BA Languages and Cultures (including year abroad) (Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia)
Key information
- Location
- On Campus
- Course code
- T544
Structure
Year 1 - Compulsory - Non-Language
This module introduces students to key topics in global linguistic diversity, enabling students to put into a global context the language, region or culture that their degree programme focuses on.
This module provides a critical introduction to the film and screen cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Approaching film in terms of cultural identity and self-expression, this module will place screened films within a general framework of national tradition and identity and provide a platform for students to reflect on the unity and diversity of the human condition across different regions. A selection of 21st century films will be explored within their cultural, social and political context of production, exhibition and reception, and students will be guided to reflect on different functions of cinema.
This module will explore genres such as the oral epic, the graphic novel, puppet theatre, and internet literature with particular attention to the ways that texts interact with other forms of expression from music and dance to the visual arts. Each of the stories studied will be presented in its cultural context, and connections between cultures will be interrogated in an effort to solidify conceptions of the universal and the local.
This module supports students with their transition to Higher Education. It delves into the study of Humanities, with a focus on questions concerning the colonial genealogy of Humanities and the ways of decolonising Humanities, and skills acquired in the various disciplines in the college. Students learn to identify and describe the skills they acquire in this module and during their studies in the Humanities. Students are introduced to research, reading, listening, writing, performance and communication skills through multiple disciplinary lenses, addressing the planetary questions of this age. They compare different disciplinary approaches and are encouraged to reflect on interdisciplinary approaches to studying the Humanities, grounded in different regions. This enables students to make more informed decisions in the designing of their individual educational journey. Students practice their skills and reflect on their skills through real-world projects, drawing on critical content from all disciplines in the College of Humanities at SOAS.
Year 1 - Compulsory - Language
30 credits from list of Languages
The primary objectives of the course are: to give students a basic understanding of the linguistics of the Arabic dialects, and of the theory and practice of Arabic dialectology; to give them a solid foundation for future in-depth study of Egyptian and/or Levantine Arabic; and to give them the tools to enable them to independently acquire communicative competence in other Arabic dialects they might encounter in the course of their studies and beyond.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the lower-intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the lower-intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the Language A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the Language A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is an introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts, and communicate on simple everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the language 1A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
This module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts, and communicate on simple everyday topics.
This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics.
The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This module develops knowledge of several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts and communicate on simple everyday topics.
Persian 1 B
Hebrew.
Hebrew 1 B
Bengali Language 1
Bengali Language 1 B
Hindi Language.
The module covers all the major tenses and significant grammatical constructions of the language, enabling successful students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Urdu Language.
Urdu Language.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the the language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing,and comprehension. Successful students will gain the ability to read simple original texts and to write short simple sentences.
Sanskrit Language 1 B
Indonesian Language.
This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics.
Vietnamese Language.
Vietnamese Language.
Burmese Language 1 A
Burmese Language 1 B
The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Thai Language.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Arabic 1 B
The course provides students with intermediate knowledge of Turkish and practice of using Turkish in a variety of everyday and more specialised situations, including the understanding and expression of opinions and different points of view. Texts for study are selected from newspapers and magazines, scholarly articles and literary works (short stories and excerpts from novels).
The course provides teaching and learning of intermediate level Turkish language with emphasis on practical written and spoken Turkish. The course covers complex points of word and sentence structure as well as textual relations in Turkish writing and discourse.
The module provides for the teaching and learning of upper-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical as well as nuanced written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including conditional sentences, as well as more use of abstract or technical terminology in Persian writing and discourse. By the end of this module students should be able to relate detailed experiences, as well as discuss and understand concrete and abstract topics, in both spoken and written language with ease and confidence.
The course provides for the teaching and learning of lower-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including relative clauses, as well as more focused use of idiomatic structures in Persian writing and discourse. By the end of this module students should be able to describe experiences, events, plans, hopes and concerns in both spoken and written language with ease and confidence.
Arabic 5 A
This module aims to utilize students' knowledge of syntax to develop their ability in comprehension and grammatical analysis as well as composition and translation into Arabic. The module is based on the reading and discussion of three types of written language: various literary texts, Arabic journalism and selected texts for translation. The module also caters for the oral aspect of language learning.
This is a high advanced language acquisition course.
This is a high advanced language acquisition course.
