We are one of the leading UK centres for languages, cultures and linguistics. Our innovative approach uses highly effective teaching methodologies underpinned by the latest research. We conduct impactful research, exploring questions relevant at local, national or global levels.
of our graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduating
Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020 to 2021
About us
Our department is welcoming, dynamic, and diverse. We offer outstanding teaching, engage with the latest research, and carry out enterprise work. We work with students, partners and stakeholders in the UK and overseas to provide crossdiciplinary answers to global challenges. Our research is wide-ranging, from understanding language and attitudes in the global spread of English to breaking down deep-rooted ideas about wine making.
We are home to over 540 undergraduate and postgraduate taught students learning about language, linguistics, culture, translation and communication. Our students graduate with the knowledge, mindset and skills needed to advance their careers, inspire others and make a substantial contribution to society.
Our research informs our teaching in a wide range of taught courses for example our:
BA English Language and Linguistics
BA English Language and Literature
MA ELT/TESOL
BA and MLang programmes
We offer a comprehensive programme of language learning from beginners to degree-level through the Centre for Language Study. Our BA in Modern Languages is aimed at students with at least one A-level in a foreign language, but allows students to study up to 2 additional languages from beginners level. The BA in Languages, Cultures and Communication is aimed at students with little or no previous knowledge of a foreign language.
We have a dynamic programme of professional development, especially in English language teaching and translation which includes several master's programmes.
Modern languages students collaborate on a group project.
Research culture
We engage in and produce interdisciplinary research with impact. Our research staff are members of many subject associations, learned societies, journal boards and international networks. We work with early career researchers and postdoctoral research fellows, who are active researchers in our community.
We are home to 3 research centres:
Centre for Global Englishes
Centre for Linguistics, Language Education and Acquisition Research
Centre for Transnational Studies
They bring together staff and students to explore:
global Englishes
language acquisition
language teaching and testing
sociolinguistics and variational sociolinguistics
linguistic anthropology and ethnography
medical humanities
migration and globalisation
literary and cultural studies
We are members of two UK research council funded doctoral training centres:
Our research generates impact and knowledge exchange on topics including:
language and social stereotypes in the context of domestic abuse policing
language ideology, particularly in the use of English in an academic context
infrastructures for food and water in three sub-Saharan African countries
wine practices in France and around the world
primary language teachers through online learning
memorial afterlives of internment camps in France
additional language learning and native language forgetting
death, dying, end of life, grief and commemoration from an arts-based perspective
International partners
We partner with prominent international universities and industry around the world. These collaborations enhance our research and increase our global reputation. Universities we work with include:
Cukurova University (Turkey)
Kasetsart University (Thailand)
Leiden University (Netherlands)
Santander Universities
The Arctic University of Norway
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de (Mexico)
Other partners include:
The British Council
FutureLearn
China Scholarship Council
Pearson
the NHS
Interdisciplinary culture
Our research is fundamentally interdisciplinary. We cover topics, methodologies and philosophies which are loosely brought together by our 3 research centres, various reading groups and research clusters.
We collaborate with departments in our school including History, English and Music. We work closely with other groups in the wider faculty such as:
We also work with Schools across the University. We've collaborated with the School of Geography and Environmental Science to support better infrastructures for food and water in 3 sub-Saharan African countries. We are working with the School of Electronics and Computer Science, and the Web Science Institute to investigate policy and practice concerning Generative AI tools. This work is part of the University's Generative Artificial Intelligence working group.
Education
We provide an environment where students can flourish. We support them as they develop into independent, creative and critical thinkers who can make positive and meaningful contributions to society.
Education
Our Centre for Language Study offers courses and resources tailored to their needs. We offer all language stages up to graduate level in Chinese, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Introductory modules up to A2 in the European framework are available in Arabic, Italian, Japanese and Russian.
Our research-informed curriculum reflects the expertise and passion that our staff and students share for their subject areas. We cover cultural and linguistic studies of the Spanish, French, German and Portuguese Speaking world as well as English Language and Linguistics.
Interdisciplinary study
Interdisciplinarity is central to our languages and linguistics curriculum. Our staff have a background in anthropology, cultural studies, history and linguistics.
Curriculum
The first year of the undergraduate curriculum helps students transition to university study. It gives a grounding in their chosen subject areas. In the following years, it allows students to build on this foundation and tailor their studies to their own specialist interests.
Students in the BA Modern Languages programmes spend their third year abroad to study at university, teach or take up a work placement. In the BA English Language and Linguistics and the BA Language, Culture and communication, students can pursue study abroad opportunities and undertake a year in employment.
Knowledge exchange and public engagement
The exchange of knowledge with the public and other external partners is at the heart of our activities. Whether we’re running events or offering evening classes to the local community, partnering with people and organisations help us share expertise on issues with real-world impact. Recent activities include art events and a research group launch.
Arts and Humanities Festival native language attrition event
Organised as part of the University’s Arts and Humanities Festival this event raised awareness of native language attrition. This can be experienced by people who move to a new country or region as adults. It may affect their native language knowledge and use. The event included a screening of a short film by documentary filmmaker Asten Holmes-Elliott, ‘Lost in the Middle'.
This festival activity was organised by Professor Laura Domínguez and Dr Glyn Hicks.
Bournemouth civic community 'Day of the Dead' event
This community event explored the role of arts-based engagement using the Mexican Day of the Dead as a case study. It encouraged both Mexicans and non-Mexicans to talk about death, dying and end of life. This includes its relevance to wider communities in civic, educational and healthcare settings.
350 people attended talks, performances and arts and crafts workshops led by Mexican and British artists.
Dr Jane Lavery co-organised the event with World of Love Festival and a range of partners including:
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care
Bobby's cultural centre
Spill the Beans coffee café
South Coast Makers Market
Colores Mexicanos
Avery Care Home
Language Assessment and Testing Unit launch
The department's Language Assessment and Testing Unit (LATU) brought together students, colleagues, and external stakeholders to discuss innovative language testing and assessment methods. It included a discussion on the future of language assessment, with representatives from the British Council.
LATU is a departmental research group led by Dr Ying Zheng and colleagues, as well as our postgraduate research students.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Our equality, diversity and inclusion priorities are three-fold, echoing the University mission statement which is grounded by the triple helix.
Mission statement
Equitable community-building
This relies on the co-creation of the School as an inclusive environment where we feel safe in bringing our whole selves to work and study. Senior academic staff, early career scholars, administrative and other staff and students at all levels are invited to join in this process.
Accessible practices and interactions
This is the commitment to make deliberate decisions in ensuring that nobody is disadvantaged by what we do and how we do it. We seek to engage meaningfully with one another in the spirit of collegiality, reducing barriers to access and success for all.
Transparent processes
We have transparent processes that build a culture of openness and accountability, enabling all to understand the rationale for decisions made through plain communication and meaningful collaboration.
We host research groups within our department. Learn about the the real-world impact of our work, along with our projects, publications and people. We also run outreach activities to help younger learners engage with languages.
The research centres and groups we host bring together specialists to share knowledge and solve problems. Explore research projects, publications, people and more.
People are the centre of all academic activity in our department. I aim to provide a supportive working and learning environment that inspires and values staff and students alike.
My research-led Mexican Day of the Dead arts-based public engagement encourages different communities to discuss matters of death, dying, end of life, grief and commemoration.
I guide our LCL students through their Residence Abroad journey, a life-changing experience which is full of challenges, surprises and exciting opportunities for personal growth.
