Overview

The Languages for Global Communication BA (Hons) is designed to help graduates to become effective intercultural communicators who are able to bring a highly desirable set of aptitudes to a range of employment roles (e.g. translation, teaching, diplomatic services, business, police force) and environments (e.g. public sector, private businesses and educational establishments). The course emphasises the study of French, Spanish and Mandarin. There are opportunities to study other languages as well (German, Italian, Japanese).

The course addresses widely identified future workforce skills needs in language, communicative and intercultural competencies (Confederation of British Industry (CBI) / Pearson Education and Skills Surveys). The course will offer students a chance to learn languages through a flexible and integrated subject and skills–based curriculum that is predominantly focused on international business contexts, intercultural studies, international relations, translation and language learning theory.

The majority of our courses have been formally recognized by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply).

Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the University maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. Please check the relevant course website for up-to-date information on the current status of course accreditations.

Course information

Through studying this course, you will be taught the skills required to become proficient in one or two languages (to at least level C1 in the Common European Framework, CEFR), with the option to attain competency (B1 in CEFR) in another language. You can acquire a foundation in the study of how languages themselves are learned and taught, both face-to-face and online, to adults as well as children.

In addition, you can take optional translation modules which aim to combine both theory and practice in a variety of linguistic contexts, e.g. literary, journalistic, technical, and political and economic discourse.

This should be achieved through the options to study French, Spanish and Mandarin as these are among the key foreign languages rated as most useful to business by successive Confederation of British Industry (CBI) / Pearson Education and Skills Surveys. Other languages rated as highly important by CBI / Pearson Education, including German, Italian and Japanese, are also available at no extra cost through the Add+Vantage Programme of employability enhancement modules.

Students whose first Language (L1) is not English will have an opportunity to learn English as a Second Language.