{"id":37,"date":"2018-04-27T14:42:29","date_gmt":"2018-04-27T14:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/?p=37"},"modified":"2019-10-04T08:07:06","modified_gmt":"2019-10-04T08:07:06","slug":"outward-mobility-and-real-world-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/2018\/04\/27\/outward-mobility-and-real-world-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"Outward mobility and real world engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Alison Nader<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Ali Nicholson<\/strong>, Lecturers, International Study and Language Institute\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a.m.nader@reading.ac.uk\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0a.v.nicholson@reading.ac.uk\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Year of activity 2017\/18<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>For the past 2 years UoR students taking IWLP French 20 credit optional modules have had the opportunity to undertake 2 weeks of intensive language study in France at CUEF, Universit\u00e9 Grenoble Alpes.<\/p>\n<p>Students arrange their own travel and accommodation with light touch support from IWLP staff.<\/p>\n<p>They now have the possibility to take a credit module based on their experience, in the academic year following their return from France.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-38 aligncenter\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble-366x275.jpg 366w, https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2018\/04\/Grenoble.jpg 1378w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0IWLP Students arriving at the CUEF, Universit\u00e9 Grenoble Alpes, France<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Objectives<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>To give students the opportunity to study and live independently in France for a short period of time.<\/li>\n<li>To improve language skills, in particular speaking and listening in real world situations.<\/li>\n<li>To offer the opportunity to use their real world experience on a credit bearing IWLP language module.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In SSLC meetings and end of year module evaluations, students had been asking for the opportunity to spend a short period of time in France.<\/li>\n<li>The placement needed to fit around the students\u2019 core studies.<\/li>\n<li>Recognition by UUki that outward mobility experiences are increasingly important for graduate attributes.<\/li>\n<li>University of Reading\u2019s ambitious outward mobility targets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Implementation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Initially this experience was conceived of as a trip abroad, responding to student requests for recommendations of where they could go to take a short intensive language course.\u00a0 Two members of IWLP staff researched short language courses offered by French universities.\u00a0 Having identified CUEF, a part of l\u2019Universit\u00e9 Grenoble Alpes, as having a suitable offering, IWLP staff visited the Centre, met the French staff and observed teaching on the courses.<\/p>\n<p>Before leaving for France, students are supported with briefing sessions given by IWLP French staff but have to organise travel, accommodation and where necessary visas, themselves.<\/p>\n<p>The classes take place outside UoR term time and to date students have either chosen to go for two weeks during the Easter holidays or in early September.<\/p>\n<p>In the first year 2016-17, 10 students took up the opportunity and this year the expectation is that numbers will increase, 10 have just returned and more will be travelling out in September.\u00a0 Students have to pay the fees, travel and accommodation.\u00a0 So far each cohort has received a small bursary from UoR but this is not guaranteed.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017-18 students were offered the opportunity to select a credit bearing placement module on their return.\u00a0 A small number of students opted to take the module and the improvement in their ability to undertake an oral presentation in French was truly remarkable.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>From the student perspective, their competence in speaking and listening in French demonstrably improved.\u00a0 The improvement for those who took the credit bearing module was measurable from comparative assessment results before and after the placement.<\/p>\n<p>Students also acquired transferable skills and increased their independence, confidence and motivation.\u00a0 In feedback one of the students commented: \u201cgoing by yourself from a country to another implies responsibility and independence\u201d and another mentioned how the experience increased her general confidence.<\/p>\n<p>These gains also came from practising in a real world situation and, for those who had not visited France before, a greater cultural understanding of the country where the language is spoken.\u00a0 Increased linguistic confidence and cultural awareness was cited in feedback by a student who commented on his motivation for going on the placement, to improve his French as well as to \u201creally understand what it takes to learn French by understanding the culture\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The mobility opportunity also contributes to the UoR Global engagement strategy and outward mobility targets.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Reflections<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Quite apart from an increase in students\u2019 linguistic competence, they gain in independence and heighten their intercultural awareness.\u00a0 The cohesive group that went to France this spring are themselves from eight different countries.\u00a0 This time, as a \u201cbonus\u201d they experienced at first hand strikes and blockades of university buildings: coping with all of this strengthened their group cohesion.<\/p>\n<p>In general, on their return, students are enthusiastic ambassadors for learning a language.<\/p>\n<p>Short-term mobility opportunities can attract students who would not be able to go abroad for longer periods, though Home students have said that even a small study abroad bursary or help with the travel costs would encourage more of them to take up this opportunity.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Follow up<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Scaling up the offering may be challenging from the organisation and staffing point of view, however it is hoped to extend the opportunity to other languages in the near future.<\/p>\n<p>As the IWLP modules are offered to students from Schools across the university, the mobility placements can contribute to the internationalisation of students university-wide.<\/p>\n<p>Ensuring inclusion, finding sustainable ways of financially supporting students and resourcing staffing are top priorities for future development.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Links<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishcouncil.org\/sites\/default\/files\/iu_bc_outwd_mblty_student_perception_sept_15.pdf\">https:\/\/www.britishcouncil.org\/sites\/default\/files\/iu_bc_outwd_mblty_student_perception_sept_15.pdf\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.universitiesuk.ac.uk\/policy-and-analysis\/reports\/Documents\/International\/UK-Strategy-for-outward-student-mobility-2017-2020.pdf\">http:\/\/www.universitiesuk.ac.uk\/policy-and-analysis\/reports\/Documents\/International\/UK-Strategy-for-outward-student-mobility-2017-2020.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/web\/files\/cqsd\/University_of_Reading_Curriculum_Framework_for_web_with_infographic.pdf\">http:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/web\/files\/cqsd\/University_of_Reading_Curriculum_Framework_for_web_with_infographic.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Placement Modules<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/modules\/document.aspx?modP=LA1FP3&amp;modYR=1819\">https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/modules\/document.aspx?modP=LA1FP3&amp;modYR=1819<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/modules\/document.aspx?modP=LA1FP4&amp;modYR=1819\">https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/modules\/document.aspx?modP=LA1FP4&amp;modYR=1819<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/modules\/document.aspx?modP=LA1FP5&amp;modYR=1819\">https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/modules\/document.aspx?modP=LA1FP5&amp;modYR=1819<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alison Nader\u00a0and\u00a0Ali Nicholson, Lecturers, International Study and Language Institute\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a.m.nader@reading.ac.uk\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[24,23,89],"tags":[7,8],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/t-and-l-exchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}