"study" blog posts

Learning German - from beginner to prize winnerStudent in graduation gown and cap

Learning German - from beginner to prize winner

Isobel graduated in 2019 and here she tells us about her journey learning German at Liverpool - from starting as a beginner to becoming a prize winner!

Posted on: 19 April 2021

Iberian and Latin American Week 2021Seville Metropol Parasol

Iberian and Latin American Week 2021

Taking place from Monday 8th February to Friday 12th February, #IBLAW21 will bring you a taste of the languages, literature, visual arts, and musical traditions of Iberia and Latin America through online events and workshops.

Posted on: 4 February 2021

Italian film noir: a new cinematic concept? A scene from the film Romanzo Criminale

Italian film noir: a new cinematic concept?

Is there an Italian film noir? And if so, what is it? These crucial questions, among many others, will be tackled by the Italian film noir special issue co-edited by Dr Marco Paoli (University of Liverpool) and Dr Barbara Pezzotti (Monash University) and recently published in Studies in European Cinema. In particular, this special issue explores crime films from a creative and innovative thematic perspective, namely the influence of the concept of noir on Italian cinema.

Posted on: 27 November 2020

Alice reflects on her time as a student in the Department of Modern Languages and CulturesSchönbrunn Palace in the Summer

Alice reflects on her time as a student in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Alice, upcoming BA (Hons) English and German graduate (2020), talks about why she chose the University of Liverpool for her degree, how much she enjoyed the community by spending time in the Language Lounge, how she was prepared for her Year Abroad and what she did there in Vienna, and how she coped with the lockdown while finishing her degree.

Posted on: 3 July 2020

6 International Bakes You Need to Try and the Movies You Should Watch Whilst Eating Them

6 International Bakes You Need to Try and the Movies You Should Watch Whilst Eating Them

It’s time to pull open the cupboards and search for what you have. Got eggs that need using? Maybe make use of that flour you haven’t touched. We’ve compiled a list of incredibly tasty and sweet treats for you to have a go at. If you don’t have exactly what you need, swap some stuff out (within reason) or if not try one of our other recommendations. This is a way for you to get creative, you never know you may just invent the next food craze. So get that apron on and fire up the oven. Move over banana bread, the new kids are in town.

Posted on: 17 April 2020

My year abroad: The one with the French culture shock

My year abroad: The one with the French culture shock

After being in France for a few weeks, the initial excitement of moving to another country has started to dwindle and is instead being replaced with a sort of limbo-like feeling. I officially live in France, but I’m still not quite used to the complexities of Rennes life and culture. The things that were exotic and fascinating at first now seem confusing and disorientating. We were warned about experiencing culture shock in Liverpool’s pre-departure briefings, but it’s only now that I’m realising that that’s exactly what this comedown is. To help new travellers out, I’ve prepared a list of things to look out for, things to be warned about and things to get you hyped up about going abroad:

Posted on: 17 April 2020

17 Activities to Boost Your Mood Whilst Studying From Home

17 Activities to Boost Your Mood Whilst Studying From Home

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut sometimes and that’s okay. Everyone feels that way at one time or another. But the greatest feeling is getting yourself into the groove and achieving your goals for the day. Tackling the small things or doing something that you enjoy can help combat low moods and get you on the path to productivity. Here are some of our favourite things to do when we need a mood boost.

Posted on: 17 April 2020

My year abroad: The one with the first week in France (part two)Rennes 2 campus

My year abroad: The one with the first week in France (part two)

After meeting the other Erasmus students in Rennes, Emily continues her first week of studying in France by boxing off the admin jobs and going to her first lectures.

Posted on: 3 April 2020

My year abroad: The one with the first week in France (part one)

My year abroad: The one with the first week in France (part one)

“Just over a week has passed by in my new home, in my new country, and so many incredible things have happened.” In fact, so many things happened in Emily’s first week of her Study Abroad adventure that we’ve split this entry into two parts. In part one, Emily gets to know her fellow Erasmus students and check out the sights of the city.

