Department of Languages & Cultures at Reading University

Last week's DLC finalist party was a joyful celebration of achievement and friendship, marking the end of an unforgettable journey in modern languages. Students came together to celebrate completing their degrees, reflecting on years of hard work, cultural exploration and personal growth.
The evening was filled with laughter and memories, shared across languages and cultures. It was an opportunity not only to celebrate academic success, but also to recognise the strong community that had been built along the way.
As our finalists look ahead to new opportunities , this event served as a meaningful farewell and a reminder that their connection to languages and to each other will continue long after graduation. 🎓✨

Yesterday, we celebrated the excellent work of Reading University staff at the Teaching and Learning Showcase.
Lourdes Barquín Sanmartín, Spanish Lecturer, won this year’s Teaching Excellence Award for the School of Humanities. Congratulations, Lourdes!👏🎉❤️
Please join us in congratulating all the DLC colleagues who were nominated for a Teaching Excellence awards this year. Of the 36 nominees for the School of Humanities this year, 15 were from DLC , 12 of whom were Languages for All colleagues. This is a huge success and recognition for the programme and the department as a whole!
Since 2019, our department has had a total of 5 winners of the Teaching Excellence Award and 2 winners of the university-wide Inclusion and Diversity Teaching Award, these are truly amazing numbers!
Once again congratulations to Lourdes and to all the DLC nominees!
Thanks so much for your inspiring work! Well done everyone!!! 👏🎉

The premiere of the Helle Opera will be taking place this coming Sunday 7th June, 7.30-8.30pm in the Bulmershe Theatre of the Minghella Studios.

The opera is an original work by Chris Salatelis, a PhD student in the Department of Languages and Cultures, who very sadly passed away in April. The opera will be performed in his memory.

If you would like to attend, please register your attendance via the URL link below

https://www.store.reading.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/faculty-of-arts-humanities-social-science/department-of-languages-and-cultures/helle-the-opera

or QR code by Thursday 4th June.
Link to news story
https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2026/University-News/Opera-to-honour-late-students-vision

It was our first time and we loved it!!
Last Saturday it was Centenary Community Festival. Our first ever community festival, and it went well beyond our wildest dreams! We saw, and spoke with, so many people that we did not have any time for pictures or videos until almost the end of the day. We may look a bit tired (the upside-down Arabic sign on one of the boxes is a proof of that!) but enjoyed every single moment of it (Italians out there will recognise the song of the video immediately!). And, more than anything else, we took away with us the most beautiful legacy of the day: a wonderful wall of languages, with touching and funny messages gifted to us by many of the people who visited our stand.
What would we all be without the richness of our many cultures and languages?
As the lovely Tamil-speaking lady wrote in her message on our wall, the world is truly ‘a common place to everyone.’
See you again next community festival !

Calling all our student and Reading followers: come and join us on Saturday 16 May , from 12pm to 5pm, on Whiteknights Campus, to celebrate 's 100 years and our languages programme! Come and vist ou stand in the Meadow for a friendly, inclusive day where everyone can share the languages they speak, whether they know one or twenty. Enjoy activities for all ages, discover new languages, and take part in a highly interactive British Sign Language session (Palmer Building 105, at 2:30pm or at 3:30pm). Find out more and register at rdg.ac/centenaryfestival

What an incredible night we had this past Saturday! 💃🕺
We are still buzzing from the energy of our Languages Ball. It was a spectacular evening! 🎉
A huge thank you to Emily Tasker for organising this event and everyone who attended and brought such amazing energy ! 💫

What a fantastic milestone! 🎉 On May 7, 2026, Languages for all successfully hosted the "Celebrating Deafness: Awareness, Identity and Belonging" conference, a standout event in the university’s centenary celebrations. The conference showcased our deep commitment to inclusion and its thriving British Sign Language (BSL) programs. From BSL courses in the Languages for All programme to dedicated awareness workshops, this event proved that the University of Reading is a place where everyone truly belongs.It was an inspiring day of connection and culture that perfectly marked 100 years of excellence. Huge congratulations to Ugo Marsili, Inclusion Development and Innovation Lead, and the entire team for such a meaningful success! 👏

We're here for the final Offer Holder Day, and what a beautiful day it is! Huge thanks to our Admissions Lead, Dr Ute Wolfel, and all the enthusiastic lecturers and ambassadors. And that's not all — there are Open Days on the 19th and 20th of June!!

'Celebrating Deafness: Awareness, Identity and Belonging' will take place on 7 May 2026 from 10:00 to 14:00 at the London Road Campus (Building L22, Room G03–G04). This is an in-person event only. Admission is free, but registration is required via the QR code.

Organised by Languages for All, this event is part of the University of Reading’s centenary celebrations and celebrates the ongoing success of British Sign Language (BSL)! 🤟✨
BSL was established within the LFA in 2017 and is now celebrating its 9^(th) anniversary. This milestone also coincides with the 25^(th) anniversary of the Reading Deaf Centre, further strengthening the long-standing collaboration with the Berkshire Community Connector.

The programme will include talks on:

- Deaf identity, history and community

- BSL and inclusive education

- Barriers and accessibility

Sessions will incorporate storytelling and performative scenarios, including short role-plays to introduce key themes and prompt reflection. These will be followed by dedicated Q&A segments to encourage discussion and shared perspectives.

Huge thanks to Ugo Marsili, Inclusion Development and Innovation Lead.

A night to celebrate, socialise and dance! We can't wait to see staff and students dressed to the nines 🌎🎊