Resources guide
Guided tour around the Languages Resources Centre
A Language Resources Assistant will be happy to answer your questions about resources and equipment during office hours. If you would like an introduction to the Centre or would like to consult a language learning advisor you are welcome to use the advisory service.
To help you get the most out of the Language Resources Centre, a selection of study and access guides have been designed. These provide valuable tips on strategies to improve language learning as well as giving the location of useful learning materials.
Language level is indicated on course books and other materials with coloured dots which relate to School of Modern Languages language levels.
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Self-access reading materials
The Language Resources Centre stocks a large variety of foreign language newspapers, magazines and journals, including back issues. Specialist technical magazines are available in Catalan, Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. English magazines and journals are also available, as well as daily copies of the Guardian.
Shelves are divided into individual language areas and contain a comprehensive range of course and reference books, such as dictionaries, thesauri, grammar books, and materials relating to specific areas (e.g. law, science, engineering).
Audio and visual material
Cassettes
A large collection of off-air audio recordings and course tapes can be found in the self-access Laboratory. These are available in Catalan, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and many non-taught languages such as Arabic or Japanese.
Multimedia topic boxes
Specialist topic boxes holding audio and video recordings and printed materials are available in Catalan, Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
The boxes can be found in both the Language Resources Centre and the individual resources rooms and contain accompanying exercises, transcripts and answer keys. A menu at the front of each box lists the contents.
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Computer-based learning and facilities
Computer workstations
Computers in the Language Resources Centre, French, German and Spanish resources rooms, Southampton Oceanography Centre and Engineering Resources room are all linked to the School of Modern Languages Network. These provide learners with a range of language software, email and Internet facilities.
Software
The School of Modern Languages has a large collection of software packages relating to individual languages. These include the major foreign newspapers and magazines such as Le Monde, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, la Vanguardia, der Spiegel and FAZ as well as electronic dictionaries, encyclopaedias and grammar reference and practice packages.
Internet
The Internet, which can be accessed from University workstations, provides an invaluable source of information for language learners. The Student Learning Resources page on the School of Modern Languages Web site contain useful Web links in the major languages for general research, news, on-line publications, specialist dictionaries, the Sciences and Arts; general study skills etc
Video conferencing
Video conferencing facilities are available through the Language Centre. This exciting new technology is used for distance language learning and communication with students and staff at other universities, both in the UK and abroad.
