UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES50prospectus.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/... · f 26 Business Management and English Language BSc f 28 French/German/Spanish and English Language BSc ...

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

English Language BSc has 93% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2015

Aston has been a leading university for graduate employability since its foundation in 1966

English at Aston is ranked 11th in the UK for graduate prospects in the 2016 Complete University Guide and 2015 Sunday Times University Guide.

English at Aston is ranked in the Top 10 for spend per student in the 2016 Guardian University Guide

Staff from the Centre for Forensic Linguistics have provided evidence and investigative reports for 500+ cases

Our BSc in English Language is one of only a few in the country to offer full Single Honours in English Language studies with an applied, professionally oriented focus

Research by Aston’s English Language lecturers has been featured in: Huffington Post, The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, Forbes, The Independent, The Observer, The Financial Times

the facts

2 3

Contents f 4 Welcome / Excellence in teaching and research

f 8 In the media

f 10 Positive placements and Year Abroad programmes

f 14 Graduate careers

f 16 A green and sustainable campus

f 18 Birmingham

f 20 Degree programmes

f 22 English Language BSc

f 24 Typical modules

f 26 Business Management and English Language BSc

f 28 French/German/Spanish and English Language BSc

f 29 International Relations and English Language BSc

f 30 Politics and English Language BSc

f 32 English Language and Social Policy BSc

f 33 Sociology and English Language BSc

f 34 Teaching and assessment

f 35 Student support

f 36 Languages for All

f 38 Applying to Aston

f 39 Come and see us

“As an aspiring teacher my favourite module so far has definitely been Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). My lecturer was previously a teacher herself, and therefore is able to pass on her specialist expertise and knowledge. Through this module I have become experienced in writing detailed lesson plans and teaching short lessons to various age groups and abilities.

I spent my placement year at Toyo Gakuen University in Japan working as an English Language Teaching Assistant. The experience was absolutely amazing; I experienced a completely different culture, learnt a new language and put my teaching skills into practice every day. This unique opportunity was available to me as an Aston student because Aston University has established strong links with Toyo Gakuen University – proof of how well established and helpful the placement team at Aston is!

I will be taking part in a four-week intensive CELTA (‘Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults’) course this summer. Once I have my certificate I hope that I will be able to get a job teaching English abroad. I know that my Aston degree will help me immensely when seeking employment; the graduate employment record speaks for itself…”

Holly Morgan English Language BSc

For more information follow us on Facebook and Twitter /AstonLSS

4 5

Excellence in teaching and research

4 5

“The modules I teach at Aston are strongly linked to my research interests that lie at the intersection of three fields: business communication, computer-mediated communication and discourse analysis. I am really interested in how language works online

- especially in professional or business contexts. I have previously analysed, for example, how power and hierarchy is negotiated in virtual teams, or how professionals use non-verbal signals in writing to achieve their goals. I regularly consult organizations on communication issues and use these experiences in my teaching to ensure my materials are up-to-date and relevant. In my modules I encourage students to develop a “noticing” approach: to take a step back and notice how language affects their perception of reality. I love when students say that my classes challenged their conventional way of viewing things. I believe that my classes not only provide a theoretical foundation to communication, but allow students to link the theory to practice, through exercises, cases studies and presentations.”

Dr Erik

a Darics

Lecturer in English

Language

4

“I teach a module on Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics. This module considers the different ways in which we express ourselves through English and its multifaceted varieties, particularly through regional variation. I am Director of Aston’s West Midlands English: Speech and Society project. The work of this project is included in the syllabus for this module. Students who take it work with the data my research team have collected and actively take part as researchers for this research project.

All staff in our group at Aston are active in research. We also collaborate with researchers in other groups in the School. At the moment, I am involved in a research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which is allowing us to integrate the data such as that covered by my West Midlands English project into the ways research methods are taught in undergraduate programmes of study such as that of English language.”

Professor

Urszula Clark

Professor in English

Language

Dr Jack Grieve

Senior Lecturer in

Forensic Linguistics

“My research focuses on the analysis of dialects and authorship. I am particularly interested in how vocabulary and grammar varies across regions and individual authors. Currently I am finishing a project that showed for the first time that there are regional grammatical patterns in written, Standard English. I am now starting a project that looks at how new words spread geographically in British and American English based on a multi-billion word corpus of geocoded Tweets. I also work on automated methods for determining the authorship of anonymous texts. Given an anonymous text and writing samples for a series of possible authors, these methods identify linguistic features that distinguish between the possible authors and then use these features to attribute the anonymous text. My research on dialectology and authorship also informs my teaching at Aston. For example, in our second year module ‘Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics’, we look at how language varies across the English speaking world using advanced techniques to analyse both written and spoken data from a wide variety of sources.”

6 7

“Before coming to work at Aston University, I taught English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL) for a number of years. At Aston, my research focuses on what happens in language classrooms and language teacher education. I’m interested in what teachers do in the classroom, the ways in which they interact with their learners and how they might help or hinder language learning. I’m also interested in how teachers learn how to teach. On the BSc in English I convene a second year module called ‘Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages’. In this module students learn how to teach English and get a chance to put into practice what they’ve learnt, so it’s a very practical module (see Holly’s student profile on page 2). However, all teaching has to be based on sound underlying principles, so I draw on both my own experiences and my research to support students in learning to teach. The module is especially useful for those who want to go and teach overseas on their placement year.

TESOL researchers in the School are part of the Centre for Language Research at Aston (CLaRA). At the moment we are involved in an EU-funded TEMPUS project which aims to develop new programmes for language teaching in Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.”

Dr Sue Garton

Reader in Applied

Linguistics

National Teaching Fellow

“In my nine years at Aston possibly the most flattering praise I received came from a student who said ‘This module messes with my head’. ‘Messing with students’ heads’ is not necessarily what the official course description promises but in my teaching I try and challenge students’ perceptions of what language is and what it can – and cannot – do for them. The key message I try to get across is that understanding the linguistic phenomena we encounter, but rarely notice, on an every-day basis is crucial for understanding and shaping the world around us. We all acquire knowledge in essentially two ways – either through direct experience or from others. For most of our knowledge we have to rely on other people’s perceptions, which, before reaching us, are encoded into language. Language then carries knowledge; once we realise the importance of this simple notion, we can make fully informed and conscious choices as to how we can use language as a powerful tool to achieve certain aims.

At Aston our focus is on language use rather than structure. We do make sure our students acquire the relevant theoretical concepts, but our ultimate aim is to show how language works in actual interactions. We focus on the practical applications of English Language studies. We are passionate about teaching and, importantly, use our own research to inform it. As a result our students often have access to the latest research findings even before they are published in academic journals or the media.”

Dr Krzysztof

Kredens

Director of English

Language Undergraduate

Programmes

Excellence in teaching and research

8 9

In the media

Professor Urszula Clark Urszula Clark’s research focusses on the fields of English pedagogy; variationist sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. She is Director of The West Midlands English: Speech and Society project and Director of Aston’s Research Centre for Critical Inquiry into Society and Culture (CCISC), an initiative that brings together colleagues in applied linguistics, social sciences and business studies. She is also a member of the Centre for Language Research at Aston (CLaRA).

