The University of Westminster are now accepting applications for GCSE Language Immersion Saturdays.

The University of Westminster’s Language Immersion Saturdays are an established annual event, aiming to promote practical language use amongst GCSE students. They have been designed to help learners develop their language skills and gain more practical expertise.
The languages offered are French, German, and Spanish. In each language, we are offering two back-to-back (= ie. repeat) workshops, giving students learning two languages the option of booking a workshop in both.
The events are part of the Routes into Languages initiative and are hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Each two-day workshop costs £30 and comprises 2x4 hours of teaching time. The workshops are not syllabus revision workshops, but are aimed to encourage learners to apply their language skills in different contexts and use them flexibly. We are aiming to increase students’ confidence and fluency. These events are hands-on sessions, giving students an opportunity to work with languages in real-life situations and practise key skills. 

For more information please contact Dr. Manuela von Papen.*  

*Please note that we are unable to accept email or telephone enquiries. Bookings can only be made by post.

Capital L Languages Challenge

The Challenges aim to:

• Provide students with opportunities to actively engage with languages
• Encourage independent study skills
• Raise the profile of all languages

The Challenges can be completed in any language other than English. 

It is targeted at Years, 8, 9 and 10.

After tasks are completed, students should complete the entry form which involves thinking about the skills and knowledge they have used and developed to complete each task.

The deadline for submitting entries is 1 May 2016.

To download a copy of the Teacher's Information Sheet, click here.

To register to take part and to receive copies of the poster and Students's sheets, please go to:http://goo.gl/forms/jN6C2iiDyO

On Wednesday 4th November 2015, a Languages and Climate Conference was held at SOAS to coincide with the COP21 Conference in Paris in December. During the COP21 Conference the governments of more than 190 nations gathered in Paris to negotiate a possible new global agreement on climate change aimed at ensure our planet’s climate remains conducive to human life.

Climate negotiations are tough business.  Negotiators have to agree on a slew of key details on how to address climate change. As negotiations progress issues tend to merge with core political questions and slow down.

Past agreements have carried little weight and failed to achieve significant reductions in the causes of climate change.  

The conference at SOAS was an opportunity for young people to find out more about the COP21 Conference, to develop their negotiation and debating skills and to learn about the role of language skills in law, politics and international affairs.

The event was a great success with over 80 students in groups representing different countries. After over two hours of debating the students could not reach an agreement and it showed the tough job faced by the delegates of each country during COP21.

SOAS, University of London are organising the language-event IllumiNations where visitors can experience the diversity of language and culture through a range of interactive events and activities.

Now in its third year, the IllumiNations Festival has proved to be a popular and successful event. 

The Festival is open to students in years 7-9 and as part of this programme students will:

• attend two short language tasters
• take part in hands-on workshops led by SOAS students.
• attend talks and performances at the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre

Please note that this is a Widening Participation activity aimed at students from less privileged backgrounds.

Registration has now closed, but for more information about other activites on offer please contact routes@soas.ac.uk.