Why Languages Matter, 2022
Virtual Modern Languages and Linguistics Sixth Form Conference
Welcome to Outreach in Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of Southampton.
A key focus of our outreach agenda is the delivery of the Year 7 South East Regional Foreign Languages Spelling Bee, an Able Linguist Day for year 8 students, a Study Day for year 10 students and a sixth form conference for year 12 and 13 students.
Modern Languages and Linguistics at Southampton is offering secondary school outreach on-campus and off-campus activities in order to promote our enthusiasm for our area and to inspire young people to take up and to continue studying Modern Languages of all Key Stages in primary and secondary.
Follow us on Twitter for further updates. These events will draw on the research excellence of the department's world-leading academics and provide an insight into studying languages at university level.
Our outreach events
Year 8 Able Linguist Day
The year 8 Able Linguists day provides pupils, selected by their school from the most able pupils, with a chance to further develop their language skills.
In the morning, there is an intensive mini-project in French, German or Spanish, led by our university's trainee language teachers.
In the afternoon, pupils can try a new language by attending a taster in a new language such as Portuguese, Chinese or Italian, hence developing awareness and raising interest in expanding their love for learning languages.
Testimonials
“I just wanted to thank you all on behalf of all of the students from Bitterne Park School who attended your events over the last couple of days, they really were inspired and so was I!” Bitterne Park School
“I just wanted to say how inspired Mia and Shannon are after their trip to University yesterday! They are raving about it so thanks for running this!” Bitterne Park School
“I just wanted to say thank you for yesterday. My students really enjoyed it and Italian was very popular. In fact, I felt like going back to do another language!” Westgate School
"Thank you for organising the two day event for Able Linguists. My pupils enjoyed themselves and it has inspired them too." Mayfield School
Year 10 Modern Languages and Linguistics Study Day
The Year 10 MLL Study Day starts with a workshop session exploring cultural topics in French, German or Spanish, in which pupils are able to practice grammar and vocabulary, as well as learn more about specific country topics.
In the afternoon, pupils have the chance to attend an ab initio session in either Chinese, Portuguese or Italian, hence developing awareness and raising interest in expanding their love for learning languages.
Sixth Form Modern Languages and Linguistics Conference
The University of Southampton hosts a Modern Languages and Linguistics conference exclusively for 6th form students (Yeasr 12 and 13). 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 are 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 give students an insight into the broad array of subject areas which are taught in Modern Languages and Linguistics here at the University of Southampton.
The conference welcomes back a number of 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 is also a student Q&A panel, where students ask our current degree students about their experiences of studying languages at university, and find out first-hand about the exciting year abroad opportunities that are an essential part of degree-level language study.
Day of the Dead
Our El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration has become a highlight of our calendar.
Día de Muertos is an important event with Catholic and Aztec roots. It takes place on 1st and 2nd November, and is celebrated by Mexicans, in Mexico, the USA, the UK and across the world.
The event comprises beautiful rituals that honour the lives of many departed ancestors with happiness and love. Families remember their dead and place altars in their homes. They decorate tombs and attend huge street events, too.
Every year, we invite about 100 secondary school children and staff to our campus for Day of the Dead. There's an engaging lecture about the festivity followed by a fun quiz. We also build an altar to demonstrate the meaning behind each component.
If you want to get involved, you can find out more on our Day of the Dead page.
Latest events
Day of the Dead
Read more about El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Able Linguist Days for Year 8 Students
Events for year 8 students to develop languages skills
Study Days for Year 10 Students
Events for year 10 students thinking about studying a languages degree at university in the future
Routes into Languages
The University of Southampton is a member of the Routes into Languages South East consortium.
Day of the Dead Video Competition
The Mexican Embassy in the UK and co-collaborator Dr Jane Lavery invite school children across England to participate in the National Schools Mexican Day of the Dead Altar Video Competition.
Other activities
We organise a range of other exciting activities including:
- Hosting the South East Regional Final of the Routes into Languages Foreign Language Spelling Bee in April 2019 and 2022
- Hosting online the National Regional Final Awards Routes into Languages Foreign Language Spelling Bee in partnership with the Mexican Embassy to the UK 2022
- The creation of bespoke activities for primary and secondary schools which can be beneficial to schools in terms of the development of a strong Modern Languages profile. Click here to read a report from George, our Final Year Student in BA Spanish, who visited Hurst Community College on 22nd January 2018.
- The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme (UAS) is a module awarding academic credit to students who are working with teachers in schools and colleges. The students work as teaching assistants and act as positive role-models for the pupils in local schools. This successful programme for Science and Maths students has now been extended to students of Geography, Modern Languages and Social Sciences.
- Off-campus Modern Languages Days: events held at primary and secondary schools dedicated to a celebration of Modern Languages. These events are co-run by school staff and Southampton University staff and students from the Modern Languages and Linguistics department. Events could include cooking, introductory language sessions, sports in the language, singing events and more.
- Fostering new or existing links with schools by inviting Modern Languages and Linguistics staff and students to participate in talks to Modern Languages students at schools. Our students are available to visit schools to give targeted presentations about studying courses in Modern Languages and Linguistics as well as year abroad experiences.
Contact us for further enquiries .
Contacts
Dr Jane Lavery ,
Modern Languages and Linguistics Outreach Officer and Co-Lead Routes into Languages South
Visit our main Modern Languages and Linguistics pages to explore undergraduate and postgraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics degree provision.
Details of outreach events for schools are listed in the events section of the this website.
Outreach event archive