Posted on: 23 March 2020

My year abroad: The one with the first day in France

My year abroad: The one with the first day in France

The day of my departure, I arrived at Birmingham Airport with far too much time to spare as usual (thanks mum). So after some weepy goodbyes and a Prêt A Manger baguette (very appropriate), the nerves were very quickly overtaken by a bit of airport boredom. Not the worst thing in the world, believe me, considering the adventure I was about to embark on.

Posted on: 10 March 2020

Las Tesis: A Women's History Month Special

Las Tesis: A Women's History Month Special

Women's History Month is a chance to celebrate the efforts that different feminist groups exercise to make the world a better and safer place.

Posted on: 6 March 2020

My year abroad: The one with all the packing

My year abroad: The one with all the packing

Pack. And then unpack. And then do it again. And still you’ll end up panic throwing something into the case the night before your departure. But at least with this list from Year Abroad student Emily Holtom in front of you, you’re less likely to forget something you really wanted to bring.

Posted on: 27 February 2020

My year abroad: The one with the checklist — 15 things to prepare

My year abroad: The one with the checklist — 15 things to prepare

There’s a whole lot that needs doing before you go off to live in a foreign country, whatever your pathway. Emily Holtom provides a neat little(ish) list for you to tick off.

Posted on: 20 February 2020

My year abroad: The one with revision and research

My year abroad: The one with revision and research

In the second part of Emily Holtom’s Year Abroad series, she gives an overview of the things you need to do and think about before your Year Abroad journey can begin.

Posted on: 5 February 2020

My year abroad: The one with all the introductions

My year abroad: The one with all the introductions

French and English student Emily Holtom kicks off a new blog series where she shares her experiences on her year studying abroad in France. For part one of the series, Emily introduces herself and provides an overview of her time so far in Rennes.

Posted on: 29 January 2020

Our top revision tips for exam season Student reading book in library.

Our top revision tips for exam season

It’s that time of year again. But you’ve got this. Deep breath.

Posted on: 6 January 2020

Best Places to Find the Ultimate International Festive Food in Liverpool in 2019

Best Places to Find the Ultimate International Festive Food in Liverpool in 2019

We've put together a list of the best festive food and drinks from around the world that you can pick up in Liverpool this year.

Posted on: 4 December 2019

GALLERY: Marking thirty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

GALLERY: Marking thirty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

Berlin has just concluded a ‘festival week’ of art installations, performances, exhibitions, talks, tours, workshops and concerts to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago: over 200 events in total. One of the main attractions was the installation ‘Visions in Motion’: a fluttering overhead carpet of 30,000 coloured ribbons, on which Berliners and visitors, young and old, had written their wishes, hopes and visions for the future. It was a mesmerising sight, providing spectacular scenery for the main evening extravaganza at the Brandenburg Gate on 9 November. But what does this tell us about 1989? Is this not too gimmicky – too light on history? Professor Anna Saunders, Head of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, examines the history of this anniversary.

Posted on: 11 November 2019

19th Edition of the Italian Language Week in the World

19th Edition of the Italian Language Week in the World

Last week marked the 19th Edition of The Italian Language Week in the World, a celebration of Italian language this year dedicated to Italian and the stage. Like every year, the Italian Subject Group of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures launched some local events.

Posted on: 11 November 2019

Iberian and Latin American Week 2019

Iberian and Latin American Week 2019

Taking place from Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November, the Iberian And Latin American Week will bring a taster of Iberian and Latin American Studies’ shared knowledge and interest in the Hispanic and Lusophone world to students.

Posted on: 14 October 2019

An Italian, a Spaniard and a Frenchman Walk Into a Bar… — An Improv Workshop for Language Teachers

An Italian, a Spaniard and a Frenchman Walk Into a Bar… — An Improv Workshop for Language Teachers

On Tuesday 10 September Ana Reimão from the University of Liverpool's Department of Modern Languages and Cultures hosted the workshop ‘Improv for Language Teachers’ led by Rosie Wilkinson, artistic director of Impropriety CIC. Ana provides a summary of the day and details how the workshop came about.

