The Language Centre reflects the specialist nature of the London School of Economics and Political Science itself, namely a world class institution where quality of research and teaching is paramount.
The core remit of the Language Centre in relation to the School's own mission statement is as follows:

• the teaching of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to current LSE students to support their other academic studies
• the provision of Degree Options in English, French, German, Russian and Spanish Language and Society
• the support of staff development through providing both EAP teaching to part-time teaching staff and foreign language teaching to academic staff
• the support of research students who require foreign language teaching for their research work
• more general support in the form of advice on language teaching needs to staff and current students
• the provision of an Institution Wide Language Programme of certificated short courses in a wide range of modern languages.

The six areas of activity of the LSE Language Centre

Academic Teaching
This is a vital component in our range of activities. It ensures we deliver high-level activities that engage with students’ intellectual capacity and develop a variety of language and meta-skills. It is also important that a section of our activities are formally assessed as part of a student’s degree. It also attracts highly qualified staff, some with PhD’s (Dr. Olga Sobolev – Russian Language & Society; Dr. Angus Wrenn – English Literature & Society), who would not necessarily be satisfied with service teaching alone. In this category we would also include any plans for post graduate teaching, particularly post graduate teacher training. It is important for our own esteem that part of our activities is recognised by the School as academic, and that we as language professionals do have a role to play in the academic life of the School. All courses are formally approved by USSC and subject to external assessment and external examination.

Service Teaching
In terms of Modern Foreign Languages this plays a vital role in establishing a service profile for any world-class university. Although our international students at LSE are de facto proficient in more than one language, these polyglots are determined to raise or broaden their linguistic skills. As for UK students, many depend on the opportunity our Certificate Courses give them to acquire or improve a foreign language so as to compete more effectively in the global market place. Within the framework of these certificate courses we are also able to create a range of LSP (Languages for Specific Purposes) programmes which contribute to any student’s personal development profile.

Support Teaching
This area of activity plays a crucial role in enabling the wide range of international students at LSE to operate effectively. Without the dedication, subject specific relevance, and qualified teacher status of the team, the School would have to look very carefully the numbers it recruits who do not have English as their first language. The EAP team acts a vital link between academic departments and students. We are able to be such an efficient interface because of the academic quality of the EAP teaching team who are able to both understand and meet the subject specific linguistic needs of the school’s departments.

Income Generation
No area of a university in the UK can exist without being a willing and effective partner in income generating activities. Language Centres are well placed to be innovative and effective contributors in this area.

Outreach Projects
Universities cannot opt out of this option. Language Centres can again help with raising both the profile of the parent university and the profile of their subject.
Applied Research Profile
Although not “research active”, we are eager to be involved in those applied research projects which focus on teaching methodology and language acquisition. Without participating in such relevant projects, we would be denying our staff an important route for personal and professional development, the benefits of which would be passed directly to the student.
These areas of activity are key to a “merged” entity such as the LSE Language Centre. A successful “merged” entity should contain these elements to reflect the depth and breadth of language study in a modern university.

Applied Research Profile
Although not “research active”, we are eager to be involved in those applied research projects which focus on teaching methodology and language acquisition. Without participating in such relevant projects, we would be denying our staff an important route for personal and professional development, the benefits of which would be passed directly to the student.
These areas of activity are key to a “merged” entity such as the LSE Language Centre. A successful “merged” entity should contain these elements to reflect the depth and breadth of language study in a modern university.