Language courses
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Courses available
IWLP has expanded its range of courses by adding specialist and summer term courses to their standard range of modules. For the 2011-12 session the following courses will be available (numbers permitting):
Standard courses Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Arabic LA1PA1 LA1PA2 - - - Chinese
(Mandarin)
LA1PC1 LA1PC2 LA1PC3 - - French
LA1PF1 LA1PF2 LA1PF3 LA1PF4 LA1PF5 German
LA1PG1 LA1PG2 LA1PG3 LA1PG4 - Italian
LA1PI1 LA1PI2 LA1PI3 - - Japanese
LA1PJ1 LA1PJ2 - - - Russian
LA1PR1 - - - - Spanish
LA1PS1 LA1PS2 LA1PS3 LA1PS4 LA1PS5 English
English for Erasmus students LA1PE8
English for Science LA1PES1
Summer term courses French
Italian
Italiano Vivo - LA1PIV1 Japanese
Japanese through novels - LA1PJN1 Spanish
El mundo espanol LA1ME1 -
Standard courses
IWLP standard courses are available in 9 languages from beginner to advanced and are open to everyone within the University community. They run through the Autumn and Spring Terms, with revision classes in the Summer Term, for a total of 19 weeks. When taken as a credit option, standard courses count as a 20 credit module towards undergraduate degree programmes within the University. Three contact hours per week are timetabled for French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish, with 4 contact hours per week for Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Modern Greek Level 1 and Japanese. Read more...
Specialist courses
IWLP specialist courses are designed to suit the specific needs of a particular group of students in order to achieve their targets in the language chosen. As such, they are not open to everyone within the University community. In 2011-12 we are running two specialist courses, English for Erasmus and English for Science. Read more...
Summer Term courses
IWLP summer term courses are innovative, short, intensive 20 hour courses in some of the most popular IWLP languages. Aimed at learners with some basic knowledge of the language, they run from week 8 to 10 of the Summer Term and are open to everyone within the University community. When taken as a credit option, summer term courses count as a 10 credit module towards undergraduate degree programmes within the University (to be 'cashed in' the following academic session). As with standard courses, non-credit students are welcome to apply.
Summer Term courses focus on exciting topics, ranging from French and Spanish current affairs and contemporary issues, to Japanese manga and Italian way-of-life. Bringing student interest into the classroom and enabling them to collaborate on project work using a variety of media sources, these modules provide a fun, hands-on refresher to the language learning process while advancing student understanding, awareness and skills.
In 2011-12 we are adding to the popular Le Monde Français and El Mundo Español, two brand new summer term courses: Italiano Vivo and Japanese through novels, manga and anime. Read more...
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Which level are you at?
If you are new to IWLP, but already have experience of the language you wish to study, you will be asked to take a placement test before enrolling, to ensure that you will follow the appropriate level of course.
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Levels of tuition
Classes may be offered at up to 5 different levels, depending on demand, from complete beginner onwards. It is normally necessary to have a minimum of 8 students of the same level available at the same time in order to run a class. There are not usually more than 16-18 students in any one class. IWLP levels are as follows:
Level 1 Beginner: this level is for students with no knowledge (or virtually no knowledge) of the language. The course will give you basic survival skills, enabling you to make yourself understood and to find out information in common, everyday situations. Please note that students with GCSE or equivalent in the language cannot enter a Beginners' class.
Level 2 Post-Beginner: this level is for those who can cope in common, everyday situations using mainly the present tense. It includes revision of the basic grammar necessary for a sound foundation in the language.
Level 3 Intermediate: this level is for those who can use basic past, present and future tenses reasonably correctly and who can understand the main points of spoken or written material.
Level 4 Upper-Intermediate: this level is for those who are able to understand the main points of everyday spoken and written material (radio, TV, newspapers), and who can express their opinions with reasonable accuracy and fluency.
Level 5 Advanced: this level is for those who are able to understand the main ideas of complex language on both concrete and abstract topics. They can take an active part in discussions and/or produce clear texts on familiar topics, support ideas, discuss advantages and disadvantages, speculate about causes and hypothetical situations. They can interact spontaneously and fluently enough with a native speaker to avoid strain for either party.
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Go higher with the language ladder
If you are learning French, German and Italian you can even go further. When the placement test suggests that your level is already higher than the course offered by IWLP, or if in a previous IWLP course you have reached the top of the levels available, you might be able to enroll on one of the language modules offered by the Department of Modern Languages . This system, whereby you start with IWLP at the lower levels and progress to the Department, is called the 'Reading Language Ladder'. For levels 6 and 7 courses are available only within the Department, for levels 4 and 5 you can choose between what is offered by IWLP and in the Department. For further information and advice please contact the IWLP coordinator responsible for your language.