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Student blog: Helen – “Term differences and holiday plans”

December 12, 2016 / Helen Anne Joules

Life definitely gets busy around this time of year (hence my lack of posts), and unfortunately it’s not just due to thinking about Christmas. Unlike last year at Lancaster, I haven’t got coursework as such to work on (though I did have a 30 minute individual presentation, *gulp*), rather I’ve just had one exam and have another on Thursday- this doesn’t quite allow the festive spirit as much as usual. To avoid thinking about that, I thought I’d give you some information about the term dates in Germany and the differences to those in England.

The academic year over here isn’t the same as in Lancaster; instead of three terms (Michaelmas, Spring and Summer) there are two semesters (Winter and Summer). Winter semester lasts from (for Tübingen) the middle of October until the middle of February, with a two-week Christmas break (from the 24th December until the 8th January). From mid-February to mid-April there is a two month long semester break; I think some subjects have to write essays in this period, but this isn’t the case for my course. I’ve heard that most people use this time to work, travel or return home (unsure which I’m doing yet, but I know it’s not working!). The summer semester then runs from the middle of April to the end of July, and then August until mid-October is their summer holiday.

It’s quite important to keep these dates in mind, as the summer holidays are quite different, meaning that you need to be careful when applying for summer internships or placements, as many start in the middle of June (when there are still exams). Anyway, that’s the boring part over… now a bit about Christmas!

Unlike a lot of Erasmus students I know, I won’t be back in England for Christmas day. This is partly due to the late semester finishing date, but mostly because I’m half German, and nearly every other year we spend Christmas with my German relatives (obviously it makes sense for this to be when I’m already in the country!) After those few days I will be returning to England, to see friends, my cats and celebrate the New Year. Coming home has been a long time in the making, and I’m really excited; whilst there are so many things I love about being here, for me the holidays are a time to be at home, and I’ll definitely make the most of it!

Alas, back to procrastinating revision… talk soon?

Student blog: Niamh – “Accommodation at ANU”

December 7, 2016 / Niamh Bush

As I promised at the end of the last post, this post will be dedicated to the accommodation options available at the Australian National University.

For the last 5 and a bit months I have been living in on-campus, catered, shared (i.e. sharing bathroom facilities but having a bedroom to yourself) accommodation in a college called Ursula Hall. Ursula Hall is one of six undergraduate halls on campus: Bruce, Burgmann, Burton and Garran, John XXIII, Unilodge, and Ursula.

Bruce Hall is currently being demolished, with residents being moved to a new building for 2017/2018 (SA5). Because nobody has lived in SA5 before, I’m not sure about the arrangements or how it’s going to work, so I probably wouldn’t recommend it for 2017/2018 exchange students.

B&G is a great option if you would prefer being self-catered. It has a very large kitchen area consisting of around 10 individual kitchens, so it’s a perfect space for meeting new people.

Unilodge is the newest and most modern of accommodations, but the flats are either shared with a very small number of people, or are single studios. From talking to my friends in Unilodge, they’ve said that it can really be quite isolated living there, and it’s mainly made up of international students. I would suggest that the ‘shared’ accommodation types are best for meeting new people, and getting a more Australian experience.

The off-campus options for undergraduates are Fenner and Griffin halls. Griffin Hall does not provide accommodation, but is a community that students who live in town (i.e. have found their own accommodation) can access in order to participate in sports and arts activities that the other university halls offer.

Fenner is around a 20 minute walk from campus and will follow Bruce in being demolished in (I believe) 2018/2019, so this may not be the best option.

Even if you’ve been in self-catered accommodation in Lancaster this year, I would definitely recommend trying a catered college. Being in a catered college with set meal times means that it’s so much easier to meet new people and make friends. Plus, it’s much easier in terms of not needing to buy all of your pots and pans, and having to do a weekly grocery shop. This saves so much time (and money in the long run).

