Music and Modern Languages & Cultures BA

Core modules:

Digital Skills for Music

The module aims to develop your confidence and technical expertise with a range of technologies of value to academic and professional practice. Lectures will introduce fundamental principles and specific technologies for use in researching, creating and producing music. These technologies will then be applied in the production of a collaborative project, helping students to develop team work and interpersonal skills that will serve them in subsequent levels of study and professional practice.

Indicative areas of study include audio recording and production, sound design, computational literacy, data analysis, the ethics of artificial intelligence, effective group work, research management and productivity.

20 credits

History of Western Music

This module provides an overview of some of the key issues in the history of Western art music, as well as the historical context surrounding them. A range of approaches to the study of music history will be considered, giving you an introduction to the discipline of musicology. The module will also develop your ability to write about music and use primary and secondary sources to inform critical discussions.

20 credits

Core language modules (select one):

French Advanced

This unit aims to consolidate an initial preparation for a prolonged professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and introduces the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to engage in authentic and spontaneous interaction with native speakers (CEF level B2).

20 credits

French Beginner Intensive

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a elementary level, orally and in writing, with native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2+).

20 credits

Understanding Modern France and Francophone Cultures

This core content module will introduce students to key aspects of France's history, society, politics and culture through the study of a range of important texts and media. It will focus on key historical events and texts (including print, film, and other media) to examine the values and ideas that inform French and francophone societies today, giving an historical overview of their development from Louis XIV to the present day. You will learn the key critical skills specific to a range of cultural forms and develop a . It will provide them with a sound understanding of disciplinary studies, both within the language(s)/culture(s) they have chosen to study and, more broadly, within the discipline of Languages and Cultures today. The module will facilitate your transition to University study, to complement the core language modules (which also cover aspects of culture) studied at Level 1, in addition to serving as the solid foundation for more advanced study and specialisation at Level 2 and onwards.

20 credits

German Advanced

Assuming a good A level in the language or equivalent, this unit aims to provide an initial preparation for a prolonged professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and introduces the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to engage in authentic and spontaneous interaction with native speakers (CEF level B2-).

20 credits

German Beginner Intensive

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a elementary level, orally and in writing, with native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2+).

20 credits

Understanding German and Dutch Histories and Cultures

This core German and Dutch content module will introduce students to the history, societies, politics, and cultures of the German- and Dutch-speaking worlds. You will focus on the major historical events and dynamics (such as the building of the Berlin Wall, Dutch and Belgian colonialism,  the impact of WW2, the importance of the Greens to contemporary Germany. You will explore key texts and a range of visual material. You will also acquire a theoretical toolkit that will enable you to analyse these major events and cultural forms. The module complements the core German and Dutch language modules (which also cover some aspects of culture) studied at Level 1, in addition to serving as the solid foundation for more advanced study and specialisation at Level 2 and onwards.

20 credits

Dutch Beginner

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a basic level, orally and in writing, with sympathetic native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2).

20 credits

Russian Advanced

This unit aims to consolidate an initial preparation for a prolonged professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and introduces the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to engage in authentic and spontaneous interaction with native speakers (CEF level B2).

20 credits

Russian Beginner Intensive

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a basic level, orally and in writing, with sympathetic native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level A1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages understand and make themselves understood orally by a sympathetic native speaker in simple, routine, predictable situations, requesting or providing factual information, and coping with unfamiliar language or unexpected responses by asking for repetition or clarification read aloud and extract key information from short, simple texts and written documents (messages, notices, instructions, brochures, etc.) talk about holidays (e.g. places they visited, food they ate) in the past and the weather write simple notes, messages and short personal letters or emails (e.g. write a postcard to a friend, fill in a simple form) demonstrate a basic insight into the most common aspects of the culture and everyday life in the target country so as to react appropriately in simple situations demonstrate a practical understanding of essential grammar terminology and a basic ability to study the language by themselves, using essential tools such as the World Wide Web or a dictionary and developing techniques for the acquisition and retention of new language demonstrate awareness in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, presenting information, handling simple unexpected communicative situations, taking intercultural differences and language barriers into account, learning independently, etc.

