Staying International in Manchester

The International Society

The International Society provides a social environment not only for international students, but for any Manchester student with international interests.  You might just want to relax there, go along to the social events, or you may want to get more actively involved by, for example:

• Volunteering to help organise events for international students (socials, trips etc)
• Volunteering to teach English or give informal conversation classes to international students (no training or qualifications necessary)
• Applying to help with International Orientation and Welcome.  You'll need to be available for work at the beginning of September

UMSU International Societies

The University of Manchester Students' Union is home to many international societies which are run by students.  They enable students of similar nationalities and/or interests to meet informally.

Volunteer as a 'Friend' to an incoming international exchange student helping them prepare for and settle in at Manchester.

Global Friends is a voluntary scheme open to students who have studied or worked abroad as part of a University of Manchester degree.  It enables you to build on the skills and experience you have gained during your time overseas to assist incoming study abroad and exchange students with their transition into life in Manchester.  As a Global Friend, your principle role is to act as a friendly face, a 'human signpost', and a mentor to your mentee(s) in the run up to and the few weeks following their arrival in Manchester, supporting their academic and social integration into life at the University.  It is a fantastic way to make friends and provide support to your international peers.

If you would like to be a Global Friend or have any questions, please get in touch by emailing global.friends@manchester.ac.uk

Particularly if you are not studying a language as part of your degree, you may be worried that your new language skills will quickly go rusty now that you're back in the UK.  Below are some suggestions as to how you can maintain and even improve your fluency.

Make full use of the University Language Centre library

Visit the University Language Centre library website.  Its resources include satellite television, a library of foreign language films and a suite of dedicated multimedia PCs for computer-aided learning

Take a formal language course at the University

Try LEAP (Language Experience for All Programmes) @ The Language Centre.  If you have free choice credits available, consider taking a formal language class for credit with the Language Centre.  If you don't have any credit available, you can pay to join these language classes.

Most classes are scheduled to run over the full academic year, but the Language Centre are willing to consider allowing students onto courses for one semeeter only.

Tandem Classes @ The Language Centre offer native English speakers the chance to be paired with a French, German, Italian or Spanish student.  You meet with him/her for 2 hours per week to complete a number of specially designed learning tasks.  The focus is mostly on verbal communication skills and interaction with someone from another culture.

Take a language class locally

Places you can take classes include:

• L'Alliance Francaise (French)
• Instituto Cervantes (Spanish)
• Goethe Institut (German)
• The International Society's language classes

Find yourself a language conversation partner

The International Society have a notice board where people looking for a language partner can advertise.  You can also see the University Language Centre reception staff to register your interest in their Face to Face scheme.