a job placement. On thebusiness, management or marketing side of your course,you take 40 credits in Years 1 and 2, and 20 credits inYear 4. You also take a free elective in each year – see theinner back cover for more details.

Alternatively, we also offer a course in Two ModernLanguages• with Business• with Management• with Marketing

You study 40 credits of each language in Years 1, 2 and 4;40 credits of your business discipline in Years 1 and 2,and 20 credits of it in Year 4; and complete a languagesdissertation in your final year. You spend Year 3 abroad.It is possible to take a free elective, but it is less usual asyou are already taking three subjects.

Business, management and marketingThe modules currently offered by the Business School forthese courses are as follows.

Business track• Business Environments• Marketing• European Business in Its Global Context• Business Law and Ethics• Strategic Management

Management track• Managing People• Marketing• Corporate Social Responsibility• Managing Change and Innovation• Organisational Learning and Knowledge Management

Marketing track• Business Environments• Marketing• Consumer and Buyer Behaviour• Marketing Communication• Services Marketing

The languages

FrenchThe French part of the course helps you to acquire notonly the intellectual and linguistic skills looked for in agraduate but also the specific linguistic experienceneeded to understand French business practice. So thepractical language modules include business Frenchelements designed around the requirements of theinternationally recognised Diplôme de Français desAffaires (1er degré), awarded by the prestigious Chambrede Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris. You will have thechance to take the relevant exams and acquire this extraqualification. This could come at the end of Year 2 andwould form an excellent preparation for spending theYear Abroad at a university or on a work placement.

GermanIn German you follow the same course as other studentsand, like them, are able to make a number of choicesregarding the content and direction of the course beyondthe compulsory core language modules. During yourthird year you have the opportunity of gaining practicalwork experience in the German business environmentthrough one of a number of work placements withleading German and international companies.

ItalianYou follow the same language programme as otherstudents and, like them, are able to make a number ofchoices in the second and final years regarding thecontent and direction of your course. Italian at Hullachieved the highest national score in the latestTeaching Quality Assessment, and in 2003 we won aEuropean Award for Languages. We have been at theforefront of the use of computers in language learningand more recently in the teaching of culture.

SpanishThe Spanish part of the degree is designed to give youlinguistic skills and cultural perceptiveness. The study ofSpanish for commercial purposes is concentrated in Year2, when there is an introduction to commercial Spanish,followed by Spanish in Business. These materials havebeen designed to prepare students to sit, in Hull, theexamination for the Certificado de Español Comercial ofthe Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which isadditional to our own assessment. This link with Madridensures that our teaching of business Spanish keepsabreast of the most recent developments.

Other study opportunities


Languages with Translation Studies

We are one of the few universities offeringtranslation studies within an undergraduate course.Our degrees in translation studies combine the studyof one or two modern languages with the theory andpractices of translation.

These courses will suit anyone interested in languages,but particularly those interested in a career intranslation, keen to develop their language skillsalongside a professional application.

You choose one or two languages from French, German,Italian and Spanish. Beginners’ and post-A-level entry isavailable in all four languages. We would normallyexpect those who opt for two languages with translationstudies to come with an A level (or equivalent) in one oftheir two chosen languages.

All degrees with translation studies include a yearabroad, spent either on work placement, ideally in atranslation firm, or studying at one of our Europeanpartner universities.

In each year of study core modules in translation andlinguistics form one-third of the course, with theremaining two-thirds devoted to core language modulesand optional cultural modules in your chosenlanguage(s).

Other study opportunities

In addition to the joint two-language degreesavailable within the Department of ModernLanguages, and the numerous degrees combining alanguage and another joint or ‘minor’ subject (seepage 6), there are various opportunities for you tostudy languages even while specialising in otherareas.

Languages can be studied as optional modules byanyone who has credits available within the free electivestructure used in the University (see inner back cover).Languages are available at various levels in what we callour Passport programme. We offer Russian, Spanish,Chinese, Japanese and others, subject to demand andavailability.

The study of a language is also an integral part of otherdegree courses. These degrees provide the chance forstudents who are specialists in the other discipline butwith some background in languages to study to degreelevel in the languages on offer. In spending a year in aplacement or studying in an appropriate country,students improve their technical command of the specialsubject area, as well as their capacity to interact withspecialists from another cultural background.

For further information and pamphlets about the degreecourses and subjects mentioned but not described indetail here, write to the Admissions Office, University ofHull, Hull, HU6 7RX, call 0870 126 2000, or [email protected]. You can also consult theUniversity’s website: www.hull.ac.uk.

Other degree programmes involving some modernlanguage study are

Honours UCAS codeLaw with French Law and Language M1R1Law with German Law and Language M1R2Law with Spanish Law and Language M1R4Sociology and Anthropology with French L3R1Sociology and Anthropology with German L3R2Sociology and Anthropology with Italian L3R3Sociology and Anthropology with Spanish L3R4

For details of degree content and entry requirements seethe separate pamphlets for Law and Sociology.

Modern languages24

If English is not your first language …you may be interested in one of the followingHonours degree courses. The four-year coursesincluding Foundation English, in which the first yearis mostly devoted to language improvement, will suityou if your English is not yet at the required standardfor direct entry to a three-year course. TheDepartment of Modern Languages at Hull has anexcellent reputation, and our academic staff haveexperience of teaching in many different countriesand dealing with students from all over the world.

