Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Whether it’s the appeal of exploring a new culture, expanding your skills or giving yourself a fun challenge, learning a language is a truly rewarding experience. And, amongst the excitement of a new term with classes and societies springing into gear, did you know UEA runs a free 3-month language programme for students?
The UEA University Language Programme offers English, Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and British Sign Language classes, with many at beginner level. There are daytime and evening classes available, allowing great flexibility for students. These courses can either be taken as credit or non-credit courses. Credit-bearing means you take a summative assessment at the end.
The programme runs in the Autumn (October-December), Spring (January-March) and Summer (April-June).
So what does one of UEA’s language programmes look like? Anabelle Luvena, the Concrete Online Editor, shares her experience of taking Japanese I and II as a non-credit in her second year of study at UEA:
What drew you to study Japanese?
‘Recently I’ve been interested in the Japanese language since most media I consume these days originate from Japan in one way or another, be it music, webcomics or video games. […] I’ve also been interested in the translation scene and wanted to crack in translating some texts relating to my favourite media franchises and it just so happens that some of them were originally in Japanese.’
What did you cover in your lessons?
‘Beginner’s Japanese taught us the very fundamentals of the Japanese Language. We started with learning its two alphabets, Hiragana and Katakana, and were often quizzed about it, especially in the first semester. As we progressed, we learned the third script found in Japanese — Kanji. […] Topics-wise, we started with basic topics such as introducing ourselves, our family and our favourite things. Then we moved on to more advanced topics such as accepting and refusing invitations, how to ask requests, and what we wanted to do once we were done with university.’
What were your lessons like?
‘Sessions are split into two seminars per week: a shorter, one-hour seminar for us to practice listening, speaking and pronunciation; and a longer, two-hour seminar that taught us reading and writing. For my classes specifically in Beginner’s Japanese, classes were small and consists of between 5 to 10 people. The lessons also felt much more relaxed than the average seminar as well, with the teachers often putting us at ease despite the daunting language we were about to study. Both teachers were VERY funny, and our classes often erupt into peals of giggles as we shared stories and misadventures in the most rudimentary, […] broken Japanese we could muster. […] I found that I was able to make friends easier in class and can confidently call all my classmates — the teacher included — very good friends.’
How was the workload? Were you able to balance your studies?
‘In terms of workload, be prepared to manage your time very, VERY well. […] Both Beginners Japanese I and II gave us loads (and I mean LOADS) of homework. Homework was bite-sized and focused on topics we already learned. […] Despite the big after-hours workload, I found them very useful and designed in a way that didn’t lead to burnout.’
What was the best thing you learned?
‘The best thing I learned was probably the different culture notes both [my teachers] brought to us about Japan. I love[d] hearing stories of their adventures and culture notes they share with us. I also loved learning the different verb forms as they completely revolutionise how I take on my translation projects.’
What tips would you give to someone starting a new language course?
‘First, it is never too late to start! While it is true that learning a new language early and young is very beneficial as children pick up pronunciation and vocabulary quicker than adults, don’t think of age as a roadblock! Second, make sure to pick a language you are serious about. Third, don’t be intimidated. […] With the right lessons, resources and enough dedication, any language is conquerable. And finally, have fun! Relax! Share your funniest stories! Make mistakes! Make friends along the way! We’re all learning, so no one will judge you! Learning a new language is a net positive no matter what after all. So [you] might as well enjoy your time while you immerse yourself in this weird and wonderful world of languages.’
The deadline for applying to the upcoming Autumn term is the 19th September. Check out the UEA Language Programme’s website to find out how to register.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
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