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The Nature of Language – Student Work

In Newcastle University School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics there are lots of opportunities to get creative with your assessments – from podcasts to film, digital exhibitions to posters, you will have lots of scope to learn new skills and get creative.

One of our first year modules SEL1008: The Nature of Language asks students to submit “anything but an essay” to demonstrate the Linguistics work they’ve been learning in the first semester. This is a really exciting project that allows students to get creative.

Here are some examples of work students submitted in 2020.

Caitlin Knaggs produced an illustrated children’s story on bilingual language acquisition.

The Many Adventures of Bear: 2 AstronautsDownload
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SELLL UG Fortnightly News 6

Monday 1st February to Sunday 14th February 2021

Welcome to the Sixth Edition of our SELLL UG News, for a fortnightly round up compiled by Caroline Ede, with contributions from Professional Services (PS) colleagues in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics.  

Some new items below for this edition and important dates for your diary and please note the news has also been emailed to you on Monday.  The Student Wellbeing and Support section is at the end of the news.

NEW FOR THIS EDITION      

Dates for your diary!

Joining SELLL as the New Head of School
Monday 1st February 2021
Welcome to Professor Jo Robinson, who joins us today as our new Head of School.

Semester 2 Teaching & Student Support Plans (SSPs)
Monday 1st February 2021
Semester 2 teaching starts today, and for anyone who currently has a Student Support Plan (SSP), these are circulated at the start of each semester to your Module Leaders, Personal Tutor and Senior Tutor, for information.

Mental Health in 20th Century Literature Reading Group

Tuesday 2nd February at 5pm on Zoom
We will be focusing on the poetry of Maya Angelou, Anne Sexton, James Baldwin, Simon Armitage, and Sylvia Plath.  This is intended to be a fun, informal session, so please feel free to bring your tipple of choice and listen in or, even better, share your ideas!

The group is open to undergraduates and postgraduates.  To register your interest and for the Zoom link, please email m.stevenson1@newcastle.ac.uk

Reminder for changing modules or seminar groups

Friday 5th February 2021 by 4pm is the deadline to change any modules or seminar groups.

End of Semester 1 Module Marks and Feedback
Available from Thursday 25th February 2021
If you have had a PEC extension your marks and feedback maybe be released a little later.

THIS AND THAT

Peer Mentor of the Year Nominee 2020-21
Congratulations to Yasmine Bridge who was nominated for Peer Mentor of the Year. Here’s what she had to say: ‘I loved being able to guide my mentees through some of the more unexpected challenges faced in first year.  I think giving them the honest, student to student perspective really helped them, and allowed me to share everything I’ve learnt at Uni so far in a comfortable environment.  It was definitely a really rewarding scheme to be part of’

New Student Blogger
Congratulations to Tom Moorcroft who has been recruited to join the Student Leadership Programme as a Student Blogger. Tom will be joining Leanna & Hattie in providing you with regular social media content and updates. Make sure to follow the School on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see his posts.

Covid-19: Supporting our Students
Here are some of the ways you can receive support during lockdown and through this difficult period.  From Rent Rebates, IT loan scheme, Wellbeing Support, Academic Safety net and more, click on this link for more detailed information.

Library Services while you’re away from Campus
We know that many of you are studying and working away from campus in line with Government and University guidance in response to the national lockdown. The Library is still here to provide you with the information resources and support to help you study and research.   From E-Books to Click and post please follow this link for more information on these services.

NUSU Events
Check out the Online events and activities, NUSU are running this term at your Union – click on this link for all the information.

Online Chat – Every Tuesday 10-12 & Thursday 2-4pm
Just a reminder that if you need a quick response to a question, you can use our twice weekly online chat service for an instant reply.  Further details are included in the Wellbeing and Support section.

Thought of the fortnight

A Journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step

Thanks for reading – From the Professional Services Staff in the School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics

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SELLL UG Fortnightly News 5

Monday 18th January to Sunday 31st January 2021

Welcome to the Fifth Edition of our SELLL UG News, for a fortnightly round up compiled by Caroline Ede, with contributions from Professional Services (PS) colleagues in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics.  

Some new items below for this edition and important dates for your diary.  Plus, our regular wellbeing, IT and assessment support, if needed, has now moved to the end of the newsletter.

