Not Just Words: Learning languages through art and objects
Term time only
Not Just Words is an invitation to be curious and get talking. This showcase in the UCL Art Museum presents an innovative approach to language learning at UCL that takes artworks and objects as a starting point.
Have you ever wondered how new trends emerge in children’s names, or which languages can be easier to learn for English speakers and why? Explore this showcase to enjoy a growing video library of language tasters and discover surprising facts about language, culture and how the two are intertwined.
Initially conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic by tutors at the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS), the language taster videos on display were produced to support and promote language awareness and multi-lingualism beyond the university. The series has since expanded to the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies (SSEES) and the Centre for Languages and International Education (CLIE), with Finnish, Mandarin and Arabic subsequently joining the project.
A special display of plaster casts of ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs also celebrates the ongoing role of objects in ancient language learning at UCL.
The showcase has now been extended to Summer 2024 to accommodate the ever-growing taster library, which now includes Romanian, Hebrew, and Ancient Greek, with more coming soon. The exhibition also complements Lost & Found: Mapping European Literary London, a nearby display in the South Cloisters, UCL Wilkins Building, highlighting European literary responses to London. Keep an eye out for related events below.
Taster library
Acknowledgements
Thanks are extended to all the UCL tutors who created the language tasters featured in the showcase, the Sutton Trust for their initial funding to develop resources for the Y12 Languages and Cultures Residential Summer School 2020 and 2021, and UCL Access and Widening Participation for their ongoing generous funding and support.
- Past Events
Not Just Words: Learn More about... (Wednesday lunchtimes)
Are you learning or thinking of learning one (or more!) of the languages featured in the showcase? Would you like to practise with language tutors and fellow learners? Come along to our free, drop-in lunchtime events and learn more about these languages, get chatting and ask questions.
Danish - 10 May 2023, 13:30-14:30
With tutor Anne GrydehøjPortuguese - 17 May 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Joana Jacob RamalhoMandarin - 24 May 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Li-Yun LiaoItalian - 31 May 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Cristina MassaccesiFrench - 18 October 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Marie FournierItalian - 25 October 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Lucia RinaldiNorwegian - 1 November 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Elettra CarboneGerman - 15 November 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Dagmar PaulusHebrew - 22 November 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Alinda DamsmaAncient Greek - 29 November 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Antony MakrinosNorwegian - 6 December 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Elettra CarboneDutch - 13 December 2023, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Christine SasDanish - 17 January 2024, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Anne GrydehøjIcelandic - 31 January 2024, 13:00-14:00
Latin - 7 February 2024, 13:00-14:00
Arctic Languages - 27 February 2024, 13:00-14:00
With Dr Riitta Valijärvi - part of a wider programme of activities from UCL Scandinavian Studies celebrating International Polar Bear DaySlovene - 6 March 2024, 13:00-14:00
With tutor Maja Rančigaj BenešRomanian - 13 March 2024, 13:00-14:00
Faroese - 20 March 2024, 13:00-14:00 (hybrid event)
More than Words: Symposium on Language Learning and Teaching
14 June 2023, 09:30–16:30
Join us for a networking symposium on language learning and teaching, with representatives from UCL and external partners. This full-day symposium will focus on language teaching and learning at UCL and in schools and is hosted by the Languages Stream within the newly founded UCL Centre for Humanities Education, with members from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES).
Have you thought of learning...? Languages of the wider world
26 September 2023, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
A group of language tutors involved in the exhibition are hosting a special drop-in session for the European Day of Languages at the UCL Art Museum where you can meet them and explore the showcase. Come along to find out what it's like to study languages such as Dutch, Portuguese, Romanian, a Scandinavian language, or Latin and Ancient Greek at UCL! Find out more on the SELCS Event Page.
Languages Across Generations: Former and current students work together to appeal to future applicants
Friday 6 October 2023, 17:00-18:00
Come and join current and former students for the launch of 20+ short video impressions that are the outcome of a project to promote less-taught languages at UCL. Funded by the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, the project asked current students and alumni to record 60-second videos highlighting SELCS uniqueness in the British university landscape through a focus on a number of languages that are not widely taught in the UK such as Dutch, Portuguese, and Danish. The UCL Art Museum will also have extended opening hours for this event, closing at 18:00. Get more information on the SELCS Event Page.