Exploring languages and literature beyond the curriculum

Curious students and those wishing to progress to degrees in language and literature will want to explore their subject in greater depth, strengthen their academic profile, and develop the intellectual habits required for advanced study.

One important way is through engagement with super-curricular learning in languages and literature. 

See this downloadable document for suggestions in modern languages and literature. 

Super-curricular activities are forms of learning that extend beyond the formal school curriculum while remaining closely connected to a student’s chosen subject. Super-curricular engagement deepens subject knowledge and intellectual understanding.

Such activities may include reading, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, attending or watching online lectures, visiting museums, exploring digital resources, essay competitions or engaging with contemporary debates.

Engagement beyond the curriculum allows students to:

• explore subjects in greater depth and reflect on their intellectual interests;

• make informed decisions about future study and academic pathways;

• develop critical, analytical and reflective thinking;

• cultivate independent study habits and intellectual curiosity;

• articulate personal interests within a subject area;

• demonstrate sustained academic engagement and motivation.

Increasingly, UK university applications and personal statements expect students to show evidence of thoughtful engagement with their chosen subject beyond classroom study. Super-curricular learning provides a framework through which students can articulate their intellectual relationship with a discipline and reflect on how their interests have developed over time.