Decorative Image of person working on a laptop.
Students are working hard on their upcoming assessments.

NEW FOR THIS EDITION

Dates for your diary!

Buffer Week
w/c Monday 18th January 2021 (further details below)

End of Semester 1 Assessment Hand-in Date
NOW Thursday 21st January 2021

Semester 2 Induction Week
w/c Monday 25th January 2021
Meet with your Personal Tutor via Zoom (if you haven’t already in Buffer week).
Prepare for the start of online teaching the following week.
Semester 1 Induction material is still available on Canvas.

SELLL Postgraduate Panel Event for UG students
Are you interested in studying for a Master’s degree? Look out for the upcoming SELLL Postgraduate Panel Event (w/c 25th January), organised by Engsoc. Details to be announced soon on SELLL social media. Newcastle University’s PG Virtual Open Day is being held on Monday 8th February – sign up to find out about all aspects of PG study from the link on the University website home page.

Next Girl’s Club Meeting (and first for 2021)
Tuesday 26th January 2021, 6-7.30pm (full details below)

Semester 2 Teaching Starts
Monday 1st February 2021

THIS AND THAT

Buffer week w/c 18th January 2021
A reminder that Semester 2 module Canvas sites will be published from today (18th January). Material from the Semester 1 enrichment week – such as Doing the Degree videos and the information about the marking, moderation and Exam Board processes, is still available on Canvas. Given the now extended assessment submission deadline, there will be no further scheduled enrichment activities for this week, but there is a further enrichment week at the beginning of March.

Assessment tips from Module Leaders & Students
Our student leaders asked some SELLL lecturers and students for their advice on how to tackle those end-of-module essays. Head over to Instagram to see what your English Literature and Language colleagues have to say. Best of luck for all your assignments from all of us.

Girl’s Club Meeting – Tuesday 26th January 2021, 6-7.30pm
The new theme for this semester is girls club: on consumption and the text is EAT UP! by Ruby Tandoh. No problem if you don’t have time to read the book, everyone is still very welcome to pop by for a chat! To clarify it is not a girl’s only reading group.
Any questions, comments or concerns please do email Tamsin at t.rees1@ncl.ac.uk
Join Zoom Meeting https://newcastleuniversity.zoom.us/j/85669186272
Meeting ID: 856 6918 6272

What does a PEC for Board of Examiners’ consideration mean?
Submitting a PEC for Board of Examiners’ consideration is different to submitting a PEC for extensions. We have put together some FAQs to help answer your questions so please read at your leisure.

NUSU Events
Check out what events and activities, NUSU are running this term at your Union.

Online Chat – Every Tuesday 10-12 & Thursday 2-4pm
Just a reminder that if you need a quick response to a question, you can use our twice weekly online chat service for an instant reply. Further details are included in the Wellbeing and Support section.

Some English Facts to sign off

  • No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver and purple.
  • The word “whatever” consistently ranks as the most annoying English word.
  • A new word is created every 98 minutes, which is about 14.7 words a day
  • English is spoken by 952 million people around the world – 339 million people speak English as a first language, and 603 million speak it as a second language. It is the official language in 67 countries and 27 non-sovereign countries such as Hong Kong.

From the Professional Services Staff in the School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics.

Continue reading “SELLL UG Fortnightly News 5”
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Mastering a Masters Degree

Are you interested in Further Study? Want to learn more about the PG options in SELLL?

Join current SELLL Masters Degree students Abi Hockaday, Shaun Thomas and Becky Robinson and academic Stacy Gillis in a friendly, informal Q & A session with EngSoc President and UG 3rd year Olivia Blackham.  

When: Thursday 28th January 2021 @ 4pm on Zoom 

You are welcome to join either with video turned on or off, or via the text chat function – whatever you prefer.  

Please note the event is being recorded so that we can upload to Canvas for those who are unable to join the live event. 

If you have any questions you would like Olivia to ask on your behalf please email o.blackham@ncl.ac.uk by midday on Thursday 28th January. 

Zoom details:  

Link: https://newcastleuniversity.zoom.us/j/84040466176

Meeting ID: 840 4046 6176 

Passcode: Available on Canvas

Following this SELLL event, Newcastle University are holding a Virtual PG Open Day on Monday 8th February – sign up to register from NU’s home page! 

