Course resource help for Modern Languages

• If you're new to Brookes Library, check our quick guides For new starters
• Discover the Library: a guide for international students (Google slides)
• Check How to get help using the Library
• Find out about Library services for users with a disability and Alternate formats

• Take a virtual tour of Headington Library
• Check a PDF floor plan of the Headington Library
• The main section for language resources is on Level 2 in Zone E of the Headington Library.  

Going to university is a huge step but there is lots of support available. Here are links to support services and useful resources for self-care:

• Managing yourself and your time (part of our Study Smarter series)
• Wellbeing resources 
• How to contact your Student Support Coordinator
• Inclusive Support Service

Use LibrarySearch to look for books and eBooks available in Brookes Library. Just type in the author, title or subject that you are interested in. Limit your search results to books.

Check the video guide (right) for tips on how LibrarySearch works.

Finding print books

Print books have a 'call number' which tells you where the book is shelved in the Library, for example this book Fundamentals of Translation by Sonia Colina is at 418.02 COL. The main section for languages books is on Level 2 in Zone E of the Headington Library. 

• Finding your material shows you how to understand call numbers and look for books on the library shelves
• Borrowing and returning tells you about borrowing print books
• If the book is on loan to another user or at one of our other libraries, you can put a hold on it (quick video guide). If it's on the shelves, it's quicker for you to go and get it yourself.
• See the section Resources for specific languages for more information about resources for French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English.
• For more information, check the guide Finding books for Modern Languages available as a PDF.

Using eBooks

If it’s an eBook, follow the 'View e-Book' link to connect to it. Log in when prompted with your Brookes student number and password. 

NB When you see the Brookes login screen, make sure you click just once on the 'Sign on' button. You may get a 'Page expired' error message if you double-click the button or press the Enter key. If this happens, go back to the LibrarySearch record and follow the link again, making sure to just click the Sign on button once.

In order to download many of our eBooks you need to have the Adobe Digital Editions programme or app on your computer/device. You can download this for free.

Find out more about accessing and downloading eBooks

Academic journals are key sources for your university studies.

• Articles published in these journals are written by specialists in the subject and they provide an insight into current thinking, debate and research in the field. 
• Journals can be good sources of up to date information on current topics which may not be covered by books. 
• Articles can cover a specific topic in depth, e.g. a case study. 

This guide Anatomy of a Journal (PDF) from the Open University explains clearly what a journal is, and how they differ from books.

Peer reviewed journal articles

You will often be asked to consult peer reviewed articles for your research. These are high quality scholarly articles that have been checked by other experts in the field. 

The peer review provides feedback so that researchers can revise and improve their papers before publication. It also acts as a quality check, ensuring that articles meet high standards expected in the discipline and required to maintain the reputation of the journal. Find out more about the purpose of peer review and how it works in this Explainer: what is peer review?

LibrarySearch is a good place to start looking for journal articles on a topic. Just type your keywords or a phrase in the search box. At the results screen, use the the filter options on the left to limit your search to peer-reviewed articles.

We recommend you also use databases, especially for more in-depth research because LibrarySearch doesn’t cover all of our e-resources and you may get better results on a more specialised database.

If you have the details of a specific article (for example from an author's bibliography) you may be able to find it through LibrarySearch by typing in some key words from the article title and an author. If the article doesn't come up, you'll need to look up the journal instead to see if we have it  - see the section 'Look for a specific journal' below.

Here is an example of an article from an academic journal which follows a very common structure:

Thurnell-Read, T., Brown, L. and Long, P. (2018) 'International Students’ Perceptions and Experiences of British Drinking Cultures’, Sociological Research Online, 23(3), pp.572-588. 

Always start with the abstract: a summary of the article’s content that appears at the beginning. Look at this to help you decide if an article is relevant for your own research. 

Journal articles often have this structure: Introduction - The research study - Discussion/conclusions. 

1. Introductory section: the author will usually set their article in the context of previous research. Notice all the in-text citations, e.g. (Gill, 2002). These are sources that the authors read before conducting their own research. 
2. The research study: this will form the main part of the article
3. Discussion/Conclusions: Where the author highlights what they found out. 

