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

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.

- 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.  

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.

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. 

- 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).  

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. 

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!

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

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). 

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 535

Dr Bo Lyu [email protected]

• FRENCH 178 / 188 – Office 540

Mr Jaco du Plooy [email protected]   

• GERMAN 178 / 188 – Office 558

Dr Doret Jordaan  [email protected] 

• SPANISH 178 – Office 556

Ms Beatriz Villacañas Claver [email protected]