Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish) with International Experience

Would you love to develop your understanding of the cultures and values of different countries and become a highly proficient linguist in the process? Taught by world-leading researchers, our flexible and exciting BA Modern Languages opens a window onto other cultures. This degree gives you the opportunity to specialise in one or two modern languages - French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish - and to study the literature, history, film, thought and visual culture associated with each language.

If you study one language you will graduate with:

• BA French Studies

• BA German Studies, or

• BA Spanish and Latin American Studies

Please note that Italian and Japanese can currently only be taken with another language.

If you take two languages, you will graduate with, for example, BA French and Spanish.

Why choose this course?

• The study of languages allows you to better understand other people and cultures.

• The development of advanced communication skills and intercultural awareness is a key employability skill.

• If you are interested in comparative literature and culture, you will find plenty of opportunities to develop this interest alongside modules which focus on specific languages.

• We also an International Experience pathway which gives you the chance to spend a year abroad studying at a partner university in France, Germany, Italy, Japan or Spain.

What you will learn

You will gain a high level of proficiency in your language(s) and develop your cultural understanding through modules exploring literature, film, popular culture, history, visual art and linguistics. In addition, we offer a number of cross-cultural modules.

How you will learn

Teaching takes place in small-group seminars giving you plenty of opportunities to participate actively and interact with your peers and our experienced tutors, who are all experts in their fields. Language teaching is delivered in the target language, allowing you full immersion in your chosen linguistic area.

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening, though this may differ during your year abroad if you choose the International Experience route.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

Highlights

• Ours is a community of scholars with shared interests in interdisciplinary topics and cross-cultural research.

• We are surrounded by cultural institutes such as the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (at Senate House), the Goethe Institute, Institut Français, Instituto Cervantes, and Japan House London.

• We also offer combined language courses in which you can study another subject along with a language and its culture, e.g. art history, English, law, linguistics, journalism, politics and digital media.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from our BA Modern Languages, you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:

• a sophisticated use of written and spoken English

• a high or near-native competence in one or two foreign languages

• a heightened awareness of how to interact with people from foreign countries linguistically and culturally

• increased confidence to present complex issues

• the ability to analyse critically literary texts, films, visual art and cultural artefacts.

Studying this course will prepare you for career paths in fields such as:

• teaching languages

• banking and finance

• publishing

• journalism

• the Civil Service

• translation

• diplomacy

• international relations

• the cultural sector

• further study and research.

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Essays and written and oral examinations.