For all PG related enquiries please email pg.english@ncl.ac.uk, or directly to administrative or academic staff. 

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Professor Linda Anderson awarded OBE

Congratulations to Professor Linda Anderson who has been awarded an OBE for services to Higher Education. She has changed the face of the literary landscape in the North through her outstanding contribution to the field of creative writing for nearly 40 years.

She was the first Director of Newcastle University’s Centre for Literary Arts (NCLA), which she launched in 2009 and was Head of the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, for a decade.

Her role at the NCLA has earned the organisation an international reputation for its work promoting literature and creativity. Thousands of people have enjoyed its free programme of talks, readings and events.

Professor Anderson is a respected poet and her reputation has attracted word-class writers to work at Newcastle including TS. Eliot Poetry prize and Forward Poetry prize winners. She has also helped to shape the way creative writing is taught nationally and has championed work on employability in the cultural industries.

She was also responsible for Newcastle University acquiring literary archives from Bloodaxe Books and the writers including Sean O’Brien, Selima Hill, Jack Mapanje, Moniza Alvi and Selima Hill, greatly enhancing Newcastle’s importance as a centre for literary research.

She also devised grassroots projects where writers worked with NHS, prison service and Northumbria Police.

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SVC Meeting 2

On Monday 7th December, the SELLL UG Student Voice Committee met for their second meeting of the year. They talked about:

  • Assessments
  • The 2019/20 Safety Net
  • Student Support
  • Ideas for Semester 2 Enrichment Week

Read the minutes to keep up to date, and make sure to get in touch with your reps if you would like to feed into any of these conversations.

UG-SVC-Minutes-07.12.20Download
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SELLL UG Fortnightly News 4

Monday 14th December 2020 to Christmas

Welcome to the Fourth Edition of our SELLL UG News, for a fortnightly round up compiled by Caroline Ede, with contributions from Professional Services (PS) colleagues in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics.  

Some new items below for this edition and important dates for your diary.  Plus, our regular wellbeing, IT and assessment support, if needed, has now moved to the end of the newsletter.

Merry Christmas from the School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics

NEW FOR THIS EDITION

Dates for your diary!
Last day of online teaching before Christmas
Friday 18th December 2020

School Office Christmas Closure
Monday 21st December 2020 – Friday 1st January 2021. Reopening Monday 4th January 2021.

Return to Studies for Semester 1
w/c Monday 11th January 2021

End of Semester 1 Assignment Hand-in Date
Thursday 14th January 2021

Deadline date for submitting PECs
The deadline date for submitting PECs to guarantee a response in time for hand-in is Monday 11th January 2021 by 12 noon. Please remember to upload your accompanying evidence.

Buffer / Enrichment Week
w/c Monday 18th January 2021.

THIS AND THAT

What does a PEC for Board of Examiners’ consideration mean?
Submitting a PEC for Board of Examiners’ consideration is different to submitting a PEC for extensions.  We’ve put together some FAQs to help answer your questions so please read at your leisure.

A Post on Time Management
One of our Student Bloggers, Hattie, has just written a blog post all about time management.  Here is what she also had to say:

With many of us students now heading back home for Christmas (covid-safely, of course!), I wanted to share some time-management tips that have helped me study remotely for the past month or so.  There are also some links to downloadable and printable time management resources at the end of the blog.

Christmas in Newcastle!
Newcastle University will provide a programme of support over the Christmas Holidays if you are unable to return home.  Click on this link for more information including Health & Wellbeing Support over the holidays. 

This link gives information on applying for a festive hamper if you are staying in Newcastle (you must complete the festive hamper application form on the link) and activities on offer.

NUSU Festive Events
NUSU are running lots of festive events that students can take part in and feel Christmassy and less isolated, and click on this link which is different to the last newsletter.

Online Chat – Tuesday 10-12 & Thursday 2-4pm
Just a reminder that if you need a quick response to a question, you can use our twice weekly online chat service for an instant reply.  Further details are included in the Wellbeing and Support section including an example of where to find online chat.  It will say ‘chat with us’ when we are online and ‘contact us’ when we are not.  We also offer extra sessions during submission deadlines in January.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2021

From the Professional Services Staff in the School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics.

Continue reading “SELLL UG Fortnightly News 4”