ba (honours) language studies - the open university

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BA (Honours) Language Studies

Distance learning degree qualification

QUALIFICATION LEAFLET

The BA (Honours) Language Studies, delivered through online tuition, gives you a choice of two modern languages (from French, German and Spanish) or one modern language and English.

Career relevance and employabilityAs a linguist, you’ll enjoy a broad range of career opportunities: teaching; translating; the media (publishing, journalism and advertising); leisure, tourism and travel; diplomacy; and working in international organisations. You’ll be an effective communicator with an awareness of cultural differences and similarities – attributes that are particularly valuable in an environment of increasing international contact.Certain skills like translation, fluent communication in more than one language, the ability to compose and analyse a range of texts and work well with members of other cultures flow directly from your studies. As an Open University graduate you’ll be able to manage and motivate yourself and use online technologies confidently.

Entry requirements There are no formal entry requirements to study this degree, although you will need to have a proficiency in English as all course material, exams and tutor support is in English.

Credit for previous study elsewhereIf you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards an Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible, and before you register for your chosen qualification. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Course durationTypically it takes six years part-time study to complete this qualification, but you can take anything from four (full-time study equivalent) to 16 years.

Qualification detailsLearning languages opens doors to other cultures and gives you an experience of the world that goes deeper than the average tourist trip. It can also provide a key to the global workplace.

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For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555

BA (Honours) Language Studies (Q30) 2

Modules and pathwaysAs part of your registration you can choose a pathway. Pathways are different sets of module options, allowing you to specialise in certain subjects to complete your degree.Pathways available for this qualification are shown below:

English and German pathway


To complete your degree you need to achieve 360 credits; 120 credits at Stage 1, 120 at Stage 2, and 120 at Stage 3; with each module being 30-60 credits. Modules can be compulsory, in which case you must study them, or optional, in which case you can select the ones you prefer to study. To see full details of how you can choose from the modules listed overleaf please visit our website, www.openuniversity.edu

English and French pathway

English and Spanish pathway

German and Spanish pathway

French and German pathway

French and Spanish pathway

www.OpenUniversity.edu


For a full list of modules available, please refer to our website, www.openuniversity.edu. Modules studied depend on the pathway chosen.

Assessment keyEMA = End-of-module assessmentiCMA = Interactive computer marked assessmentTMA = Tutor-marked assignment

Stage 1

Bon départ: beginners' French (L192)

Credits: 30 at Level 1

Assessment: 4 TMAs, 4 iCMAs, 1 EMA

This key introductory Level 1 course – Bon départ: beginners' French – is designed to develop the skills you need to speak and understand simple French in everyday contexts. It explores life in France and introduces you to a wide range of practical situations such as travelling, shopping, working and eating out.

Ouverture: intermediate French (L120)


Assessment: 4 TMAs, 1 EMA

Ouverture: intermediate French follows on from Bon départ: beginners’ French (L192). It revises and consolidates the knowledge of French you already have and teaches more advanced language in the context of French-speaking societies and French culture. Study resources – including printed course books and online interactive activities – are carefully designed to develop the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. They provide clear learning objectives, guidance and model answers. This key introductory Level 1 course also teaches good study skills and language-learning strategies.

Rundblick: beginners' German (L193)



This key introductory Level 1 course – Rundblick: beginners' German – is designed to develop the skills you need to speak and understand simple German in everyday contexts. It explores life in German-speaking countries and communities worldwide through topics relevant to adult learners – such as impressions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland; travelling; lifestyles;

cultural events; and technology.

Auftakt: intermediate German (L130)



Auftakt: intermediate German follows on from Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193). It revises and consolidates the knowledge of German you already have and teaches more advanced language in the context of German-speaking countries and communities.

Portales: beginners' Spanish (L194)



This key introductory Level 1 course – Portales: beginners’ Spanish – is designed to develop the skills you need to speak and understand simple Spanish in everyday contexts. It takes you through a wide range of practical situations such as travelling, shopping, working and eating out in Spanish-speaking countries.

En rumbo: intermediate Spanish (L140)



En rumbo: intermediate Spanish follows on from Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194). It builds on your existing Spanish and teaches more advanced language in the context of Spanish and Latin American society and culture.

Voices and text (A150)


Assessment: 3 TMAs, 1 Examination

This 20-week course focuses on language in a wide range of contexts and from the perspective of different academic subjects. These include - classical studies, history, literature, music, religious studies - and two additional subjects, creative writing and English language studies.

