AUT - Classroom, Workplace and Worldwide Learning
Classroom, Workplace and Worldwide Learning
In the School of Languages + Social Sciences students are actively involved in learning; interactive work and language labs ensure that students are challenged to ask questions, explain their ideas to others and work together to solve problems.
Languages courses encourage students to dive in and take an active role in class work. Students use computer-based technology in state-of-the-art language laboratories, which involve intensive listening and speaking practice in order to improve pronunciation and to develop listening skills.
A growing number of Languages papers are offered via AUTOnline, which provides students with the ability to discuss work through email, discussion forums, wikis, blogs and e-portfolios.
Bachelor of Arts students undertake a semester of co-operative education working with an employer to take their theoretical learning to the real world.
Students also have the opportunity to use the university’s international relationships to take part in a global exchange program.
Co-operative Education – learning comes to life in the workplace
At AUT we want to provide students with a transition between your studies and the world of employment. Co-operative education and our strong industry links provide students with work opportunities in a variety of major New Zealand organisations.
In the final year of your Bachelor of Arts degree, you spend one semester working with an organisation on a project that is related to your major. This provides an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between your studies, practice and your own skills.
Co-operative Education gives you a great start in the industry while still being able to get feedback from AUT lecturers. With this unique structure and the industry knowledge it provides, our graduates are not only experienced but have a distinctive qualification that sets them apart.
Global Exchange
The School of Language and Social Sciences has developed partnerships with overseas universities to develop our focus in both curriculum and research. This helps our students understand the global environment in which we operate.
We have overseas exchanges with the following universities:
Mexico
Tecnologico De Monterrey
Universidad de Monterrey
Sweden
Malmö University
UK
Leeds Metropolitan University
Japan
Hirosaki University
Kanda University
Sapporo University
Waseda University
For more information contact exchange@aut.ac.nz.
A STARK DIFFERENCE
Robin Stark says going on exchange to China was one of the best experiences he’s had. The AUT BA (major in Chinese) student applied and was accepted for an exchange with the University of Jinan for the first semester of this year.
The School of Languages and Social Sciences at AUT offers this exchange programme and others for a number of students each year. Being surrounded by a language daily is obviously one of the best and quickest ways to learn. While the idea of being fully immersed in a culture and foreign language can be daunting for some, Robin says he’d definitely recommend it.
“It is a very different place there but my confidence just improved so much and by the end of my stay I felt I was much better equipped to handle those spontaneous conversations that you often have during any day.”
While there Robin was involved in classes at the university for language and had specific teachers and tutors assigned to himself and the other exchange students. But importantly he also got to learn much more about the culture.
“Except for our accommodation, everything we did was the authentic local experience so we were totally immersed in the culture,” says Robin.
The School of Languages and Social Sciences at AUT offers BA majors in Chinese, Japanese and a minor in Spanish. As of 2010, students will also be able to enrol in a new BA major, International Studies. All these programmes have exchange opportunities for students.