Promoting languages
Photograph shows: L to R Students Curtis Samuels, Kamal Uddin and Seydi Diagana present their promotional dvd.
The UK’s largest language education centre for adults is all set to raise its profile among existing and potential learners thanks to the creative efforts of Media students from Birmingham Metropolitan College. The talented students have produced a promotional DVD about central Birmingham’s Brasshouse Language Centre and the 28 languages available to study there.
Nineteen-year-old Curtis Samuels who studies Japanese at the Sheepcote Street-based centre approached the Head, Nati Knight with a proposal to film an inspirational DVD that would raise awareness of the Brasshouse’s success with over 3,000 learners who study everything from Arabic to Danish to Turkish. He then spent three days filming at the centre with fellow BTEC National Diploma in Media students, Seydi Diagana who performed camera duties and Kamal Uddin who was director.
Fyrial Qureshi also contributed to the production by researching the history of the centre and its learning provision while Arafa Begum interviewed students for the camera. Finishing touches were made to the film back at Birmingham Metropolitan College’s Media and Games Development Suite based at the James Watt Campus in Great Barr.
“I’ve been fascinated by Japanese culture for a long time and plan to spend some time living there in the future,” Curtis explained. “I’ve been studying Japanese at Brasshouse for 18 months and saw the potential for making a vibrant and inspiring film here.
“Although we’ve produced commercials and music videos as part of our course, this is the first DVD we’ve produced for a client. This meant it was a much more independent exercise which was excellent practice for the professional world of media. The feedback we had from Nati and her colleagues was excellent – we’re all really proud of what we’ve achieved.”
The three-minute long film will contribute towards the five students’ ‘Production Management’ module of their course and the promotional DVD is to be shown in a constant loop in Brasshouse Language Centre’s reception area. The students’ tutor Peter Stack commented that “working with an actual client with real deadlines and high expectations is so demanding, but when it goes right, the sense of satisfaction is so worthwhile and rewarding”.
Nati Knight from Brasshouse Language Centre added: "I can’t mention enough how pleased my colleagues and I are about the DVD the students have produced.
“We think that they captured really well the diversity of our programme and our learners, as well as the commitment and the level of care and support we provide.”
For further information about Birmingham Metropolitan College, call 0845 155 0101, or 0121 503 8500 or visit www.bmetc.ac.uk
ENDS
For more media information please contact:
Shobby Patel
Telephone: 0121 446 45 45 ext.8144 or email: shpatel@mbc.ac.uk