Newcastle University is a member of the 20-strong group of leading research-intensive UK universities and is ranked 17th in the UK for research power (according to “Research Fortnight”) and in 2009 was amongst the top 10 higher education institutions in the UK for income from UK research council awards. Within the School the Applied Linguistics Section specialises in research into the relationship between first language (L1) and second language (L2) use and learning, L2 classroom interaction, and the use of technology in language learning. The Language Resource Centre at Newcastle provides language learning resources for members of the University and the public and has 4,000 registered users. The Centre provides a dedicated location for independent learning for over fifty languages with resources that range from books to Computer Aided Language Learning (CALL) software, and web-based multimedia material. The Centre operates two language learning websites which are designed to promote language learning to schools in the region, forming part of a project developed to further the Centre’s strategy of engagement with the local community. The Centre has a further community engagement remit and has worked with local refugee support groups to assist with the English language learning as well as being available to adult members of the public and those engaged in life-long learning programmes.