Multilingualism

The Language Centre's mandate is to offer language support to our students and clients, and to promote multilingualism. We do this in a variety of ways, from fostering a multilingual mindset among staff and students to offering language and communication courses and academic literacies modules, running a Writing Lab where staff and students can find free writing tips and support, and providing a Reading Lab where staff and students can learn to read better and faster. We also provide in-class interpreting and offer editing and translation services. Many of these services are also available online.

To be multilingual – that is, to be able to speak and understand more than two languages – will open up new worlds for you and your students. Teaching and learning in different languages, for example in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa, as opposed to choosing only one language of teaching and learning, give students the opportunity to approach learning material from different perspectives and to find the way that resonates best with their learning style. It also allows for more voices to be heard authentically and is a critical enabler for students to co-create knowledge in the teaching and learning space. Having assessments in different languages also gives students the opportunity to reference the questions in other languages in order to understand the question better and potentially increase their chances of success.

Additionally, multilingualism will enable you to connect better with other people and enrich you in countless other ways. Multilingual people tend to be better at analysing their environment and spotting misleading information. They also tend to make more rational decisions, have better problem-solving skills, multitask better, learn new skills faster, communicate more effectively and even write better. Multilingualism is also one of the attributes that the University would like graduates to possess by the time that they graduate. 

Therefore, individual and societal multilingualism could be seen as “a resource to facilitate cognitive development, epistemic access, inclusiveness, transformation, social cohesion and respect for all languages", in line with the Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions (2020).

The Language Centre provides in-class interpreting and offers editing and translation services. In addition, we offer several language short courses. You can learn to speak basic isiXhosa or Afrikaans with us, have a great deal of fun in the process and even be sponsored to do so if you are lucky. Check out our Language Learning Hub for creative ways to learn a new language. You could also improve your academic English with us. In addition, we offer academic literacies and professional communication modules in some faculties, which would help students to learn to speak 'university' and prepare them to communicate in a professional manner.

Yes, they can. They will need to check with the faculty where they would like to study to find out what the language plan looks like, as that determines which language subjects are offered. Students could also use interpreting in class if available. The Language Centre offers academic literacies and professional communication modules in Afrikaans and English to help students transfer the skills they are more comfortable with in one of those languages into their other subjects. Have a look at the SU Language Policy (2022), section 7.1, for information on the language requirements regarding learning materials and assessment.  

Faculties have to submit a language plan for each year. This language plan will identify the language option used for all undergraduate modules.  

A module can be offered using any of the following language options identified in the SU Language Policy (2022):

• Separate lectures in Afrikaans and English (7.1.3)
• Both Afrikaans and English in the same lectures (7.1.4)
• One language only (7.1.5) 

For more information, an infographic summarising the policy is available.

Faculties submit language plans each year. The language plan of your faculty will determine whether you need an interpreter in your classroom. If your module qualifies for interpreting according to your faculty's language implementation plan, your module will automatically be included in the interpreting timetable, and you will receive an email from Juanli Theron or Christine Joubert before the beginning of the semester. 

Interpreting services are also available for modules for which it is not strictly necessary, according to your faculty's language implementation plan. If you have recognised a pedagogical need for interpreting or want to create a multilingual classroom experience, contact Juanli Theron or Christine Joubert to be included in the interpreting timetable. Priority will be given to modules that qualify according to the faculty's language implementation plan.

For more information, visit our Language Centre Interpreting Service page here.

No, you do not personally arrange payment for interpreting services in your module. The service is paid for institutionally. 

According to the SU Language Policy (2022:7), all learning materials should be available in English, except when the module is about the language itself. If at all possible, consider making your notes and slides available in Afrikaans as well, in support of the University's multilingual mindset for students and staff. If there is a pedagogical need, include isiXhosa in your offering as well – language implementation funding is available for translation into Afrikaans and isiXhosa. Moreover, faculties submit language plans each year. The language plan of your faculty will determine the languages in which you should conduct your lecture.

Yes, and funding is provided. The University has allocated language implementation funding to each faculty, which can be used for the translation and editing of learning materials. When you approach the Language Centre to translate your learning material, you will be given a quote that you can then use to request funding for language implementation. Your faculty manager should be able to help with this.

The ability to write and read academic texts and have conversations about them is not something that comes naturally. It is very much like learning a new language, a language that students possibly have never used before. At the Language Centre, we offer credit-bearing academic literacies and professional communication modules to support students in learning and using this new language – to learn to speak 'university' and to prepare them to communicate in a professional manner. We work together with the faculties to support students while they build their knowledge and learn how to learn. 

The Language Centre also offers more services to departments or lecturers who identify the need for additional intervention regarding academic reading, writing and language support for their students. The Language Centre’s Writing Lab and Reading Lab are safe spaces where any student or staff member can develop and refine their ability to write and read academically.

This web-app has been developed at SU with the goal of enhancing the student learning experience by improving SU's multilingual offering and students' ability to use multilingual glossaries. The app provides subject-specific terminology in Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa for undergraduate students and academic staff in the faculties of Education, Theology, Arts and Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Science and Engineering.  

https://mobilex.sun.ac.za/

ATTRIBUTION: Image courtesy of Stellenbosch University