20 credits

Russian and Czech Cultures in the Age of Empire and beyond

This module gives an overview of Russian and Czech cultures with a focus on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will critically examine the concepts of statehood, empire, nationalism, totalitarianism and democracy by studying the two nations' different experiences through visual sources, literature and language usage. It thus introduces students to topics dealt with in greater depth in optional modules at Levels 2 and 3, and helps them to learn how to analyse cultural artefacts and sources of different kinds.

20 credits

Czech Beginner

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a basic level, orally and in writing, with sympathetic native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2).

20 credits

Spanish Advanced

This unit aims to consolidate an initial preparation for a prolonged professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and introduces the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to engage in authentic and spontaneous interaction with native speakers (CEF level B2).

20 credits

Spanish Beginner Intensive

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a elementary level, orally and in writing, with native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2+).

20 credits

Understanding Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese Histories and Cultures

This module examines the historical trajectories of Spain (including Catalonia) and Portugal; their emergence as states in the Iberian Peninsula; their  imperial expansion overseas into Latin America, Africa, and Asia; and the eventual independence of the colonies and their development and consolidation into the various modern-day states we know today. The module will explore the social, political, linguistic and cultural characteristics of these states and their peoples, and highlight the importance of understanding their complex histories in the formation of national and other identities, languages and cultural and political values. Seminars focussing on key cultural outputs (e.g. film and other visual cultures, literature, music) complement large-group lectures.

20 credits

Catalan Beginner

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a basic level, orally and in writing, with sympathetic native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2).

20 credits

Portuguese Beginner

This unit aims to consolidate and expand the general foundation in the language and culture acquired at Beginner's level, providing a solid basis for the next level and enabling learners to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at an elementary level with native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2).

20 credits

Optional modules for all students:

Music in a Global Context

Whatever kind of music study you decide to specialise in, you'll do it better if you see it in the context of music as a phenomenon common to all humanity. You'll understand what's different about your own chosen field but also how the music you love derives from diverse cultural sources. In this module we examine how any music uses specific ways of organising sound to serve particular cultural purposes. You'll learn to recognise and describe diverse musical styles, research them through scholarly sources, present an analysis using appropriate audio-visual technology, and take control of the transferable skills you're developing.

20 credits

Composition

In this module you will develop your composition skills, practice writing music in staff notation, and learn to write effectively for different instrumental and vocal forces. Drawing on the models of a diverse range of classical composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, we will focus on techniques for writing inventive melodies and rhythms, and employing wide-ranging approaches to harmony. The module aims to give you a foundation in composition and increase your confidence in preparation for further study.

20 credits

Popular Music Studies

This module provides an introduction to the academic study of popular music. You will explore key approaches to studying popular music in its socio-cultural contexts, investigating major issues and debates. Lecture materials and in-class tasks will engage with approaches to the analysis of popular music and media, issues of representation, authenticity, identity, technology and industry. The module is delivered via lectures and group tasks to encourage interaction and collaboration between students. Assessments are designed to allow you to apply key analytical and theoretical frameworks to music of your own choosing, testing both your individual skills and knowledge alongside group work and collaboration.

20 credits

Psychological Foundations of Music

Music Psychology offers insights, ways of thinking, reflective tools and methods to understand the foundations of musical behaviour, learning and thought. This module offers the foundation to students to be able to engage with the literature, knowledge and underpinning techniques in this area. Learning about psychology of music will help you engage with some of the most provocative questions about musicality, such as what enables our capacity for music, why we respond emotionally to music, whether music makes us smarter, and what underlies therapeutic applications of music for health and wellbeing?

20 credits

Performance

In this module you will develop the musical and intellectual abilities appropriate to solo performance. The theoretical background is considered, focusing on the aural and analytical skills essential to performance at an advanced level. An awareness of style and interpretation, as well as effective preparation and communication are built into teaching. You will receive one to one tuition in addition to attending whole class performance lectures.

20 credits

Music Analysis

This module aims to introduce, develop and refine ways of thinking, listening and writing about western music.  You will learn to listen to and analyze harmonic, tonal, motivic, thematic, melodic, rhythmic, textural and formal features of a range of western music genres, such as Common Practice harmonic principles, Medieval counterpoint, jazz standards and rock'n'roll.  By using analytical techniques to reveal distinctive structural characteristics across multiple styles of music, this module not only prepares you for western-music-based modules at FHEQ levels 5 and 6  but also provides new models of approaching music that can be applied in wider creative and empirical contexts.

