This paper aims to present some innovative ways in which Language Centres could engage its teaching and learning activities with wider University activities and strategies. It calls for a rethink of the current and possible roles that Language Centres should and can play within the HE contexts. Two case studies at LSE Language Centre will be discussed in this paper to demonstrate the importance of Language Centre beyond traditional language teaching in the university. The first case study is a project called ‘LSE Research in Mandarin’, which explores how Language Centre contributes to the wider public engagement and research impact of the institution by producing interviews in Mandarin Chinese. The interviews then also become valuable teaching and learning resources. The second one is called ‘The Mocha Approach to Assessment: Translation and LSE Review books’. It shows how to link course assessment with university level social media, in this case LSE Review Book Blogs, in order to strengthen students’ contribution to university community and activities. Three languages are initially involved in this project: Mandarin, Japanese and German. By demonstrating the two case studies, the paper argues for a broader definition and perspective of the roles university language centres can play by engage centres’ activities with university activities. It also argues for the key role language centres play in terms of the international outlook of universities teaching and research profile. It also shows how language centres should build on its own strength of being multilingual in nature.

1. Building the Link between
Language Centre Projects and
Wider University Activities
Dr Catherine Xiang
The 2017 AULC Conference， Queen's University，Belfast

2. “We will engage with diverse communities to the reach,
influence and impact of our research on public
understanding and debate.” – LSE 2020 Strategy
“The School benefits from the professional
service staff who support and foster academic
excellence and enhance the student experience.”
– LSE 2020 Strategy
“Maximise opportunities for staff across
structural, professional and/or academic
boundaries to build relationships through
work and social activities.” – LSE Action Plan
responding to LSE Staff Survey 2015
Necessity
Opportunity

3. Translation and LSE Review
of Books – the Mocha
Approach to Assessment
Communications Division
LSE Research in Mandarin
LSE China
Communications Division
LSE China scholars

4. - Launched in 2012
- Attracts 30,000 readers a
month
- Publishes daily accessible
yet scholarly book reviews
of the latest social science
publications
- Contributors drawn from
postgraduate to Professorial
level
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/

6. - Our reader and contributor
communities are
international – how can our
content and approach better
reflect this?

7. Degree Courses Certificate Courses
Languages German, Mandarin German, Japanese, Mandarin
Level Level 4 German
Level 4, 5 Mandarin
Level 4 Japanese Media/Culture
Level 5 Mandarin
Level 5 German
Assessment Part of CA (Research)
Literature review
Part of CA
Method Individual based;
Options to choose from;
Emphasis on learning and
effective feedback
Small group based;
Options to choose from;
Emphasis on learning and
effective feedback
Outcome Up to 25 completed translations
by individual students;
Translations available on blogs
Up to 25 completed translations
by groups of 2-3 students;
Translations available on blogs

8. - The participated students will improve their linguistic
skills in the target languages via translation practice;
- The participated students will be well informed and more
aware of the latest research in his/her own subject areas;
- The participated students will be contributing to the wider
school activities and have their work acknowledged to wider
audiences.
- The Language Centre plays a key role in engaging wider
audience of the development of the social sciences as a
global discipline
Benefits for LSE
Language Centre

9. - Offer new multi-lingual content
- Feature translations undertaken by LSE students under
the guidance of LSE academics
- Consolidate and build new audiences for the blog
- Better showcase and engage with the dynamic
development of the social sciences as a global discipline
Benefits for LSE Review of
Books

10. LSE Research in Mandarin
《伦敦政经学者访谈录》

11. Prof. Chris Hughes, International Relations, UK
Dr Derbin Ma, Economics History
Dr. Keyu Jin, Economics
Dr. Anni Kajanus, Anthropology, Finland
Dr. Valeria Zanier, International History, Italy
Prof. Qiwei Yao, Statistics
Dr. Bingchun Meng, Media and Communication
Dr Hans Steinmüller, Anthropology, Germany
Prof. David Marsden, Management, UK
Dr Leigh Jenco, Government, USA
Prof. Kent Deng, Economics History
First series of 8 interviews were
launched in November 2016!

12. - The Language Centre plays a key role in promoting
research impact and engaging wider audience of the
development of the social sciences as a global discipline
- The project generates useful teaching and learning
resources in Mandarin Chinese for LSE students and
beyond
- Foster closer collaboration between Chinese language
teaching staff with Mandarin speaking academics in both
language teaching and research activities
Benefits for LSE
Language Centre

13. - Offer new multi-lingual content of its research
- Better showcase its multilingual faculty and promote
social sciences as a global discipline
- Strengthen the relationship with its alumni as well as
prospect students in the region
Benefits for LSE

14. What should a Language Centre do?
What can a Language Centre do?

15. Thank you for listening.
Catherine Xiang h.xiang@lse.ac.uk