About our language short courses

Find out about our language short courses, and decide which level of study is right for you.

Choose the right study level for you

Our short courses in languages are open to everyone, whether you’re working or studying with us or not. Perhaps you want to learn a new language, revisit a language you were learning in the past or improve your CV. Or maybe you’re a current Sussex student who doesn’t have a language option with your degree. Our flexible courses include learners from many backgrounds and ability levels.

We offer a range of study levels across our courses. Many of our students continue with a new level of study each year. Not all levels are available for all languages, and some languages offer bespoke study levels. You can learn more on the individual course pages.

Find the study level that best suits you.

  • Level 1 – Beginners

    An introduction for absolute beginners to the language of everyday situations. There is an emphasis on understanding and communicating, with advice on pronunciation. Grammar and written work are included where appropriate. There will be an opportunity to pursue personal cultural interests. A course book is sometimes used to allow you to work independently and to form a framework for your learning.

    Our Level 1 courses broadly correspond to CEFR Level A1.

    At the end of your course you should be able to:

    • understand and use some familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases
    • introduce yourself to others
    • ask and answer questions about personal details (where you live, people you know, things you have etc.)
    • interact in a simple way (providing the other person talks clearly and is prepared to help).
  • Level 2 – Elementary

    Suitable for those progressing from a Level 1 course or whose knowledge is unpracticed, and are wishing to develop more confidence. The emphasis is on understanding and speaking, and grammar is incorporated too. Reading and some writing skills are included. An insight into the culture and history of the country within the framework of language learning will allow you to develop your own personal interests. You will be encouraged to participate in setting the level of the class.

    Our Level 2 courses broadly correspond to CEFR Level A2.

    At the end of your course you should be able to:

    • understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of relevance (such as basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography etc.)
    • communicate in a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters
    • describe, in simple terms, aspects of your background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
  • Level 3 – Intermediate

    Appropriate for learners who have recently completed a Level 2 class and feel confident conversing at a basic level. Topics will be studied to allow you to give opinions and build on simple language structures. Grammar and writing skills will be included to help you make progress. You will be encouraged to participate in setting the level of the class.

    Our Level 3 courses broadly correspond to CEFR Level B1.

    At the end of your course you should be able to:

    • understand the main points on familiar matters encountered in work, school, leisure etc.
    • deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken
    • produce simple, connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest
    • describe dreams, hopes and ambitions, and briefly give reasons or explanations for opinions and plans.
  • Level 4 – Upper Intermediate

    Language and culture courses for those who have been attending Level 3 classes and now wish to broaden their knowledge. Grammatical structures will be revised and you will be encouraged to work out your own strategy for progressing further. The cultural part of the course will explore areas of literature, song, art, history, geography and institutions, as negotiated within the group.

    Our Level 4 courses broadly correspond to CEFR Level B2.

    At the end of your course you should be able to:

    • understand the main ideas of complex text on concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your field of specialisation
    • interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers, without strain for either party
    • produce clear, detailed text on a range of subjects
    • explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
  • Level 5 – Advanced

    For confident and experienced learners who may have an A-level in the language or have studied at that level previously. At least four years’ part-time study and frequent travel in the country are recommended before beginning this course. The language element will include listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Practical advice on grammar will be integrated as appropriate. There will be a strong cultural element as you study literary and social texts. You’ll be encouraged to define the level and cultural areas explored in the class.

    Our Level 5 courses broadly correspond to CEFR Level C1.

    At the end of your course you should be able to:

    • understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise the implicit meaning
    • express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions
    • use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes
    • produce clear, well-structured and detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

British Sign Language (BSL) course

Our BSL courses follow a different level and pricing structure to our other language courses. Find out more about BSL courses.

If you decide study level you’ve chosen isn’t quite right for you, we will try to allocate you in a different class. However, this will depend on the availability of the course and the agreement of the tutors involved, especially if the move is happening half-way through a course.

Your learning experience

Each course meets your needs based on the level of study. You’ll have between 1.5 and 2 hours of group teaching and learning each week, in class with between eight and 16 other students. Courses usually take place over lunchtime or in the evening. Weekly tasks between classes will help you consolidate your learning and prepare you for the next session. The tasks will cover a range of topics to highlight the progress you’re making.

Take part in class activities and discussions where possible, and don’t worry about making mistakes. It’s also important to complete any work set between sessions.

At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of completion, confirming the language level you attained on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Our courses are not formally accredited, except for our British Sign Language courses (which are accredited by Signature).

Online classes

Most of our language short courses are taught in-person, but we also offer a selection online. This will be indicated on each course page where applicable.

These classes will be delivered through Zoom, so you will need to create a Zoom account if you don’t have one. We will send links to these virtual sessions each week.

To participate in an online language course, you will need a microphone and webcam. Most laptops and tablets will have inbuilt microphones and webcams. We recommend a broadband internet connection, with a download and upload speed of 1.5Mbps or higher. It’s also important to keep your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox etc.) up to date.

You should have your camera on during the Zoom class wherever possible. This will help the group and the tutor to get to know each other. It’s usually best to mute your microphone unless you are speaking.

Fees

Fees vary depending on the length of course you’re studying, and must be paid in full at the time of enrolment.

  • 20-week courses – £300 (£290 concessions)
  • 18-week courses – £270 (£260 concessions)
  • 12-week courses – £200 (£190 concessions)
  • 10-week courses – £170 (£160 concessions)

Our concessions fee is available to:

  • full-time students (whether at University of Sussex or elsewhere)
  • University of Sussex staff
  • University of Sussex alumni
  • NHS and key workers
  • those whose sole source of income is some form of state benefit
  • people who are retired and on state pension only.

If you fall into one of these categories, you are eligible to pay the reduced fee. Otherwise, the full fee should be paid.

Facilities

You’ll have access to our Resource Centre, where you can enjoy foreign language films, TV, magazines and newspapers. You can extend your classroom learning by joining the weekly Language Café during term time, and attending the Language and Culture research seminars in the School of Media, Arts and Humanities.

The Resource Centre offers excellent facilities for language teaching and learning, including:

  • workstations where learners can study via audio and video recordings
  • facilities to sample live television by satellite from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and England
  • a large bank of resource materials in many world languages
  • a wide selection of foreign language films
  • a browsing section with newspapers, magazines and a learner-friendly catalogue to consult.

Our teaching rooms are equipped with projectors and up-to-date audio/visual equipment.

Learners will be given advice on how best to use the resources to meet their own needs

We welcome learners with special requirements and request that you discuss these with us before joining a course. Should wheelchair access be required, suitable rooms will be allocated. It is possible to provide hearing loops in certain classrooms. Please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Course adjustments and attendance

Attendance on the language courses is not compulsory, but your progress will be limited if you do not attend regularly or complete the tasks set between classes.

If you cannot make it to one of the classes, please let your tutor know by email. Alternatively you can email languageshortcourses@sussex.ac.uk and we can inform your tutor.

We will arrange extra sessions to accommodate any cancelled classes due to Bank Holidays and/or unforeseen circumstances (such as sickness or adverse weather). We will use either your University of Sussex email or Canvas to contact you, so please make sure you check both regularly during the course.

Terms and conditions

If you’re thinking of enroling you should read our full terms and conditions first.

ENROL now

Contact

Use our enquiry form if you have a question about any of our language short courses. You can also email languageshortcourses@sussex.ac.uk or call +44(0) 1273 872575.

School of Media, Arts and Humanities Office
Arts A07
University of Sussex
Brighton
BN1 9RH

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