This is a lower advanced language acquisition course that will reinforce competence in grammar and syntax, widen active vocabulary, and simultaneously develop listening and speaking skills.
This is a lower advanced language acquisition course that will reinforce competence in grammar and syntax, widen active vocabulary, and simultaneously develop listening and speaking skills. Letter writing skills will be introduced. Oral competence is developed in conversation classes and by using audio-video material.
This module is a continuation of Arabic 1 B. It completes the coverage of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic at an intermediate level and trains students in reading, comprehending and writing with the help of a dictionary more complex Arabic sentences and passages.
This module is a continuation of Arabic 2 A. It completes the coverage of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic at an intermediate level and trains students in reading, comprehending and writing with the help of a dictionary more complex Arabic sentences and passages.
This is an intermediate language acquisition module, and builds on knowledge acquired in Arabic 1A, Arabic 1B, Arabic 2A, and Arabic 2B. Students study authentic Arabic texts of various writing genres and gain further knowledge of grammar (syntax and structure). The module develops students' competence equally in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
This is an upper intermediate language acquisition module that builds on Arabic 3A, providing students with a firmer foundation in Arabic grammar, and training them in the active use of the language through writing exercises that draw on and reinforce a number of skills including knowledge of grammar, syntax, phraseology and general and specialised terminology. Writing skills will also be further built through targeted translation exercises. The module also includes an oral component where students are trained in speaking the colloquial register of the language
This module offers training in practical translation from and into Swahili. Students will acquire advanced skills in translation by familiarising them with the process, techniques and strategies of translating. Students will be able to develop their abilities to a high level of proficiency while acquiring valuable practical experience in translation.
This module combines an intermediate-advanced approach to Arabic dialectology with instruction in two different Arabic dialects at an intermediate level. It is specifically intended to prepare students for a period of study in an Arabic-speaking country. Each week students have a one-hour lecture on the Arabic dialects from a theoretical point of view, a one-hour lesson focusing on listening comprehension, and two hours of tuition in Arabic conversation. Where teaching capacity allows, students will have the opportunity to choose which of two widely spoken Arabic dialects (typically Egyptian and Levantine) they wish to focus on in the conversation classes. The primary objectives of the module are: to give students an in-depth understanding of the linguistics of the Arabic dialects, and of the theory and practice of Arabic dialectology; to bring them to an intermediate level in the dialect they choose to focus on; and to give them the tools to enable them to independently acquire communicative competence in other Arabic dialects they might encounter in the course of their studies and beyond.
This is an intermediate language acquisition module that complements Arabic 3 A and B, and/or Arabic 4 A and B, by familiarising students with pre-modern genres and styles of Arabic writing through reading authentic classical Arabic biography, history and travel. Course readings and discussions are guided by, but not exhaustive of, or exclusive to, the following major themes:
1. Excerpts from Arabic biography Sira, ?adith and biographical literature.
2. Classical Arabic travel writing, including geographical exploration, pilgrimage, the journey in search of knowledge, and adventures at sea and in the desert. Classical Arabic accounts of cities, regions, holy sites and scholarly networks and assemblies.
3. Universal histories and regional histories.
The module provides for the teaching and learning of upper-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical as well as nuanced written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including conditional sentences, as well as more use of abstract or technical terminology in Persian writing and discourse.
The module will be focused on the teaching and learning of Persian language at lower-advanced level with emphasis on practically competent aural and oral skills, as well as nuanced writing ability and dexterity in reading comprehension.
The course will explore complex grammar of formal modern Persian alongside vernacular use of the language through practicing and performing a variety of tasks such as translations of intricate texts, composition and gathering of information from a wide range of material and demonstrating confident spoken interaction and production.
This course introduces students to the academic study of the core language of Zoroastrian religion and philosophies. It will enable them to assess primary sources critically and assess views voiced in the secondary literature.
This module is concerned with Avestan, the language of the earliest Zoroastrian texts. Building on Avestan 1, it is designed to provide students with a clear understanding of the basic principles of the Avestan language in a way that enables them to translate simple Avestan texts and to analyse their grammar. Students who complete the course successfully will be able to handle simple primary sources of the Zoroastrian religion in the original Avestan and to assess critically translations made by various scholars.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts and communicate on simple everyday topics.
Year 1 - Guided options - List A
This module is designed to enhance students' understanding of cross-cultural representation in film and animation. The module focuses on contrasting the perspectives of filmmakers from the Global North and South. This approach provides an in-depth look at how these different viewpoints shape portrayals of the Global South.
