Additional Study Incentives/Savings

airheadgreg

I've just got back from a year studying on exchange in Canada and after spending so much time with other exchange students I was disgusted at how only 1 of the other English students on exchange actually knew a second language to a competent level (and he's half German!).

So now back in Blighty I am wanting to take up a language class but unfortunately my university haven't been very helpful in offering additional study options for things such as languages. So I've looked around at private alternatives and prices are usually around £180 for 10 classes and to be honest I can't afford that. Does anyone have any advice as to cheap (but good value) options for learning a second language, or if there are incentive schemes in place to help with the costs of taking on these courses?

Thanks a lot in advance!
-Greg

alyth

Someone I work with is doing a couple of language courses through the OU, so it might be worth looking into those.

Otherwise the BBC website has a really good section for learning languages. When I went to China I wanted to learn basic phrases, so I just googled about a bit and came up with a website that said the word out loud and I had to copy it - sounds a bit weird but it worked!

dmg24

Most libraries will have a languages section.

sensation211

dmg24 wrote: »

Most libraries will have a languages section.

Hi dmg24, your inbox is full - could you have a spring clean please?

PasturesNew

dmg24 wrote: »

Most libraries will have a languages section.

That should be: most big libraries will have.... the library here doesn't have anything like that. The total library floor space is probably 25' square. Next nearest library is 20 miles away.

I also just looked at my library website, it's open four days a week 9-6 and Saturday mornings for 3 hours. Closed on Wed and Sun... and the charges seem quite high. £3.70 to get a book in from up country.

airheadgreg

Ouch! But luckily my local library is huge with a number more in the area.
I would rather be part of a class to give me the drive to keep working, but I need the money more :P

Oldernotwiser

Evening classes at your local college may be cheaper than the prices you mentioned earlier.

Alternatively, as you are already at university, you could put up a notice on a board used by overseas students and try to arrange a language partnership where you meet regularly with a student whose language you want to learn and swap language tuition/practice/conversation.

Simon11

People always say that the British are really lazy at learn other languages, but to be honest we don't really need to.

In most other countries, the children learn a 2nd language and most often than not, it will be english as its an important language to know.

As British people, what language is worth learning that will make a huge difference? Spanish, french, german, cantinese, urdu, ect

MrTomato

Simon11 wrote: »

People always say that the British are really lazy at learn other languages, but to be honest we don't really need to.

In most other countries, the children learn a 2nd language and most often than not, it will be english as its an important language to know.

As British people, what language is worth learning that will make a huge difference? Spanish, french, german, cantinese, urdu, ect

Languages are important for British people. The OP may just want it for tourism, an interest in the place, or for fun. But for serious degree matters, language graduates don't do badly in terms of employment and salaries.

Learning a language part time can't be bad, can it? Even if you did a small language, like Faroese for example, it still shows some commitment, intelligence and is something extra for getting jobs or whatever, and it can be very fun.

You'll also find the level of English teaching in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, to name a few, is surprisingly bad, especially when people think everyone speaks English.

Insomnia101

Could you try one of the language students at your university? You could swap skills, e.g. they teach you the language and you teach them english/stats or something.

I did this with a German student, she taught me German and I taught her statistical analysis. Depends what you are studying but it's a popular thing to do at my uni

Hope that helps.

airheadgreg

The problem is that whilst I am still a student I am taking part in a year in industry which isn't the best paid and I'm 300 odd miles away from there :P

It would definitely be an option when I get back to uni to finish my degree, but I feel that would work better when I have a better base knowledge and then just add to it with conversation and such...

Also, second languages are invaluable! Not only for the gains in employment and salary but also socially and in terms of self actualisation....