Learn a Language, a tandem language learning and development initiative, started by Dr Carla Figueira in ICCE, continues this academic year to support students and staff to find a language buddy with whom to develop conversational skills in foreign languages, intercultural competencies and to celebrate Goldsmiths’ super-diverse community.

The scheme uses an Exchange Board on Learn.gold to pair up individuals, who then meet up with their buddy regularly and spend half the time talking in each of the respective languages to practice and learn. Supporting the scheme, the Library makes available language learning resources and dedicated guides. Language mixer events delivered by students and staff provide an opportunity for the cementing, augmenting and enhancing the foreign language and intercultural skills of students and staff at Goldsmiths.

This voluntary staff-student initiative developed from a language exchange board started by Dr Carla Figueira in 2013 for ICCE students. In 2017 it was offered to the whole of College. This development was enabled by a successful application to the Annual Fund by Dr Figueira, jointly with Dr Sarah Maitland, from ECL, and the then Goldsmiths Students’ Union International Officer, Jun Lim. Further funding contributions from Student Recruitment and Engagement and also the support of many individuals and services at Goldsmiths, such as TaLIC, allowed the widening of the offer.

This academic year, Learn a Language offers students HEAR paid opportunities, thanks to the support of the Pro-Warden International and International Development and Academic Partnerships. A student administrator and a group of student language facilitators – covering currently French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic, Korean – support Dr Figueira and Dr Maitland in the delivery of the initiative.

The Learn a Language leadership team continues to work to develop in College awareness of the need for a more structured and sustainable approach to and support of linguistic and cultural diversity at Goldsmiths. If you can help, please get in touch via email learnalanguage@gold.ac.uk or attend our next mixers advertised on Learn.gold.