20 credits

Euro-Visions: Imagining and Questioning Europe

What is 'Europe'? What does it mean to be European?   The module interrogates the idea of Europe for those who live within and outside its borders. It examines different ways in which Europe has been imagined and critiqued, through case studies that focus on, for example, language, culture, politics, or art. It considers different aspects of the emergence of a distinct pan-European identity and specific peoples within that general identity.  Europe, along with its component empires and nations, has always been defined against 'others' a) beyond its borders and b) those who reside within but are held not truly to belong (eg. Jews, Roma, Muslims). The module considers the history of such 'othering' and how it persists.

This module will explore how the idea of Europe has been formulated and discussed in literary texts, language policies, and other socio-cultural practices.  It examines social, political and cultural dynamics to explore how the idea of Europe is inextricably tied up with historical factors such as geopolitical conflicts, colonialism and unfree labour. Students will critically evaluate existing discourses, including former or official policies, and communicate their findings to academic and non-academic audiences through discussions and written evaluations.

20 credits

Language at Work

This module provides the basis for understanding the often-underestimated role of language in our everyday lives, with a specific focus on multilingual and intercultural settings in the broader context of global relationships between countries, cultures and individuals. 

Through lectures, seminars and small practical projects, students will examine their own language skills and enhance their knowledge of their chosen languages(s) through experimenting with different linguistic research methods. 

Students will gain critical understanding of their individual language repertoires and communication practices, learn different methods of scientific enquiry, and develop expertise in the exploration of language, communication and real-life interaction as a means of enhancing their foreign language learning, deepening their cultural understanding, and acquiring cultural agility. Finally, students will develop the ability to effectively communicate their academic insights to non-specialist audiences through innovative digital media.



 After completing this module, students will 



- know the basic properties of language and communication and their relation to culture; 

- be able to characterise the global and local relationships between English and their other languages; 

- be able to describe the differences between communication in monolingual and linguistically/culturally diverse contexts; 

- be able to differentiate between communication involving native speakers of a language and communication involving foreign language speakers of a language and derive implications for intercultural communication and foreign language learning; 

- use systematic methods to carry out investigations of language, communication and culture; 

- use digital technology to communicate their academic work to non-specialist audiences.

20 credits

The Soviet Union and the world

The module examines the formation, development and collapse of the USSR and key aspects of its international impact. Covers historiographic problems in analysing primary materials, ideological issues in dealing with the revolutionary movement and subsequent developments, debates over the nature and trajectory of the USSR and their global influence.  

20 credits

You will also have the option to select 20 credits of Languages for All modules in your chosen language: https://sheffield.ac.uk/languages-for-all/choose-language

Core modules:

Arts of Persuasion

The ability to analyse strategies and techniques of persuasion is essential to understanding the world we inhabit. We encounter persuasion all the time: in everyday communication, when we read, speak, and interpret what we see and hear;  pamphlets and speeches; advertising; social media; literature and film; activism; and political campaigns and propaganda. As one scholar puts it, 'An awareness of rhetorical technique helps people to assess the validity of arguments and to avoid being misled by plausible but flawed appeals. It can also provide tools that will help counter them'.

This module enables students to develop the knowledge and critical acuity to examine persuasive strategies in a variety of narrative and visual forms, evaluate their likely effectiveness, and create their own persuasive artefact in their target language.

Organisation of the module: Lectures are topic-based and introduce broad principles of rhetoric and persuasion across history, incorporating examples from different cultures. Language-specific seminars focus on case studies from those countries and territories where the various target languages - Spanish, German, French, et cetera - are spoken. By the end of the module, students will be able to recognise and critique 'persuasive' culture, and apply this knowledge in a practical setting that aligns with their chosen language (one language only).

Assessment: 1 x individual written portfolio; 1 x collaborative persuasive artefact.

20 credits

Musicology

This module introduces the discipline of musicology, outlining its nature, scope and history, and developing research skills and methodologies in three core areas: 1. music analysis; 2. archival research and editorial techniques (i.e. dealing with historical documents relating to music); and 3. `critical musicology', engaging with recent and contemporary debates in the discipline. The module offers a valuable foundation for other modules within the musicology pathway, and also for L3 dissertations addressing musicological topics. 

