Olga Komochkova 
Khmelnytskyi National University
Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF FUTURE BACHELORS OF ARTS IN LINGUISTICS AT THE NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY (UK)

Key words: linguistics, linguist, professional training, Bachelor of Arts, UK. 

Owing to significants changes that occur in many dimensions of human life, education is being modified as well. Educators are searching for new ways to adjust teaching and learning to current needs of students. Ukrainian scholars and practitioners have accumulated remarkable experience in this matter. Nevertheless, modern labour market is placing more and more demands on employees. Therefore, it is of vital importance to apply to foreign experience. 
Linguistics as a science has a vast potential that has not been fully revealed yet. British scholars are constantly searching for innovative strategies to use them in professional training of future linguists. Having analyzed numerous syllabi of leading British universities (Lancaster University, Bangor University, Newcastle University et al.), we took into account their achievements. Within this study, we would like to briefly justify the obtained results on the example of the Newcastle University.
To begin with, it must be noted that the mission statement of the university consists in the following: a) to be a world-class, research-intensive university; b) to deliver teaching and facilitate learning of the highest qiality; c) to play a leading role in the economic, social and cultural development of UK (Newcastle University, 2009). Which is why, the values and principles of the university include academic freedom; the pursuit of knowledge and understanding; a sound academic disciplinary base; a methodology based on reason and evidence; social responsibility; transparency. In addition, they are committed to exellence, value diversity, respond to societal challenges, accord parity of esteem and to research and teaching, educate for life, are globally ambitious and regionally rooted, invest in excellent staff (Newcastle University, 2017). 
As for Linguistics BA Honours offered by the University, it is focused on how language works, how it is structured and what it does, from the physical properties of speech, to how languages change and develop over time. So, students have the opportunity to learn about the growth and development of language in the brain as well as methodologies for the scientific study of the human language faculty (Newcastle University, 2017).
In general, modules cover topics such as phonetics/phonology, grammar and sound patterns, social contexts in which languages are learnt. 
Degrees at the Newcastle University are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and students must complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. 
The Stage 1 consists primarily of compulsory modules that are The Nature of Language; Language Through Time; Shaping Sounds and Syntax; Building Blocks of Language; Language across Space: Introduction to English Dialects. In addition, students may take 40 credits of optional modules in a modern language (French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese). 
The Stage 2, on the contrary, has more optional modules than compulsory ones. Compulsory modules are mainly focused on the linguistic theory, namely, Phonological Theory; the Syntax of the World’s Languages; Syntactic Theory. Students can take three optional of the following modules: Introduction to Language Acquisition; Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language; Contexts: Mind, Cognition and Computation; Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties; Speakers as Wordsmiths: the Creation of New Words in Present-Day English. Also, they may replace one module from the above list, or other optional modules available from outside the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, with one from the following list: Career Development for Second Year Students; Developing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Employability; Career Management Module. It may also be possible, over the course of Stages 2 and 3 together, to replace up to 60 credits of Linguistics optional modules with modules from the School of Modern Languages, with approval of the Degree Programme Director. 
Worth mentioning that students can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. They can spend their placement year with any organisation and receive University support to do so. It allows extend their degree by a year and is subject to availability. As an alternative, they can study abroad for one semester in their second year through the Erasmus programme (Newcastle University, 2017). 
The Stage 3 involves only optional modules. Students may choose one of the following: Extended Study 1: Linguistics and English Language; Extended Study 2: Linguistics and English Language; five modules from the following list: Language Origins and Evolution; Immigrant Second Language and Literacy Acquisition; History of Linguistic Ideas; Topics in Phonological Theory; Syntactic Puzzles and How to Solve Them; Old English: Texts and Translations; Language Development: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches; Language and Ethnicity in 21st Century Britain; Accents of English. There are also certain modifications available during the Stage 2. It must be noted that students can complete a dissertation in their third year, investigating a topic that they are interested in and also to participate in staff research projects. The research expertise includes Computational Linguistics; Language Variation; Psycholinguistics; Theoretical Linguistics. 
Speaking about teaching methods, students normally spend around 10 hours per week attending lectures, seminars, workshops and film screenings, plus weekly study groups. They also spend around 25 hours per week on class preparation, reading, writing, and other kinds of independent research recommended by their tutor. The assessment methods usually include written coursework, group presentations, discussion-board postings, end-of-semester examinations (Newcastle University, 2017). 
So, based on the above, we can conclude that the BA degree in Linguistics offered by the Newcastle University is modern, flexible and corresponds to the current needs of labour market. First of all, students master the comprehensive linguistic theory (phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax, etc.). Second of all, they may choose optional modules to their liking from a wide range of linguistic and other areas and obtain an additional specialization. In addition, they can study one of modern languages and study abroad. Finally, students obtain a range of valuable skills, which they can transfer to many different employment situations. Their literary and linguistic training can be used in journalism, librarianship, teaching and the highly competitive fields of writing, acting and directing. They also gain other skills such as the capacity to analyze and summarize material, to communicate, to work to a deadline, to argue a case, to work independently as well as collaboratively, to think logically and to be able to use computers. This is excellent preparation for a wide number of professions, including editorial, marketing, PR and other forms of media, law, politics, HR, teaching and supporting specialist learning. 

REFERENCES

1. Newcastle University. (2017). About the University. Retrieved 10.04.2017 from : http://www.ncl.ac.uk/about/.
2. Newcastle University. (2017). Linguistics BA Honours. Retrieved 10.04.2017 from : http://ncl.reportlab.com/media/output/q100.pdf.
3. Newcastle University. (2009). Vision 2021: A Wold-Class Civic University. Retrieved 10.04.2017 from : http://www.ncl.ac.uk/media/wwwnclacuk/abouttheuniversity/files/vision2021.pdf.