Why study languages at UoN?

This is a new program offered by the University of Newcastle. If you are interested in learning a language such as Chinese, French, German or Japanese, alongside your main bachelor degree enrolment, then this program is for you. You are also able to study this program as a stand-alone enrolment, either as a first tertiary degree program or after another program.

You can study one language intensively or study multiple languages in a more general manner.

Studying another language is a very significant addition to your CV, being sought after by many employers. It can also bring great personal satisfaction. It brings with it a deep appreciation of cultural difference and exciting opportunities to communicate with people from outside the English-speaking world.

Language study enhances travel opportunities and is an unrivalled way to gain cross-cultural understanding. If you desire a career that involves travel, overseas postings, teaching, and interaction with foreign-language clients and markets, then the diploma will suit you. Teamed with a professional, vocational or liberal-arts qualification it will open a wide range of career and life-style opportunities to you.

What you will study

The Diploma of Languages offers courses that cover a range of language competency, including speaking, listening, reading and writing, in formal and informal contexts. Find out more

Your future

Pursuing the Diploma of Languages alongside a bachelor program will enhance your qualifications, making it possible for you to pursue extensive career avenues. Find out more

What you will study

The Diploma of Languages offers courses that cover a range of language competency, including speaking, listening, reading and writing, in formal and informal contexts.

Courses are available in:

• Auslan (Australian Sign Language)
• Chinese
• French
• German
• Greek
• Japanese
• Latin

80 units in one language will provide functional fluency in that language; 40 units in each of two languages will provide basic competence in those languages. Please note: 80 units are not available in all language areas.

Study is part-time, taken over a minimum of two years and a maximum of six. Courses of study are structured for progressive attainment of competency. No knowledge of a language is assumed and courses begin at novice level, but if you have some knowledge of a language, you can begin at a higher level as advised by lecturing staff.

Studying the Diploma of Language, additional to your degree program, will add only one extra year onto your study and will allow you to graduate with two qualifications - a bachelor degree and a diploma.

You also have the option to accelerate the completion of your studies by taking on an additional course each semester (50 units rather than 40 units).

Almost all courses in the diploma involve face-to-face learning and so students in the program must be prepared to attend classes at the Callaghan campus on a regular basis.

Your future

Pursuing the Diploma of Languages alongside a bachelor program will enhance your qualifications, making it possible for you to pursue extensive career avenues. You will be able to broaden your career to the non-English-speaking world, deal with clients and markets offshore in non-English-speaking countries and relate to non-English-speaking clients within Australia. Proficiency in another language (other than English) is highly sought after in the professional world.

Through the program, qualified teachers can acquire teaching competence in a language other than English (LOTE). Combinations of language study and other programs are unlimited.

Knowledge in a LOTE can provide you with opportunities to work with international bodies such as the United Nations and its agencies and others such as Medicins Sans Frontieres. Competency in at least one language other than English is expected for those who wish to work in the European Union.

Within Australia, careers with languages include:

• diplomacy
• international business and trade
• intelligence services within and outside the military
• tourism
• teaching.

A language competency makes for mobility in a career and enhances general literacy, by making learners aware of the structure and functioning of language. Ninety-four per cent of the world’s population does not speak English as a first language, and 75 per cent do not speak English at all. It is hard to envisage a future career where the ability to communicate in a language other than English, and to build relationships, is not highly valuable.