The aim of the Portfolio is to give students the opportunity to reflect in three different 500-word Milestones on their personal development as well as on linguistic or cultural or political issues they come across at their placement.

(LO1) To explain the topics/issues selected for and examined in the Milestones.

(LO2) To explain the relevance of the materials used.

(LO3) To explain the analytical methods employed.

(LO4) To further expand on one of the linguistic, cultural or political topics/issues examined in the Milestones.

(LO5) To provide a summary of the results achieved in the Milestones.

(LO6) To provide self-critical reflections on the Milestones produced.

(LO7) To provide a summary of his or her personal development during the semester abroad.

(LO8) To explain in which particular ways feedback received from their supervisor on the Milestones has helped them in writing the Final Report.

(S1) Global citizenship - Cultural awareness

(S2) Global citizenship - Relevant economic/political understanding

(S3) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice

(S4) Time and project management - Project management

(S5) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

Teaching Method 1 - Work Placement
Description: Students doing a Semester one Portfolio are required to produce three Milestones in the target language each of which must be 500 words (plus / minus 10%) long. In the Milestones students reflect on their personal development and on linguistic or cultural or political topics related to their placement. Students are supervised by a member of staff from their subject area at the UoL. At three prescribed stages during Semester one, students submit a Milestone to their supervisors and receive feedback on and a mark for each Milestone. At the end of Semester one, students submit a Final Report, written in the target language and 1,000 words long, which represents a reflective summary of the Milestones. Further details of the Milestones and of the profile of the Final Report are provided in the Code of Practice on the Year Abroad Portfolio.

The portfolio gives students the opportunity to write a summary - the Final Report - in which they critically reflect the topics discussed in the Milestones and further expand on one of the linguistic or cultural or political issues examined. Further details of the portfolio, especially on the requirements of the Final Report, are provided in the Code of Practice for the Year Abroad portfolio.