Open University

BA (Honours) in Language Studies

This qualification has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• In Stage 1, you’ll study a compulsory 30-credit or 60-credit module, depending on whether you choose to combine English language studies with a modern language or two modern languages. You’ll choose your remaining 90 or 60 credits from a range of language modules.
• In Stages 2 and 3, you’ll study a 60-credit module in each of your chosen subjects/languages.

Your chosen route will be a combination of two subjects: either English language studies with a modern language (French, German or Spanish) or two of these modern languages. You have two options for completing the different stages of your study:

• study both subjects at the same time, working through Stages 1, 2 and 3 in order, or 
• study one subject first, completing these subject modules at each Stage, then repeating the route for your second subject.

Whichever option you choose, if you start as a beginner when combining two modern languages, you’ll study 150 credits at Stage 1. Your degree will take at least four years to complete.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Introducing English Language Studies (L101)

You'll choose 60 credits from the following lists (at least 30 must be from list B):

List A:

• Introduction to French Studies (Beginners) (L102)
• Introduction to German Studies (Beginners) (L103)
• Introduction to Spanish Studies (Beginners) (L106)
• Beginners’ Chinese (L108)
• Exploring Languages and Cultures (L161)
• English for Academic Purposes Online (L185)

List B:

• French Studies 1 (Intermediate) (L112)
• German Studies 1 (Intermediate) (L113)
• Spanish Studies 1 (Intermediate) (L116)

Two modern languages

French and German; French and Spanish; or German and Spanish

You'll study the following:

• Exploring Languages and Cultures (L161) - 30 credits

You'll choose 90 credits from the following lists (at least 30 must be from list B):

List A:

• Introduction to French Studies (Beginners) (L102)
• Introduction to German Studies (Beginners) (L103)
• Introduction to Spanish Studies (Beginners) (L106)
• Beginners’ Chinese (L108)
• Introducing English Language Studies (L101)
• English for Academic Purposes Online (L185)

List B:

• French Studies 1 (Intermediate) (L112)
• German Studies 1 (Intermediate) (L113)
• Spanish Studies 1 (Intermediate) (L116)

Stages 2 and 3 (240 credits)

English and French

Stage 2 (120 credits):

You'll study both of the following:

• French Studies 2: Language and Culture of the French-speaking World (L222)
• English in the World (L201)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• French Studies 3: Language and Culture of the French-speaking World (L332)

You'll choose one from:

• Language, Literature, and Childhood (L301)
• Language and Creativity (E302)

English and German

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• German Studies 2: Language and Culture of the German-speaking World (L223)
• English in the World (L201)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

• German Studies 3: Language and Culture of the German-speaking World (L333)

You’ll choose one from:

• Language, Literature, and Childhood (L301)
• Language and Creativity (E302)

English and Spanish

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You’ll choose one from:

• Spanish Studies 2: Language and Culture of the Spanish-speaking World (L226)
• English in the World (L201)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Spanish Studies 3: Language and Culture of the Spanish-speaking World (L336)

You’ll choose one from:

• Language, Literature, and Childhood (L301)
• Language and Creativity (E302)

French and German

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• French Studies 2: Language and Culture of the French-speaking World (L222)
• German Studies 2: Language and Culture of the German-speaking World (L223)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• French Studies 3: Language and Culture of the French-speaking World (L332)
• German Studies 3: Language and Culture of the German-speaking World (L333)

French and Spanish

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• French Studies 2: Language and Culture of the French-speaking World (L222)
• Spanish Studies 2: Language and Culture of the Spanish-speaking World (L226)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• French Studies 3: Language and Culture of the French-speaking World (L332)
• Spanish Studies 3: Language and Culture of the Spanish-speaking World (L336)

German and Spanish

Stage 2 (120 credits)

• German Studies 2: Language and Culture of the German-speaking World (L223)
• Spanish Studies 2: Language and Culture of the Spanish-speaking World (L226)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

• German Studies 3: Language and Culture of the German-speaking World (L333)
• Spanish Studies 3: Language and Culture of the Spanish-speaking World (L336)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
• You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or an alternative location.
• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.