No matter which college you choose, each will be involved with a range of arts and sports competitions. Netball, softball, choir, dance -there really is something for everyone. I would definitely recommend getting involved with as many of these activities as you can. They’re a great method for meeting new people.

I have had the most amazing time at Ursula Hall and I would recommend it in a heart beat.

I think that’s all for now, but if you have any questions please feel free to email/facebook me.

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Dr Jenefer Philp: Keynote lecture in Lisbon

November 25, 2016 / Patrick Rebuschat

Dr Jenefer Philp was a keynote speaker at the 6th International Conference on Teaching English as a Foreign Language, which took place at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas – FCSH), Nova University, Lisbon, Portugal, 18-19 November, 2016. Jenefer’s keynote was on “Creativity and language teaching learning. Imagining the possibilities…” The theme of this year’s conference was “Communication, culture and creativity in the ELT classroom.”

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Student blog: Helen – “Just thought you ought to know”

November 14, 2016 / Helen Anne Joules

The past weeks have been a blur (as is now becoming the norm), but I wanted to take a couple of minutes to fill you in on (some of) the things you ought to know before studying abroad- especially in second year!

Administration abroad is not necessarily what you’re used to; here there isn’t really a centralised hub of information, so use those friends on your course/lecturers/flatmates to check that you’re not missing out on something important.
Additionally, living together abroad is also not necessarily the same as what you’re used to. Going from a flat of 8 who (mostly) kept their doors open to a flat of 3 where the doors are pretty much always shut is quite a change. See where these friends come in again?
The first few weeks are tough. Make sure that you’re keeping in contact with people back home if you’re struggling with homesickness and/or mental health, whilst also trying to build a network of new friends here. You’ll need people to fall back on.
The workload in second year is a big step up from first year, even if you stay in Lancaster, so prepare to be (more than slightly) overwhelmed when you start the academic year.
Make time to travel- you (if you’re anything like me) do need to set aside time to travel. I can very easily get caught up with work and not give myself a break, but when you’re in mainland Europe it’s so much closer to travel (never before have I been able to do a day trip to Zürich).
The vast majority of people you will meet on Erasmus are in their third year of a four year course. People will ask why you are here. “Because I can” works well as a reply.
Germany is cold. Yes, this needed its own bullet point. Bring long-sleeved tops, hats, scarves, gloves, coats (and anything you can layer), else you will freeze.
On the other side, Germany is cheap. Or England is expensive (it’s definitely England that’s expensive). You’re saving on tuition fees, food and accommodation, which really adds up.
You will meet a lot of people from a lot of countries, and it’s amazing. I know that this is possible in Lancaster, but when you’re in a different country it’s so much easier. This being said, integrating with German people isn’t as easy as I thought it would be (but it does happen- clubs/sports are great for this).

I think that’s all my advice for now. I’ll pop some pictures from Zürich and the Rhine Falls underneath (because it was so pretty), and well… talk soon?

Professor Panos Athanasopoulos: TEDx talk in Greece

November 11, 2016 / Patrick Rebuschat

Professor Panos Athanasopoulos just returned from Greece where he gave a TEDx talk on “Ascending Babel: The gravity of language on our thoughts.” Panos’ talk was part of a truly impressive (sold-out) TED event on “Gravity of Thoughts”. The event took place on Nov 5, 2016, at Noesis – Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum. It featured talks by architects, designers, academics, musicians, etc. as well as artistic performances and workshops. For more information, please visit the event website. Panos’ abstract is below. You can access a (Greek) interview on this page.

Panos Athanasopoulos: Ascending Babel: The gravity of language on our thoughts

Language doesn’t just reflect what we have in our minds, our ideas, but is itself the shaper of ideas. Therefore, we do not all think the same, but rather along the lines laid out by the language(s) we speak. Understanding this key fact allows us to look at different languages as microcosms of different sets of ideas and behaviours. Learning new languages then allows us to become mind readers, it is our doorway to understanding the minds of different people, predict how they might behave in certain contexts, understand the variability in their behaviour, and ultimately reflect back on our own ideas and behaviours, and re-evaluate them in new light.