When you're searching for sources, you don't have to read the article in full at this stage. Scan through the abstract, introduction and conclusion to see if it's relevant to your own research topic. If the article looks useful, download the PDF and read it later, making notes as you go. Don’t forget to record all the details of the article for your reference list.

Looking for a specific journal

• Go to the Library home page and select the 'Journal titles' tab.
• Type in the journal title.
• Find the journal on LibrarySearch and click on the title.
• Click on the 'Access journal' link to connect to the journal home page.
• The journal site may offer a search function and will also allow you to browse. If browsing, use the year, volume and issue numbers to find the correct journal issue. Articles in each issue will be listed in page order, so use the page numbers to find the specific article.

Looking for a specific article

You may want to do this if you're following up a reference found in a bibliography:

• Try looking up the article on LibrarySearch. Use the author's surname and a few keywords from the article title.
• If you can't locate the article in this way, follow the steps above to look up the journal title and check if we have access to the journal and issue you need.

If we don't have the journal or issue you want, you can use the interlibrary loan service to request a free copy of the article.

It's a good idea to keep track of your sources as you find them, so that it's easier to reference them later. Check this guide for How to save and cite sources in LibrarySearch (Google slides)

Always check Cite Them Right to see how your references should look in the Harvard style required at Brookes.

• Library eBooks - Cite Them Right says to reference these in the same way as print books 
• Journal articles - make sure you have a record of: Author(s); Title of article; Title of journal; Year of publication; Volume number (if given); Issue number (if given); Page numbers. You may also want to note the DOI.

Module reading lists

Your module reading lists will tell you what sources you need to read before class and also provide further readings that may be helpful for assignments. Most reading lists are available online via the relevant Moodle course. You can also:

• browse online reading lists for French modules here 
• or search the full collection of reading lists.

Books and language learning resources

Books and other resources for learning languages are shelved on Level 2 of the Library, in Zone E (silent study area) of the Headington Library. Some key sections for students of French are:

• 418.02 Translation
• 420 English language
• 440 French language
• 443 French dictionaries
• 445 French grammar
• 448 Learning French, French usage
• 448.2421 French study texts and easy readers

French reading books - a list of French readers, short story anthologies and modern novels

Other useful areas of the Library:

• 840 French literature (Level 4, Zone E)

For more information, check the guide Finding books for Modern Languages available as a PDF.

Online dictionaries

• OED online version of the Oxford English Dictionary.

• Oxford Reference Online This is a collection of Oxford University Press reference books on a variety of subjects, including bilingual dictionaries. Individual titles from the collection are also listed on LibrarySearch.

French newspapers and magazines

Factiva is an international news database and a key resource for Modern Languages. It covers worldwide, national and local news sources, including French titles such as L'Expansion, L´Express, L'Humanité, L'Indépendant, Libération, Le Point, Le Temps, La Tribune and many others. 

Find out more about how to use Factiva

French films

In the Library:

French cinema including films on DVD is shelved at 791.430944  (Level 4, Zone D)

Online:

BoB (Box of Broadcasts) is a service which gives you access to thousands of recorded TV, radio programmes and films from an online archive.

Module reading lists

Your module reading lists will tell you what sources you need to read before class and also provide further readings that may be helpful for assignments. Most reading lists are available online via the relevant Moodle course. You can also:

• browse online reading lists for German modules here
• or search the full collection of reading lists.

Books and language learning resources

Books and other resources for learning languages are shelved on Level 2 of the Library, in Zone E (silent study area) of the Headington Library. Some key sections for students of German are:

• 418.02 Translation
• 420 English language
• 430 German language
• 433 German dictionaries
• 435 German grammar
• 438 Learning German, German usage

Other useful areas of the Library:

• 791.430943 German cinema including films on DVD (Level 4, Zone D)
• 830 German literature (Level 4, Zone E)

For more information, check the guide Finding books for Modern Languages available as a PDF.

Online dictionaries

• OED online version of the Oxford English Dictionary.

• Oxford Reference Online This is a collection of Oxford University Press reference books on a variety of subjects, including bilingual dictionaries. Individual titles from the collection are also listed on LibrarySearch.