BA in English as a Foreign Language, Literatureand CultureThis interdisciplinary course presents an excitingopportunity for non-native speakers of English to exploreEnglish language and literature and British culturethrough a wide range of modules and from a variety ofangles. Offering what amounts to a complete package ofEnglish studies, the three-year course would be an idealchoice for anyone aiming at a career in English teachingor in a field requiring a thorough understanding ofEnglish language and literature and British culture.

The course will allow you to develop your Englishlanguage skills to a high level of proficiency and to selectfrom a wide range of interesting options in Englishliterature and British culture (including media); and inyour final year it will introduce you to the practice ofEnglish language teaching.

Entry requirements IELTS 6 or equivalentTypical offers 240 points

For full course details, please contact Aline Michie-Kay([email protected]).

BA in English as a Foreign Language, Literatureand Culture (including Foundation English)In the first year – the foundation year – you will receive

• 16 hours’ tuition per week with highly qualified andexperienced tutors

• small language classes in purpose-built laboratorieswith up-to-date equipment

• access to Language Learning Centre with trainedlanguage advisers

The areas that you will study include

• Foundation in English for Academic Purposes (studyskills to help you with listening to lectures, readingacademic texts, participating in seminars, givingpresentations, and writing essays and reports)

• General Language Skills Development (everydayEnglish in context, with work on understandinggrammar and building vocabulary)

• British Studies (an introduction to British culture)• an online English language course

If you pass all the examinations in the foundation year,you will automatically progress to Year 1 of the three-yearEnglish as a Foreign Language, Literature and Culturedegree course without having to take the IELTSexamination. When you start the first year of the degree,you will take one English language module: this may beEnglish Language Improvement; English for AcademicPurposes; English for Business; or English for Maths,Science and Technology. The rest of your course will bedevoted more broadly to English language (EFL), Englishliterature and British culture.

Entry requirements IELTS 5–5.5 or equivalentTypical offers 240 points

BA in Modern Language Studies (includingFoundation English)The first year – the foundation year – is the same as forEnglish as a Foreign Language, Literature and Culture(including Foundation English) (see above).

If you pass all the examinations in the foundation year,you will automatically progress to Year 1 of the three-yearModern Language Studies degree course without havingto take the IELTS examination. When you start the firstyear of the degree, you will take one English languagemodule: this may be English Language Improvement;English for Academic Purposes; English for Business; orEnglish for Maths, Science and Technology. The rest ofyour course will be devoted more broadly to modernlanguage studies.

The Modern Language Studies course involves the studyof one or two European languages at degree level. Thereis no formal Residence Abroad requirement. For furtherdetails of the specific course in each language, pleaseconsult the individual language entries in this pamphlet.

Entry requirements IELTS 5 or equivalentTypical offers 260–280 points

If you would like further information about the four-yearcourses with Foundation English, please contact RebeccaReeder ([email protected]).

Courses for non-nativespeakers of English

Studying for a degree at the University of Hull is a unique experience. We aimto provide you with an education that offers both depth and breadth ofknowledge. To meet these ends the University has developed an optional FreeElective Scheme. This scheme enables the majority of undergraduate studentsto take one module a year from outside their main course of study.

So, how does it work?Each year you take 120 credits’ worth of modules.

What sort of subjects can I take?You can take almost any free elective module from outside your main course ofstudy, usually at your home campus. You can even take a module from anotherfaculty. You might choose free electives such as

• a new language such as Japanese, Chinese or Russian• Critical Approaches or Anthropological Perspectives• Managing Your Learning or Basic Computer Skills

What are the main reasons for participating?• The scheme gives you the opportunity to study a subject without having to

commit yourself to taking further modules in that subject area.• By taking a free elective you are able to follow up your interests as part of your

degree.• With a broader education you may acquire extra skills that will help you when

you enter the employment market.

Admissions policyAdmissions information provided

in this pamphlet is intended as a

general guide and cannot cover all

possibilities. Entry requirements

are generally stated in terms of A

level grades and/or UCAS points,

but we encourage applications

from people with a wide range of

other qualifications and/or

experience. Some further details of

the various entry routes are

included in our general prospectus.

Please contact the Admissions

Service (see below) with any

specific queries about admissions.

DisclaimerThis publication is intended

principally as a guide for

prospective students. The matters

covered by it – academic and

otherwise – are subject to change

from time to time, both before and

after students are admitted, and

the information contained in it

does not form part of any contract.

While every reasonable precaution

was taken in the production of this

brochure, the University does not

accept liability for any

inaccuracies.

AddressFor general enquiries, please write

to

Admissions Service

University of Hull

Hull, HU6 7RX

T 01482 466100

F 01482 442290

E [email protected]

Free Elective Scheme

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits

20 credits

Here you take modules from yourmain course of study.

Here you have the option to take afree elective or another module fromyour main course of study.

ww

w.hull.ac.uk

The Carnival of Veniceoriginally celebrated a military

victory over neighbouringAquileia in the 12th century.

Wearing masks allowed membersof every social class to interactfreely, transcending the usual

boundaries.

All of our languages degreesincorporate modules on thepolitical, social and cultural

history of your chosen country.

Change the way you think.

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