Modern Languages and Linguistics 6th Form Conference: Why Languages Matter Event

Time:: 09:30 - 15:00
Date:: 17 January 2018
Venue:: Avenue Campus University of Southampton SO17 1BF

For more information regarding this event, please telephone Erin Forward on 02380593458 or email MLOutreach@soton.ac.uk .

Event details

In January 2018, the University of Southampton hosted its first Modern Languages and Linguistics conference exclusively for 6th form students. Focusing on the broad topic of 'Why Languages Matter', the event seeks to encourage 6th Form students to continue studying languages at university and inspire them with the huge range of employment opportunities that a languages degree can open up to them.

There were taster lectures and hands-on seminars led by experts on translation, interpreting, linguistics, socio-historical studies, and cultural topics drawn from our lecturers’ widely published research from the French, German and Spanish speaking worlds. These sessions gave students an insight into the broad array of subject areas which are taught in Modern Languages and Linguistics here at the University of Southampton. We were also delighted to welcome back a number of our own graduates of Modern Languages and Linguistics as guest speakers to discuss how their degree has been invaluable in securing graduate employment and how they are using the various languages they studied in their careers today.

There was also a student Q&A panel, where students asked our current degree students about their experiences of studying languages at university, and found out first-hand about the exciting year abroad opportunities that are an essential part of degree-level language study.

Useful Downloads

Conference programme

Many thanks for organising the Why Study Languages event. Our students thoroughly enjoyed it and they really felt inspired by the talks.

I just wanted to thank you again for the brilliant Sixth Form Languages conference today – my pupils loved it and thought it was so informative!

Thank you for arranging an excellent day. Firstly, Dr Jane Lavery was a vivacious and informative host. Darren, Flo, Amanda, Vicky and Patricia all informed and inspired our students from their various perspectives, as did the fourth year students. Tony's excellent lecture touched upon the impact of tourism in Spain, a current Year 12 topic in the Pearson A Level, and Patrick's revelations about the impact of multilingualism highlighted a phenomenon which our young people will either use to their advantage or ignore at their peril.

I enjoyed hearing about what graduates had gone on to do and the Year Abroad.

The event has allowed me to consider languages as a degree without worrying about what future careers it may lead to.