Heather Imrie graduated in 2010 with BA Hons in Film & Media and French and has ended up taking the skills and experience gained over the duration of her degree first into teaching and, more recently, to a new job working for the TES:
“I studied my undergraduate degree in French and Film & Media Studies at the University of Stirling from 2005-10. The course was perfect for me as I could choose from a range of options, as well as focusing on the key language aspects. I was able to study French literature, art, history and films. I was particularly passionate about French cinema and I was happy as my course allowed me to study modules of my choice, so I eventually specialised in this area for my dissertation. Throughout my course I found the support of the languages school office and the lecturers to be superb.
One of the great things about my degree was the opportunity to go abroad as part of the course. In my third year I spent 7 months as a language assistant in a French lycée. This was such a formative experience and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is studying languages. I was also able to spend a semester studying abroad in the South of France on the Erasmus programme. This was a fantastic 6 months and gave me a great insight into a different part of the country.
After graduating from Stirling, I decided I wanted to pursue a career in languages and spent a year training to be a teacher on a PGCE course at the University of Reading. Following this I was lucky enough to secure a job at a secondary school in south Oxfordshire and after completing my NQT year I was given departmental responsibility for Spanish at Key Stage 3.
Though I enjoyed working with children, when my partner and I relocated to London at Easter 2013 I took the opportunity to look for a new challenge. I’m currently working as part of the TES resources team that manages their website for teachers. I’m relishing my new role and am still using my language skills, in addition to lots of other skills! A big part of my job is researching resources and events, so I’m using the enquiry skills that my degree at Stirling helped me to refine.
I’m really happy in my job and I can say without doubt that I wouldn’t have this position if it wasn’t for my degree at Stirling and the opportunities it has enabled me to grasp.”
If you’re interested in coming to study French with us at Stirling, or are a current student wanting to find out more about career opportunities once you graduate, please don’t hesitate to contact us (you’ll find us under the ‘Literature and Languages’ tab).
French at Stirling 