Urszula’s research has featured in… f British Council English, Speech and Society event. Presentation with live YouTube stream, April 2014

f British Council Blog: Which variety of English should you speak?, April 2014

f Interviewed as an expert on the Birmingham dialect on BBC Midlands Today, January 2014

f Interviewed as an expert on dialect for the BBC Radio Mark Forrest Show, broadcasted nationally on local BBC radio stations, November 2013

f ‘Let’s celebrate our linguistic heritage’ letter published in the Black Country Bugle, December 2013

f ‘By ‘eck, accents are thriving’ article published in Daily Mail, November 2012

f Interviewed as an expert on the Black Country dialect for the BBC2 series: Story of English, November 2011

f Interviewed as an expert on West Midlands English accents and dialects, BBC Radio Shropshire Breakfast Programme, December 2007

f Interviewed as an expert on the Black Country dialect as part of the national BBC ‘Voices’ initiative for BBC Midlands Today programme, July 2003.

Professor Tim GrantTim Grant’s main research interests are in forensic authorship analysis and in the conversations which occur between attackers and victims in cases of serious sexual assault and rape. He has publications in both of these areas in both psychology and linguistics journals. His consultancy has largely involved the analysis of abusive and threatening communications in many different contexts including investigations into sexual assaults, murder and terrorist offences. It has also included cases of copyright infringement and academic plagiarism.

His most high profile case to date focused on Dhiren Barot in 2006. He worked with the UK Counter Terrorism Command on an international investigation providing evidence that Barot had written documents planning terrorist attacks on a variety of UK and US targets.

Staff at the Centre for Forensic Linguistics frequently work with the police to assist on relevant cases. As well as case work, the Centre is acknowledged to be a world leader for research and teaching in forensic linguistics. It offers programmes for undergraduates and postgraduates and supervision of PhD research in the field.

Tim’s research has featured in… f BBC Inside Out, 24th January 2014: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26242569

f BBC The One Show, April 16th 2013; shared some of the latest techniques in forensic linguistics

f Contributed twice to BBC Radio 4’s Word of Mouth

f The Independent, 27th January 2010: ‘CSI: Chatroom’ by Rob Sharp

Tim also writes a blog which receives around 800-1000 hits each month: www.scoop.it/t/language-society-and-law

ProfessorUrszula Clark Professor in English Language

Professor

Tim Grant

Professor of Forensic

Linguistics

10 11

Positive placements and Year Abroad programmesWhy do a placement?Our distinctive placement year is a key feature of the English Language programmes at Aston. The placement year is designed to give you:

f The placement year can become the foundation of a successful career in your chosen field

f The opportunity to try out a chosen career path

f A chance to put the skills and knowledge you have learnt in the first two years of your degree programme into practice in a real-life workplace environment

f Opportunity to earn a salary – many of our placements are paid

f Study or work placements abroad will develop your awareness of another culture and give your CV an international dimension

f Experience team work and business culture and take responsibility for your own contribution

f Gain valuable work experience and enhance your employability.

Is the placement year compulsory?The placement year is recommended for students studying English Language apart from students combining English with French, German or Spanish where a compulsory year abroad forms an integral part of your course. The placement year is also compulsory for Business Management and English Language BSc. If you choose to take a placement year, this will take place during your third year at Aston and is worth 10% of the final degree result. Unlike some other universities, the placement year at Aston is not a “bolt-on” year, it is an integral part of your degree for which you are prepared in your second year and encouraged to look back on in your final year. Aston pioneered the placement year in the 1950s, and has over 50 years experience in offering sandwich courses. As a result we have built up an enviable reputation with employers many of whom return to us each year hoping to take on more Aston University students.

What will I do on placement?You can choose to spend the year on a work placement in the UK or, if you choose to go abroad, there are both work and study placements available.

Examples of placements recently completed by students of English Language include:

f Teaching Assistant, Haybridge High School

f PR & Administrative Assistant, Interdirect Ltd

f Internal Communications & Community Relations or Government Affairs placements, Airbus UK

f Local Activism Volunteer, Friends of the Earth

f Policy & Patron and Press & PR placement, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

f Learning & Development placement, Warburtons LT

f The Atlantic Initiative, Editorial International Affairs placement, Germany

f English Language Teaching Assistant at Tokyo Gakuen Univeristy, Japan

f Teaching English in Spain with the BEDA Programme

f Study placements at Korea University.

For more information on placement year and year abroad options please see: www.aston.ac.uk/lss/undergraduate/year-abroad-placements/

“During my placement year I worked with an organisation called the British American Business Council (BABC), who aim to help companies expand their business into the Untied States through business leads and connections. A large part of my role was communications based and I found that the practical business applications of what I have studied at Aston really shone through. My second year modules “Intercultural Communication” and “Language at Work” were particularly useful in preparing me for the challenges I faced during my time at the BABC. Some of the highlights of my placement include: working with clients who pitched on

Dragons’ Den, sourcing articles for a magazine with a readership of over 20,000 people and planning and executing the BABC’s most prestigious event in Birmingham. This event attracted over 300 high profile business attendees and contained a key note speech from Vince Cable.

When I graduate I plan to get a job in international trade. As this is what I did during my placement year, I would like to build upon this experience and already feel that I have a good foundation on which to launch my career.”

Jamie Russell English Language BSc

Highlights of my placement include working with clients who pitched on Dragons’ Den...

“

”

12 13

First-class supportWe are extremely proud of the level of support and preparation that we provide for the placement year. We have a full-time dedicated Placements Team who provide a programme of support to students throughout their placement search and whilst on placement.

Each school of study has a dedicated Placement Coordinator who will provide students with the most relevant placement information for their degree programme. You will be supported throughout the application process, with CV and skills workshops, presentations, sample application materials and one-to-one advice sessions. The application process for a placement is similar to applying for a graduate job, which is excellent experience in itself.

During the placement year, we will normally visit you to check on your progress and help you make the most of this exciting opportunity. Our Placements Team also provide support throughout the year to make sure that things go smoothly.

Aston University have developed relationships with a considerable number of organisations from large Blue Chips to small local businesses and each year we advertise a wide variety of placements to students via our Aston Futures website and regular placement bulletins. A large number of employer events are held on campus throughout the year so that students can network with employers and find out more about placement opportunities.

Aston University has a dedicated International Placements Team that provides specialist support to students undertaking work and study placements overseas. The International Placements Team will assist you throughout your placement search by offering tailored guidance throughout the application process, with briefing sessions, CV workshops, sample application

Placements continued

Many Aston graduates go on to gain employment with employers featured in the ‘Times Top 100 Graduate Employees’

Questions about the placement year or year abroad? Why not get in touch with our Placements Team who will be happy to help: [email protected]

materials and one-to-one advice sessions. The team also run intercultural awareness workshops which help you to prepare for your time abroad and offers support to students whilst they are overseas. Aston Placement ScholarshipsWe want to encourage as many students as possible to take a placement year or year abroad. Thanks to our range of scholarships, we estimate that the majority of Aston students will not pay any tuition fees for their placement year.

