ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS NEWSLETTER MARCH 2015
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Hello! I am delighted to share with you some of the exciting opportunities provided by the Linguistics and English Language department here at Manchester University. As an LEL student, you will have the option to study either straight English Language, English Literature and Linguistics, or English Language or Linguistics partnered with a Modern Foreign Language. All of our courses are supplemented by our excellent facilities such as our Phonetics lab, Psycholinguistics lab and our extensive resource collection. We also conduct internationally renowned research which is characterised by it’s exceptional breadth of expertise, allowing our students access to the forefront of development in their subject area. A degree at Manchester will allow you to realise your potential, and will very likely represent the most fruitful and constructive years you will ever spend— take a look through this magazine for further highlights of our courses, news and events. I hope to see you next year!
Andrew Koontz-Garboden Admissions Tutor
1 CONTENTS English Literature and Linguistics
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English Language or Linguistics, and a Modern Foreign Language
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Residence Abroad
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Career Choices
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Department News and Events
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Contact Us
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ENGLISH LITERATURE AND LINGUISTICS (3 YEARS) Students on this three year course will be introduced to the subject thoroughly — starting with a broadly chronological journey of English Literature from the Anglo Saxon period through to the present day, while learning to look at language in a new way. You will be taught through a mixture of formal lectures, seminars and tutorials. You will spend approximately 12 hours each week in formal study sessions and for every hour spent at University, you will be expected to complete a further 2 - 3 hours independent study. Our programmes are assessed in various ways which may include examinations, presentations and coursework. Coursework may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research. In your final year, you can choose to write a dissertation. Please see more details about the course here.
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STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES 
Students may apply to spend one semester studying abroad during the second year of their degree. Exchange partners are offered through the Worldwide Exchange scheme. For more information about the Study Abroad Programme please consult the following: http:// www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/ studyabroad/
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE OR LINGUISTICS WITH A MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGE (4 YEARS) At Manchester you can study English Language or Linguistics alongside a Modern Foreign Language: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. We are one of the leading centres for languages in the UK and practical study of the language is at the heart of all these programmes. Crucially, you can combine your two subjects flexibly— whereas Year 1 requires you to split your subject evenly (50%50%), in Years 2 and 4 you may focus on one subject more than on the other (40%-60% split) as to suit your desired focus. In Year 3 you will have the opportunity to develop your language skills abroad, depending on your proficiency in the language that you are studying. And remember, French, Spanish and Portuguese are not just spoken in Europe: you can immerse yourself in these languages much further afield!
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Languages in Manchester – it’s not just for the Degree!
Being the large urban centre that it is, Manchester is particularly multicultural and student-friendly, and the ideal place to learn languages given its long-established partnerships with cultural institutes, chief among which are the Confucius Institute, the Alliance française de Manchester and the Instituto Cervantes. Manchester is itself a popular destination for foreign students, and the University’s links with European and world-wide institutions means that the campus is always abuzz with visitors. It couldn’t be easier meeting up with foreigners whose native language you’re hoping to learn!
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RESIDENCE ABROAD All LEL students will have the option to spend some of their time studying abroad. Not only do you have a choice in where you go, but also in what you do while abroad. You can study, teach English or do an internship, and usually mix and match these possibilities. If you choose to work, our superb Careers Service provides a database of reliable foreign companies where our students have already had very positive experiences. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out our list of possible destinations.
7 Notes from an LEL Student Abroad— Natasha Hirata-Smith: Making the Most of Montreal “...I have been in the North American continent for just over a month now, and yet it feels like only yesterday I was putting my suitcase in the back of the car to begin my journey to Canada. There are only 12 weeks to go and already I have been thrown into the continuously assessed academic system of McGill with the first assignments graded and midterm exams in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, my birthday is bombarded with assessments, but on the other hand I have been fortunate enough to have all my midterms before reading week, which gives me some free time to visit Niagara Falls. Since my arrival I have had plenty of visits to the underground city, hot drinks at Tim Horton’s and Second Cup (whilst avoiding Starbucks!) and have even had my first poutine – a dish consisting of chips, gravy and cheese curds. McGill has been very good at organising events for international students and I spend a lot of time with friends from many parts of the world.” You can read more student accounts of what life for our students across the globe on our student run Manchester on the Road blog.
8 What next? A discussion with recent graduates. What kind of work can you go into after graduating with a Linguistics or English Language degree? Some graduates from our department have recently come back to talk about the career path they're on now, and give their advice to current students on how to follow in their footsteps. - Naomi Proszynska (Linguistics, 2013) MSc student in Speech and Language Sciences at UCL Training to become a Speech and Language Therapist, or to go into related research - Danielle Whisker & Kim Lees (both English Language, 2013) Editorial assistants at Elektra Media, an educational publishing services company - Rebekah Hayes (Linguistics, 2012) Marketing & Communications Officer at St Christopher's Fellowship, a children's charity providing care and support for young people
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- Sophie Koonin (Linguistics, 2013) MSc student in Computer Science at Birkbeck College Going on to join the Technology Graduate Scheme at John Lewis - Benjamin Rhodes (BA Linguistics 2010, MA Linguistics 2012) Trainee teacher at the Sheffield College (Maths and English) Working toward a PGCE in Post-16 Education
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DEPARTMENT NEWS AND EVENTS Our undergraduate student Louise Middleton and lecturer Dr Wendell Kimper were interviewed by the Daily Mail, talking about whether rappers are better linguists than Shakespeare. “...linguists from Manchester have found that rappers, such as Eminem and London-based Akala, are actually more adept at creating lyrics and prose than the 16th century poet. By studying rap lyrics, the experts said that traditional and complex rhyming comes so easy to hip-hop artists, the skill is almost 'second nature' to them.� Langwidge Sandwidge We hold an informal lunchtime seminar with an English Language/Linguistics focus, the Langwidge Sandwidge, on every other Tuesday at 1.00 to 2.00 pm. Hot and cold drinks and biscuits are provided but please bring your own sandwiches! Check out the schedule here.
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You can find more news of the finest quality from the Department over at their blog https://manling.wordpress.com/
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CONTACT US ug-languages@manchester.ac.uk Undergraduate Admissions Office School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Room A19, Samuel Alexander Building The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)161 275 3265