The School of Languages, University of Salford, Greater Manchester.

Web: www.languages.salford.ac.uk
E-mail: enquiries-languages@salford.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 161 295 5990

The School of Languages is a cosmopolitan and friendly department. It is located on the University’s green Peel Park Campus, less than 20 minutes’ walk from the centre of Manchester and close to Salford Crescent station. The School brings together lecturers with expertise in modern foreign languages, linguistics, translating and interpreting, European Studies and English as a Foreign Language teaching and research. It teaches nine modern foreign languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English as a Foreign Language), with programmes covering all levels, from beginners to Masters. It also offers probably the widest range of English as a Foreign Language teaching in the North West of England including pre-sessional English classes and an International Foundation year for international students.

High regional, national and international standing
Our high national profile in modern foreign language provision is reflected in the 2006 Guardian League Tables which place the School of Languages first in the north-west of England for Modern Languages and among the top twenty modern languages departments nationwide. In the last teaching assessment carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the department was commended for its “generally high quality of teaching, which is helped by careful planning and enthusiastic delivery”. All the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language is accredited by the British Council.

The School is nationally and internationally-recognised for its research expertise. In the last national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2001) the School of Languages researchers were all members of the European Studies Research Institute, which was awarded the top rating (5 out of 5). The School’s research expertise helps to ensure that its programmes are leading the field.

State-of-the-art facilities for teaching and learning
The School has some of the best facilities for teaching and learning in the North of England housed in its Language Resource Centre. The Centre opened in 2001 following a £1,000,000 investment and offers a high speed network environment giving access to advanced software packages used by students and staff for a whole range of purposes including language learning, oral summarising, interpreting and translation. It also has a Conference Interpreting Suite, used for the training of interpreters, built to the specifications of the International professional Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC). The Centre also offers study areas and multi-media facilities enabling students to work independently in the most conducive environment.

About our programmes:
The School has gained a national and international reputation for its innovative applied approach to language teaching and learning, which underpins all its curricula, and in particular for its professionally-focused programmes including translating, interpreting/translating and teaching English as a foreign language.

Undergraduate programmes
We offer four-year non-literary based programmes, linking teaching of high-level written and oral communication skills, as far as possible delivered in the foreign language, with knowledge about the history and society whose language is being studied, and a period of international placement during which no fees are paid to the University: many students on our programmes go into work placements for part or all of this period, which helps to enhance their employability.

The real-world focus of our programmes helps to produce graduates who are particularly employable: our graduate employment figures in 2004 were 88.5%.  Our graduates are employed around the world with a wide range of employers such as the BBC, the British Council, Citibank, Esso Europe, Europe assistance, Exel plc, IBM, Interlingua, Roevin Translation Services.

Liz Athey, Translation Operations Manager for Roevin Translation Services says of our graduates:

Roevin was aware of the University of Salford’s excellent reputation in language teaching…In employing a Salford graduate we are not only looking for outstanding language skills but also a positive attitude, a flexible approach, excellent communication and organisational skills and good IT knowledge.

The School offers a wide range of one, two and three language programmes, enabling students to combine one more modern foreign language (including English as a Foreign Language for non-native speakers of English) with business/marketing, European studies, management, media, linguistics and translation and interpreting.  In 2007 new programmes will be launched with TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages). Most languages can be studied as a beginners language or post A level.

Postgraduate Programmes
The School's has a thriving community of students following its postgraduate taught programmes. The School offers postgraduate programmes in translation and interpreting, including Chinese translating and interpreting, and translating for international business. In addition the School runs a successful Masters programme in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and a MA in Applied Linguistics.

Visiting the School of Languages
It’s easy to visit the School of Languages, just sign up for an Open Day at www.salford.ac.uk/visit

Alternatively, you are welcome to visit outside of these times. Just phone 0161 295 5990 to make an appointment.