Extensive Aston ScholarshipsAston University’s tuition fee and scholarship levels for 2017 entry will be confirmed in Summer 2016. See our website for further details, terms and conditions:www.aston.ac.uk/scholarships

Aston Placement Scholarship for unpaid placement yearsMost placement students are paid a salary by their employer, but if you take an unpaid placement year or year abroad, you will not have to pay any placement year tuition fee. The Aston Placement Scholarship is offered irrespective of family income.

“Aston’s excellent reputation for graduate employability means that my CV stands out. Thanks to Aston University’s placement year, I have already been offered a graduate job in Ghana! ”

“Aston University is a relatively small campus, therefore you don’t feel like just a number but instead, part of a community. You always see people you know on the way to the library, lectures, the gym or the Students’ Union. I would recommend Aston University to prospective students more than ever now that the university has invested huge amounts of money into further improving the resources and facilities available to all students. They really do make us as students the priority.

I have always been fascinated in social stratification in society and how individuals and/or groups interact with one another on a national and international scale. Aston University offers modules such as ‘Racism, Class and Gender’ and ‘Crime and Injustice’. Lecturers always make an effort to relate theory to current affairs and societal issues, so you feel that you are learning something relevant to society today.

Another reason why I chose Aston University was the emphasis on taking a placement year. I completed a PR and communications internship for a medical charity in Ghana and a fundraising internship for a charity that aims to improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS in London. I’ve gained skills and knowledge that are invaluable to a future career in communications, ideally for a multi-national NGO. In such a tough graduate job market these transferable skills, along with Aston’s excellent reputation for graduate employability, mean that my CV stands out. In fact, thanks to Aston University’s placement year, I have already been offered a graduate job by my employer in Ghana!”

Harriet Southwood Sociology and English Language BSc

14 15

Graduate careers Positive placements and Year Abroad programmes Aston has been a leading University for graduate employability since its foundation in 1966. We have fantastic career focused degree courses, high quality teaching, strong industry partnerships and we are dedicated to equipping students for success in the global market/workplace. A placement year spent with an employer has been proven to enhance graduate employment prospects and degree performance.

What do English Language graduates do? Our graduates are in demand from a wide range of employers where a sound understanding of organisations, team work and communication skills are essential. Aston is distinctive in offering English Language students a placement year. This gives Aston graduates a definite advantage when applying for graduate roles and postgraduate study.

Aston Careers Service – supporting Aston’s outstanding graduate employment record.Aston University’s dedicated Careers and Placements Team provides quality careers guidance and placement support to enhance the employability and capability of all of our students and recent graduates.

Our relationships with employers are extremely important, and we place a high value on their input to our activities. We support our students in pursuing their career and employment goals by:

f Advertising graduate opportunities, placements and vacation work via our bespoke online jobs portal, Aston Futures

f Arranging and publicising employer led presentations, drop-ins, recruitment fairs, specialist careers events and workshops

f Creating excellent business links with recruiters, and promoting the benefits of Aston students and graduates in placement and graduate roles within their organisation. Facilitating their contact with students and encouraging their participation in on-campus activities

f Providing online and in person guidance in preparation for the world of work, further education, business start-up or whatever their plans may be for life after university.

Find us online at: www.aston.ac.uk/careers

“Another great thing about Aston is their emphasis on placements and doing a placement, which I feel is very important, in the current economic climate. Jobs are not easy to find at the moment and doing a placement gives you those necessary employability skills and competencies before you graduate. As a result of my placement, I was offered a graduate role with IBM on a Leadership Development Programme with my first role as a Business Development Consultant in Dubai.”

Charles Donnell Psychology and English Language BSc Graduate

Charles is now working as a Business Development Consultant for IBM, Dubai

14 15

Doing a placement gives you those necessary employability skills and competencies before you graduate.

“

”

16 1716 17

Students from over 120 countries study at Aston University each year, living in a lively, safe, close-knit and friendly atmosphere.

Aston University’s location is unique. Our attractive green campus is set in the centre of Birmingham – just a five minute walk from its first-class social, shopping and cultural attractions.

Our self-contained campus gives Aston University students the best of both worlds: a green, well-equipped, friendly campus in the heart of a vibrant city.

We are improving our facilities all the time with a number of ongoing projects to improve our sustainability and reduce our environmental impact.

Our commitment to sustainability has been recognised in the 2015 ‘People and Planet Green League’ where we are ranked 12 out of the 151 UK universities and Higher Education institutions for our environmental performance.

Other achievements include: f reducing CO2 emissions by installing smart LED lighting;

solar PV panels systems; and increasing sustainability awareness

f a combined heat and power plant delivers low carbon electricity and heat

f we recycle or compost 91% of our waste

f ‘Go Green Week’ is held every year to promote sustainability

f a Fairtrade University since 2007

f ‘Carbon Week’ (launched 2015) where all second year students learn about climate change and how it will affect future careers.

A green and sustainable campus

FairtradeAston has been a Fairtrade accredited university since 2007.

Platinum EcoCampus AwardWe have achieved the Platinum EcoCampus award for our Environmental Management System, one of only 7 universities to have reached this level.

People and Planet Green LeagueAston has been awarded ‘First Class Honours’ for our ranking at number 12 out of the 151 UK universities and Higher Education institutions (People and Planet Green League 2015).

18 19

Discover Birmingham on Twitter

#bullring#birmingham#mailbox#brumlife

Birmingham an amazing place to live

Birmingham is internationally recognised as a leader in leisure, entertainment, shopping and sport. Birmingham is an international centre for business, commerce and industry, housing numerous UK and overseas banks, law firms and Europe’s second largest insurance market. Birmingham attracts 25 million visitors each year and contributes billions to the national economy through manufacturing and engineering.

Easily accessible Whether by road, rail or air, travelling to and from Birmingham is easy. The University campus is central to an extensive network of motorways and railways. The location of the campus and pedestrianised city centre means walking is easy.

Nightlife With over 70,000 students, Birmingham is one of Europe’s liveliest cities. Having more than 100 bars, clubs and pubs, Birmingham has something for everyone.

Europe’s shopping capital With the Bullring shopping mall in the city centre, you will only be a short walk from shops and restaurants, including the iconic Selfridges store and the new flagship John Lewis store.

Entertainment, sport and leisure Birmingham has one of the highest concentrations of live theatre outside of London’s West End. A number of fine art collections can be found at the City Museum and Art Gallery, and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The LG Arena (NEC), the Barclaycard Arena and the Birmingham O2 Academy host music to suit all tastes. Birmingham is at the heart of sporting action. Football clubs, including Aston Villa and Birmingham City, have their home grounds within the city. Warwickshire County Ground at Edgbaston provides International Test and County Cricket games. Athletics events are held in the City at the Alexander Stadium and at the Barclaycard Arena.

