Speaking with Heritage: Student conversations about language and cultural heritage studies

What did you want to achieve in this project?

We set out to interview students on their translation of 'heritage' from different languages to english. This was with the aim to understand student experiences, which can hopefully be used to advise and assist future students on the MA heritage studies.

What happpened in the project? Did you need to make any changes? 
The project went as planned- we only needed to change two significant things.

Originally, we aimed to have students interview one another about how they translate ‘heritage’ from different languages to English, without a set list of questions as more of an informal chat. As an instructor, I planned to be absent from these interviews. However, when we did this, the students being interviewed were concerned that the conversation was too loose, and that they would end up discussing thoughts about the MA programme and UCL which they didn’t want included in video productions. Following this, we re-taped interviews to be one-on-one portraits of students’ experiences working with heritage in translation, and I conducted the interviews. 

The other change was that I had originally planned to release the edited interviews on social media. However, several students interviewed pointed out that this would potentially compromise their safety in their home countries. We instead opted to keep the initial round of footage internal within UCL, and show it as part of a package of orientation materials for students during next year’s induction.

What were the main successes?

The project produced some excellent footage that can be used to orient, advise, and assist future students on this degree programme. This will deliver a successful product and format which can be modified over time and across departments, and generated considerable interest among students (of both the Cultural Heritage Studies MA and others like Anthropology and Archaeology) which illustrates an appetite for continuing this in future years.

The project produced some great footage that can be used to orient, advise, and assist future students on this degree programme. This will deliver a successful product and format which can be modified over time and across departments, and generated considerable interest among students (of both the Cultural Heritage Studies MA and others like Anthropology and Archaeology) which illustrates an appetite for continuing this in future years.

What would you do differently? Why?

I took a relatively hands-off approach to try and make the approach truly student-led. In doing so I explained the project’s aims to the students, showed them some examples of similar formats, and let them organise the project as they saw fit. This worked, but I believe that if I had begun by producing one or two videos myself and demonstrating sorts of material I was hoping to record, the first round of filming likely would have gone more smoothly.

What difference do you think your project made? 

I believe the project has made a difference to the students involved and will impact positively on future generations of students in the Archaeology department. Student leaders gained experience conducting interviews and working with audio/video technologies, and student participants stated they enjoyed discussing their experiences with their classmates and I. 

Whilst the first round of filming could not be used in any video productions, students gave consent to use it as a focus group (including transcribing and anonymising data) to provide feedback on the MA programme to teaching staff. I believe next year’s students will benefit from including our production in their induction day, and hear advice from students who come from international backgrounds and face some challenges in settling into UCL. 

What was it like doing a ChangeMakers project?

It was an incredibly smooth and enjoyable experience, and the students appreciated the support from the ChangeMakers Team. Personally, I appreciated their assistance and their flexibility with our scheduling. 

The best thing about ChangeMakers was the personal attention they gave us, and their willingness to allow us to tailor a project that best suited our timeframe!

What advice would you give to any students thinking of getting involved?

I had an excellent experience, but students should think carefully and realistically about the amount of time you’ll be able to dedicate to the project- and understand that sometimes things take longer than you originally thought!