Valuing Languages: A Longitudinal Study of Students Perceptions

What do students expect from a Modern Languages degree, and how do those expectations change over time?

This project follows a group of Modern Languages students throughout their degree programme to explore how their perceptions of language learning develop during their university studies. Building on a first phase of the project with first-year students, it revisits the same participants in their final yer of studies to understand how their experiences have shaped their views of the role of their language of study within their Modern Languages programme.

The project examines students' perceptions of the relationship between language and cultural content learning, their expectations about using their target language beyond language classes, and how they understand the purpose and value of language study within a research-intensive university. By returning to the same students over time, the study provides a rare opportunity to explore not only what students think, but also how and why their views evolve.

At a time when Modern Languages programmes are increasingly required to demonstrate their value and relevance, this research places students' voices at the centre of the conversation. It will offer insights into what students value most in their degrees, how expectations align with lived experiences, and which aspects of programmes support or hinder students' engagement with language learning.

As one of the first longitudinal studies of Modern Languages students in UK higher education, the project will contribute new evidence on the student experience of language degrees. The findings will inform discussions about curriculum design, the place of language within Modern Languages programmes, and the distinctive contribution that language study makes to higher education. Through students' own reflections, the project seeks to better understand how languages come to be valued over the course of a degree.