In this module, students will begin their studies of the areas of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The module will use the city-spaces and urban life of London to begin to engage with cultures from these regions as they are transported and transformed as they find roots in this post-imperial centre.
This module takes the specific topics of health, well-being, embodiment, resilience, human relations to the environment and questions of climate change and views and analyses them through the lens of culture studies. The module is team taught by lectures with expertise in language-based cultural studies with reference to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, whose research and teaching incorporates a focus on areas of health and well-being such as HIV-AIDS, cancer, Covid-19, public health discourses and their relation to difference cultural perspectives on embodiment. The module interweaves these concerns into the study of the need for human resilience in response to current global crises, first and foremost among which are questions of environmental destruction and climate change. The module concludes with an emphasis on the need for cross-cultural communication and intercultural understanding for global collaboration to find effective solutions to the problems of our times.
This module will examine a range of genres and forms, and aims to provide students with an insight into motif and interpretation of love and loss by looking at specific selection of texts in English translation (in poetry and prose) by different authors from across the regions of Africa, the Middle East, South and South East Asia, from the ancient times to the present day.
This module offers further instruction in core areas of articulatory phonetics and theoretical phonology, building on the initial treatment of these topics in the first-year module ‘Sound, grammar and meaning in language’. This includes an understanding of the International Phonetic Alphabet, articulatory parameters for vowels and consonants, phonemes vs. allophones, phonological processes, universal and typological processes, sound change, subsegmental representations, suprasegmental representations (tone, syllables and stress).
Year 2 - Compulsory
This module will examine the relationship between cities and film cultures in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and beyond. In addition to examining the city from a film studies perspective, the module will also draw on key ideas from geography, urban studies and cultural studies.
Year 2 - Guided option
15 credits guided option OR choose from Languages
This module takes the specific topics of health, well-being, embodiment, resilience, human relations to the environment and questions of climate change and views and analyses them through the lens of culture studies. The module is team taught by lectures with expertise in language-based cultural studies with reference to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, whose research and teaching incorporates a focus on areas of health and well-being such as HIV-AIDS, cancer, Covid-19, public health discourses and their relation to difference cultural perspectives on embodiment. The module interweaves these concerns into the study of the need for human resilience in response to current global crises, first and foremost among which are questions of environmental destruction and climate change. The module concludes with an emphasis on the need for cross-cultural communication and intercultural understanding for global collaboration to find effective solutions to the problems of our times.
Year 2 - Guided options - List B Regional List
15-45 credits from Regional List B. Students are encouraged to consider Literatures of Love, Loss and Desire.
The module is designed to provide students with a good general introduction to the work of critics and writers who are either from Africa or of African-descent and who examine the historical legacy of Africa and its Diaspora by engaging with such important themes as self-representation and cultural identity. While helping students come to an understanding of how the African experience has been examined and engaged with in terms of the historical vicissitudes of the people of the continent and its Diaspora, the module also aims at helping and encouraging them to develop critical and analytical skills that move away from dominant Eurocentric and Western perspectives.
This is an introductory course to Arabic Culture with focus on the Modern Arab Middle East. On completion of this course, students will have gained basic knowledge of (1) theories and methods of studying culture and (2) history of development of Arabic culture as well as the major cultural institutions in the contemporary Arab World.
This course offers a transdisciplinary look at contemporary cultural products and cultural modes of production in South and South East Asia. Combining the theoretical framework of British Cultural Studies (Hoggart, Hall, During) with the post-colonial discourses that have underpinned the study of culture in South and South East Asia, the course will explore how particular cultural practices in both regions relate to wider systems of power as embodied in belief systems, ethnicities, caste, national and transnational politics, language, and gender. Working from non-essentialist views of culture as constantly changing sets of practices and processes, the course will seek to introduce the students to reading/readings of cultural texts and use these exercises as engaged approaches to a critical understanding of the cultures of both regions, as well as the continuities and discontinuities between them.