20 credits

Work in Music

The module provides an opportunity for students to examine in depth a working environment of interest to them and to undertake work-related learning through contact with a professional music setting. Students will take responsibility for approaching and communicating with external music organisations and professionals with a view to securing advice or practical experience. Module tutors will provide support and will also have access to a directory of local and national organisations that students might approach. Through seminar sessions, students will be supported in developing clear aims and objectives for the module and will receive guidance regarding module assessments. Through experience of a work environment, students will develop specialist knowledge, reflective skills and a critical awareness of primary research methods.

20 credits

Core language modules (you can select one module from the list below):

French Higher Advanced

This module aims to consolidate the full linguistic and cultural preparation of learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to consolidate the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level C1).

20 credits

French Intermediate Intensive

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively and accurately in all essential communicative situations encountered when interacting orally or in writing with native speakers during, for instance, a short stay abroad (CEF level B1-).

20 credits

German Higher Advanced

This module aims to consolidate the full linguistic and cultural preparation of learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to consolidate the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level C1).

20 credits

German Intermediate Intensive

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively and accurately in all essential communicative situations encountered when interacting orally or in writing with native speakers during, for instance, a short stay abroad (CEF level B1-).

20 credits

Dutch Intermediate

Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials , this unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills required to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1+).

20 credits

Russian Higher Advanced

This module aims to consolidate the full linguistic and cultural preparation of learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to consolidate the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level C1).

20 credits

Russian Intermediate

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1-).

20 credits

Czech Intermediate

Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials , this unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills required to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1+).

20 credits

Spanish Higher Advanced

This module aims to consolidate the full linguistic and cultural preparation of learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to consolidate the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level C1).

20 credits

Spanish Intermediate Intensive

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1+).

20 credits

Catalan Intermediate

Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials, this unit aims to consolidate linguistic and cultural skills, to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1+).

20 credits

Portuguese Intermediate

Assuming a good GCSE level in the language or equivalent, this unit aims to provide the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively and accurately in all essential communicative situations encountered when interacting orally or in writing with native speakers during, for instance, a short stay abroad (CEF level B1+).

20 credits

Optional modules (details to be confirmed):
Psychology for Musicians
Topics in Jazz and Contemporary Music
Composition and Instrumentation
Studio Practice
Performance and Improvisation
Ethnography of Music

'That is not my (hi)story'. Shaping the future of our inherited past

'That is (not) my story'. Shaping the future of our inherited past We live in times  concerned with sameness and difference, with (national) identity, with the present and the future of the past. No wonder that the 'national narrative', or the self-image of the nation, is in flux when some celebrate past beliefs, achievements and power structures and others plead for reparative justice. 

In this module we will look at how narratives, in particular national narratives, are shaped; how ideas of difference and sameness are articulated; and how the 'cultural archive' of different nations is affected by and represented in, for example, texts, political speeches and party manifestos, in museum exhibitions, in films, in monuments and traditions etc. We will look at Europe (including Britain), Latin America and Africa to consider how point of view impacts on how you perceive the past, present and future.  

This is a complicated way of saying: how is the story 'we know' about the history of the nation told? Who gets to tell the tale? How do we come to believe in a collective history, a national history, a national character? And how is this shifting? 

We will look at two broad topics across the various nations and languages: 

- Representation of imperial past and its legacies- Conflict and commemoration culture

We will broadly address three questions:

- History in public spaces: What/who do we remember here and who steers this memory?- History and commemoration/celebration - History and me - what about my sense of the nation? 

20 credits

Languages of Gender and Sexuality

Gender and sexuality have always been diverse, and have been conceived in different ways over time and in specific (sub)cultural contexts or counterpublics.  Throughout history and around the world, languages change to represent gender and sexual non-conformity. Gender and sexuality are themselves acts of translation, and parts of grammar: of language, and of social relations. This module examines theories past and present, surprising and paradoxical timelines of women's suffrage, early examples of queer activism, and cultural representations - all in your languages of study (French, German, or Spanish). You shall explore texts by writers who travelled abroad, and wrote in a foreign language, to express their authentic selves. Love that dared to speak its name needed multilingual dictionaries

20 credits

Language and the Self

This module explores the complex relationship between language, identity, and sociocultural groups, encouraging you to critically engage with your chosen language(s) in personal, social, and political contexts. Through an interdisciplinary approach, you will examine what it means to be a 'legitimate' speaker, how language operates within diverse cultural groups (e.g. gender identity), and the role of cultural practices and artefacts in shaping identities. The module integrates technology as a tool for multilingual engagement and self-reflection and fosters online enquiry, communication and research skills, including in ethnography. This module encourages you to see yourselves as active participants in multilingual societies, equipping you with the critical tools, intercultural competence, linguistic confidence, and digital literacy to navigate diverse linguistic and cultural landscapes during  the Year Abroad and beyond.