Posted on: 18 September 2019

Five things to do during Welcome WeekLiverpool skyline - photo by Charles Pragnell from Pexels

Five things to do during Welcome Week

Welcome Week kicks off on Monday, giving new students the opportunity to get to know their new flatmates, explore Liverpool and settle in before they start lectures. Take a look at our top five tips to help you get started with university life.

Posted on: 13 September 2019

Students share their year abroad experiences at the HSS Faculty Beacon Project workshop

Students share their year abroad experiences at the HSS Faculty Beacon Project workshop

This academic year, the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures was awarded HSS Faculty Beacon Project funding to produce employability-themed videos with final year students who had just returned from their Year Abroad. Dr Nicola Bermingham discusses the project and its aims.

Posted on: 9 July 2019

Sylwia's Erasmus adventure in Liverpool

Sylwia's Erasmus adventure in Liverpool

My name is Sylwia, and I’m a French student in \"Langues Etrangères Appliquées\" (Applied Languages English and German with a focus on Law, Economy and Literature) from Sorbonne-Université. My taste for adventure led me to do my Erasmus year abroad at the University of Liverpool where I study International Business and German with a specialisation in marketing to prepare me for my future Master’s.

Posted on: 14 May 2019

Language Stories in Liverpool — Portuguese

Language Stories in Liverpool — Portuguese

Languages Stories in Liverpool is a new project set up to highlight the broad spectrum of international languages and cultures in our great city. Sarah Blohm, Juliet Boardman, Hannah Bone, Olivia Phillips uncover Liverpool's relationship with the Portuguese culture.

Posted on: 8 May 2019

Our pick of international bands to see at Liverpool Sound City!

Our pick of international bands to see at Liverpool Sound City!

Liverpool is home to one of the biggest metropolitan music festivals in Europe! Liverpool Sound City will take over the Baltic area of the city this weekend (3 - 5 May), with more than 250 gigs spread across various venues; from acoustic and urban artists at cafés and bars to headlining bands and DJs in warehouses and clubs.

Posted on: 2 May 2019

Paula Rego: using her art to learn about history, politics and culturePaula Rego art book

Paula Rego: using her art to learn about history, politics and culture

It’s one thing to try and remember many different dates from the past – but how about learning about the history of a country through looking at art?

Posted on: 3 April 2019

Why are early modern French female writers so fascinating? Hélisenne de Crenne

Why are early modern French female writers so fascinating?

For Women’s History Month, academic Pollie Bromilow explores the work of Hélisenne de Crenne, a French female writer from the sixteenth century.

Posted on: 25 March 2019

Discovering Paula Rego - feminism, art and activismPaula Rego etchings

Discovering Paula Rego - feminism, art and activism

Luke, one of our language students, tells us why he is passionate about the art of Paula Rego - who is considered to be one of the greatest living painters.

Posted on: 8 March 2019

Student delivered Portuguese taster sessions offered to local schoolsStudents delivering a Portuguese taster session to secondary school pupils.

Student delivered Portuguese taster sessions offered to local schools

Ana Bela Almeida, Lecturer in Portuguese at the University of Liverpool reflects on the benefits of the ‘Portuguese language taster’ presentation as an assessment for final year Portuguese students and as an opportunity to increase school pupils’ knowledge of languages at University.

Posted on: 18 December 2018

Young speakers of Mexican indigenous languages: contesting language ideologies and policiesColegio Paulo Freire and MLC students

Young speakers of Mexican indigenous languages: contesting language ideologies and policies

Based in Mexico and situated within the broad area of sociolinguistic inquiry into languages in situations of endangerment, Lucia Brandi's research investigates how the institutionalisation of language rights is reconfiguring discourses of indigeneity, reframing cultural and linguistic diversity as state patrimony, and embedding generic notions of indigeneity into Mexican national identity. Such discourses are contextualised as policy responses to increasing unrest and mobilisations which Lucia argues have effectively instrumentalised linguistic and cultural identity in the pursuit of social goals since the late 20th century.

Posted on: 10 December 2018

Alice's Adventures in AustriaStudy Abroad Austria

Alice's Adventures in Austria

Alice, a third-year German and English student at the University of Liverpool, provides an update on her year abroad adventure in Vienna, where she'll complete a work placement with 3D printing company Lithoz.

