Durham Modern Languages and Cultures

Please join us on Monday 7 September & Monday 14 September for two online events on The Creative-Critical:

Symposium | The Creative-Critical and the Global South | 7 September | 10:30 am – 3:30 pm (UK time)

Panel | The Creative-Critical and Pedagogy: Research-Led Teaching | 14 September | 10:00 am – 1:30 pm (UK time)

The events are part of a series on The Creative-Critical that our colleague Professor Abir Hamdar, in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, is convening and organising beginning in September.

Attendance is free, but registration is required.

For details of the series and to register, visit:
https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/about-us/news/the-creative-critical/

(or scan the QR code in the programmes)

For any queries: contact Abir Hamdar, [email protected]

📚 New MLAC publication

Congratulations to Dr Yael Almog, Associate Professor of German at Durham University, on the publication of Memory Practice, a new collection of photographs by Berlin-based artist Hadas Tapouchi, edited by Yael and featuring contributions from both the artist and Dr Almog.

The volume explores the relationship between photography, urban space and the traces of difficult histories.

The book will be presented at the launch event “Beneath the Surface: Memory, Architecture, and History’s Aftermaths” in Berlin on 21 July 2026, featuring a conversation between Hadas Tapouchi and Dr Yael Almog.

Find out more about the publication and the launch event via the link:
https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/about-us/news/memory-practice/

🌍 Celebrating the power of languages at Durham!

Last week, MLAC welcomed more than 140 pupils from local North East schools through two pilot widening access events: Discover Languages at Durham and Across Languages: A Multilingual Poetry Workshop.

From language passports, decoding challenges and escape room puzzles to multilingual poetry and performance, pupils explored the creativity and opportunities that languages can offer.

🎥 Watch the video highlights and discover more about these inspiring events here:
https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/about-us/news/widening-access-events/

The Centre for Foreign Language Study at Durham University is looking to expand its bank of language teachers for its Languages for All (evening) classes.

Passionate about language teaching? We're looking for hourly-paid teachers to join our supply teaching pool in:
Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish.

Join our LFA team and support language learning at Durham University. To find out more and to apply, please visit: https://durham.taleo.net/careersection/du_cas_cs/jobdetail.ftl?job=26000645&tz=GMT%2B01%3A00&tzname=Europe%2FLondon

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📚 MLAC students contribute to a new publication celebrating Catalan literature!

We are delighted to celebrate the contribution of Durham students to Un tast de literatura – De Xarxa Llull al món: Territori, llengua, cuina, a new publication by the Institut Ramon Llull.

Working under the guidance of Lecturer Elsa Sala Gonzalo, our students translated one of the texts featured in this exciting volume:

👏 Louis Campion
👏 Aggie Chow
👏 Emily Corker
👏 Florence Fitzpatrick
👏 Thomas Pullan
👏 Konrad Ramsey
👏 Iris Rodriguez
👏 James Weir
👏 Alexandra Wishart

The publication also features a preface by Professor Rosi Song.

This fantastic achievement highlights the creativity of our students, the importance of translation, and the power of Catalan language and literature to connect cultures and communities.

Congratulations to everyone involved! 🌍📖

Our students continue to rate their university experience highly, with satisfaction improving across key areas of student life🎉 📈

The latest National Student Survey (NSS) results show strong student satisfaction across areas such as teaching quality, wellbeing support, learning resources, and opportunities to feedback and influence change.

We achieved our highest-ever ‘student voice’ score for the second year running, reflecting our commitment to listening to students and acting on their feedback.

We'll continue working closely with our students and Durham Students’ Union to ensure every student has the best possible experience at Durham.

A huge thank you to colleagues across the University whose dedication, expertise and support help make a positive difference to our students every day 💜

🔗 Find out more about our NSS results: https://brnw.ch/21x3ZMo

🌟 Bravissima Sophia! 🌟

We are delighted to celebrate the success of our MLAC alumna Sophia Smith-Galer (St Mary’s College, 2016), whose new book How to Kill a Language has been named a Sunday Times Book of the Week and featured on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.

From writing for Palatinate and performing in university operas at Durham, Sophia has gone on to become an award-winning reporter, author and content creator. Her new book explores the importance of protecting the world’s languages and the stories they carry.

Bravissima Sophia, and thank you for continuing to inspire our students and colleagues! 💜

Keep in touch, and we hope to welcome you back to Elvet Riverside soon to tell us more about your work and achievements!

Read more on our website 👇
https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/about-us/news/durham-alumna-sophia-smith-galer-/

🌍 Celebrating the global impact of our colleagues in MLAC!

Professor Marcela Cazzoli, Professor of Hispanic Studies and Director of the MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics, has been sharing her vision for the future of modern languages through widening access and inclusion, while also strengthening international connections through a recent visit to China Pharmaceutical University in Nanjing.

Her work highlights the importance of languages in creating opportunities, building partnerships, and connecting communities around the world.

Read more about Professor Cazzoli’s recent activities: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/about-us/news/cazzoli/

🎓 Congratulations to all our students who graduated at this year's Summer Congregation!

It was a pleasure to celebrate this special milestone with our graduates, their families and friends at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures' drinks reception in Leech Hall, St John's College, following the graduation ceremony and procession.

We are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved during your time at Durham and wish you every success as you embark on the next chapter of your journey.

Once part of MLAC, always part of our community. YOU ARE MLAC, and we can't wait to see where your languages, knowledge and experiences take you next. 🌍

Congratulations, Class of 2026! 🎉