Language Centre course timetable
Thursday 2 February
09:00 |
CULP: Chinese (Mandarin) Basic 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
09:30 |
Using close reading and translation of academic texts from their particular discipline, this weekly class is intended to help research students in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences to develop their skills in reading French documents that they have come across or may meet in their research. The course aims to develop strategies for reading longer texts faster through close analysis, grammatical and stylistic commentary, and translation. For example, literary texts with differing editions, stories with two or more translations into English that need to be compared and evaluated, poems of challenging originality or range of allusion. Classes will be conducted in English, but there will be many opportunities to use French and practise reading aloud. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
10:00 |
CULP: Italian Basic for Academic Purposes (LAP)
In progress
This course will start at Basic level and move quickly through the basics of Italian grammar. Students with some background in the Italian language (Intermediate level) are most welcome to join the group in January (Lent term) when we start reading more complex, original texts. Using close reading and translation of academic texts from their particular discipline, this weekly class is intended to help research students in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences to develop their skills in reading Italian documents that they have come across or may meet in their research. Students will be encouraged to bring along their own texts and work in pairs to enhance the learning experience. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
11:00 |
JTC: Study Abroad Advice
Finished
A 30 minute appointment with a Language Adviser to explore intensive language courses abroad for your specific requirements. We can offer pointers for evaluating the options available and share information gleaned from students' feedback on courses that they have attended. |
CULP: French Intermediate 2
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At intermediate 2 level, the focus shifts slightly towards reading and writing whilst still offering plenty an opportunity for oral communication. The syllabus is more topical and the contents feature many a cultural, historical, political and current affairs theme. While the grammar is analysed within a context, explicit grammar instruction becomes an integral part of the course. More detailed information is available on our website. |
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11:30 |
CULP: German Basic (total beginners) for Academic Purposes (LAP) - PRIMARILY FOR CLASSICISTS
Finished
PLEASE NOTE: This course is PRIMARILY FOR CLASSICISTS. This weekly class is intended to help research students in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences to develop their skills in reading German documents they need to deal with in their research. Each session will be divided into two parts: The first part will consist of grammar, tasks to develop insight into the reading process, help with dealing with complex sentence structures, academic conventions, abbreviations, etc. The second part will be devoted to the translation of original German texts from different periods and covering a range of topics. Each week you will be asked to attempt a translation into English of a German passage. Students will be encouraged to bring along German texts from their own research to translate. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
CULP: French Basic 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. More detailed information is available on our website. |
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12:30 |
CULP: German Basic 2
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. More detailed information is available on our website. |
If you are an intermediate level learner and would like the chance to improve your speaking skills in a relaxed and informal setting, then this opportunity might interest you. Come along and take it in turns to choose a conversation topic of personal interest each week. This could be one that's familiar to you but you want to practise more. Devise 4-5 questions to get the conversation started. Example topics could be holidays, food, traditions or hobbies. **If you are at the stage where you would like to discuss newspaper articles/current affairs, please attend the Advanced Conversation Hour.** Receive feedback on your pronunciation and accuracy, and try stretching yourself further. Suitable for those who have completed an intermediate 1 Spanish CULP course or those who have a B1 level in the CEFR. If the course is already 'in progress' please click on 'register your interest' in order to book a place. |
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13:00 |
Please note that the Conversation Hours will be delivered online If you are an intermediate level learner and would like the chance to improve your speaking skills in a relaxed and informal setting, then this opportunity might interest you. Come along and take it in turns to choose a conversation topic of personal interest each week. This could be one that's familiar to you but you want to practise more. Devise 4-5 questions to get the conversation started. Example topics could be holidays, food, traditions or hobbies. **If you are at the stage where you would like to discuss newspaper articles/current affairs, please attend the Advanced Conversation Hour.** Receive feedback on your pronunciation and accuracy, and try stretching yourself further. Suitable for those who have completed an intermediate 1 French CULP course or those who have a B1 level in the CEFR. If the course is already 'in progress' please click on 'register your interest' in order to book a place. |
A chance to practice German conversation/pronunciation with a volunteer native speaker. The 20-minute session will take place via MS Teams video chat. |
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13:20 |
A chance to practice German conversation/pronunciation with a volunteer native speaker. The 20-minute session will take place via MS Teams video chat. |
13:30 |