This course will discuss the many different ways in which Jews have expressed their ethnic, cultural, and religious identity historically from antiquity to modern times. Jewish identity formation and expression needs to be explored within the context of the respective historical, political, social, and economic circumstances in which Jews lived. For the respective time periods under discussion here, the various forms of acculturation and assimilation to surrounding societies and cultures will be examined. Even the more traditional religiously defined forms of Judaism functioned within and in reaction to the non-Jewish cultures Jews had contact with. We shall analyse the significance of ethnicity, nationalism, culture and religion in the definitions of Jewishness and trace developments in the expression of Jewish identity. Our approach is primarily historical and sociological. For some subject areas literary criticism and gender studies approaches will be employed.
This module discusses the formation, administration and culture of empires in the Near and Middle East and their interaction with each other from the earliest known civilisations to 651 CE. This period covers the empires of the Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Elamites as well as the succession of Iranian empires. Topics that will be covered in greater detail include the culture of writing, oral traditions, royal propaganda, state structures and administration, and multiculturalism.
Year 2 - Guided options - Language
You may choose up to 30 credits from the list of languages.
The primary objectives of the course are: to give students a basic understanding of the linguistics of the Arabic dialects, and of the theory and practice of Arabic dialectology; to give them a solid foundation for future in-depth study of Egyptian and/or Levantine Arabic; and to give them the tools to enable them to independently acquire communicative competence in other Arabic dialects they might encounter in the course of their studies and beyond.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the lower-intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the lower-intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the Language A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the Language A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is an introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts, and communicate on simple everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the language 1A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
This module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts, and communicate on simple everyday topics.
This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics.
The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This module develops knowledge of several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts and communicate on simple everyday topics.
Persian 1 B
Hebrew.
Hebrew 1 B
Bengali Language 1
Bengali Language 1 B
Hindi Language.
The module covers all the major tenses and significant grammatical constructions of the language, enabling successful students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Urdu Language.
Urdu Language.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the the language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing,and comprehension. Successful students will gain the ability to read simple original texts and to write short simple sentences.
Sanskrit Language 1 B
Indonesian Language.
This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics.
Vietnamese Language.
Vietnamese Language.
Burmese Language 1 A
Burmese Language 1 B
The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Thai Language.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Arabic 1 B
The course provides students with intermediate knowledge of Turkish and practice of using Turkish in a variety of everyday and more specialised situations, including the understanding and expression of opinions and different points of view. Texts for study are selected from newspapers and magazines, scholarly articles and literary works (short stories and excerpts from novels).
The course provides teaching and learning of intermediate level Turkish language with emphasis on practical written and spoken Turkish. The course covers complex points of word and sentence structure as well as textual relations in Turkish writing and discourse.
The module provides for the teaching and learning of upper-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical as well as nuanced written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including conditional sentences, as well as more use of abstract or technical terminology in Persian writing and discourse. By the end of this module students should be able to relate detailed experiences, as well as discuss and understand concrete and abstract topics, in both spoken and written language with ease and confidence.
The course provides for the teaching and learning of lower-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including relative clauses, as well as more focused use of idiomatic structures in Persian writing and discourse. By the end of this module students should be able to describe experiences, events, plans, hopes and concerns in both spoken and written language with ease and confidence.
Arabic 5 A
This module aims to utilize students' knowledge of syntax to develop their ability in comprehension and grammatical analysis as well as composition and translation into Arabic. The module is based on the reading and discussion of three types of written language: various literary texts, Arabic journalism and selected texts for translation. The module also caters for the oral aspect of language learning.
This is a high advanced language acquisition course.
This is a high advanced language acquisition course.
This is a lower advanced language acquisition course that will reinforce competence in grammar and syntax, widen active vocabulary, and simultaneously develop listening and speaking skills.
This is a lower advanced language acquisition course that will reinforce competence in grammar and syntax, widen active vocabulary, and simultaneously develop listening and speaking skills. Letter writing skills will be introduced. Oral competence is developed in conversation classes and by using audio-video material.
This module is a continuation of Arabic 1 B. It completes the coverage of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic at an intermediate level and trains students in reading, comprehending and writing with the help of a dictionary more complex Arabic sentences and passages.
This module is a continuation of Arabic 2 A. It completes the coverage of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic at an intermediate level and trains students in reading, comprehending and writing with the help of a dictionary more complex Arabic sentences and passages.
