As a truly institution-wide programme, we are here for the whole University community. Below you can find information relevant for staff wanting to take our modules, information about opportunities for collaboration and information for staff with students taking IWLP courses.
Information for staff wanting to take one of our modules
IWLP courses are available to all students and staff at the University. Staff members take our modules every year and are very welcome in our classes!
For more information, read about why you should learn a language and how you’ll learn with us, or see our staff testmonials below. Please note that classes run during normal working hours (09:00 - 18:00) and only during the teaching terms.
To sign up, please visit the how to apply page and see the section on non-credit students.
For more information, contact our office: iwlp@reading.ac.uk.
I really enjoyed my time on IWLP German 1. I had been meaning to ‘teach myself’ some German for years, but attending a class gave me the structure I needed to get on with it. It’s been useful for me for research reasons (I’m not quite reading 19th century German philosophy in the original yet, but one day…) and unexpectedly, being on the other side of the classroom gave me quite a few techniques to improve my own teaching. It is a time commitment, but I highly recommend it.
- Luke Elson, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy
I had been trying to learn Spanish on/off for several years and after hearing that it was possible to take a language as a staff member with IWLP, I was keen to give it a go! The sessions were informative and fun and I found that learning within a group environment motivational. I took the learning more seriously and made progress much faster than when I had previously been self-teaching. If you are interested in learning a language and you are able to work the sessions around your work timetable, then I would strongly encourage you to sign up.
- Leanne Hayward, Senior Programme Administrator, Henley Business School
Information for Schools and Departments looking to collaborate
We have an experienced team of language teachers and a large student body. If you are embarking on a new project and you think that IWLP might be able to assist, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Past forms of collaboration have included: Chinese language courses for Art PhD students visiting China; a pre-departure course for students visiting Malaysia; and undergraduate and postgraduate students carrying out research with us, such as dissertations or classroom observations for degree assessments.
We may also be able to provide tailored courses for specific staff needs within the University. For example, in Summer 2022 we provided a course in Deaf awareness and British Sign Language for the Disability Advisory Service. In the past, we have also provided talks and courses on intercultural competence.
For all collaborative enquiries, contact our office: iwlp@reading.ac.uk.
Information for staff with students taking an IWLP module
The IWLP liaises with academic tutors via the Student Support Centres. However, if you are an academic tutor and want to learn more about how your tutee is getting on with an IWLP module, please contact the relevant module convenor.
To learn about the benefits of IWLP courses, read about why you should learn a language.
If you think that more of your students would benefit from IWLP or if you want to explore the feasibility of an extended or more flexible provision, contact our office: iwlp@reading.ac.uk.