Opportunities, Volunteering and Skills Development
For Language Centre Undergraduate students
There are many opportunities for our students to gain practical skills and knowledge; through volunteering, paid student positions and internships, all of which promote academic and professional success, within the Centre and at LSE.
Volunteering Opportunities
Would you like to help other students with their languages?
The Language Centre needs volunteers to lead both Conversation Circles and Bitesize Speaking sessions, as part of the LSE Language Community. Past volunteers have found this to be a very rewarding experience.
- Training and support provided
- Meet a diverse group of students
- Gain experience leading groups
- Share your language and culture with others
- Certificate of participation for your CV
Want the opportunity to develop your own skills while helping others?
Become a SAM!
Help new students with the transition to University life. You will:
- Receive full training and support
- Develop new skills: leadership, relationship building, communication
- Increase your own skills and subject knowledge
- Enhance your future employability
- Gain a Career Professional Development certification
Found out more about the programme here.
Peer Supporters are trained student volunteers who offer a non-judgmental, confidential listening space for any LSE student.
The benefits of becoming a Peer Supporter:
- Make a positive difference to the LSE student community
- Gain strong transferable skills in listening, communication and empathy
- Build confidence and meet new people
- Receive a reference from the Student Wellbeing Service (on request)
- Optional: earn a CPD accredited certificate from CPDUK. The certificate is recognised by millions of employers as a commitment to active and conscious learning. Find out more about CPD here.
Become a Rep for your programme; these forums are a space for students to discuss their experience, both in and outside of the classroom, with LSE staff. Students are elected in the first two weeks of Autumn Term to represent the views of his/her peers at their departmental Staff-Student Liaison Committees (SSLC). More information can be found on the SSLC page.
The Volunteer Centre is here to help you find a volunteering placement at a charity or not-for-profit organisation during your time studying at LSE. On offer are a range of volunteering opportunities for you to get involved in, whether you have one hour or two days a week to spare.
Find out more here.
Funded or Paid Opportunities
We welcome content from students for the Language Centre's Instagram account:
- Interview a fellow student
- Make a reel about your LSE experience
- Guidance offered by the Language Centre
- We offer £25 Amazon vouchers for any content we can use
We especially welcome content from students on their year abroad about their experiences in their host countries, such as this one about a typical day in Shanghai made by Somtolise Elumogo, BSc Ir and Chinese.
If you prefer a more regular, paid position please see the section below on how to become an LSE Content Creator - you will still be able to make content for the Language Centre and you will be trained by LSE Student Marketing.
In this flexible, paid role with LSE Student Marketing you'll be creating social media content that depicts life at LSE for prospective students. You will be able to create content for the Language Centre and/or more general content for LSE. You can apply at the beginning of each academic year.
Student Ambassadors are recruited, trained and paid to support a range of LSE's Widening Participation and Student Recruitment activities, sharing their experiences of applying to and studying at university with young people and prospective students.
You'll have the opportunity to:
- inspire and support young people
- build communication, leadership, and teamwork skills
- enjoy work that fits around your studies
- share your experiences
- earn £17.46 per hour (current hourly rate) .
Year 2 BSc Language, Culture and Society students are eligible to receive funding on the LSE Language Centre Internship Fund Scheme.
This scheme provides funding for internships within a UK charity or small to medium sized enterprise (SME) each year. This enables students to receive funding for internships that would otherwise be unpaid and therefore might not be possible to undertake.
All Language Centre Year 3 students are eligible to apply for a Research Internship.
The aim of the Research Internship is to produce a publication for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. The Language Centre Director will guide in terms of literature and methodology and submit the publication. The project detail will be designed depending on which BSc students want to take this opportunity. All expressions of interest will be reviewed by the Language Centre Director and information on how to apply will be circulated in the Spring Term each year.
Skills Development
Non-degree Language Courses
We offer non-degree modern language courses to the LSE community. These are taken by Undergraduate students, Postgraduate students, Staff, and Alumni.
During your BSc programme with us you can sign up for one of our non-degree modern language courses for free, each year you are on campus.
The Language Community
A chance to practise your languages informally outside the classroom, the Language Community offers a range of opportunities, from discussion groups and language exchange to online resources:
- Conversation Circles
- Bitesize Speaking sessions
- Applied Improvisation
- Tandem Learning
- The Language Gateway
- Digital Resource Finder
LSE Life
The place to discover and develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. LSE LIFE can support you while you write essays and assignments, prepare for exams, and conduct your research. LSE LIFE have a huge range of activities built around a series of topic areas including writing, reading, referencing and being organised.
Find out more here.
LSE Careers
Our LSE Careers Consultant has regular drop-in sessions in The Huddle during term time. Please check for updates in our newsletters on these.
LSE Careers is here to help you find a career you’ll enjoy and where you’ll thrive. Whether you’re still wondering what might be out there, have a vague idea of some options or already know precisely what you want, we’ll give you the support you need to move forward.
Find out more here.
Research Opportunities
Get involved with research, from a one-off experiment to a student-led project. Some will allow you to choose the subject you research, or work with fellow students.
Find out more here.
LSE Students' Union
LSE Students' Union (LSESU) is a not-for-profit organisation run by LSE students, for LSE students. Their aim is to help you make the most of all the life-changing experiences open to you during your time at university.
Find out more here.