To find out more, visit: www.aston.ac.uk/birmingham

20

“During my placement year I worked as a Teaching Assistant for a school based in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. I gained many transferable skills and also picked up a new language. I also discovered that I have a great passion for teaching and working with kids. I am now experienced in creating lesson plans and am confident to improvise in the classroom. Moreover, living and working in a foreign country has been a challenge but a challenge that has been a life changing one!

In general, studying for an English Language degree at Aston has helped me during my placement year by developing my leadership and interpersonal skills. More specifically, the TESOL module on the course equipped me with many teaching techniques that have proved very useful in the classroom. Through experiences on the placement year, my passion for working with students has been confirmed. In the future, I hope to work with children and form my own NGO to help support young and disadvantaged people. All my experiences during my years studying at Aston University have given me direction and the tools needed to enable me to build my future career.”

Cleo Graham, English Language BSc

21

Degree programmes

Languageand Identityin Englishes

Urszula Clark

Single Honours

English Language Q310 4 years full-time with integrated placement year/ 3 years full-time without placement.

Joint Honours Business Management and English Language QN75 English Language and Social Policy LQ43International Relations and English Language LQ23Politics and English Language QL32Sociology and English Language LQ33 4 years full-time with integrated placement year/ 3 years full-time without placement.

*4 years full-time with compulsory placement year.

English with a Modern Foreign Language

English Language and French QR31English Language and German QR32English Language and Spanish QR34 4 years full-time with compulsory year abroad.

20

Eng

lish

Lang

uag

e

22

English Language BSc (Single Honours)

Key facts4 year full-time with integrated placement year/3 year full-time without placement.UCAS code: Q310Typical offer level:A-level: ABB-BBBIB: 32-33 pointsOther qualifications see page 38. Specific subject requirements:A-level: B in A-Level English Language, Literature or Language/Literature or equivalent. GCSE: English Language Grade C and Maths Grade C.Fees per year for 2017 entry:For the latest information on tuition fees visit: www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

Key benefits f Aston is one of only a few UK universities to offer English Language programmes with a fully integrated, optional placement year

f Professionally relevant, innovative modules such as Language and the Law, Computer-mediated Communication and Language in the News Media

f Possibility of specialising in Professional Communication, Forensic Linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages or Language Policy and Language Planning.

Programme overview Our innovative English Language degree aims to provide you with a theoretical knowledge and understanding of the English language, how it works in society and its role in the world today. At the same time we emphasise the practical application of English Language studies to the real world through professionally relevant modules in areas such as Teaching and Learning, English Language at Work or Language and the Law.

Your first year of studying English Language at Aston will give you a broad introduction to language and meaning, to the influence of form and context and to the role of language in society. In the second year you build upon the themes introduced in your first Year through the study of core and elective modules designed to equip you to describe the features of spoken and written language in technical detail, as well as collecting, managing and working with linguistic data. In the final year you can choose from a wide range of elective modules to suit your interests and/or career plans. You will also produce a substantial piece of individual work in the form of a dissertation on an agreed topic of your choice.

The modules below are indicative only. When an offer is made, students will receive a detailed programme specification which forms part of our terms and conditions.

Year 1

English Language Across Time and Space; Introduction to Discourse Analysis; Language in Society; Words and Meaning; Grammar and Meaning; Phonetics and Phonology; Academic Communication Skills.

Year 2

Written Text Analysis; Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics; Working with Language Data.

Options from: Language in the News Media; Language at Work; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); The Language of the Law; Computer Mediated Communication; Psychology of Language and Communication.

Placement year

Optional placement year. See page 10.

Final year

Dissertation; Spoken Discourse Analysis.

Options from: Corpus Linguistics; Language as Evidence; Learning English; Multimodal Analysis; Leadership and Management Communication.

Typ

ical

mo

dul

es

For detailed module descriptions for this course visit www.aston.ac.uk/lss/undergraduate

23

‘‘When selecting my English Language course one of my main priorities was to be able to actively apply what was covered in class to real-world contexts and Aston University assured me they too had the same priority. The modules offered on the course especially in the second and final years give opportunities to explore different fields of linguistics by conducting real-life investigations. For example my ‘Computer Mediated Communication’ module in my second year focused on language use online by collecting and analysing actual online communication. This topic certainly warrants further investigation considering the amount of time spent online.

Thanks to the strong global links the university has, I was given the opportunity to work as an English Teaching assistant at Paderborn University, a well reputed university located in Paderborn, a small yet vibrant city in North-West Germany. The placement gave me the chance to quickly undertake a teacher role by leading classes, planning future lessons and constructing examinations.

The excellent careers service provided by Aston University enabled me to communicate and network with various lecturers and heads of department in and out of the UK. This will undoubtedly stand me in good stead when applying for teaching jobs in the future, as I have already built up a healthy network of prospective colleagues.’’

Amarjit Dubb English Language BSc

The modules give opportunities to explore different fields of linguistics by conducting real-life investigations.

“

”

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

Eng

lish

Lang

uag

e

24

Eng

lish

Lang

uag

e

25

Typical modules

The following module descriptions are indicationsonly – the modules on offer and the content ofthe modules is subject to change.

Year 1Words and Meaning

In this module, you look at how words are used in written and spoken texts to create meanings, and use dictionaries, corpus analysis and other practical techniques to understand the processes involved, and to analyse words in different ways.

Grammar and Meaning

This module introduces you to the basics of descriptive grammar, including key concepts and terms. It involves practical workshop activities where you apply in practice what you have learnt in theory.

Introduction to Discourse Analysis

This module looks at language as it is employed for a variety of purposes in both private and public contexts. It also extends methods of communication to cover non-verbal means whereby messages are conveyed, as substitutes for and supplements to the use of words. Topic areas to be covered will include paralinguistics in interaction and in texts (links between image, gesture and word), language and technology, media language and the language of interpersonal communication.

English Across Time and Space

This module provides a brief introduction to the historical development of English, as a basis for the investigation of the concepts of language varieties and boundaries. This leads to an exploration of the issues and controversies surrounding the present-day role of English as a world language. An emphasis on language description reinforces the terminology and concepts taught in the companion modules of your first year, while the teaching also focuses on the socio-historical forces which have shaped the development of English, reflecting the perspective of the programme overall.

Language in Society

This module considers language as an aspect of social practice, and looks at the links between linguistic phenomena and social variables such as social class, gender or occupation. You will become familiar with a range of theoretical frameworks and descriptive tools for the study of the relationship

between language and society, which will enable you to carry out your own analyses of specific data sets.

Introduction to English Phonetics

This module introduces language description at the levels of phonetics and phonology. It provides the descriptive and analytical tools needed to discuss phonological processes and aspects of speech production involved in variation across accents of English.

Academic Communication Skills

This module takes a ‘hands-on’ approach to developing some of the key skills involved in becoming competent recipients and producers of both written and spoken academic texts. It will enable you to acquire a better understanding of and practice in effective academic communication skills. You will learn how to structure and deliver presentations, write academic proposals and research papers, and obtain, read and access research. This new module has been developed to ensure you fully benefit from, and are capable of contributing to, the English Language Programme at Aston.

