David Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, will be shown the latest high-tech tools for learning languages when he opens the Language Learning Centre at the University of Sussex today (May 9, 2001).

More than £250,000 has been spent on the centre during the past few months to refurbish the rooms and equip them with new computerised digital work stations, each with internet and satellite TV access, CD-ROM, DVD, video playback facilities and CALL (computer assisted language learning) programs.

"This is fantastic compared with the antiquated equipment we had before," says director Sue Sheerin. "It offers students and tutors so many more possibilities to be creative with learning. It is also fitting that this refurbishment has taken place during European Year of Languages 2001."

During his visit Mr Lepper, who took a certificate in education at Sussex in 1968 and gained a diploma in education here in 1991, will also be shown how students take classes in the new digital language lab. This involves the tutor monitoring and communicating with individual students through computers.

The Language Learning Centre, which is open to members of the public as well as staff and students at the University, has learning materials for more than 50 languages. Satellite TV channels are available in English, French, German, Spanish and Russian. The centre also produces worksheets and study guides for independent learning.

Notes for editors

• You are invited to send a reporter/ photographer to the reopening of the Language Learning Centre, Arts A, 1pm.
• For further information, please contact Jacqui Bealing or Alison Field, University of Sussex, Tel. 01273 678209, Fax 01273 877456, email J.A.Bealing@sussex.ac.uk or A.Field@sussex.ac.uk.
• The European Year of Languages 2001 is a celebration of Europe's linguistic diversity and promotes language learning and related skills. It is organised by the European Union and the Council of Europe.