This course is designed for students and staff of the Judge Business School at Cambridge University, who have prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese and wish to learn how to better communicate with native Chinese speakers in business settings. For the language elements, the course is focused on key business communications in four areas: Present yourself and your business; establish business relations; business work and travel; and promote your business. Another element of the course is to equip students to communicate effectively in the Chinese business context, through gaining a good understanding of Chinese company culture through industry case studies. More information can be found on our website. |
13:40 |
A chance to practice German conversation/pronunciation with a volunteer native speaker. The 20-minute session will take place via MS Teams video chat. |
14:00 |
PLEASE NOTE: This course is PRIMARILY FOR CLASSICISTS. This weekly class is intended to help research students in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences to develop their skills in reading German documents they need to deal with in their research. Each session will be divided into two parts: The first part will consist of grammar, tasks to develop insight into the reading process, help with dealing with complex sentence structures, academic conventions, abbreviations, etc. The second part will be devoted to the translation of original German texts from different periods and covering a range of topics. Each week you will be asked to attempt a translation into English of a German passage. Students will be encouraged to bring along German texts from their own research to translate. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
14:30 |
CULP: French Intermediate 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At intermediate 1 level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. More detailed information is available on our website. |
15:00 |
CULP: Spanish Basic 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
CULP: German Basic 2
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. More detailed information is available on our website. |
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15:15 |
These Portuguese reading courses are designed for researchers, graduate students and staff who have a particular interest in Latin American, Brazilian, Portuguese or Lusophone language, culture and heritage. They offer linguistic tools that will enable students to comprehend complex texts and produce critical readings and interpretations. The classes are going to be conducted primarily in English, even though there will be plenty of opportunity for oral and listening practice. The courses feature a listening and speaking component as to prepare student to conduct field work in Portuguese. The Basic course does not require any knowledge of the language while the prerequisite for the Intermediate course is a CEFR A2 level. The courses offer the possibility of progression and Basic students are strongly encouraged to continue with the Intermediate course. Please note that these courses are attended by a number of very able, Spanish speaking students of Latin American studies and that the class dynamics are likely to be fast paced. For the rest of the students this might be challenging but also very rewarding and conducive to sound progress. The courses will start from a Basic level and will aim at:
Alongside that, they will be requested to do grammar exercises related to the basic structures of the language, such as verbs and their complements. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
16:00 |
CULP: Arabic Basic 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
CULP: Russian Basic 2
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic 2 level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. More detailed information is available from the Language Centre. |
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CULP: French Advanced
![]() With effect from August 2022 CULP Advanced level students will be included in the population for the HESA student return. We obtain much of the information required via the annual student registration exercise. CULP students, who are not currently following another course of study, will receive an email inviting them to complete Registration. At the start of the student registration process there is further information about the data collection for statutory purposes and the relevant privacy notices from the University and HESA. The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At advanced level the focus shifts slightly towards reading and writing whilst still offering plenty an opportunity for oral communication. The syllabus is more topical and the contents feature many a cultural, historical, political and current affairs theme. While the grammar is analysed within a context, explicit grammar instruction becomes an integral part of the course. One of the aims of the advanced level courses is also presentation skills as the courses aim to cater to the academic needs (i.e. research, conferences) of the students. More detailed information is available on our website. NB: Advanced courses are official, award-bearing University qualifications. Please also note that the certificates and transcripts are usually issued in July. |
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This course is designed for students whose Chinese level is at about CEFR A1+ or A2, ideally suited to those students who have completed the CULP Chinese Basic 2 course or have taken Chinese at GCSE Level. No particular musical ability is required. |
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17:00 |
CULP: Japanese Basic 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
These Portuguese reading courses are designed for researchers, graduate students and staff who have a particular interest in Latin American, Brazilian, Portuguese or Lusophone language, culture and heritage. They offer linguistic tools that will enable students to comprehend complex texts and produce critical readings and interpretations. The classes are going to be conducted primarily in English, even though there will be plenty of opportunity for oral and listening practice. The courses feature a listening and speaking component as to prepare student to conduct field work in Portuguese. The Basic course does not require any knowledge of the language while the prerequisite for the Intermediate course is a CEFR A2 level. The courses offer the possibility of progression and Basic students are strongly encouraged to continue with the Intermediate course. Please note that these courses are attended by a number of very able, Spanish speaking students of Latin American studies and that the class dynamics are likely to be fast paced. For the rest of the students this might be challenging but also very rewarding and conducive to sound progress. The courses will start from a Basic level and will aim at:
Alongside that, they will be requested to do grammar exercises related to the basic structures of the language, such as verbs and their complements. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
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CULP: German Advanced Plus
![]() The concept underpinning this course is one of fostering the learning of higher Advanced German language through listening (mainly films), reading (mainly literature), speaking and writing (both film and literature). Every session will offer a choice of extracts either from the German* literary canon or from critically acclaimed films, or indeed both, which illustrate the session’s theme. These passages will be analysed by means of listening, reading and communicative exercises and will lead to a discussion about their aesthetic, wider cultural, historical and political implications and relevance today. More detailed information is available from the Language Centre website. |
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CULP: Spanish Basic 2
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
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CULP: Spanish Intermediate 2
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At intermediate 2 level, the focus shifts slightly towards reading and writing whilst still offering plenty an opportunity for oral communication. The syllabus is more topical and the contents feature many a cultural, historical, political and current affairs theme. While the grammar is analysed within a context, explicit grammar instruction becomes an integral part of the course. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
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This course is designed for students whose Chinese level is at about CEFR A1+ or A2, ideally suited to those students who have completed the CULP Chinese Basic 2 course or have taken Chinese at GCSE Level. No particular musical ability is required. |
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Please note that the Conversation Hours will be delivered online This conversation hour offers learners with an independent conversational ability (B2/C1 level upwards) a chance to practice speaking Portuguese with others in a relaxed and informal group led by a native-speaker facilitator. The content of the sessions is decided by the participants, with members taking turns to propose a topic and source materials (newspaper articles, web links, videos etc.) to use as a basis for discussion. The groups are ideal for those who wish to retain or improve upon the language skills they already have or for those studying for a language degree who would like another forum for interaction at advanced level. Participants from Portuguese Advanced CULP are warmly invited to attend the Portuguese Conversation Hour. If the course is already 'in progress' please click on 'register your interest' in order to book a place. |
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CULP: Ancient Greek Basic 1
![]() ![]() This course is appropriate for absolute beginners (ab initio learners) with no knowledge of Ancient Greek. Those with a knowledge of Modern Greek are welcome to attend but may find the pace a little slow. More detailed information is available from the Language Centre website. |
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Speaking practice with a Portuguese native-speaker volunteer via Zoom communication software. |
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Hedging is an important skill in academic writing, used to show uncertainty, hesitation, or caution where appropriate, whilst boosting can be used to intensify certainty. In this workshop we will consider when, why, and how to use hedging and boosting effectively in our academic writing and practise using both in a range of example sentences. |
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17:20 |
Speaking practice with a Portuguese native-speaker volunteer via Zoom communication software. |
17:30 |
The Advanced Conversation Hours are a great way to practice the spoken English of academic discussion and debate. They are suitable for learners comfortable in spoken interaction at level C1 and above. The weekly sessions encourage a relaxed and fun approach to communication designed to both aid interaction and build confidence. If the course is already 'in progress' please click on 'register your interest' in order to book a place. Cost for 6 sessions £31 Students, £41 Staff, £51 Partners and Visiting Scholars |
18:00 |
CULP: Korean Basic 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At basic 1 level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
CULP: Italian Basic 2
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At a basic level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. For more detailed information about the course please visit our website. |
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18:20 |
A one-to-one practice speaking session with a volunteer native Japanese speaker. |
18:30 |
CULP: French Intermediate 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At intermediate 1 level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. More detailed information is available on our webiste. |
19:00 |
CULP: Japanese Elementary 1
![]() The Programme offers general language tuition with a focus on communicative competence. At elementary 1 level, the focus is on every day and real-time, oral/aural communication. Each course features a functional-notional syllabus and grammar points are analysed in context. More detailed information is available on our website. |
CULP: British Sign Language Basic 1
![]() The course is delivered in a visual way. It offers 30 hours of classroom tuition in a group, (up to 16 students), and requires the students to study independently (or in pairs) for an additional 30 hours. |