20 credits

Translation

This module aims to introduce students to key concepts, approaches, and practices in translation, considering both traditional methods and contemporary developments. While translation continues to evolve, this module will cover foundational translation techniques, the role of the translator, and the principles that have shaped the field over time. You will explore core aspects of translation theory and practice, including literary and specialised translation, comparative stylistics, and the role of cultural and linguistic mediation, with extensive practice in your studied languages.The module will also consider more recent developments in translation technologies, including subtitling, dubbing, and interlingual adaptation, as well as the ethical and practical challenges translators face in various professional settings. Through a series of lectures and practical workshops, students will gain hands-on experience in translation tasks, refine their linguistic and analytical skills, and collaborate on translation projects.

20 credits

Revolutions and Revolutionary Trends

Students will examine the continuities and transformations in the political development of diverse revolutionary trends by looking at a series of global case studies. Through a combination of interactive lectures, flipped learning, and student-led discussions, students will analyse and account for the rise of diverse forms of political organisation and explore their social and cultural ramifications. This approach will enable students to critically evaluate how these movements are constructed, articulated, and occasionally interrelated, and how they reflect or shape broader social, political, and cultural dynamics. Through this process, students will deepen their comprehension of the complexities inherent in specific resistance and revolutionary movements and ideologies.

20 credits

You will also have the option to select 20 credits of Languages for All modules in your chosen language: https://sheffield.ac.uk/languages-for-all/choose-language

You’ll have the opportunity to go on a year aboard and immerse yourself in your chose language and culture.

French Year Abroad

All students studying on a Modern Languages degree in the School of Languages, Arts and Societies will spend their third year either studying and/or working abroad. The year abroad enables you to immerse yourself in the language, culture and society of the language or languages you study. As our languages are spoken both in Europe and worldwide, you have the opportunity to choose destinations not only in Europe but beyond. You will be required to spend a specific amount of time abroad.

The assessment for this module is on a Pass/Fail basis and it will vary depending on how you spend your year abroad (at University, on a work placement, on a British Council placement). Full details of the assessment you are required to do, and the residency requirements, will be provided in the Student Hub.

Germanic Studies Year Abroad

All students studying on a Modern Languages degree in the School of Languages, Arts and Societies will spend their third year either studying and/or working abroad. The year abroad enables you to immerse yourself in the language, culture and society of the language or languages you study. As our languages are spoken both in Europe and worldwide, you have the opportunity to choose destinations not only in Europe but beyond. You will be required to spend a specific amount of time abroad.

The assessment for this module is on a Pass/Fail basis and it will vary depending on how you spend your year abroad (at University, on a work placement, on a British Council placement). Full details of the assessment you are required to do, and the residency requirements, will be provided in the Student Hub.

Hispanic Studies Year Abroad

All students studying on a Modern Languages degree in the School of Languages, Arts and Societies will spend their third year either studying and/or working abroad. The year abroad enables you to immerse yourself in the language, culture and society of the language or languages you study. As our languages are spoken both in Europe and worldwide, you have the opportunity to choose destinations not only in Europe but beyond. You will be required to spend a specific amount of time abroad.

The assessment for this module is on a Pass/Fail basis and it will vary depending on how you spend your year abroad (at University, on a work placement, on a British Council placement). Full details of the assessment you are required to do, and the residency requirements, will be provided in the Student Hub.

Russian and Slavonic Studies Year Abroad

All students studying on a Modern Languages degree in the School of Languages, Arts and Societies will spend their third year either studying and/or working abroad. The year abroad enables you to immerse yourself in the language, culture and society of the language or languages you study. As our languages are spoken both in Europe and worldwide, you have the opportunity to choose destinations not only in Europe but beyond. You will be required to spend a specific amount of time abroad.