For more resources, check the page Course resource help for Japanese Studies

Module reading lists

Your module reading lists will tell you what sources you need to read before class and also provide further readings that may be helpful for assignments. Most reading lists are available online via the relevant Moodle course. You can also:

• browse online reading lists for Japanese modules here 
• or search the full collection of reading lists.

Books and language learning resources

Books and other resources for learning languages are shelved on Level 2 of the Library, in Zone E (silent study area) of the Headington Library. Some key sections for students of Japanese are:

• 418.02 Translation
• 420 English language
• 495.6 Japanese language
• 495.6321 Japanese dictionaries
• 495.65 Japanese grammar
• 495.68 Learning Japanese, Japanese language usage
• 495.686 Graded readers including the Brookes series Let's Read Japanese

Japanese texts: easy readers & fiction - list of resources for students of Japanese who want to read Japanese texts

Japanese literature in translation - list of shorter Japanese fiction, essays and novels translated into English, available from Brookes Library.

Other useful areas of the Library:

• 895.6 Japanese literature (Level 4, Zone E)

Japanese newspapers and magazines

Factiva is an international news database and a key resource for Modern Languages. It covers worldwide, national and local news sources, including Japanese titles such as The Daily Yomiuri, The Japan Times, Kabushiki Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, The Nikkei Weekly, Sankei Shimbun and more. Searches can be made in Japanese if your keyboard has the capability.

Find out more about how to use Factiva

Japanese films and manga

In the Library:

• Browse this list Japanese films and manga to find out what's available.
• Manga texts in translation are shelved at 741.5952 (Level 4, Zone B) 
• Japanese cinema including films on DVD is shelved at 791.430952 (Level 4, Zone D)
• Japanese anime including films on DVD on DVD is shelved at 791.43340952 (Level 4, Zone D)

Online:

BoB (Box of Broadcasts) is a service which gives you access to thousands of recorded TV, radio programmes and films from an online archive. Find out more about using BoB for Japanese Studies including playlists of Japanese resources and films. 

Module reading lists

Your module reading lists will tell you what sources you need to read before class and also provide further readings that may be helpful for assignments. Most reading lists are available online via the relevant Moodle course. You can also:

• browse online reading lists for Chinese modules here 
• or search the full collection of reading lists.

Books and language learning resources

Books and other resources for learning languages are shelved on Level 2 of the Library, in Zone E (silent study area) of the Headington Library. Some key sections for students of Mandarin Chinese are:

• 418.02 Translation
• 420 English language
• 495.1 Mandarin Chinese language
• 495.1321 Chinese dictionaries
• 495.182421 Learning Chinese, Chinese usage French grammar
• 495.1864 Chinese study texts and easy readers

For more information, check the guide Finding books for Modern Languages available as a PDF.

Module reading lists

Your module reading lists will tell you what sources you need to read before class and also provide further readings that may be helpful for assignments. Most reading lists are available online via the relevant Moodle course. You can also:

• browse online reading lists for Spanish modules here 
• or search the full collection of reading lists.

Books and language learning resources

Books and other resources for learning languages are shelved on Level 2 of the Library, in Zone E (silent study area) of the Headington Library. Some key sections for students of Spanish are:

• 420 English language
• 460 Spanish dictionaries
• 465 Spanish grammar
• 468 Learning Spanish, Spanish usage
• 468.2421 Spanish study texts and easy readers

Spanish reading books - a list of Spanish readers, short story anthologies and modern novels

Other useful areas of the Library:

• 860 Spanish literature (Level 4, Zone E)

For more information, check the guide Finding books for Modern Languages available as a PDF.

Online dictionaries

• OED online version of the Oxford English Dictionary.

• Oxford Reference Online This is a collection of Oxford University Press reference books on a variety of subjects, including bilingual dictionaries. Individual titles from the collection are also listed on LibrarySearch.

Spanish newspapers and magazines

Factiva is an international news database and a key resource for Modern Languages. It covers worldwide, national and local news sources, including Spanish sources such as ABC, Cinco Dias, El Correo, Expansion, El Mundo, El Pais (1995-) and others.

Find out more about how to use Factiva

Spanish and Latin American films

In the Library:

• Spanish cinema including films on DVD is shelved at 791.430946 (Level 4, Zone D)
• Latin American cinema including films on DVD is shelved at 791.430972 (Level 4, Zone D)

Online:

BoB (Box of Broadcasts) is a service which gives you access to thousands of recorded TV, radio programmes and films from an online archive.

