This document discusses continuing language education in higher education. It describes how languages are taught through language departments, requiring progression beyond A2 level proficiency and often including a year abroad requirement. Students can take language courses for credit towards their degree or join non-credit community programs. Enrollment data is provided for various language programs from 2002-2008, showing both undergraduate and postgraduate trends in African, Asian, European, and other languages. Joint honors degrees combining language study with another subject are also mentioned.

1. Continuing languages in
Higher Education
T.MacKinnon
Senior tutor (Business/e-learning)
The Language Centre
The Language Centre, University
of Warwick

2. Languages network in the UK
H.E. subject centre:
• Languages:
skills, society, culture, literature, politics
• Linguistics
study of how language is used and acquired
• Area studies
may include language study
The Language Centre, University
of Warwick

3. Delivery:
• Language
Department/Faculty
• Progression usually
post A2 level
• Year abroad
• Language Centre
• Progression from your
starting point
• Range of languages
• Contributes credit to
your degree
The Language Centre, University
of Warwick

4. The Language Centre, University
of Warwick
GCSE entries by language, 1994-2010

5. The Language Centre, University
of Warwick
2002/3 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 %change
African studies 125 135 140 145 140 140 11.9%
Celtic studies 985 930 915 945 935 870 -11.9%
Chinese studies 505 510 550 570 630 690 36.1%
French studies 8,265 7,820 7,665 7,725 7,755 8,005 -3.2%
German studies 3,330 3,200 3,075 2,965 2,980 3,105 -6.9%
Italian studies 1,670 1,575 1,505 1,420 1,360 1,320 -21.0%
Japanese studies 490 510 585 630 675 700 43.3%
Modern Middle Eastern studies 675 745 780 710 705 710 5.2%
Portuguese studies 295 305 310 325 335 305 4.1%
Russian & East European studies 950 920 935 920 910 890 -6.0%
Scandinavian studies 145 145 155 135 120 70 -53.1%
South Asian studies 270 270 280 280 235 225 -17.0%
Spanish studies 4,510 4,475 4,630 4,725 4,840 5,100 13.1%
Translation studies 100 130 145 130 125 185 90.8%
Translation theory 35 15 15 20 25 5 -81.8%
Other Asian studies 15 15 35 45 60 65 300.0%
Others in Eastern, Asiatic, African and Australasian studies 1,180 1,160 1,135 1,135 1,235 295 -74.8%
Others in European languages, literature & related subjects 5,855 5,055 4,775 4,880 4,710 4,315 -26.3%
Bal com - Language & Related Disciplines 125 0 0 0 0 0 -100.0%
Broadly-based programmes within languages 0 110 25 85 75 915 -
European studies 0 0 0 0 0 415 -
Total 1 29,530 28,020 27,655 27,790 27,830 28,330 -4.1%
Languages as first degree: HESA

6. The Language Centre, University
of Warwick
2002/3 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 %change
African studies 55 90 80 85 95 105 90.5%
Celtic studies 235 245 220 205 215 235 1.1%
Chinese studies 140 165 185 210 235 265 91.3%
French studies 400 395 335 290 320 340 -16.0%
German studies 255 230 225 210 210 200 -22.0%
Italian studies 135 135 125 130 150 120 -8.6%
Japanese studies 240 195 190 175 155 160 -33.9%
Modern Middle Eastern studies 410 405 435 440 500 445 8.4%
Portuguese studies 20 30 20 20 25 20 4.5%
Russian & East European studies 255 270 245 245 330 295 14.8%
Scandinavian studies 15 15 20 15 15 20 12.5%
South Asian studies 160 105 90 80 75 80 -48.4%
Spanish studies 240 205 215 225 265 305 26.8%
Translation studies 855 1,130 1,110 1,180 925 1,355 58.6%
Translation theory 15 15 25 40 55 55 252.1%
Other Asian studies 40 120 120 125 135 85 108.5%
Others in Eastern, Asiatic, African and Australasian studies 220 240 255 170 160 175 -18.9%
Others in European languages, literature & related subjects 1,045 1,150 1,210 1,185 1,135 1,180 12.8%
Broadly-based programmes within languages 0 0 0 30 35 55 -
European studies 0 0 0 0 0 100 -
Total 4,735 5,135 5,100 5,060 5,035 5,595 18.2%
Postgraduate language studies: HESA

7. The Language Centre, University
of Warwick
…and : half of a degree
…with : a third of a degree
(not in degree title): 1/6 or ¼ of each year
Joint honours degrees:

8. The Language Centre, University
of Warwick
Joint honours degrees
e.g. …and ******ish”, …with *****ish”
Modules for credits (not in degree title)
normally taken as part of an undergraduate
degree course
Non-credit courses
Programmes of language courses for students
and the local community
Independent Learning
Self-access suite in language centre

9. The Language Centre, University
of Warwick

10. Careers?
The Language Centre, University
of Warwick
Forensic linguistics – human resources –
designers - engineers – interpreters –
translators – teachers – public relations –
politics- procurement – security – espionage –
advertising – hospitality – diplomacy …………

11. Global business
The Language Centre, University
of Warwick

12. Why carry on…
• Employability
• Broaden your horizons
• Increase your choices
• Create the future
The Language Centre, University
of Warwick
“The limits of my language are
the limits of my world”
Wittgenstein