The assessment for this module is on a Pass/Fail basis and it will vary depending on how you spend your year abroad (at University, on a work placement, on a British Council placement). Full details of the assessment you are required to do, and the residency requirements, will be provided in the Student Hub.

Luxembourg Studies Year Abroad

All students studying on a Modern Languages degree in the School of Languages, Arts and Societies will spend their third year either studying and/or working abroad. The year abroad enables you to immerse yourself in the language, culture and society of the language or languages you study. As our languages are spoken both in Europe and worldwide, you have the opportunity to choose destinations not only in Europe but beyond. You will be required to spend a specific amount of time abroad.

The assessment for this module is on a Pass/Fail basis and it will vary depending on how you spend your year abroad (at University, on a work placement, on a British Council placement). Full details of the assessment you are required to do, and the residency requirements, will be provided in the Student Hub

Core modules:

Composition

In this module you will develop your composition skills, practice writing music in staff notation, and learn to write effectively for different instrumental and vocal forces. Drawing on the models of a diverse range of classical composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, we will focus on techniques for writing inventive melodies and rhythms, and employing wide-ranging approaches to harmony. The module aims to give you a foundation in composition and increase your confidence in preparation for further study.

20 credits

Performance

In this module you will develop the musical and intellectual abilities appropriate to solo performance. The theoretical background is considered, focusing on the aural and analytical skills essential to performance at an advanced level. An awareness of style and interpretation, as well as effective preparation and communication are built into teaching. You will receive one to one tuition in addition to attending whole class performance lectures.

20 credits

Core language modules (you will select one from the list below):

French Proficient

This unit aims to perfect the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to consolidate the strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture (CEF level C2).

20 credits

German Proficient

This unit aims to perfect the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to consolidate the strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture (CEF level C2).

20 credits

Dutch Proficient

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to develop strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level C1 of the CEFR understand television programmes and films without too much effort, and extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly understand fairly long and complex factual or literary texts, including specialised articles, appreciating distinctions of style and genre express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions, using language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes, formulating complex ideas and opinions with precision, and relating their contribution skilfully to those of other speakers write about fairly complex academic, professional or personal subjects in a letter, essay or report, expressing their points of view at some length within a logical structure and in a style appropriate to the reader in mind demonstrate a critical understanding of cultural and social trends and associated behaviours in areas where the language is spoken so as to engage efficiently with native speakers in most communicative situations, including academic or professional ones demonstrate a strategic ability to study the language by themselves for specific purposes, assessing their long-term language needs and cultural interests, setting themselves goals in relation to these, and using specialist tools as well as experimenting with a range of resources and techniques to achieve these goals with maximum efficiency demonstrate advanced competence in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, researching, presenting and analysing information, defending an argument and negotiating, intercultural and language awareness, autonomous learning, social media communication, etc.

20 credits

Russian Proficient

This unit aims to perfect the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to consolidate the strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture.

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level C2 of the CEFR', understand without any difficulty any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, even when delivered at fast native speed, provided they have some time to get familiar with the accent read with ease virtually all forms of the written language, including abstract, structurally or linguistically complex texts such as manuals, specialised articles and literary works take part effortlessly in any conversation, discussion or presentation, expressing themselves fluently and idiomatically according to the context, developing an effective logical structure if necessary and conveying finer shades of meaning precisely produce a variety of professional texts (letters, reports, articles, etc.), presenting complex ideas and finer shades of meaning within an effective logical structure and with an excellent command of the appropriate style demonstrate an extended critical understanding of cultural, social and professional trends and associated behaviours in areas where the language is spoken so as to engage efficiently with native speakers in complex or conflictual communicative situations, whether academic, professional, or other study the language and culture fully independently for a variety of purposes, maintaining and enhancing their level of proficiency beyond the institutional framework through a personal routine of exposure to, and practise of, the languag demonstrate proficiency in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, researching, presenting and analysing information, defending an argument and negotiating, intercultural and language awareness, autonomous learning, social media communication, etc.

20 credits

Czech Proficient

Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials, this unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1+).

20 credits

Spanish Proficient

This unit aims to perfect the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to consolidate the strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture (CEF level C2).

