About Sarah Needham

My name is Sarah Needham. In September 2010 I will begin my third year of studying BA Modern Languages (German/Spanish) at the University of Salford. As is the case with most language degrees, the third year of my course will take me abroad; to two different countries, two different cities and to two very different work placements.

This International Placement Year, to me, is both the most exciting and most frightening aspect of my degree. At only 20 years old, I have never before travelled alone or been away from the people I love for a long period of time. I was born in Salford and have lived here all of my life, and although most people seem to think of Salford as that grotty place just next to Manchester, this city actually has a special place in my heart.

I am scared and frightened but also excited about this year abroad. From September 2010 – February 2011 I will be in the city of Mannheim, Germany, working as an Intern for a translation company. From March – June/July 2011 I will be a Comenius Assistant for the British Council working in a secondary school in A Coruña, Spain.

I hope to be either a teacher or a translator one day.

About Sarah-Needham.co.uk

On the one hand, I am writing this blog for my own purposes, so that I can look back on my journey, and so that family and friends can see what I am up to whilst I am away.

On the other hand, I am also writing this blog in the hope that it helps other people. Less and less British schoolchildren are taking a language GCSE nowadays and perhaps my blog will help inspire some of them to try life in another language; perhaps my blog will go further than that and encourage school leavers to take a language A-Level, or encourage A-Level students who are already studying a foreign language to choose a language degree; perhaps it will also encourage students of any discipline, if they can, to take the opportunity to go on a work placement or study abroad.

I intend to be as honest as possible in this blog, and to show you, my reader, both the highs and the lows of an International Placement Year. You can discover for yourself whether this blog encourages or discourages you to try a year abroad for yourself. Whatever the outcome, I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say.

Sarah Needham