³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ

Illijana: Languages, I believe are an essential skill in today's world. We live in an increasingly globalised society, and the more you travel, the more you realise that just one language isn't enough.

Maxine: The three different language courses at the ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ are Modern Languages, Applied Languages and Language Studies.

For modern languages, if I was doing Spain, I could learn about South American countries and Franco's dictatorship, so I got a lot more background knowledge.

Illijana: It introduces you to all the skills that are involved with languages such as translation, interpreting, teaching and general cultural knowledge.

DeAvyon: It's called Applied Languages, everything that languages would be applied to, you learn how to function in that world.

We get to learn how we would apply in the workplace, how to function as a foreigner in another country, as well as focusing on the languages and the cultures themselves.

Jack: The course that I'm studying is Language Studies, and in that I'm looking at multiple different modules, looking at written discourse, spoken discourse, different types of English and different aspects of language.

Marjorie Huet-Martin: Students on the course can choose to specialise in different areas.

They can choose to specialise in teaching and education, in translation and interpreting, linguistics and culture, but also in business and industry.

DeAvyon: The thing I love most would most likely be the lecturers themselves.

They're so accommodating and so welcoming.

They provide so much extra information that you wouldn't think that you would need until you hear it.

Sasha Barron:

We're not only teaching students from the book, but we're also immersed in culture, history, business, social affairs, and also music.

Jack: We have things such as the language café.

There's language exchanges within the uni, but also, I think the plethora of literature that the university has available to you to learn about these subjects.

Illijana: As a mature student, I was initially worried about my experience, but it was really inclusive and a friendly environment.

Everyone is definitely very welcoming.

Marjorie: Students on the course have the opportunity to spend a period of time abroad.

DeAvyon: Going on a year abroad is so important. You get to be fully immersed in the culture and the chance to be able to do that as part of my degree is just amazing.

If you put on your CV that you've studied or worked abroad, it just boosts you up above everybody else in the country so much.

If anyone gets the opportunity, you have to take it.

Jack: There are so many career options that have become available to me through doing a language degree.

Marjorie: We have students who have gone into obviously the teaching and the translation and interpreting, but we also have students who go into banking, into fraud investigation.

Some of them become recruitment consultants, education consultants.

They might work in marketing, in digital media, or social media.

Jack: The melting pot that is this degree in terms of module choice really does help you with those careers.

DeAvyon: One of the biggest reasons to come and study at ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ is the amount of socialisation.

I've not really ever felt alone in ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ, which is really nice.

Just as a uni as well, they offer so much to do and so many opportunities as well, which I really love. ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ really gets you involved.

Introduction

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[Music]

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interpreting is a module that we offer

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in all of our

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courses at the university of portsmouth

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as part of this module students get to

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take their language skills

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up to the next level the interpreting

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suite actually offers an outstanding

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opportunity for our students to actually

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put their interpreting skills into

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practice in a very real context

What is interpreting

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the qualities the student will need to

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succeed in this topic perseverance

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communication preparation teamwork and

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passion about

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interpreting interpretation world what i

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love about interpreting is how much it's

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challenging my language skills

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i want to be able to facilitate people

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to integrate into a culture to make

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friends

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to be able to work to be able to

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socialize it's a really safe

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introduction to interpreting

What do you think

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this module really pushes me to actually

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use my spanish

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very spontaneously it encourages the

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learning of new vocabulary

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and just to think a little bit outside

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you have to think on your feet it forces

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you to

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become good it keeps you on top you know

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the interpreting module was one of the

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main reasons why i

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came to portsmouth i think it really

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defines well

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the concept of communication

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you'll be pushed so much you'll learn so

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much and at the end of the day you'll

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have fun

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just trust your command of the language

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and roll with it

Zianne: There’s so many good things about studying abroad. 

Tamarra: It's really hard to list all the skills and all the value that it brings because really it makes you such a well-rounded individual.

Sorina Toltica: All humanities and social sciences courses have got the option to study abroad. This includes the United States of America, France, Spain, Japan, Australia, and we are also developing some partnerships within the African continent.

Zianne: Through my year abroad, I was able to develop a lot of resilience and being able to adapt because when you're not speaking your own language, you kind of have to adapt every single day and you can't just give up. You just have to keep going. 

Tamarra: There is a little bit of pressure, obviously, since we're in a new environment. I remember getting off the airplane and seeing the Czech language and I just thought to myself, How am I going to get through this? But in the university and here they offer Czech language courses for beginners. You meet other international students who are on the same boat as you. You guys can just come together and explore it yourself. 

Zianne: I met loads of people from around Europe who are also on Erasmus, so now I have friends from Norway, Germany and Croatia that I probably would have never met if I wasn't in Salamanca at that particular time.

Tamarra: My flatmates are from France, Norway, from Belgium, Hungary. We've always had these monthly dinners together where we try out each country's cuisine and traditional foods. 

Charlie: It's helped me to understand people better, it’s helped grow my confidence, helped grow my independence. 

Bethan: The most valuable thing that it’s brought me has been an appreciation of a completely different way of thinking. You learn to appreciate that there is value and beauty in different ways of thinking, even if you don't agree with it. 

Tamarra: You really have to immerse yourself into that country to get the full experience.

Bethan: I have always felt supported by the university. When I was abroad, I knew that I could contact my personal tutor. There are so many services there and I knew they’re always available. 

Charlie: They helped me with the application. They helped me find the opportunities in the country that I wanted to study in. 

Zianne: I also benefited from speaking to the wellbeing team whilst I was out there because that is still on offer to you, which I really appreciated.

Tamarra: All the students should study abroad because not only is it good for friendships and for memories, but in terms of the future in your careers, you can also get a lot more confidence. 

Charlie: Coming out here you really realise how big the world is, how many people there are, how many different stories people have. I think it really just opens your eyes to the possibilities that you have available to you.

Sorina Toltica: One of the biggest differences in my students before and after they come from study abroad. It's their adaptability and resilience and knowledge of the world and their excitement about possibly going back. 

Bethan: If I was to give some advice to someone considering going to study abroad, I would just say do it. Doing the year abroad with the ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ has opened up so many career opportunities for me, and I wouldn't be where I am today without them.