20 credits

Catalan Proficient

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to develop strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level C1 of the CEFR understand television programmes and films without too much effort, and extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly understand fairly long and complex factual or literary texts, including specialised articles, appreciating distinctions of style and genre express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions, using language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes, formulating complex ideas and opinions with precision, and relating their contribution skilfully to those of other speakers write about fairly complex academic, professional or personal subjects in a letter, essay or report, expressing their points of view at some length within a logical structure and in a style appropriate to the reader in mind demonstrate a critical understanding of cultural and social trends and associated behaviours in areas where the language is spoken so as to engage efficiently with native speakers in most communicative situations, including academic or professional ones demonstrate a strategic ability to study the language by themselves for specific purposes, assessing their long-term language needs and cultural interests, setting themselves goals in relation to these, and using specialist tools as well as experimenting with a range of resources and techniques to achieve these goals with maximum efficiency demonstrate advanced competence in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, researching, presenting and analysing information, defending an argument and negotiating, intercultural and language awareness, autonomous learning, social media communication, etc.

20 credits

Portuguese Proficient

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to develop strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level C1 of the CEFR understand television programmes and films without too much effort, and extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly understand fairly long and complex factual or literary texts, including specialised articles, appreciating distinctions of style and genre express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions, using language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes, formulating complex ideas and opinions with precision, and relating their contribution skilfully to those of other speakers write about fairly complex academic, professional or personal subjects in a letter, essay or report, expressing their points of view at some length within a logical structure and in a style appropriate to the reader in mind demonstrate a critical understanding of cultural and social trends and associated behaviours in areas where the language is spoken so as to engage efficiently with native speakers in most communicative situations, including academic or professional ones demonstrate a strategic ability to study the language by themselves for specific purposes, assessing their long-term language needs and cultural interests, setting themselves goals in relation to these, and using specialist tools as well as experimenting with a range of resources and techniques to achieve these goals with maximum efficiency demonstrate advanced competence in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, researching, presenting and analysing information, defending an argument and negotiating, intercultural and language awareness, autonomous learning, social media communication, etc.

20 credits

Optional modules (details to be confirmed):
Advanced Musicology
Advanced Music Psychology

Orchestration and Arrangement

This module deals with the craft of orchestrating and arranging for small and large ensembles. You will aim to become conversant with a wide range of different orchestral instruments and learn to write for them idiomatically. You will aim to adapt existing compositions with attention to issues of style, coherence and practicality. You will produce performance materials to a professional standard. A range of repertoire options will be offered for each assignment

20 credits

Sound and Moving Image

This module gives you the opportunity to compose sound and music for film and other visual media, and position sound and music within the filmmaking process. Using a variety of software, you will be responsible for the entire project from the ideas stage through to the creation of all audio materials. A diverse range of existing movies, audiovisual works and relevant literature will be studied, and you will be expected to use these to inform your own work.

20 credits

Community, Music and Education

The Community, Music and Education module aims to introduce you to the ideas that surround contemporary research, practice and debate in community music and music education. Lectures, preparatory reading and in-class discussions will consider the political, historical and social contexts for the provision of musical learning and opportunities within and beyond school. Your reading and your own research will encourage you to develop evidence-based perspectives on the current and future direction of community music and music education.

20 credits

Sound and Moving Image

This module gives you the opportunity to compose sound and music for film and other visual media, and position sound and music within the filmmaking process. Using a variety of software, you will be responsible for the entire project from the ideas stage through to the creation of all audio materials. A diverse range of existing movies, audiovisual works and relevant literature will be studied, and you will be expected to use these to inform your own work.

20 credits

Traditional Music in the Modern World

This module will introduce you to the study of folk and traditional music, focussing on a range of contemporary folk music cultures. You'll learn to use a range of approaches (ethnomusicology; critical and culture theory; political theory) to consider the traditional identities these music cultures construct, and how they relate to their modern, economic, political and technological contexts. Past and current definitions of the terms folk music and traditional music are explored, and music cultures are investigated in terms of specific debates and contexts, such as revivalism, nationalism, institutionalisation, competition and education.

20 credits

Ensemble Performance

This module will present you with the opportunity to develop ensemble performance skills in a supervised situation. You will form an ensemble with fellow students prior to the module commencing, and your ensemble will programme a contrasting selection of repertoire for study and public performance. Particular attention will be paid to ensemble considerations, though technical matters and the development of stylistic awareness will also form an important part of the module.