This is an intermediate language acquisition module, and builds on knowledge acquired in Arabic 1A, Arabic 1B, Arabic 2A, and Arabic 2B. Students study authentic Arabic texts of various writing genres and gain further knowledge of grammar (syntax and structure). The module develops students' competence equally in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
This is an upper intermediate language acquisition module that builds on Arabic 3A, providing students with a firmer foundation in Arabic grammar, and training them in the active use of the language through writing exercises that draw on and reinforce a number of skills including knowledge of grammar, syntax, phraseology and general and specialised terminology. Writing skills will also be further built through targeted translation exercises. The module also includes an oral component where students are trained in speaking the colloquial register of the language
This module offers training in practical translation from and into Swahili. Students will acquire advanced skills in translation by familiarising them with the process, techniques and strategies of translating. Students will be able to develop their abilities to a high level of proficiency while acquiring valuable practical experience in translation.
This module combines an intermediate-advanced approach to Arabic dialectology with instruction in two different Arabic dialects at an intermediate level. It is specifically intended to prepare students for a period of study in an Arabic-speaking country. Each week students have a one-hour lecture on the Arabic dialects from a theoretical point of view, a one-hour lesson focusing on listening comprehension, and two hours of tuition in Arabic conversation. Where teaching capacity allows, students will have the opportunity to choose which of two widely spoken Arabic dialects (typically Egyptian and Levantine) they wish to focus on in the conversation classes. The primary objectives of the module are: to give students an in-depth understanding of the linguistics of the Arabic dialects, and of the theory and practice of Arabic dialectology; to bring them to an intermediate level in the dialect they choose to focus on; and to give them the tools to enable them to independently acquire communicative competence in other Arabic dialects they might encounter in the course of their studies and beyond.
This is an intermediate language acquisition module that complements Arabic 3 A and B, and/or Arabic 4 A and B, by familiarising students with pre-modern genres and styles of Arabic writing through reading authentic classical Arabic biography, history and travel. Course readings and discussions are guided by, but not exhaustive of, or exclusive to, the following major themes:
1. Excerpts from Arabic biography Sira, ?adith and biographical literature.
2. Classical Arabic travel writing, including geographical exploration, pilgrimage, the journey in search of knowledge, and adventures at sea and in the desert. Classical Arabic accounts of cities, regions, holy sites and scholarly networks and assemblies.
3. Universal histories and regional histories.
The module provides for the teaching and learning of upper-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical as well as nuanced written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including conditional sentences, as well as more use of abstract or technical terminology in Persian writing and discourse.
The module will be focused on the teaching and learning of Persian language at lower-advanced level with emphasis on practically competent aural and oral skills, as well as nuanced writing ability and dexterity in reading comprehension.
The course will explore complex grammar of formal modern Persian alongside vernacular use of the language through practicing and performing a variety of tasks such as translations of intricate texts, composition and gathering of information from a wide range of material and demonstrating confident spoken interaction and production.
This course introduces students to the academic study of the core language of Zoroastrian religion and philosophies. It will enable them to assess primary sources critically and assess views voiced in the secondary literature.
This module is concerned with Avestan, the language of the earliest Zoroastrian texts. Building on Avestan 1, it is designed to provide students with a clear understanding of the basic principles of the Avestan language in a way that enables them to translate simple Avestan texts and to analyse their grammar. Students who complete the course successfully will be able to handle simple primary sources of the Zoroastrian religion in the original Avestan and to assess critically translations made by various scholars.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts and communicate on simple everyday topics.
Year 4 - Compulsory
This module allows students to synthesise their learning in a single project that demonstrates their fulfilment of the programme’s learning outcomes. It integrates their academic knowledge with experiences beyond the classroom and combines their developing knowledge, skills, and personal interests. The project is conceived, designed, and carried out independently, with support and supervision.
Year 4 - Guided options - List C Regional List
Up to 60 credits from List C Regional Options
This module introduces the practice and principles of audio-visual translation, primarily subtitling. It covers two main components in subtitling - creating subtitles using associated technology and applying theoretical concepts to analyse and reflect on subtitling practice. The module provides students with opportunities to practice subtitling and develops students’ independent working abilities through a self-directed project. It also aims to help students develop linguistic skills, cultural awareness and subtitling techniques required to work as a screen translator.
The module gives students a good general introduction to Contemporary African Literature(s) and to demonstrate to them some of the ways in which creative writing in the form of prose narratives, the novel, poetry, drama, etc help create an understanding of the socio-cultural, economic and political issues that define life and existence on the African continent and its diaspora. The module is also meant to help encourage students develop critical and analytical skills that move away from dominant Eurocentric and Western perspectives and to present the teaching, researching, understanding and analysis of Africa from African-centred perspectives.