Year 2Written Text Analysis

This module explores the main organisational features of written discourse and a range of analytical approaches, including revisiting concepts from Grammar and Meaning (first year) to show how we build unified texts from individual clauses and sentences.

Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics

This module introduces you to different variations of English, including: social and regional variation; English around the world and differences between spoken and written modes.

Language at Work

The context for this module is set by considering how language and work are inter-related on a macro scale. It looks at the impact of global trends on both work and language practices, as increasing numbers of business enterprises trade across national borders, necessitating international – and ‘intercultural’ – communication. The remaining section of this module also takes a more micro perspective, reviewing the ways in which speakers, writers and readers make use of particular kinds of discourse in work-related communication to achieve their professional aims.

Language in the News Media

This module aims to introduce you to the ways in which media texts both reflect and construct our social practice and values. It addresses a range of issues, such as what makes something newsworthy, whether there is objectivity in news reporting, whether different social groups are equally represented in mass media texts, and what part visual images and layout play in our media messages; and it introduces you to a variety of methods for describing and critically evaluating media texts in relation to these issues.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

This is a module introducing the concepts and practice of contemporary TESOL. You will have the chance to develop some of the knowledge and skills required to work as a TESOL teacher. The areas covered will be course and syllabus design, materials evaluation and preparation, strategies for teaching lexis and grammar and lesson planning, delivery and evaluation.

Final yearCorpus Linguistics

In this module, you learn the key concepts and terminology of corpus linguistics and how to use corpus tools to conduct research into language in use. You will look at some areas of applied linguistics in which corpora are used, such as lexicography, pedagogy and translation.

Leadership and Management Communication

This module is aimed at ambitious students who aim to be managers and leaders in the future. It introduces students to the range of ways in which

leaders and senior managers use communication in the workplace to include various aspects of spoken, written and multimodal communication. The module will introduce a range of models of discourse analysis by which to analyse and critique authentic spoken, written and multimodal texts, as well as invite students to participate in simulated contexts such as business meetings, interviews and presentations. The module takes a research-based approach to the study of leadership language using genuine transcripts and documents (such as emails) produced by leaders.

Language as Evidence

This module focuses on one specialist area of Applied Linguistics, the analysis of spoken and written texts which have a significance in court cases. The module looks at topics such as: techniques for authorship attribution; questions of copyright and the detection of plagiarism; disputed police records of interview, confessions, suspect suicide notes; and anonymous letters.

Dissertation

This module aims to enable you to research in significant depth a topic in English Language, and address, elaborate and apply key concepts used in the linguistic analysis of discourse, in professional, social, educational and/or cultural institutions and contexts. The dissertation allows you to work on an individual basis with a supervisor and undertake supervised research on a topic that is new to you. It is the longest and most sustained piece of research undertaken in the English Language part of your degree programme.

For more detailed module descriptions visit www.aston.ac.uk/lss/undergraduate

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

“The modules offered on the English Language degree at Aston University reveal English Language in a whole new light. I have gained a lot of transferable skills which I found myself using daily during my placement year, as well as in my personal life. For my placement year I was given a role at Ford Motor Company, working in their Public Affairs and Communications Department. My placement year was split with half the year at Ford of Europe and the second half of the year based at Ford of Britain. My role was focussed on aiding launches and motor shows all over Europe. I also dealt with journalists on a first-hand basis, and the stylistic skill of press release writing. I have been lucky enough to have a placement which has tied in very well to my course. Modules such as ‘Language in the News Media’, ‘Psychology of Languageand Communication’ and ‘Variations of English’ have given me a thorough understanding of how linguistic communicationn works. I have also had the unique opportunity to travel around Europe to countries such as Spain, Switzerland and Germany, and I have made vital links with important people in the PR industry which will prove to help me in the future. The option of doing a placement is one which I feel privileged to have been offered. I believe that my placement in hand with my degree will set me on the right path for achieving my aims and ambitions in life. I feel that the amount of experience gained will certainly impress future employers. Another benefit of my placement is the possibility of a graduate position, this is something I would greatly consider.’’

Angelina TrivediEnglish Language BSc

27

Bus

ines

s M

anag

emen

t an

d E

nglis

h La

ngua

ge

26

Business Management and English Language BSc

Key facts4 year full-time with integrated placement yearUCAS code: QN75Typical offer level: A-level: ABB-BBB IB: 32-33 points Other qualifications see page 38.Specific subject requirements: GCSE: English Language Grade C and Math Grade C.Fees per year for 2017 entry: For the latest information on tuition fees visit: www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

Key benefits f An innovative programme offering an attractive combination of subjects

f 92% of students taking English at Aston were satisfied with their course according to the Guardian University Guide 2017

f A professional placement year with excellent support

Programme overviewOur BSc in Business Management and English Language takes a practical approach to both subject areas through professionally relevant modules which draw directly on Aston’s ground-breaking research. You will gain a theoretical knowledge and understanding of the English language, how it works in society and organisations, and its role in the world today. You will also gain the academic knowledge and the commercial and leadership skills of business management. With a professional placement year as one of its key features, the programme is geared towards increasing your employability; it is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills required of professionals working in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The bridge between Business Management and English is provided by modules centred around the themes of (international) communication and leadership, and professional discourse. For example, you will investigate the range of ways in which leaders and senior managers use spoken, written and multimodal communication in the workplace to achieve certain aims. The modules will introduce a range of models of discourse analysis and invite students to participate in simulated contexts such as business meetings, interviews, presentations, and so on. You will be taught by research-active lecturers who are internationally recognised researchers in fields such as leadership communication, marketing, economic development, multi-national enterprises and location, forensic linguistics, language and gender and TESOL studies.


Modules will be taken from the following range:

Year 1

Introduction to Organisational Behaviour; Personal, Professional and Academic Effectiveness; Introduction to Marketing Management; Principles of Financial Accounting; IT for Business; Economic Environment of Business; Introduction to Discourse Analysis; Grammar & Meaning; Language in Society.

Year 2

Marketing Communications; E.Marketing; IT & Web Development; Psychology & Work; Effective Teamwork; Research Methods; Working with

Language Data; Language at Work; Introduction to Intercultural Communication; Psychology of Language & Communication; Language in the News Media; Computer Mediated Communication; Language of the Law.

Placement year

Placement year. See page 10.

Final year

Dissertation; Leadership and Management Communication: 1; Leadership and Management Communication: 2; Advanced Marketing Communications; Corporate Power in a Globalised World; Strategic Management; Theories & Practice of Leadership; Consumer Behaviour; Multimodal Analysis; Spoken Discourse Analysis.