When you complete your studies, you will be able to demonstrate that you can:

Knowledge and understanding

• Communicate fluently and appropriately with competent speakers of at least two languages in a broad variety of oral and written contexts, including academic ones, maintaining a high degree of grammatical accuracy and appropriate style
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of aspects of the societies of the countries where each language is spoken (including aspects such as literatures, cultures, linguistic contexts, politics, geography, and social and economic structures)
• Show intercultural communicative competence, including a reasoned awareness and critical understanding of the cultures and societies associated with each language and the ability to describe, analyze, and evaluate the similarities and dissimilarities between cultures and societies with your own
• Recognize the relationship between language and social and political processes, as well as debates surrounding the historical and contemporary relationships between other languages
• Recognize how language develops, works, and changes, and how it is used in a variety of contexts and for a variety of purposes
• Understand the nature of linguistic evidence and the different methods used in the collection, description, and analysis of language data. (This learning outcome only relates to the routes which include English Language)
• Understand the communicative processes associated with a range of spoken and written academic and/or literary genres.

Cognitive skills

• Make use of a wide variety of written, spoken, and multimodal texts for different audiences, employing appropriate reading and listening strategies
• Interpret and critically evaluate evidence in the light of alternative explanations, arguments, and theories
• Write texts of different types, following appropriate structures and conventions, selecting and making critical use of written and spoken sources
• Make spoken presentations on particular topics, using appropriate styles and techniques, and take part in a wide variety of spoken interactions, using appropriate discourse strategies.

Practical and/or professional skills

• Work independently, scheduling tasks and managing time effectively
• Gather and process information from a variety of paper, audio-visual, and electronic sources
• Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills related to academic tasks, including collecting and analyzing linguistic data (this learning outcome only relates to the routes which include the English language)
• Make independent judgments and construct coherent arguments, supported by evidence and appropriately referenced
• Plan and undertake small-scale research.

Key skills

• Recognize and use effective learning strategies
• Gather, identify, use, and evaluate information from a variety of sources and in a variety of forms
• Respond to feedback to improve the effectiveness of written and spoken communication
• Use information and communication technologies (ICT) as a means of communication, as an aid to learning generally, and as an aid to collaborative learning
• Understand, interpret, and discuss basic statistical data in the form of graphs, tables, and diagrams.

Skills for career development

By the time you graduate, 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. If you learn about English alongside another language, your study of its structure, history, and place in societies and cultures will greatly enrich and develop your understanding of all aspects of communication.

Certain skills flow directly from your studies like translation, fluent communication in more than one language, the ability to compose and analyse a range of texts, and the ability to work well with members of other cultures and communities. You’ll also develop a broad set of employability skills, including the ability to:

• Communicate effectively, clearly, and accurately with others
• Manage and motivate yourself
• Plan, organise, and prioritise your work
• Manage time and work independently and as part of a team
• Evaluate and reflect on your work
• Set realistic objectives and meet your own goals
• Understand contemporary global issues and appreciate cultural diversity
• Draw together, analyse, and critically evaluate information
• Use your knowledge about how language works in a range of settings
• Put together reasoned arguments and question assumptions
• Use information and communication technology (ICT) effectively
• Analyse data and undertake research using a range of methods

Career relevance

As a linguist, you’ll enjoy a broad range of career opportunities directly related to your field: teaching; translating; interpreting; the diplomatic service; the media (publishing, journalism and advertising); leisure, tourism and travel; and working in international organisations and government bodies. There is also a particular demand for language skills in education and more broadly across the economy in client-facing roles. These range from business development, sales, marketing, logistics and tourism to supporting and managing performance in global markets, and to offering services (from health and social care to driving instruction) in an increasingly diverse UK. Studying a language can also be your passport to a new life abroad.

Other careers

Employers in all fields value applicants who can communicate well, analyse, evaluate and present ideas and arguments effectively. These skills can be used in work where research or written communication plays a major part such as advertising, marketing, journalism, publishing and public relations.

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree. Linguists are particularly adept at relating to other people and being open to different points of view which are highly regarded skills in many professional settings.

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

• A week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
• Course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
• Module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
• Details of each assignment and their due dates
• A tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
• Online versions of some printed module materials and resources.