The course will offer a survey of films from the Arab world, Turkey, Iran, and Israel, as well as an overview of the historical development of film in the region and a grounding in the socio-cultural contexts in which films have been produced. Films will be analysed aesthetically, with an awareness of multiple aspects of film technique, and meanings will be interrogated through a number of interdisciplinary and theoretical prisms.
In this module, selections of Palestinian writings in different genres will be read and analysed as exemplars of literary responses to a situation of alienation and displacement, with particular focus on tradition and innovation, the construction and maintenance of identity, coping strategies and the evolving social function of literature in the context of the current conflict.
This module discusses the question how language is related to the conceptions of identity and society in the African context. The module offers different perspectives on the relation between language and identity, and on the dynamics of language use in Africa.
The module will examine an array of examples and forms of resistance literature from South Asia, and may include anticolonial, Dalit, feminist and LGBTQ narratives, political satire and protest literatures, across both prose and poetry.
Year 4 - Guided options - Language
You may choose up to 30 credits from the list of languages.
The primary objectives of the course are: to give students a basic understanding of the linguistics of the Arabic dialects, and of the theory and practice of Arabic dialectology; to give them a solid foundation for future in-depth study of Egyptian and/or Levantine Arabic; and to give them the tools to enable them to independently acquire communicative competence in other Arabic dialects they might encounter in the course of their studies and beyond.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the lower-intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
The module aims to develop students’ language skills through grammar work, translation, prose composition, and conversation at the lower-intermediate level. Previous knowledge of the language is consolidated and developed by further class work on linguistic structures, sentence construction, and conversation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language using diverse materials from contexts such as journalism, literature, recorded conversations, social media and so forth. Regular homework tasks reinforce the class learning, encouraging students to read, write and speak the language with more accuracy and confidence.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the Language A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the Language A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is an introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts, and communicate on simple everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic language acquisition module for students who have already studied the language 1A equivalent in the previous term, or who have equivalent knowledge. Students are therefore assumed to have some basic knowledge of the language or its script. This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
This module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts, and communicate on simple everyday topics.
This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics.
The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This module develops knowledge of several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Emphasis will be placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts and communicate on simple everyday topics.
Persian 1 B
Hebrew.
Hebrew 1 B
Bengali Language 1
Bengali Language 1 B
Hindi Language.
The module covers all the major tenses and significant grammatical constructions of the language, enabling successful students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Urdu Language.
Urdu Language.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the the language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing,and comprehension. Successful students will gain the ability to read simple original texts and to write short simple sentences.
Sanskrit Language 1 B
Indonesian Language.
This module develops knowledge of some of the several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to develop their skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write simple texts, and communicate on everyday topics.
Vietnamese Language.
Vietnamese Language.
Burmese Language 1 A
Burmese Language 1 B
The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Thai Language.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
Arabic 1 B
The course provides students with intermediate knowledge of Turkish and practice of using Turkish in a variety of everyday and more specialised situations, including the understanding and expression of opinions and different points of view. Texts for study are selected from newspapers and magazines, scholarly articles and literary works (short stories and excerpts from novels).
The course provides teaching and learning of intermediate level Turkish language with emphasis on practical written and spoken Turkish. The course covers complex points of word and sentence structure as well as textual relations in Turkish writing and discourse.
The module provides for the teaching and learning of upper-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical as well as nuanced written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including conditional sentences, as well as more use of abstract or technical terminology in Persian writing and discourse. By the end of this module students should be able to relate detailed experiences, as well as discuss and understand concrete and abstract topics, in both spoken and written language with ease and confidence.
The course provides for the teaching and learning of lower-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including relative clauses, as well as more focused use of idiomatic structures in Persian writing and discourse. By the end of this module students should be able to describe experiences, events, plans, hopes and concerns in both spoken and written language with ease and confidence.
Arabic 5 A
This module aims to utilize students' knowledge of syntax to develop their ability in comprehension and grammatical analysis as well as composition and translation into Arabic. The module is based on the reading and discussion of three types of written language: various literary texts, Arabic journalism and selected texts for translation. The module also caters for the oral aspect of language learning.
This is a high advanced language acquisition course.
This is a high advanced language acquisition course.
