August 2012 For immediate release

Sample a new language at university open day

Leeds Metropolitan University is inviting budding linguists to attend an open day on Wednesday 12 September, where they can find out more about the part-time language courses starting at the University in October. The open day will run from 12 2pm and from 6-8pm in Macaulay Hall at the Universitys Headingley Campus.

The part-time language programme at Leeds Metropolitan University offers one of the largest selections of taught languages in the UK, taught by a team of over 70 specialised academic members of staff, the majority of whom are native speakers. Around 170 classes are offered in 19 languages, from beginner to degree level, at Leeds Metropolitans Headingley Campus, with a selection of the most popular languages also running at Rossett Extended School in Harrogate. Graham Webb, Principal Lecturer in Languages at Leeds Met, said: Our parttime language courses give the ideal chance to try that new language you have always wanted to learn for your holidays, for your work or just for pleasure. Learning a language is perfect exercise for the mind, just like doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku, with the added advantage that you develop a lifelong skill and can engage with new people and cultures. students and staff that are excited by language and culture. With our

courses, the focus is always on enjoying learning and engaging with other

Daytime and evening classes are available and languages include Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Farsi/Persian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Urdu.

Students receive a university award after every two full years of study successfully completed, including Certificates, Diplomas and BA degrees.

Elizabeth Higgins, who is studying Italian with Leeds Met at Harrogate, commented: I always wanted to go to Italy for its style and culture. I used to work in textile design and travelled throughout Europe but never made it to Italy so I decided that I wanted to do this when I finished work. Ive now just been on a weeks language course in Florence. Its been my lifes ambition to go to Italy and now Ive been able to do it. I would say to anyone that is thinking of studying a language part-time that it is worth doing. The whole course is taught entirely in Italian so it really keeps your mind active. You also learn a whole new culture and meet like-minded people so it benefits you beyond the lessons. There are twelve of us who have been through six years of study together and that really makes it enjoyable.

Also on offer at Headingley Campus are French and Spanish courses for existing and aspiring primary school teachers to develop their language skills at beginners level. These courses will enable teachers to deliver language

classes and activities appropriate to the syllabus for primary schools in Yorkshire.

Classes will commence at Leeds Met the week beginning Monday 1 October and at Rossett Extended School the week beginning Monday 17 September and all courses run for 26 weeks and cost 175. For further information, please call 0113 812 7440 or visit www.leedsmet.ac.uk/part-timelanguages

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For further details please contact Carrie Braithwaite in the Communications team at Leeds Met on 0113 812 3022 or email c.braithwaite@leedsmet.ac.uk

Notes for editors: Leeds Metropolitan University has over 27,000 students and around 3,000 staff. The Vice Chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University is Professor Susan Price and the Chair of the Board is Lord Woolmer of Leeds. Leeds Metropolitans four faculties are: Arts, Environment and Technology, Business & Law, Health and Social Sciences, and Carnegie. Leeds Metropolitans heritage can be traced back to the founding of the Mechanics Institute in Leeds in 1824. International students rated the University top in the UK for language support, accommodation quality and learning spaces in the 2010 Autumn Wave of the International Student Barometer and sixth in the world for the quality of its lectures. We have over 1,500 international students from 122 countries around the globe. The Universitys award-winning learning environments include

Broadcasting Place, which was voted the best tall building in the world in 2010 by the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and also winner of the 2010 Leeds Architecture Awards New Building category.