Typ

ical

mo

dul

es

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

http://www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

http://www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

28

Inte

rnat

iona

l Rel

atio

ns a

nd E

nglis

h La

ngua

ge

29

Mo

der

n La

ngua

ge

and

Eng

lish

Lang

uag

eModern Language and English Language BSc (Joint Honours with French/Spanish/German)

International Relations and English Language BSc (Joint Honours)

Key facts4 year full-time with integrated year abroad. UCAS codes:French and English Language QR31German and English Language QR32Spanish and English Language QR34Typical offer level:A-level: ABB-BBB IB: 32-33 points Other qualifications see 38.Specific subject requirements:A-level: Grade B in language to be studied. Combinations with German and Spanish can also be taken from beginners level. GCSE: English Language Grade C and Maths Grade C.Fees per year for 2017 entry:For the latest information on tuition fees visit: www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

Programme overview Our Modern Language and English Language courses produce highly employable, multi-skilled graduates, able to pursue successful careers in business and industry, in government and elsewhere in the public sector, or in education and teaching. Our students are in demand from a wide range of employers who value their understanding of different cultures and societies, their communication skills and motivation for team work. In each year of study your language classes are supplemented by a series of thematic modules, which focus on contemporary society, and particularly on politics, socio-linguistics, media, film and literature. Your third year will be spent abroad, undertaking a work placement with a company, working as a teaching assistant in a school or studying at one of our partner universities abroad.

Key facts4 year full-time with integrated placement year/3 year full-time without placement.UCAS code: LQ23Typical offer level:A-level: ABB-BBBIB: 32-33 points Other qualifications see page 38. Specific subject requirements:GCSE: English Language Grade C and Maths Grade C or equivalent.Fees per year for 2017 entry: For the latest information on tuition fees visit: www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

Programme overview This multi-disciplinary programme has a key emphasis on the practical application of International Relations and English Language to the real world, through the optional placement year and professionally relevant modules which draw directly on Aston’s cutting-edge research.

You will examine the nature of relations between states and also of the roles played by international

institutions, other intergovernmental organisations, multinational corporations and NGOs. You will also gain the theoretical knowledge and understanding of English Language and how it works in society.

Important strengths of the course include the research-active teaching staff who are internationally recognised for their work on Western and European Politics, Forensic Linguistics, Language and Gender and TESOL Studies. Aston is also one of only a few UK universities to offer International Relations and English Language with a fully-integrated placement year. The distinctive placement year is an optional feature of the programme and is designed to enhance your employment potential when you graduate.

Our graduates are in demand from a wide range of employers where a sound understanding of societies, organisations, institutions and communication skills are required.



Year 1

Modern Language: French/German/Spanish Language Skills (written & spoken); modules in French/German/Spanish Film, Culture, Media, History, Politics.

English Language: Introduction to Discourse Analysis; Language in Society; Grammar and Meaning; Academic Communication Skills.

Year 2


English Language: Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics; Working With Language

Data. Options from: Language in the News Media; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); The Language of the Law; Computer Mediated Communication; Language at Work; Short Placement.

Year abroad

Compulsory year abroad. See page 10.

Final year


English Language: Dissertation; Spoken Discourse Analysis.

Options from: Corpus Linguistics: Language as Evidence; Multi-modal Analysis; Leadership and Management Communication.


Year 1

International Relations: Introduction to International Relations; Modern Europe and the World; Information Skills; Introduction to the European Union.


Year 2

International Relations: Research Methods; EU Politics/Policies; International Relations: Theories and Issues; Security Studies; Introduction to Political Economy.

English Language: Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics; Research Methods in Language and Communication; Working With Language Data.

Options from: Language in the News Media; Teaching English to Speakers of Other

Languages (TESOL); The Language of the Law; Computer Mediated Communication; Language at Work; Short placement.

Placement year


Final year

International Relations: Dissertation.

Options from: Regions and Regionalism in Europe; Contemporary Political Theory; Religion and Politics in Contemporary Europe; Immigration and Citizenship in Western Europe; Political Leaders: Case Studies and Comparative Perspectives; The International Politics of East Asia; Nationalism and Political Power in Europe; The Politics of Post Soviet Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.



Typ

ical

mo

dul

es

Typ

ical

mo

dul

es


ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

30 31

Po

litic

s an

d E

nglis

h La

ngua

ge

Politics and English Language BSc (Joint Honours) Key facts4 year full-time with integrated placement year/3 year full-time without placement.UCAS code: QL32Typical offer level:A-level: ABB-BBBIB: 32-33 points Other qualifications see page 38.Specific subject requirements:GCSE: English Language Grade C and Maths Grade CFees per year for 2017 entry:For the latest information on tuition fees visit: www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

Programme overview Our BSc in Politics and English Language takes an applied approach to the teaching of Politics and English Language, through the optional placement year and professionally relevant modules which draw directly on Aston’s cutting-edge research.

You will examine the major issues facing governments across the world, and the policies developed and delivered by governments and other

organisations. You will also be provided with the theoretical knowledge and understanding of English language and how it works in society.

Important strengths of the course include the research-active teaching staff who are internationally recognised for their work on Western and European Politics, Forensic Linguistics, Language and Gender and TESOL Studies. Aston is one of only a few UK universities to offer Politics and English Language with a fully integrated placement year. The distinctive placement year is an optional feature of the programme and is designed to give you real life experience and to act as a springboard for your future career.

Our graduates are in demand from a wide range of employers where a sound understanding of societies, organisations and institutions is required. It will also provide you with a range of desirable skills such as communication skills, critical thinking and the ability to evaluate data.



Year 1

Politics: Introduction to Politics; British politics since 1945; Information Skills; Introduction to the European Union.


Year 2

Politics: Comparative Government; Research Methods; EU Politics/Policies; History of Political Thought; Introduction to Political Economy.

English Language: Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics; Working With Language Data.

Options from: Language in the News Media; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); The Language of the Law; Computer Mediated Communication; Language at Work; Short placement.

Placement year


Final year

Politics: Research Dissertation.

Options from: Regions and Regionalism in Europe; Contemporary Political Theory; Religion and Politics in Contemporary Europe; Immigration and Citizenship in Western Europe; Political Leaders: Case Studies and Comparative Perspectives; The International Politics of East Asia; Nationalism and Political Power in Europe; The Politics of Post Soviet Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.



Typ

ical

mo

dul

es

“

”

“During my placement year, I went to Japan to work as a Teaching Assistant in a university located near Tokyo. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain paid work experience in Japan whilst studying. I was able to learn Japanese to a conversational level which has allowed me to form friendships and improve my confidence.

Living away from home in a foreign country was a scary thought at first, but with regular check-up calls and emails from family, friends and the Aston Placement team, I was able to adjust. One of my course lecturers came to visit me to find out how I was getting on and whether I had any concerns, knowing that there was a team dedicated to supporting me and my time in Japan was comforting.

My placement year played a pivotal role because it gave me the opportunity to push my grade boundary up and gain graduate level employment. I now work for a social enterprise called ‘Students on Placement’ (SOP), liaising with students, universities and employers about how beneficial work experience is - I have even had the opportunity to return to Aston to run a focus group session! My placement and work experience definitely directly impacted upon my career decisions and obtaining my current job. My placement year has been a key aspect in being able to get a job. The opportunity to return to Japan and work will always be an option due to my experience, and I have applied for several teaching positions. Working as a teaching assistant in Japan has taught me that I am not limited in what I am able to do, I have learnt how to be independent, versatile and positive, characteristics which I feel will help me in my future.” Hayley Chisholm BSc English Language and Sociology

My placement year played a pivotal role because it gave me the opportunity to push my grade boundary up and gain graduate level employment.