Dr Marije Michel: Keynote lecture in Macau

November 11, 2016 / Patrick Rebuschat

Dr Marije Michel has just returned from giving one of the keynote lectures at the 3^rd International Conference on Cognitive Research on Translation and Interpreting in Macau. Marije’s keynote focused on “Eye-tracking text chat in a second language”.

The conference took place on 3-4 November 2016 and brought leading scholars from the United States, UK, Spain, Denmark, Australia, Argentina, Hong Kong, Macao and the Chinese mainland to the University of Macau. It provided a forum for the presentation and discussion of current cognitive research on translation, interpreting and language acquisition.

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University workshop on “Academics as recruiters”

November 11, 2016 / Patrick Rebuschat

This University-wide event took place on Nov 10, 2016, and brought together over 50 colleagues from across all Faculties and Central Services. It featured short presentations by Professor Robert Geyer (AD International, FASS), by colleagues from the International Office and by FASS, LUMS and FST academics who have recruited overseas in the past (see schedule below).

The purpose was to identify colleagues (academics and professional services) who might be interested in recruiting overseas (agents, fairs, etc.) and to provide them with an idea of what makes a good recruitment trip. It was also an opportunity to share best (recruitment) practices across the University’s many departments and service units.

The presentations and the discussions on the day demonstrated the impressive range of experience available across Lancaster University, and it clearly demonstrated that a forum for sharing this experience within the institution could improve our recruitment efforts.

We are grateful to all speakers and delegates, and especially to Robert Geyer, Claire Astle and Lindsey King for support in the organization of the event. The event was supported by the FASS Internationalization Fund.

Schedule

1.00 to 1.15: Buffet lunch

1.15 to 1.20: Robert Geyer (FASS, AD International): Welcome, then: Why is international recruitment so important?

1.15 to 1.20: Annie Brunt (Head of International Office): The International Office – Its function within University

1.30 to 1.40: Jamie Vegad (Regional Manager, Africa, Middle East and Indonesia, International Office): Working with agents (including how to train agents)

1.40 to 1.50: Emma Carline (International Partnerships Manager, International Office): Recruitment fairs – The top 10 questions (and how to best answer them)

1.50 to 2.00: Alice Callaghan (Regional Manager – Europe, Russia & South America, International Office): Typical recruitment trip: From agreeing to go to back

2.00 to 2.30: Experienced academic recruiters share their recruitment experience
•       Astrid Nordin (FASS)
•       Phil Benachour (FST)
•       Danny Soetanto (LUMS)

2.30 to 3.00: Q&A with panel

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Your Global Exploration: Interested in visiting New York and Boston next spring?

November 10, 2016 / Patrick Rebuschat

LAEL/LUSU March 2017 USA Trip

Linguistics and English Language students are invited to apply to join a two-week trip to the USA. Leaving the UK on 27 March 2017, and returning on 7 April, we will travel first to Boston, Massachusetts. Here you will learn more about the history and politics of the United States, meet local students and travel to the New England town that was the birthplace of transcendentalism. You will also have time to enjoy the culture and famous sites of the city. The second stage of the trip takes us to New York City, where our focus will shift to visiting the headquarters of the United Nations and the 9/11 Memorial Museum while giving you time to take in the amazing sites that New York has to offer. You will also spend time at the Endangered Language Alliance to learn more about their work in the areas of language documentation and preservation in this ethnically and linguistically incredibly rich and diverse city. In addition, you will attend a lecture at NYU given by Prof. David Hoover, who is a world expert on stylometry and forensic linguistics.

There are photos and blog posts from students who travelled on last year’s trip: https://world.lancaster.ac.uk/events/10

Please have a look at this poster for additional information, but here are the key facts about the trip:

You will be travelling with Dr Willem Hollmann, a Senior Lecturer in the department. He will be able to help you connect the activities that you take part in on the trip to your studies. The trip will be delivered by LUSU.