20 credits

Social Approaches to Multilingualism

This module provides students with an overview of key topics in multilingualism, with an emphasis on the ways in which issues of language are linked to broader socio-political practices and debates. It allows students to gain insights into how theories of nationalism and globalisation may be applied to the analysis of texts and images in multilingual settings - with a particular focus on those in which Romance and/or Germanic languages play a central role - and it shows how debates about language are bound up with struggles over social equality and reactions to social transformations.

20 credits

Comparative Critique of Consumer Culture

Critiques of consumer cultures are as old as capitalism itself. This module takes the long view. Especially applying Critical Theory, we shall ask whether culture owes a debt to consumer society, or is a site of opposition - or both in one contradiction. Consumerism has given us growth and globalisation, for better and worse. It entails complicity in social problems, yet has been celebrated for enabling the self and individual (bad) taste. Mass consumption now threatens our shared environment, while also enabling political engagement in the everyday. Theory, the visual arts, and literature have all been critical of capitalism - but ironically, they can themselves be packaged as consumer goods. Examining a wide range of primary texts in your languages of study, from the earliest fashion magazines to film and branding campaigns, you will write two commentaries: one on a historical, and the other on a present-day source.

20 credits

Tales of Cities. Mapping and Marketing the Urban as a Site of Encounter and Conflict

Cities shape the way we see the world. In the 21st century most of us live in cities. They are archives of collective and personal histories. Cities are universes in their own right, generating social success and profound friction. They boast art galleries and epic sporting events. They are also sites of social inequalities; there is tension between heritage and modernisation, urban versus rural. 

In this module we will examine the city as a story, both real and imagined. We will look at cities as sites of conflict (think demonstrations and even revolutions); cities as places of (multi)cultural  encounter, places of languages; spaces where the relationship between the story of a city and the nation is shaped. We will examine what aspects are important in the way cities tell their own story and how their stories are constructed by others. You will bring your own language(s) and cultural experience(s) to this module by drawing on your Year Abroad (or travel) experience and your experience of Sheffield or your home town. 

We will look at formative city moments through visual and textual material such as films, documentaries, texts, photographs, monuments, buildings, etc. This module will be assessed by a portfolio you put together to respond to a specific commission from a city of your choice.

20 credits

Migration and its Representations Across Cultures

Using case studies from a range of areas and cultures, this module emphasises the importance of understanding socio-political contexts that shape cultural debates. This module will examine the cultural, social, intermedial and political issues at the heart of migration and transcultural communication while developing language skills.  The module will look at the mechanics of how culture is shaped and contested  through, for example, language, textual and/or visual discussions about representation and voice, or cultural responses to discrimination in multicultural and/or multilingual spaces. Students will study the multilingual and cultural factors that influence policymakers and practitioners, and explore how these issues are represented in mainstream media, artistic, cinematic and cultural productions. 

In this module,  students are encouraged to think about how their experience relates to the socio-political context(s) under study , creating a community of learning through shared discussion. In this way, students can choose a topic within the theoretical frameworks studied in class, and tailor these  frameworks to their own interests and experience.

20 credits

Global Careers in Languages

To study languages, cultures and societies is to pursue a subject area that is outward-looking and which actively addresses global concerns. Our graduates boast linguistic fluency and cross-cultural expertise, and offer a unique set of skills to employers in several industries.

This module gives students the opportunity to develop and connect specialist knowledge of their language(s) and studied areas according to four career pathways: Cultural industries; Politics, Community and Civic sectors; Translation and Teaching; and Global Business. Students will explore current debates and developments in these diverse sectors and industries, drawing on and extending their understanding of cross-cultural issues.

By learning from the trajectories of industry experts, studying a variety of highly contemporary case studies, and developing vocational skills, this module allows students to reflect on and extend the substantial professional value of their advanced skills and knowledge of languages and cultures.

20 credits

Music and Performance

What place does the performed word have in different cultures, societies and times? In this module, we explore how verbal performance can both collude with and oppose established power and how it shapes the personal worlds of both performers and listeners. You will respond to poetry, drama and vocal music of all kinds both critically and creatively, and will consider how these two ways of thinking build up our understanding of language, art and society. Your own experience of performance - which could be anything from taking part in a play through singing a song to reading a poem - will expand and consolidate this understanding.

20 credits

You will also have the option to select 20 credits of Languages for All modules in your chosen language: https://sheffield.ac.uk/languages-for-all/choose-language