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Language learning and resources

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There are a variety of print and digital resources to assist students with their studies and language learning development.

English for Academic Purposes 

Pathway Student Resources (Foundation and Pre-Sessional Pathways)

  • Print Resources

The Global Study Lounge provides a curated selection of print resources to help enhance your general and academic English skills while you study on the Pre-sessional Programme or one of the University’s Foundation Programmes.

There are graded readers and novels, as well as English language and skills textbooks. You can use these in the Lounge on an ‘honesty system’. Full guidance can be found in the Lounge. Resources cannot be removed from the Lounge, but you can photocopy up to 10% of a resource to take away with you.

  • Digital Resources

Our Global Study Lounge Resources Blackboard Site contains guides, tasks, and links to user-friendly interactive webpages and e-resources to help you develop your general and academic English skills.

Students taking one of our pathway language modules will be automatically enrolled on the Blackboard Site. If you do not already have access to the site, you can self-enrol on the Blackboard site here.

In-Sessional International Student Resources (Academic English programme)

If you are currently studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme and would like to improve your academic language and communication skills, please see the courses, workshops and consultations available free to all fee-paying international students as part of the Academic English Programme.

International students at degree programme level study are also welcome to use the print resources available in the Lounge.

The Academic English Programme runs some of its courses, workshops, and consultations in the Global Study Lounge, including its daily weekday drop-in service during semester time. See Events and Activities for the Lounge’s timetable.

 

LibGuides

The University Library provides a general guide on Language Learning with aspects relevant to students developing their academic English skills and well as to learners of other languages

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Other Language Learning

Modern Foreign Languages

The Global Study Lounge communicates frequently with colleagues in the Department of Languages and Cultures (DLC) and offers itself as a venue for their events and activities. Modern foreign language resources are currently held in the DLC Language Library in the Miller building as well as in the central library on the Whiteknights campus. Find out about studying a language at degree level by visiting the Department of Languages and Cultures webpages.

Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP)

You can enrich your time at Reading by taking an optional module with the IWLP, adding variety to your learning experience and meeting students from all years and a range of degrees. Learning a language will unlock new worlds of travel, culture, media, and food, and allow you to broaden your employability skillset, or prepare for living or working abroad in the future, while also having fun. You’ll also develop your intercultural competence through interacting with a diverse student and staff community.

In the IWLP’s dynamic and interactive classes, you’ll use the language from the start and continue to build your communicative ability as the course progresses. You can start as a beginner or continue a language you already know to a higher level. Arabic, British Sign Language (BSL), Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Modern Greek, Russian and Spanish are currently offered. For more information, including when language tasters are offered, visit the IWLP website or watch the video from Reading Student Emily below.

 

Find a Language Buddy!

Buddy Up! is a student-led volunteering group designed to help students make friends and find a language buddy to help with their language practice and development. More information is available via the Reading Students' Union Buddy Up page, Instagram and by expressing your interest via the Buddy Up! form.