Linguistics and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish) with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Would you love to become a highly proficient linguist while at the same time developing an understanding of how language works? As the science of language, linguistics studies everything to do with language, including:<br/><br/><br/>- how language is structured<br/><br/><br/>- how it develops in children<br/><br/><br/>- the ways in which it reflects society and culture<br/><br/><br/>- how it defines individuals and groups<br/><br/><br/>- how it changes over time.<br/><br/><br/>Our BA Linguistics and Language offers you the opportunity to learn about the central ideas and concerns of contemporary linguistics at one of the world’s top research-intensive universities. On this linguistics degree, you will also have the opportunity to reach near-native standard in one language - French, German, Italian or Spanish - or upper-intermediate or advanced level in Japanese, depending on your level of entry, while practising skills such as translating, summary writing and delivering written and oral presentations.<br/><br/>You can also choose to study the cultures associated with French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, and we offer a range of cross-cultural modules which will allow you to explore specific themes across a variety of language-speaking areas.<br/><br/>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 didnt achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. <br/><br/>On the four-year full-time International Experience route, you will normally spend your third year at a partner institution to allow you to develop your language skills and your knowledge of the culture. <br/><br/>**Highlights**<br/><br/><br/>- Applied linguistics has been taught at Birkbeck since 1965, so you will be taught by experienced specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence.<br/><br/><br/>- Ours is a community of scholars with shared interests in interdisciplinary topics and cross-cultural research. Our affiliated research centres, the Centre for French, Francophone and Comparative Studies (CFFCS) and the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies (CILAVS), provide an important platform for this exchange.<br/><br/><br/>- If you choose the four-year full-time International Experience route, you will have the opportunity to spend a year at a partner institution. <br/><br/><br/>**Careers and employability**<br/><br/>Graduates can pursue career paths in publishing, education, policy-making or language education. Possible professions include:<br/><br/><br/>- translator<br/><br/><br/>- English as a Foreign Language teacher<br/><br/><br/>- publishing copy editor/proofreader<br/><br/><br/>- civil service fast-streamer<br/><br/><br/>- editorial assistant.<br/><br/><br/>We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.