Which languages do you offer?

The Department of Modern Foreign Languages offers Chinese, French, German and Spanish.

Can a complete beginner study a foreign language with you?

Yes, the 178 modules (Chinese 178, French 178, German 178, Spanish 178) are for complete beginners – you don’t need to know the language to start learning.

Are there any modules for students who already have a background in a foreign language?

- For German-speaking students and students who passed German in Grade 12 (or equivalent) we offer German 188.- For students who passed French in Grade 12 we offer French 188. First language speakers of French or students with a francophone background cannot take an undergraduate module in French.Contact the department if you’re not sure whether you should take a 188-module.

What are the classes like?

All our 178 modules are fast-paced high-intensity language courses that require a high level of motivation as well as consistent, active class participation. We try to keep our classes small and interactive. We do all kinds of different things from grammar exercises to reading literature to watching videos and singing songs. Our more advanced modules combine language, literature studies, media studies and communication.

In which degree programmes can I take a foreign language module?

There are two degree courses where studying a foreign language is compulsory: BA International Studies (2 years of a foreign language) and BCom International Business (1 year of a foreign language). BA Language & Culture and BA Humanities allow you to study several languages.Several other degrees allow you to take a foreign language module such as Drama & Theatre Studies, BA Law, BA Music, BMus and a few others. Here you can find the yearbooks of all the Faculties.If you want to take a foreign language as an additional module, you need permission from your degree programme coordinator and our timetable must be compatible with yours. Contact us if you are not sure.

Is it possible to study more than one foreign language?

- If you want to combine several languages, BA Language and Culture allows you the largest number of language modules. Chinese, French and German offer modules in BA Language and Culture. - For majoring in a foreign language (doing one or more foreign language major) you can choose BA Language and Culture or BA Humanities. - BUT if you want to learn Spanish, Spanish is currently only offered in BA Humanities and BA International Studies. - Currently Spanish is only offered on first and second year level, so you cannot major in Spanish. - Spanish 178 & French 178 are exclusion modules (you cannot take exclusion modules together).

What can I do with a foreign language?

Every additional language you know has the potential to open doors and make you stand out from the crowd. Being able to use foreign language, is a skill in itself and that our courses are skills oriented so that students could use the language in a variety of careers. Some of the careers past students are following include: teaching, journalism, tourism, hospitality, publishing, writing, translation, interpreting, online teaching, learning design, marketing, client services, university lecturing, diplomacy and many more.

How long does it take to get fluent?

The answer differs vastly from person to person. We orientate ourselves to international frameworks such as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). We use these frameworks and other outlines to guide you through countless small milestones on your way to fluency. After your first few week, you should already be able to greet and introduce yourself. In your third year you are already giving presentations in the language!

Are there any part-time courses?

We have part-time evening classes for beginners every semester, depending on student demand and teacher availability.

Are there opportunities to go overseas?

There are opportunities to attend events like Winter/ Summer schools overseas, students can apply through the university's international office (SU International). There are also exchange opportunities and scholarships made possible by international organisations, such as the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).

Who can I contact for more information?

If you have very specific questions regarding the languages and the way we teach, here are the details of the contact person for each language: CHINESE 178 - Office 535Dr Bo Lyu bo@sun.ac.zaFRENCH 178 / 188 – Office 540Mr Jaco du Plooy jacoduplooy@sun.ac.za GERMAN 178 / 188 – Office 558Dr Doret Jordaan doret@sun.ac.za SPANISH 178 – Office 556Ms Beatriz Villacañas Claver beatriz@sun.ac.za

Gereelde Vrae

Hier is 'n paar van die vrae wat ons gereeld van voornemende studente kry:

Watter tale bied julle aan?

Die Departement Moderne Vreemde Tale bied Chinees, Frans, Duits en Spaans aan.

Kan 'n absolute beginner 'n vreemde taal studeer?

Ja, die 178 modules (Chinees 178, Frans 178, Duits 178, Spaans 178) is vir absolute beginners – jy hoef nie die taal te ken om te begin leer nie.

Is daar enige modules vir studente met 'n agtergrond in 'n vreemde taal?

Vir Duitssprekende studente en studente met Duits in Graad 12 (of gelykwaardige kwalifikasie) bied ons Duits 188 aan.

Vir studente met Frans in Graad 12 (of gelykwaardige kwalifikasie) bied ons Frans 188 aan. Moedertaalsprekers en studente met 'n Franssprekende agtergrond, kan nie 'n voorgraadse module in Frans neem nie.

Kontak die departement indien jy nie seker is of jy 'n 188-module behoort te neem nie.

Hoe is die klasse?

