Student Handbook - Moodle Book

DEPARTMENTAL INFORMATION

 

DEPARTMENT OF FILM STUDIES

 For single-subject Film Studies students and joint-degree students of French, German, Hispanic Studies or Russian the home department will be the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film.  Film Studies and Drama students will have an adviser in Film Studies and another in Drama.  Film Studies and History students will have a History adviser.  You should follow the programme regulations for that department for any matters concerning your overall studies, such as changing programme, applying for extenuating circumstances to be taken into account during the examination period, all of which will be set out in the relevant School Handbook.

 

Library of special interest

British Film Institute Library, 21 Stephen Street (off Tottenham Court Road, nearest tube Tottenham Court Road, website: http://www.bfi.org.uk). You will need a membership card to use this Library; students who are not members can borrow one of the College’s corporate membership cards from the Library issues desk.

 

DEPARTMENT OF FRENCH

 

Libraries of special interest

Institut Français, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT

This is the official French government centre of language and culture in London. There are films, plays, lectures and conferences all the year round, as well as discussion sessions (cafés philosophiques) on Saturday mornings.

 

Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies

The Romance Studies section is based at Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU.

 

DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN

 

Libraries of special interest

Goethe-Institut, 50 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PH

The Austrian Cultural Institute, 28 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PQ

The Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies: the Germanic Studies Library is based at 29 Russell Square, London WC1 (no borrowing is allowed, and a written recommendation from the department is required).

 

•     The Goethe-Institut puts on German plays, films, exhibitions, talks and more.

•     The Austrian Institute also has lectures, exhibitions and chamber concerts.

•     The German Information Centre (34 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QB) gives seminars and offers a wide range of documentary and audio-visual material.

•     And the German YMCA (35 Craven Terrace, London W2 3EL) also organizes various lectures, seminars and informal meetings.

 

The German department also hosts a Research Seminar, which is a forum for guest lectures by visiting speakers, and for informal talks on work-in-progress by staff of the department and postgraduate students.  All undergraduate students are cordially invited to attend, participate in discussions, and meet the speakers. These occasional meetings are advertised on noticeboards.

 

Students are welcome to participate in the conference, seminar and lecture programme of the Centre for Anglo-German Cultural Relations.

 

DEPARTMENT OF IBERIAN AND LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES

 

Reading texts in Spanish

First year students taking Introductory Spanish may study texts in English translation, but all other students are expected to read and study the set texts in the original Spanish. Your participation in classes, your essays, and your exams must show evidence of first-hand knowledge of the original; otherwise you can expect to be penalised. You may find that with medieval and Golden Age texts you need the help of a translation, but if you do use one, it must be in addition to the original, not instead.

 

Research seminars

The department runs two research seminars. Although these are primarily designed for staff and graduate students, the subjects discussed are often relevant to undergraduate modules, and all students are welcome to attend.

 

1.         Medieval Hispanic Research Seminar (certain Fridays at 3 pm)

2.         Departmental Research Seminar (certain Wednesdays at 5 pm)

 

The speakers at the first two of these seminars are usually visitors, many of them distinguished scholars. The speakers at the departmental Research Seminar are always staff or graduate students of the department.

 

In addition, there are occasional special lectures, by distinguished visiting speakers. In particular the department organizes two annual lectures: the History of the Spanish Theatre Lecture and the Kate Elder Lecture. These lectures take place in the evening and are usually followed by a reception. They are a great opportunity for students in all years to feel part of the academic community of the department.

 

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS

 

Libraries in London

Queen Mary has good library holdings in Linguistics but you can also find linguistics books and journals in the University of London library at Senate House. Birkbeck and UCL libraries also have excellent collections which you can use for reference if you show your Queen Mary ID card.

 

Research seminars

The Linguistics Research Seminar meets 3 or 4 times each semester. These sessions are primarily designed for research students and staff, but the subjects discussed are often interesting for undergraduate students, and relevant to undergraduate modules. You are very welcome to attend. Look out for emails advertising specific seminars, and check the School website for the programme for the year. You can find out about other research seminars and Linguistics events in London on www.londonling.ucl.ac.uk/events.htm

 

Other Linguistics Facilities

The Linguistics Lab and the Linguistics Recording Studio are primarily for the purposes of research; however, they may be used by students undertaking a research project if approved by the chair of the Linguistics Department.

 

DEPARTMENT OF RUSSIAN

 

Libraries

Queen Mary library has very good Russian holdings. We shall be very happy to get anyone reading rights in SSEES (16 Taviton Street, tel. 020 7679 8701). Anyone who does not take modules at SSEES can use the library for reference only. You will have to show your University of London ID and have a letter of commendation from the department. To borrow books you will need to pay an annual fee. Everyone who is registered for a module at SSEES will automatically obtain a library ticket and will not need to pay any fee.

 

Visiting Lecturers

We are particularly fortunate in having regular teaching assistance and a stream of eminent academic visitors from Russia. This is an extraordinary opportunity for you to enhance your Russian skills, both aural and oral. The seminars cover a variety of topics ranging from Russian literature and cultural history to translation techniques. Material covered in these seminars will be included in the exams of the relevant modules. Eligibility for summer vacation grants is conditional upon active participation in classes taught by visiting lecturers.

 

Study abroad

We very much hope that you will be able to spend at least three months in Russia at some time during your studies, quite apart from time you may spend there during vacations. Neither a three-month nor a five-month period abroad will add a year to your module, unless you combine it with up to six months in a country where your other language is used.

 

Where only a part of an academic year is spent in Russia, special arrangements have to be made for seeing you through your modules. If you are away in the second half of the year, you may be assessed on the essays written in the first half of the year since you are likely to miss the examinations; if the other way round, you will need to do serious work while away, for which you will be prepared. In such a year it usually makes sense if you select Russian or Russian-related modules; we cannot recommend you choose more than one or two modules taught in other departments as this can lead to administrative problems, and in any case you should do so only after having carefully explored the implications with your Adviser and the other Department’s Module Organiser. Your time in Russia should be arranged through Anna Pilkington. A small grant is usually available to students who go abroad, and you must make sure to notify the department by a given date if you wish to apply for such a vacation grant. This grant will be available only to students with a good record of attendance, especially to modules in Russian by the visiting lecturers.

 

Plays

The Russian department puts on a Russian-language play every year. Over the past years our plays have enjoyed great success and popularity. Staged and directed by students (both present and former) and staff, they are an invaluable cultural and social experience, and also a good way to improve your Russian. Moreover, participants’ involvement can be accredited by registering for the module ‘Russian Play’.

 

Lectures and seminars outside Queen Mary

•     SSEES has a very active programme of lectures on a wide variety of topics (ranging from literature and history to contemporary issues), all linked with Russia and Eastern Europe, and given by leading academics in the field.

•     LSE has weekly research seminars on Tuesdays, 5 pm. The lectures, held by distinguished scholars, are on current affairs or historical topics connected with Russia and Eastern Europe.

•     THE PUSHKIN CLUB holds regular lectures, mainly on Russian literature and theatre, and occasionally poetry readings. Some events are in Russian, most in English. It is now located at 5A Bloomsbury Square and the programme of activities is available at http://www.pushkinclub.org.uk/.