Posted on: 5 November 2018

Outsider Insiders: Francis Alÿs and Melanie Smith at Liverpool BiennialSeries of 3 small landscape paintings

Outsider Insiders: Francis Alÿs and Melanie Smith at Liverpool Biennial

As the Liverpool Biennial draws to a close, Dr Niamh Thornton highlights the work of two artists who moved from Europe to Mexico, and considers Mexico as a place with a long tradition of welcoming outsiders.

Posted on: 24 October 2018

Music, cinema, language... Introducing Iberian and Latin American Week 2018IBLAW 2018

Music, cinema, language... Introducing Iberian and Latin American Week 2018

Taking place from Monday 29 October to Sunday 4 November, the Iberian And Latin American Week will bring a taster of Iberian and Latin American Studies’ shared knowledge and interest in the Hispanic and Lusophone world to students.

Posted on: 23 October 2018

‘Beautiful world, where are you?’ - film director, Agnès Varda, at Liverpool BiennialThree screens showing films

‘Beautiful world, where are you?’ - film director, Agnès Varda, at Liverpool Biennial

French and English student, Paige Johnson, explores the work of pioneering French New Wave director, Agnès Varda at Liverpool Biennial.

Posted on: 16 October 2018

Art in the city - what to see at Liverpool Biennial 2018 Someone holding the Biennial Guide with an exposed brick background

Art in the city - what to see at Liverpool Biennial 2018

More than 40 artists from 22 countries will participate in this year’s Liverpool Biennial which invites artists and audiences to reflect on \"...a world in social, political and economic turmoil\". It's the largest festival of contemporary art in the UK and this year's theme is 'Beautiful world, where are you?'.

Posted on: 20 July 2018

InnoConf18: a celebration of language teaching and learningMatthew Philpotts addresses the delegates at InnoConf18

InnoConf18: a celebration of language teaching and learning

On Friday, 22 June, we hosted the InnoConf18 Innovative Language Teaching and Learning Conference, titled “New Trends in Language Teaching and Learning at University”.

Posted on: 17 July 2018

Germany and the language of footballFrank Beckenbauer (AP)

Germany and the language of football

Veronika Koeper-Saul discusses the linguistic idiosyncrasies that have arisen from perspectives of the beautiful game in Germany: from 1954 World Cup winning manager Sepp Herberger's blunt motivational words, to former Bayern Munich manager Giovanni Trappatoni's infamous press conference rant.

Posted on: 14 June 2018

Slaves of Fashion: Indian textiles, new artwork and French colonial historySingh Twins

Slaves of Fashion: Indian textiles, new artwork and French colonial history

It was in January 2014 that I first met The Singh Twins. They had conceived a project for a number of new artworks that would explore the history of Indian textiles and, having read my work on the French colonial presence in India, wanted to discuss British and French rivalry in India before 1799 as well as the role that Indian textiles played in revolutionising European fashions in the eighteenth century.

Posted on: 9 May 2018

Join us for a celebration of French culture with Francophone WeekFrench flag

Join us for a celebration of French culture with Francophone Week

May 1968 was a period of significant civil unrest in France, with widespread protests across the country causing a temporary shutdown of government. The mouvement sparked an explosion of French music, art and culture which still resonates with the public today. Fifty years on, we're hosting a Francophone Week series of events to celebrate the best in French culture: from art to fashion, cinema to music.

Posted on: 26 February 2018

From Liverpool to Palermo: Molly's Year AbroadMolly Davis, Hispanic Studies and Italian Graduate

From Liverpool to Palermo: Molly's Year Abroad

Hispanic Studies and Italian graduate Molly Davis reflects on her exciting adventure studying in Spain and Italy.

Posted on: 5 February 2018

How language and immigration are connected, and why we should careA beach with blue sky

How language and immigration are connected, and why we should care

Both in the UK and Europe, immigration is at the forefront of many of today’s political debates. Immigration and language are inextricably tied: For immigrants, knowing the language of their new community can play an important role in their ability to fully participate in day to day life.

Posted on: 21 September 2017