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

Key facts4 year full-time with integrated placement year/3 year full-time without placement.UCAS code: LQ33Typical offer level:A-level: ABB-BBBB: 32-33 pointsOther qualifications see page 38.Specific subject requirements:GCSE English Language and Maths Grade C or equivalent.Fees per year for 2017 entry: For the latest information on tuition fees visit: www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

Programme overview This multi-disciplinary programme takes a practical approach to the teaching of Sociology and English Language, through the optional placement year and professionally relevant modules which draw directly on Aston’s cutting-edge research.

You will be provided with a theoretical knowledge and understanding of the English language, how it works in society and its role in the world today. You will also examine social processes, organisational dynamics and inter-group relationships.

Important strengths of the course include the research-active teaching staff who are internationally

recognised researchers in fields such as ethnic and gender equalities, global change, theories of social change, forensic linguistics, language and gender and TESOL studies. The placement year is an optional feature of the programme and is designed to give you real life experience and to act as a springboard for your future career.

Our graduates are in demand from a wide range of employers where a sound understanding of societies, organisations, institutions and communication skills are required.


32

So

cio

log

y an

d E

nglis

h La

ngua

ge

33

Eng

lish

Lang

uag

e an

d S

oci

al P

olic

yEnglish Language and Social Policy BSc (Joint Honours)

Sociology and English Language BSc (Joint Honours)

Key facts4 year full-time with integrated placement year/3 year full-time without placement.UCAS code: LQ43Typical offer level:A-levels: ABB-BBB IB: 32-33 points Other qualifications see page 38. Specific subject requirements:GCSE: English Language Grade C and Maths Grade C.Fees per year for 2017 entry:For the latest information on tuition fees visit: www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/student-finance/tuition-fees/

Programme overviewOur BSc in English Language and Social Policy takes a practical approach to the teaching of English Language and Social Policy, through the optional placement year and professionally relevant modules which draw directly on our Astons’ cutting-edge research.

You will gain a theoretical knowledge and understanding of the English language, how it works in society and its role in the world today. You will also investigate the economic, social and political forces which influence policy and give rise to conflicts between the achievement of economic, environmental and social objectives.

Important strengths of the course include the research-active teaching staff who are internationally recognised researchers in fields such as political economy of economic development, multi-national enterprises and location, forensic linguistics, language and gender and TESOL studies. The professional placement year is an optional feature of the programme and is designed to give our students a distinct advantage on the graduate labour market.

The programme is geared towards increasing your employability since it is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills required of professionals working in the public, private and voluntary sectors.



Year 1

Social Policy: Research Methods 1; Issues in Welfare and Public Services.


Year 2

Social Policy: Global Social Policy; Economy and Society; Governments, Globalisation and Money; Embodiment and Feminist Theory; Sociology of Racism; Global Society; CSI: Crime, Subversion and Injustice.


Options from: Language in the News Media; Teaching English to Speakers of Other

Languages (TESOL); The Language of the Law; Computer Mediated Communication; Language at Work; Short placement.

Placement year


Final year

Social Policy: Dissertation.

Options from: Governance of Economic Development Policy; Modern British Governance; Risk, Regulation and Financial Crisis; Health Matters: Understanding Patterns and Policies; Racism, Class and Gender; Contemporary Social Movements; Corporate Power in a Globalised World.


Options from: Corpus Linguistics: Language as Evidence; Linguistics of the Individual; Multi-modal Analysis; Leadership and Management Communication.


Year 1

Sociology: Identities and Inequalities; Research Methods I; Social Theory I.


Year 2

Sociology: Embodiment and Feminist Theory; Research Methods II; Sociology of Racism; Social Theory II; Global Society; CSI: Crime, Subversion and Injustice.


Options from: Language in the News Media;

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); The Language of the Law; Computer Mediated Communication; Language at Work; Short placement.

Placement year


Final year

Sociology: Dissertation.

Options from: Racism, Class and Gender; Contemporary Power in a Globalised World; Sociology of Religion; Tattoos, TV, Trends: Understanding Popular Culture.



Typ

ical

mo

dul

es

Typ

ical

mo

dul

es

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

34 35

Teaching and assessment

How will I be taught?You will be involved in: lectures, tutorials, seminars, e-seminars, small-group work, project work and independent study. Many of your modules will be in workshop format, alternating theoretical input with practical analysis, and allowing you to test out your understanding in discussion with other students and your tutor. There are also opportunities for group and collaborative work. Students undertake a major piece of independent research in Final Year.

For detailed programme specifications go to:www.aston.ac.uk/programme-specifications

How will I be assessed?Assessment is through a combination of exams, project-based coursework, essays, presentations and an extended dissertation during your Final Year. Exams take place in January and May/June.

For detailed programme specifications go to:www.aston.ac.uk/programme-specifications

What is the Personal Tutor System?You will be allocated a Personal Tutor when you join us and you will be encouraged to make regular contact with them throughout your studies. Personal Tutors are there to help discuss academic and, in some cases, personal issues. Personal Tutors can also often offer support by writing references for placement/graduate employment and academic research.

Student support Academic supportAcademic staff are on hand during specifically advertised ‘office hours’ to discuss any academic concerns you have about your studies and to offer academic support and guidance.

FacilitiesJoint Honours students at Aston have access to a wide range of resources for study and research, including thousands of online journals, books and databases; and a dedicated learning technologies team. Our ‘Cadbury Room’ has social seating, study stations and meeting tables, as well as WiFi, networked printing and a photocopier. The school has specialist software: NVIVO for analysing interviews and documents; corpus tools for analysing large collections of authentic texts; multimedia editing (audio and video). A DVD library and an online archive of recorded television and radio (Bob National) are also available to students. Students can borrow digital audio recorders and video cameras.

The University offers more general training courses in study skills, and the Library’s Learning Development Centre provides one-to-one instruction, workshops and study guides for academic research and writing.

Other services: The University also provides a range of other services including:

f Health Centre

f The Hub – student support and advice zone

f Learning and Skills Centre

f Counselling Service

f Chaplaincy and on-site prayer room.

Library and information services A well-resourced library is critical to your studies and Aston’s Library service provides over 237,000 volumes and access to 14,708 electronic journals. It opens 86-150 hours a week including weekends during term time providing the accessibility required to fit with your study pattern.

Programme Support TeamOur main aim in the Programme Support team for Languages and Social Sciences (LSS) is to ensure that our students receive the best support possible throughout their time at Aston.

We are often the first point of contact for students if they have any issues, whether academic, pastoral or anything else that is concerning them.

We are happy to talk to students one-to-one, over the phone or via email – whatever works best for the individual. We also offer a number of services that we encourage students to benefit from, including the Personal Tutor System and the Student Staff Committee (SSC).

