Did you know that you can receive a language specialism attached to your degree certificate and transcript?

Students who have taken and passed a one unit language course in each year of their degree (ie, 25 per cent of their overall programme of study) will be offered the opportunity to receive a language specialism attached to their degree certificate and transcript.

• You will need to check your degree regulations to see if this is possible on your programme.
• You will need to take and pass at least one language course in each year of their degree.
• You must take all courses in the same language (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin or Russian).
• The three courses must also be consecutively harder in level.
• Degree certificates which include a language specialism will state the language in the title, for example: BSc in International Relations (with French).
• Your home Department can give you more information on how you can take advantage of this opportunity.

Language and Society 1 (LS1) and Language and Society 2 (LS2) will bring you up to post A-level or equivalent in one or two years, using language and a variety of skills within the specific context of Social Science topics relevant to the Language and Society you will cover.

You will learn to speak in a variety of situations, practise listening and reading skills using a wide range of material, and develop writing skills for a variety of commercial and academic purposes. You'll learn about the society of your chosen area using examples taken from various sources: the press; TV and radio; cinema; literature and texts relevant to Social Science students.

Language and Society 3 (LS3, Language and Society 4 (LS4) and Language and Society 5 (LS5) aim to improve your language skills across a range of speaking, reading, listening and writing activities.

You will study in increasingly greater detail aspects of society, politics, economics and media. Contact time decreases according to the level chosen. You will be exposed to a variety of material in Language and Society 3 and 4, and can choose to study more intensively in Language and Society 5 specific authors, movements or eras. You will be encouraged to develop both your linguistic and research skills.

For the intensive programmes Language and Society 1 & 2, classes start in week 1 of term. Language Society 3, 4 & 5 run along the lines of other LSE degree option (Lectures start week 1, classes in week 3).            

• Language and Society 1 (Beginner): 6 hours per week              
• Language and Society 2 (Intermediate): 5 hours per week              
• Language and Society 3 (Advanced): 4 hours per week              
• Language and Society 4 (Proficiency): 3 hours per week              
• Language and Society 5 (Mastery): 2 hours per week

There are many reasons but we would highlight the following:            

• If you have already invested a lot of time and effort into a language, it is a pity to let it go to waste.              
• If you have enjoyed studying a language previously, you will enjoy taking the subject further; and if you are an absolute beginner, you will relish the academic, intellectual and practical challenge of our Beginner programmes.              
• If you have already been successful in your language studies, a degree option will make sure your language skills are credited as part of your actual degree.              
• You will find that not only will your language skills improve, but you will use these skills to explore issues relating to French, German, Mandarin, Russian or Spanish politics, economics and society.              

The gains you will make are not purely language related, but you will find you will have developed many transferable skills such as those related to:            

• Communication              
• IT              
• Research              
• Presentation skills              

We want to make your language study as useful for your future as possible, and so you will find our programmes and courses are geared to help you cope with residence/study abroad, giving you the necessary linguistic tools to cope with a variety of academic or work related situations.            

You exit profile will be enhanced by the addition of a fully accredited language option as many international companies reward recognised language skills. On average people who use languages in their job earn 8% more than their colleagues (Figures from NTO: The Languages National Training Organisation and CILT: The Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research).