Trip fee: £1,495. This fee will cover flights, accommodation, University travel insurance and scheduled activities. This fee does not cover meals, transportation to/from the UK airport (London Heathrow), visa or ESTA costs (as required), personal items, spending money or optional activities.

Financial Assistance: There are grants available to help students cover the cost of the trip. The majority of the grants available are for £500-£975. Anyone is welcome to apply, but applications will be prioritised for students who qualify for a means-tested bursary from the University. Everyone is also encouraged to talk to their College Administrator to see if they qualify for a college travel grant.

To register your interest for the trip, please click on this link.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST: 5pm, 11 November 2016

There is no commitment at this stage, and you will be able to apply for financial assistance. We will then get back to you by 21 November to let you know what the cost of the trip will be, taking into account any financial assistance that we are able to offer you.

If you have any questions, please email Julia Devaux at j.devaux@lancaster.ac.uk.

Dr Jenefer Philp: Erasmus visit to the University of Barcelona

November 9, 2016 / Patrick Rebuschat

Our colleague Dr Jenefer Philp just returned from a productive Erasmus visit to the University of Barcelona. Jenefer met with Barcelona staff and students to discuss their research. Highlights included a talk on “Peer interaction and second language learning”, an undergraduate TEFL class on task-based language teaching, and discussing research projects with Dr Roger Gilabert and colleagues. We hope to welcome Dr Mayya Levkina on an Erasmus exchange visit to Lancaster in 2017!

Jenefer’s trip was financed by the Erasmus+ scheme, which provides exciting opportunities for UK participants to study, work, teach, volunteer and train in Europe.

Important study-abroad events to attend in Michaelmas 2016

November 3, 2016 / Patrick Rebuschat

After attending our Dept Study-abroad session, the next step is to attend the events below organized by the International Office. Any questions, please email Dr Patrick Rebuschat (p.rebuschat@lancaster.ac.uk) or the International Office (exchanges@lancaster.ac.uk).

Forthcoming Events

Date	Event		Time	Venue
Wed, 26 Oct 2016	LAEL Study-abroad information session	Information session for students in Linguistics and English Language	10am – 12pm	County South C89
Wed, 09 Nov 2016	Study Abroad Initial Briefing	Students interested in Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 2pm	Elizabeth Livingstone Lecture Theatre
Wed, 09 Nov 2016	Study Abroad Initial Briefing	Students interested in Studying Abroad in 2017/18	5pm – 6pm	Biology Lecture Theatre
Fri, 11 Nov 2016	Study Abroad Initial Briefing	Students interested in Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 2pm	Management School Lecture Theatre 1
Wed, 16 Nov 2016	Study Abroad Fair	Students interested in Studying Abroad in 2017/18	2pm – 4pm	Minor Hall
Mon, 21 Nov 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in if you have any questions about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House
Fri, 25 Nov 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in and see us if you have any question about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House
Mon, 28 Nov 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in and see us if you have any question about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House
Wed, 30 Nov 2016	Briefing Session: Which University is Right for me? & Funding Study Abroad	About: How to research your potential host universities and create your shortlist. About: How much it is going to cost, what proof will I have to show, how can I do this? Come along and get the answers to these and other funding question.	1pm- 2pm	Faraday Lecture Theatre
Fri, 02 Dec 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in and see us if you have any question about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House
Mon, 05 Dec 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in and see us if you have any question about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House
Wed, 07 Dec 2016	Briefing Session: What Next?	About: How do I apply for a place? What are the deadlines and when will I know if I have been successful?	1pm – 2pm	Faraday Lecture Theatre
Fri, 09 Dec 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in and see us if you have any question about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House
Mon, 12 Dec 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in and see us if you have any question about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House
Fri, 16 Dec 2016	Study Abroad Drop-in Session	About: Pop in and see us if you have any question about Studying Abroad in 2017/18	1pm – 3pm	Room C6, International Office, University House