English for academic purposes online (L185)


Assessment: 4 TMAs, 1 iCMA, 1 EMA

This completely online course aims to develop the communication skills you need for successful academic study in English. Throughout the course, you will work with a wide range of texts from different subject areas. By exploring different subject areas you will develop the academic English that is most relevant to your study. You will use your knowledge and experience as you explore ways of reading and writing academic texts. You will also develop your academic listening and speaking

Modules

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skills in an online environment.

Stage 2

Worlds of English (U214)



What are the origins of the English language? How has it spread internationally? Is the worldwide influence of English a cause for celebration or concern? How is it changing in response to social, cultural, and technological developments? These are just a few of the questions that you will investigate in this course which looks at the history, diversity, and use of English around the world. Using a combination of printed materials and computer-based resources you will be introduced to the major debates in the field, and to some of the ways language is described and analysed.

Envol: upper intermediate French (L211)



This course builds on Ouverture: intermediate French (L120), or equivalent knowledge. It will extend your language skills, enhance your cultural knowledge, and develop the skills needed to study at a higher level. You’ll learn to communicate in a wide range of situations; express your opinions; report what other people have said; explain processes and trends; communicate by letter and telephone; make structured notes; and write different types of text.

Motive: upper intermediate German (L203)



This course builds on Auftakt: intermediate German

(L130), or equivalent knowledge. It will extend your language skills, enhance your cultural knowledge and develop the skills needed to study at a higher level. You’ll learn to communicate in a wide range of situations; express your opinions; report what other people have said; explain processes and trends; communicate by email, letter and telephone; make structured notes; and write different types of text.

Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish (L204)


Assessment: 5 TMAs, Examination

This course builds on En rumbo: intermediate Spanish (L140), or equivalent knowledge. It will continue to develop your practical language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. By studying a variety of authentic audio, video and printed materials from Spain and Latin America, you will learn how to communicate in situations ranging from everyday conversation to putting forward your point of view in a debate.

Stage 3

The art of English (E301)



The art of English looks at creativity in the English language: from everyday language use (conversation, children’s language, letter writing, online chat) to ‘high culture’ literary language and new kinds of media texts. You’ll consider how ‘verbal art’ works in a wide range of texts, and the extent to which the seeds of literary creativity may be found in more routine uses of English. The course has an international dimension too, enabling you to explore language use in different parts of the English-speaking world.

BA (Honours) Language Studies (Q30) 4







English grammar in context(E303)



This course is for you if you’re interested in understanding and analysing how English ‘works’ in a wide range of contexts, including the media, fiction, academic writing and everyday conversation. This course provides an up-to-date framework for describing, analysing and evaluating how the English language is used. It takes a functional approach to grammar and includes hands-on computational analysis of large databases of texts to help you engage with real-world data and problems.

Mises au point: advanced French (L310)



This course follows on from Envol: upper intermediate French (L211). It continues to develop your knowledge and understanding of the society and culture of contemporary France and to extend the practical skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The course has six themes that give both broad and focused coverage of different aspects of historical and contemporary France and French-speaking countries.

Variationen: advanced German (L313)



This course follows on from Motive: upper intermediate German (L203). Variationen provides opportunities for you to study aspects of German speaking cultures in greater detail and develop your academic skills and language competence in the process. You will learn, for example, to understand and analyse authentic spoken and written sources, communicate and collaborate through media such as emails, forums and wikis, and present your own work by writing a variety of personal, journalistic and academic texts as well as by giving presentations.

A buen puerto: advanced Spanish (L314)



This course follows on from Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish (L204). It continues to develop your knowledge and understanding of the society and culture of Spain and Latin America and to extend the practical skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The course is structured around six themes, which give a broad introduction to different aspects of society and culture in Spanish speaking countries.

Can I study in any country?This course is not available in all countries. Please use the Course Finder menu at www.openuniversity.edu to see what courses are available in your country.

Is an OU qualification recognised in my country?An OU degree is equal in academic standard to a degree from any other British university. The University is subject to the same quality assurance procedures, through the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), as all other British universities, and uses external assessors and examiners to ensure comparability of standard and level in its courses.A leaflet is available on how you can apply for formal recognition in your country. To download the leaflet, please go to www.openuniversity.edu/brochures/recognition.pdf.

What tutor support will I receive?The OU excels in its unrivalled support for students. You’ll have email and online support from a tutor and you will be able to discuss your study in online tutor group discussions, using our customised learning environment. Our community websites Platform and OpenLearn offer a different perspective on your subject, and a huge range of OU resources on YouTube and iTunes U can expand your understanding. In addition, you can tap into a range of enthusiastic and welcoming OU social network groups on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Are there any entry requirements?For most undergraduate qualifications you don’t need any formal qualifications, or to pass an entry test to study with us. Our undergraduate qualifications are open to all because we believe anyone who is keen to succeed should have the opportunity to study.As part of the registration process, however, you will be asked to confirm your proficiency in English. (If you are unsure, you can take a short online test, which you will find when completing the online registration form.)