This is a lower advanced language acquisition course that will reinforce competence in grammar and syntax, widen active vocabulary, and simultaneously develop listening and speaking skills.
This is a lower advanced language acquisition course that will reinforce competence in grammar and syntax, widen active vocabulary, and simultaneously develop listening and speaking skills. Letter writing skills will be introduced. Oral competence is developed in conversation classes and by using audio-video material.
This module is a continuation of Arabic 1 B. It completes the coverage of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic at an intermediate level and trains students in reading, comprehending and writing with the help of a dictionary more complex Arabic sentences and passages.
This module is a continuation of Arabic 2 A. It completes the coverage of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic at an intermediate level and trains students in reading, comprehending and writing with the help of a dictionary more complex Arabic sentences and passages.
This is an intermediate language acquisition module, and builds on knowledge acquired in Arabic 1A, Arabic 1B, Arabic 2A, and Arabic 2B. Students study authentic Arabic texts of various writing genres and gain further knowledge of grammar (syntax and structure). The module develops students' competence equally in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
This is an upper intermediate language acquisition module that builds on Arabic 3A, providing students with a firmer foundation in Arabic grammar, and training them in the active use of the language through writing exercises that draw on and reinforce a number of skills including knowledge of grammar, syntax, phraseology and general and specialised terminology. Writing skills will also be further built through targeted translation exercises. The module also includes an oral component where students are trained in speaking the colloquial register of the language
This module offers training in practical translation from and into Swahili. Students will acquire advanced skills in translation by familiarising them with the process, techniques and strategies of translating. Students will be able to develop their abilities to a high level of proficiency while acquiring valuable practical experience in translation.
This module combines an intermediate-advanced approach to Arabic dialectology with instruction in two different Arabic dialects at an intermediate level. It is specifically intended to prepare students for a period of study in an Arabic-speaking country. Each week students have a one-hour lecture on the Arabic dialects from a theoretical point of view, a one-hour lesson focusing on listening comprehension, and two hours of tuition in Arabic conversation. Where teaching capacity allows, students will have the opportunity to choose which of two widely spoken Arabic dialects (typically Egyptian and Levantine) they wish to focus on in the conversation classes. The primary objectives of the module are: to give students an in-depth understanding of the linguistics of the Arabic dialects, and of the theory and practice of Arabic dialectology; to bring them to an intermediate level in the dialect they choose to focus on; and to give them the tools to enable them to independently acquire communicative competence in other Arabic dialects they might encounter in the course of their studies and beyond.
This is an intermediate language acquisition module that complements Arabic 3 A and B, and/or Arabic 4 A and B, by familiarising students with pre-modern genres and styles of Arabic writing through reading authentic classical Arabic biography, history and travel. Course readings and discussions are guided by, but not exhaustive of, or exclusive to, the following major themes:
1. Excerpts from Arabic biography Sira, ?adith and biographical literature.
2. Classical Arabic travel writing, including geographical exploration, pilgrimage, the journey in search of knowledge, and adventures at sea and in the desert. Classical Arabic accounts of cities, regions, holy sites and scholarly networks and assemblies.
3. Universal histories and regional histories.
The module provides for the teaching and learning of upper-intermediate level Persian language with emphasis on practical as well as nuanced written and spoken Persian. The course introduces complex sentence structures including conditional sentences, as well as more use of abstract or technical terminology in Persian writing and discourse.
The module will be focused on the teaching and learning of Persian language at lower-advanced level with emphasis on practically competent aural and oral skills, as well as nuanced writing ability and dexterity in reading comprehension.
The course will explore complex grammar of formal modern Persian alongside vernacular use of the language through practicing and performing a variety of tasks such as translations of intricate texts, composition and gathering of information from a wide range of material and demonstrating confident spoken interaction and production.
This course introduces students to the academic study of the core language of Zoroastrian religion and philosophies. It will enable them to assess primary sources critically and assess views voiced in the secondary literature.
This module is concerned with Avestan, the language of the earliest Zoroastrian texts. Building on Avestan 1, it is designed to provide students with a clear understanding of the basic principles of the Avestan language in a way that enables them to translate simple Avestan texts and to analyse their grammar. Students who complete the course successfully will be able to handle simple primary sources of the Zoroastrian religion in the original Avestan and to assess critically translations made by various scholars.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.
This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts and communicate on simple everyday topics.