Module reading lists

Your module reading lists will tell you what sources you need to read before class and also provide further readings that may be helpful for assignments. Most reading lists are available online via the relevant Moodle course. You can also:

• browse online reading lists for English modules here 
• or search the full collection of reading lists.

Books and language learning resources

Books and other resources for learning languages are shelved on Level 2 of the Library, in Zone E (silent study area) of the Headington Library. Some key sections for students of English are:

• 418.02 Translation
• 420 English language
• 423 English dictionaries
• 425 English grammar
• 428 English language usage
• 428.24 Learning English
• 428.64 Collection of readers – simplified versions of English novels
• 428.2421 French study texts and easy readers

English Reading Resources: Graded Readers

Reading and viewing for pleasure

Other useful areas of the Library:

• 820 English literature (Level 4, Zone D)
• 821 English Poetry
• 822 English Drama
• 823 English novels

Online dictionaries

• OED online version of the Oxford English Dictionary.

• Oxford Reference Online This is a collection of Oxford University Press reference books on a variety of subjects, including bilingual dictionaries. Individual titles from the collection are also listed on LibrarySearch.

Newspapers and magazines

Factiva is an international news database and a key resource for Modern Languages. It covers worldwide, national and local news sources. 

Find out more about how to use Factiva

Films

In the Library:

• UK cinema including films on DVD is shelved at 791.430941  (Level 4, Zone D)
• US cinema including films on DVD is shelved at 791.430973  (Level 4, Zone D)

Online:

BoB (Box of Broadcasts) is a service which gives you access to thousands of recorded TV, radio programmes and films from an online archive.

Who can access: Undergraduates doing dissertation or equivalent research (from the 2nd Semester of your 2nd Year) are eligible to apply for a Bodleian card.  

What they hold: The Bodleian is a copyright deposit library, which means that a copy of all British publications should be deposited in its collections by the publisher under copyright law. Check their Library catalogue SOLO

How to apply: Check How to access the Bodleian and other libraries. Note that there are different procedures if you apply during the vacation 

What you can access: You can use the main Bodleian Library of Oxford University, as well as the Taylor Institution Library. Your Bodleian card gives you access to print and e-resources but only within their library buildings. You will be given a Bodleian Libraries username and password which allows you to log into SOLO, library PCs and the ‘Bodleian-Libraries’ Wi-Fi network as well as using their Print, Copy and Scan (PCAS) service. For full details, check their guide What access do I have as a Bodleian Reader card holder 

Interlibrary loan service

You can use this free service to request a loan of a print book or to obtain a copy of a journal article that we don’t hold at Brookes. Find out more about the interlibrary loan service

More Books

Look out for the Library’s popular More Books scheme which allows you to to suggest books and eBooks you’d like the library to purchase (max. 5 books per student). When the scheme is running, full details will be available via the Library home page.

• LibrarySearch: Libraries worldwide
  You can use LibrarySearch to look for resources in Brookes Library and beyond. To look for books and articles held by other libraries, type your keywords in the search box and then use the menu on the left to change the settings from 'Oxford Brookes University' to 'Libraries Worldwide.' For many items you will see an option to place an interlibrary loan request.
  
  
• Jisc Library Hub Discover allows you to search materials held in many UK national, academic and specialist libraries.
  
  
• SOLO Search the catalogue of the University of Oxford

• The Library holds masters dissertations and some undergraduate dissertations for the Business School and these may be of interest to Modern Languages students. You can use LibrarySearch to look for them - see this blog post for tips: Finding business dissertations.
• Some Masters dissertations may be available online via the eDissertations collection on RADAR.
• The Library does hold all Brookes PhD theses in hard copy: these are listed on LibrarySearch and can be requested at the JHB Library Help Zone. Online versions of many Brookes PhD theses are also available via the eTheses collection on RADAR.
• If you are looking for a UK PhD/MPhil thesis, you may be able to obtain a copy online via the British Library's EThOS system. You can search across 250,000+ theses for free and download / order full text where available. You will need to register and log in if you want to download a thesis or to order digitisation of a thesis.