Can I count previous study towards an OU qualification?Any higher-education level studies you’ve successfully completed elsewhere may count towards your OU degree or other qualification. We enable you to do this by awarding you a certain amount of ‘transferred credit’. By transferring credit gained from previous study, you can reduce the amount you need from OU study to achieve your qualification. For more information please go to www.openuniversity.edu.

How do you work towards a qualification? We measure the size of our qualifications in credits – an honours degree is 360 credits, made up of three 120-credit stages.Each stage is made up of a number of modules which cover different parts of the subject. Modules are also measured in credits and are set at different ‘levels’. Levels give an indication of a module’s relative complexity and/or depth of learning. Most modules are worth either 30 or 60 credits and are set at Levels 1, 2 and 3, which roughly equates to studying in the first, second and third year at a campus-based university. So for a typical three-stage honours degree you would study: 120 credits at Stage 1, taking modules worth 30 or 60

credits at Level 1 120 credits at Stage 2, taking modules worth 30 or 60

credits at Level 2 120 credits at Stage 3, taking modules worth 30 or 60

credits at Level 3. In the example given above, each stage could consist of two 60-credit modules or one 60-credit module and two 30-credit modules, or four 30-credit modules.

How long does it take? Our qualifications are designed to be flexible. So if you want to vary the amount of time you spend studying, you can. The table below is a guide on the time required, but call us today to discuss how you can vary the study intensity and therefore the time taken to complete your course.

Undergraduate qualifications

Credits required

Time required to complete1

Diploma of higher education (Dip HE)

240 2 years full-time study or 4 years part-time study

BA degree with honours

360 3-4 years full-time study or 6 years part-time study

How much will it cost?If you are studying with us for the first time our standard fee for 2012/2013 is £5,000 – based on 120 credits of study – which is equivalent to a year’s full-time study at a campus-based university. Of course you don’t have to study 120 credits a year and the price you pay will be proportionate to the standard fee. So, for example, if you only study 60 credits a year, you will pay 50 per cent of the standard fee.

FAQs


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Credit studied each year1

Percentage of standard fee

Cost per year

Time taken to complete a 360-credit honours degree

120 credits a year

100% £5,000 3 years full-time study

60 credits a year

50% £2,500 6 years part-time study

1For illustrative purposes only – in most cases you can vary the number of credits taken per year and therefore the time taken to complete the course. Please note: prices are approximate and subject to change. Visit our website or call us for latest details.

When can I start?To give you more opportunities to start, most qualifications have two intakes a year – October and February. To start in October 2013, for example, you need to register no later than 10th September 2013.

What payment options are there?Your payment options include spreading the cost over monthly instalments with our own affordable student budget account, OUSBA (for certain EU countries). For more information please go to www.open.ac.uk/ousba.

Can I meet and network with other students?Definitely – when you start with the OU you automatically become a member of the Open University Student Association (OUSA). OUSA also runs a popular student forum site. For more information, go to www.ousa.org.uk. Once you have gained your qualification, you can join the OU Alumni Association, our vibrant and active alumni community with 280,000 members worldwide. You will enjoy many membership benefits, including regular newsletters, good networking opportunities and access to the alumni website.

How is my privacy protected?We record your personal information when you contact us and use this to manage registration, study, examination and other services. When you register, we’ll tell you more about how we process and use your personal information.

When should I apply?Apply as early as you can – particularly if you wish to claim for credit for previous study. Registration open dates are shown in the Courses section at www.openuniversity.edu.


The level of support is fantastic and the materials are

brilliant. It’s such a wonderful learning experience. Beverly Hooper, Open University student

Go to www.openuniversity.edu, select the Courses section and the degree you require. You will then be asked to select a pathway to register. (Pathways are different selections of course modules to complete your degree.)

Alternatively call us on +44 845 241 6555.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to pay anything at this stage.

As soon as you have registered you’ll get an email confirmation which contains your login details.

What do I need to do next?

It takes just 2 simple steps.Begin the process to secure your place. Here's how easy it is.

Before you start studying you will need to choose and register on your first modules and arrange payment; instructions for this will be emailed to you. Once complete you will officially be an Open University student – welcome!


2. Choose your first module, make payment to enrol

1. Register now

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The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England and Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).While we have done everything possible to make sure the information in this publication is accurate, it may change due to regulations or policy, or because of financial or other reasons.

Copyright © 2013 The Open University.

All details shown in this leaflet are correct as at February 2013, but are subject to change. Please call +44 845 241 6555 for the latest details.

ba (honours) language studies - the open university

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