Al ons 178 modules is vinnige, hoë-intensiteit taalaanleerkursusse wat 'n hoë vlak van motivering sowel as konsekwente, aktiewe klasdeelname vereis. Ons probeer om ons klasse klein en interaktief te hou. Ons doen allerhande verskillende dinge wat aktiwiteite soos letterkunde lees, films kyk en sing insluit.

Ons meer gevorderde modules kombineer taal, literatuurstudies, mediastudies en kommunikasie.

In watter graadprogramme kan ek 'n module in 'n vreemde taal neem?

Daar is twee graadkursusse waar die studie van 'n vreemde taal verpligtend is: BA Internasionale Studies (2 jaar van 'n vreemde taal) en BCom Internasionale Besigheid (1 jaar van 'n vreemde taal).

BA Taal & Kultuur en BA Geesteswetenskappe laat jou toe om verskeie tale te studeer.

Verskeie ander grade laat jou toe om 'n module in ‘n vreemde taal te neem, soos Drama & Teaterstudies, BA Regsgeleerdheid, BA Musiek, BMus en 'n paar ander. Hier kan jy die jaarboeke van al die Fakulteite vind.

As jy 'n vreemde taal as 'n addisionele module wil neem, benodig jy toestemming van jou graadprogramkoördineerder en ons rooster moet inpas by joune. Kontak ons as jy nie seker is nie.

Is it dit moontlik om meer as een vreemde taal te studeer?

- As jy verskeie tale wil kombineer, bied BA Taal en Kultuur jou die grootste aantal taalmodules. Chinees, Frans en Duits bied modules in BA Taal en Kultuur aan.

- Vir 'n hoofvak in 'n vreemde taal (een of meer vreemdetaalhoofvakke) kan jy BA Taal en Kultuur of BA Geesteswetenskappe kies.

- MAAR Spaans word tans slegs in BA Geesteswetenskappe en BA Internasionale Studies aangebied, indien jy Spaans sou wou leer.

- Tans word Spaans slegs op eerste- en tweedejaarsvlak aangebied, dus kan jy nie Spaans as hoofvak neem nie.

- Spaans 178 en Frans 178 is uitsluitingsmodules (jy kan nie uitsluitingsmodules saam neem nie).

Wat kan ek doen met 'n vreemde taal?

Elke bykomende taal wat jy ken, het die potensiaal om deure oop te maak en jou te laat uitstaan.

Om 'n vreemde taal te kan gebruik, is 'n vaardigheid op sigself en ons kursusse is vaardigheidsgerig sodat studente die taal in 'n verskeidenheid loopbane kan gebruik.

Van die loopbane wat vorige studente volg, sluit in: onderwys, joernalistiek, toerisme, gasvryheid, uitgewerswese, skryfwerk, vertaling, tolking, aanlyn onderrig, leerontwerp, bemarking, kliëntediens, klasgee by universiteite, diplomasie en vele meer.

Hoe lank neem dit om vlot te raak?

Die antwoord verskil geweldig van persoon tot persoon. Ons oriënteer onsself volgens internasionale raamwerke soos die Gemeenskaplike Europese Verwysingsraamwerk vir Tale (CERF). Ons gebruik hierdie raamwerke en ander uiteensettings om jou verby tallose klein mylpale op jou pad na vlotheid te begelei.

Na jou eerste paar weke behoort jy reeds te kan groet en jouself voor te stel. In jou derde jaar doen jy reeds aanbiedinge in die taal!

Is daar enige deeltydse kursusse?

Ons het deeltydse aandklasse vir beginners elke semester, afhangende van die aanvraag deur studente en die beskikbaarheid van leerkragte.

Is daar geleentheide om oorsee te gaan?

Daar is geleenthede om geleenthede soos winter-/somerskole in die buiteland by te woon, studente kan aansoek doen deur die universiteit se internasionale kantoor (SU International). Daar is ook uitruilgeleenthede en beurse wat moontlik gemaak word deur internasionale organisasies, soos die DAAD (Duitse Akademiese Uitruildiens).

Wie kan ek kontak vir meer inligting?

Indien jy spesifieke vrae het, is daar 'n kontakpersoon vir elke taal. Party van ons kan ook Afrikaans praat:

CHINEES 178 - Kantoor 535

Dr. Bo Lyu [email protected]

FRANS 178 / 188 – Kantoor 540

Mnr. Jaco du Plooy (Praat ook Afrikaans) [email protected]

DUITS 178 / 188 – Kantoor 558

Dr. Doret Jordaan (Praat ook Afrikaans) [email protected]

SPAANS 178 – Kantoor 556

Me. Beatriz Villacañas Claver [email protected]