36 37

Lang

uag

es f

or

All

36

Languages for All w

ww

.ast

on.a

c.uk

/lss/

uwlp

/lang

uage

s-fo

r-al

l

Learn Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese or Spanish for free during your first year of study at Aston University. Languages are increasingly in demand from global businesses. Learning a new language can really develop your intercultural awareness and give you a head start in a global working environment.

Free language tuition is available to all eligible first year students* at beginners, intermediate or advanced level and our experienced language tutors will support you every step of the way.

*See our website for eligibility criteria.

Key benefits f Learn a new language or improve your existing

language skills

f Enhance your CV and increase your employability

f Excellent preparation for placements abroad

f Languages are increasingly in demand from global businesses

f Increase your intercultural awareness.

Choosing your language level f Beginners – modules are designed for those with

no knowledge of the language.

f Intermediate – you will need some prior knowledge of the language, usually a GCSE pass at grade C or above.

f Advanced – you will need a grade C or above in the same language at AS level, or an equivalent qualification.

It will be determined which level of study is appropriate for each student (beginners, intermediate or advanced) based on the information that you supply on your application form.

Classes take place during the standard university teaching day and are structured around undergraduate timetables. They are two-hour sessions usually held late in the afternoon or in the early evening. Assessment is by a short oral presentation and discussion, a 30-minute class listening test and a two hour examination. The exam includes grammar and vocabulary exercises, reading and written comprehension, and written composition. Feedback is given for learning purposes throughout the module in the form of informal, verbal comments on weekly activities; both formative and summative feedback are provided on the oral presentation; written feedback is also given as part of the marking process for the exam.

For more information contact:Languages for All Co-ordinator Tel: 0121 204 4290Email: [email protected]

www.aston.ac.uk/languagesforall

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/la

ngua

gesf

oral

l

Ap

ply

to

Ast

on

38

Applying to Aston

Co

me

and

see

us

39

Come and see us

When you apply Your UCAS form will be carefully considered by our Admissions Tutor. We treat each application to our courses individually and take a range of criteria into account when making offers, including:

f Evidence of commitment and motivation to studying the subject – the UCAS personal statement

f Predicted grades

f Past performance – e.g. GCSEs

f School/college reference

f Relevant experience

f Extenuating circumstances

f Interview performance (if required in a small number of cases).

University and programme codesThe UCAS code, ASTON A80, should be entered clearly on your application form. UCAS codes for degree programmes are listed throughout this prospectus and on the UCAS website.

Choice of university/collegeYou may apply to five institutions/ courses on the UCAS form, but are not obliged to use all five choices. You can enter your choices in any order.

When to applyFor entry in Autumn 2017 you can apply from mid-September 2016 but the last date for the receipt of applications, to qualify for full and equal treatment, is 15th January 2017. Although you should make every effort to let us have your application by 15th January 2017, we are still able to consider applications throughout the year.

Other qualifications For information on the suitability of other qualifications please contact the Admissions Office and we will be happy to assist.

Welsh, Scottish and Irish qualificationsAston regularly receives and welcomes application from Wales, Scotland and Ireland for all our degree programmes. Welsh applicants can include a pass in the Welsh Baccalaureate as oneof their A2 levels. Scottish applicants will normally be required to complete the Advanced Higher or equivalent qualification. As a guide, UCAS Tariff points required for A-Levels will normally equate to similar points from Scottish and Irish Highers. Please contact us if you would like any further guidance.

EU/International qualifications We welcome well-qualified applicants who hold European or International Qualifications. Prospective students are encouraged to contact our Admissions Office for detailed advice and guidance on the suitability regarding their qualifications.

Students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties We welcome applications from students with disabilities and aim to enable you to make the most of your time at the university, whether you have a medical condition, physical, sensory or hidden disability, mental health or specific learning difficulty. Your application will be considered solely on academic merit but it is helpful if we know in advance about any support needs you may have. We strongly advise

you to notify us of any disability or support needs via your UCAS form. A copy of your application will then be sent to the Disability Co-ordinator, who may ask you for additional information relating to disability issues only. We may invite you for an interview so you can see the campus and discuss arrangements in advance. A recommendation for your support requirements will then be made to the School. Please contact the Disability Co-ordinator for further advice or information: 0121 204 4711 or [email protected]

Deferred entry accepted At Aston University, we recognise the advantages that some students can gain from a ‘gap year’, and our Admissions Team will be happy to discuss deferred entry with you. If you do want to apply to Aston but defer entry, you should indicate this on your UCAS form. It is also recommended that you outline briefly on your personal statement your reason(s) for choosing deferred entry.

For further advice or information: Email: [email protected]: +44 (0) 121 204 3777

Open days before you apply We hold three major open days each year in June, September and October for applicants to visit us before they apply. Details are available at: www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/opendays

Open days after you applyIf you apply to us on your UCAS form and we make you an offer of a place to study with us (an ‘Unconditional Offer’ or a ‘Conditional Offer’), you will be personally invited to one of our English Language open days. These events provide lots of opportunities to ask questions and meet staff and students. You will also be able to go on a campus and accommodation tour and to look around the department (including our e-learning centre and Cadbury room). We also have a placements Question and Answer Panel where our current students who have just returned from placement tell you all about their fantastic placements experiences!

Independent campus tours If you are unable to attend one of our scheduled open days and would like to look around the department independently please contact us to arrange a visit. Detailed maps and directions can be found at:www.aston.ac.uk/about/directions. Contact us School of Languages and Social SciencesAston UniversityAston TriangleBirminghamB4 7ET UK

Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 121 204 3777

Terms and conditions

The information contained in this prospectus is relevant for applications to postgraduate programmes in the academic session September 2017 - June 2018 and is supplemental to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment which will form part of any offer made by the University. The Terms and Conditions of Enrolment are available on request. The information in this prospectus is correct at the time of going to press (July 2016). All students who accept at place at Aston University will be required to abide by, and to submit to Aston University’s policies, rules and regulations. A copy of the policies, rules and regulations is available on request from the Registry. [The policies, rules and regulations that apply to a student throughout his or her time at the University are the policies, rules and regulations in place at the time the student accepts his or her place.] Where placements form part of a programme of study, the University makes every effort to help its students find suitable placement opportunities. However, as the availability, duration, nature and content of placements are outside the University’s control, we cannot guarantee that suitable placements will always be available. The University does not warrant or guarantee that its position in any league table, survey or poll will be maintained throughout a student’s course, enrolment on any particular programme will automatically result in graduation and/or that a student successfully completing a course will receive any offer of employment.

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

ww

w.a

ston

.ac.

uk/ls

s

School of Languages and Social Sciences Room MB777, Main Building Aston University Aston Triangle Birmingham B4 7ET UK

E-mail [email protected] Tel +44 (0) 121 204 3777 www.aston.ac.uk/lss

Cop

yrig

ht ©

201

6 A

ston

Uni

vers

ity. A

ll rig

hts

rese

rved

.

/AstonLSS

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES50prospectus.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/... · f 26 Business Management and English Language BSc f 28 French/German/Spanish and English Language BSc ...

Documents