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Academic Support - Language Centre
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Welcome to BU's Language Centre

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The Language Centre offers a friendly environment in which to develop your foreign language skills, or your command of English if you are an international student. The Centre is open to all students and staff at the University, and we hope that you will make full use of the resources at your disposal.

The Language Centre is situated on the first floor of The Sir Michael Cobham Library on Talbot Campus. Floor plan.

Its mission is to promote international capability for global understanding and enterprise.

Opening Hours

The Language Centre is open at the same time as the rest of The Sir Michael Cobham Library, during both term time and vacation time. For further details, please visit the Library Opening Hours.

The Language Adviser

The Centre is overseen by the Language Adviser, Paul Barnes. Paul, other members of the International Programmes team and student assistants are available in the Language Centre (DL127) and the Language Centre office (DL126) at regular times, in order to advise you on the most appropriate materials for your individual needs as well as to give guidance on language learning techniques. Please look outside DL126 for times at which appointments are available, or contact Paul on pbarnes@bournemouth.ac.uk

Facilities and Resources

The Language Centre houses 24 computer positions. The computers are equipped with specialised language learning software in English, French, German and Spanish.

The Centre has a Melissi Multi-Media digital classroom. This software enables students to view video clips and listen to audio tracks with a simple click of the mouse. The digital classroom also enables students to record themselves in their target language and compare their pronunciation with that of native speakers. It has a wide range of other features such as a subtitling facility and an internal phone system which broadens the range of activities students may choose to do.

The area around the Language Centre accommodates materials which have been brought together as the LANGUE Collection (Languages for Global Understanding and Enterprise). Paper-based resources such as dictionaries, grammar reference, language course books and foreign newspapers can be found on library shelves situated opposite the Centre. There are also a number of reference materials with restricted access which are stored on trolleys in the Centre itself.

Communities

There are 2 communities on myBU associated with the Language Centre.

These are:

  • The English LAB community which is designed to help you improve your English language accuracy and skills.
  • The Languages@BU community where you can find materials and information to help you learn or improve French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic.

To enrol for either of these communities please download the application form on the information page of the Languages@BU community, fill it in electronically and email it to: languagecentre@bournemouth.ac.uk

Working Abroad

Students hoping to work or study abroad are encouraged to use the facilites in The Language Centre and on the Languages@BU community in order to improve their existing language skills or indeed learn a language from scratch. Even knowing a little of a language before going to live in a different culture can enhance the experience significantly.

Find out more about working abroad scheme and read about the experiences of students who have already taken this opportunity.

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