19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Supporting the Italian Studies Curriculum: The Holistic Approach of

Manchester

Caroline FosterCharlie Pybus

Dr. Elena Polisca

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Overview

• Introduction to talk (EP)• Lesser taught languages at UM (CP)• Italian numbers / recruitment issues (CP)• The Italian Studies curriculum: between tradition and

innovation (EP)• Italian Studies lingua-cultural projects within discipline

and outside discipline (EP)• Italian Studies language projects within the community

(CF)• The student experience: student survey data &

conclusion (EP)• Bibliography & contact details

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Lesser-taught languages at UM

• Large portfolio of language provision• Importance of languages in creating a

vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere at the University

• Mixed success with recruitment to lesser-taught languages

• Reflect different perceptions of employability for different languages

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Italian numbers / recruitment issues

• Low number of applications for Italian

• Concentration of applicants in the South-East

• Some success in improving conversion from offer to accept for Italian

• Lack of Italian provision at secondary/FE level and problems with uneven nature of provision

• Particular difficulty in recruiting A-level Italian students

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Italian Studies: between tradition and innovation

• Cater for a varied cohort of students (complete beginners, false beginners, post-A level qualifications)

• Most students reach near-native competence when they graduate (C1 / C2 of Common European Framework for Languages)

• Variety of ‘content’ courses on offer ranging from Medieval literature to Post-Modernism

• Link between language and culture• Importance of student experience“Community language learners are, typically, committed

and highly competent linguists” (Routes report, 2008)

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Lingua-cultural projects within Discipline…

• MentorIT • CAMILLE • e-learning• V-Pal• EBL • e-books

… and projects outside of Discipline• Palaver • PLIDA, Dante Alighieri Society in Manchester

“To achieve high levels of competence […] there is a pressing need to review formal opportunities to study community languages in all educational sectors” (Routes report, 2008)

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

MentorIT: Peer Mentoring Scheme

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

CAMILLE: Cultural Awareness Modules to Improve the Language Learning Experience

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

CAMILLE: the opera

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Lingua-cultural projects within Discipline… (continued)

• e-learning across curriculum: language and content courses• V-Pal: an innovative language project Manchester /

Cagliari• e-books and Medieval literature: engaging the

students with ‘real books’• EBL approach: making students responsible for

their own learning… and projects outside of Discipline• Palaver: students of Italian at work and play!• PLIDA, Dante Alighieri Society in Manchester

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Language projects within Community

• FLAGS – 5 week taster course in lesser taught languages and Linguistics, run via Blackboard (VLE) with the guidance of a mentor

• MentorE – new project which uses our Italian finalists as mentors to supplement AS and A2 level Italian pupils at Greenhead College, Huddersfield

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

FLAGS: Foreign Language Awareness Group for Schools

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

FLAGS

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

MentorE

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

The student experience: facts and figures

The holistic approach of Italian Studies at Manchester is proving to be successful in terms of student satisfaction:

Overall satisfaction

Personal development

Learning resources

Organisation and management

Academic support

Assessment and feedback

The teaching of my course

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

UoM 2009Sector 2009

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Conclusions

• Continuous curriculum review to achieve high levels of competence for our students

• Enhanced student experience

• Importance of language / culture integration

• Wide range of courses

• Active outreach agenda: Italian Studies and the language community

• Improved recruitment rate; successful retainers

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

BibliographyCILT, 2007. Languages in Secondary Schools. Language Trends. London.

Conole, G. & M. Oliver (2007). Contemporary Perspectives in E-Learning Research. Themes, Methods and Impact on Practice. London: Routledge.

Crawshaw, R. (2005). “Intercultural Awareness as a Component of HE Modern Language Courses in the UK” [online]. In Guide to Good Practice for Learning and Teaching in Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies. Available from http://www.lang.ltsn.ac.uk/resources/goodpractice.aspx?resourceid=2303 [Accessed 16/11/2009].

Fay, M. AND Ferney, D., 2000. Current Trends in Modern Languages Provision for Non-Specialist Linguists. London: CILT.

Head, D., Kelly, M., Jones, E., AND Tinsley, T., eds, 2003. Setting the agenda for languages in Higher Education. London: CILT.

Kelly, M., 2002. State of the Subjects: Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies in the UK Today [online]. Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies. Available from http://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/goodpractice.aspx?resourceid=1242 [Accessed 16/11/2009].

Marshall, K., 2003. General Introduction to Modern Languages in Today's UK Universities [online]. Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies. Available from http://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/goodpractice.aspx?resourceid=1392 [Accessed 16/11/2009].

Routes into Languages, 2008. Community Languages in Higher Education. Research analysis and recommendation on language provision in education [online]. Available from http://www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk/community [accessed 15/09/2009]

19 November 2009 Community and Lesser Taught Languages Conference

Contact details

• Caroline Foster (SLLC Outreach officer)

Caroline.foster@manchester.ac.uk

• Charlie Pybus (SLLC Undergraduate Admissions manager)

Charlie.pybus@manchester.ac.uk

• Elena Polisca (Italian Studies, Senior language tutor)

Elena.polisca@manchester.ac.uk