Language Teaching and Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) Birkbeck, University of London

Overview

The Language Teaching and Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) at Birkbeck, University of London provides a unique opportunity to combine advanced linguistic mastery with the practical theory of education. Students explore how languages are acquired and structured while developing the expertise required to teach modern languages or English effectively. This multidisciplinary approach ensures graduates are well-prepared for international careers in communication and pedagogy.

The curriculum is designed to accommodate various entry levels, from complete beginners to those with advanced proficiency. By engaging with the psychological and social contexts of language, you will gain a deep understanding of how humans produce and perceive speech.

Why Language Teaching and Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) at Birkbeck, University of London?

• Benefit from research-led teaching delivered by a multidisciplinary team of specialists in a centre of excellence.
• Study in the heart of Bloomsbury, located near world-class research libraries and major cultural institutes like the Goethe Institute and Japan House London.
• Access the Centre for Multilingual and Multicultural Research, which hosts international scholars and regular research seminars.
• Choose the international experience route to spend a year at a partner institution in Europe or Japan to immerse yourself in your chosen culture.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: GBP 18500 per year
• National fee: GBP 9535 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

• Languages, Cultures and Applied Linguistics
• Approaches to Language
• Analysing Language Structure and Use
• Investigating Language
• Language Learning
• Language Teaching Research
• Language and Identity
• Language and the City
• Neurolinguistics

Careers with Language Teaching and Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish)

Graduates are equipped with transferable skills in critical thinking, structured prose, and cross-cultural communication. This degree prepares students for professional roles such as translators, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers, and editorial assistants. Many alumni also find success as publishing copy editors, proofreaders, or within the civil service fast-stream programme.