As a leading university in Africa, Stellenbosch University believes multilingualism matters. We believe that multilingualism is about more than just being able to use multiple languages. It is about giving people a voice, regardless of the language(s) they use. It is about recognising the value of what is said, no matter what language is used, and whether it is said in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa or South African Sign Language. It talks to our diversity as a country – and allows us to connect in ways we otherwise could not. Multilingualism is therefore also an attitude.
Our focus at SU is not only on institutional multilingualism, but also on individual multilingualism. In other words, we do not focus only on establishing multilingual spaces at the University (through translation and interpreting, for example) where a diverse group of monolingual people co-exist, but we actively encourage people to use more than one language, even if they can say and understand only a little in some of those languages.
Individual multilingualism is an asset that we would like to develop because of the clear academic advantages this presents, both nationally and internationally. Creating opportunities for individual multilingualism allows people to develop their ability to use languages or varieties of languages in different forms and at different levels of mastery. If you have ever tried to learn a new language, you will know that the learning experience can transform your life. As your experience of a language in its cultural context expands, you will find that you do not keep these languages and cultures in strictly separated mental compartments, but rather build up a communicative, plurilingual competence or ability to which all your knowledge and experience of language contribute, and in which languages interrelate and interact.
Translanguaging in the classroom is one such plurilingual practice or behaviour. While it is important to create space for students to use tools such as translanguaging to communicate informally in the classroom, there is also a need for students to study language(s) formally and use the academic and technical registers of these languages.
Language Day 2021
With this interrelation and interaction of languages and connection between people in mind, the Division for Learning and Teaching Enhancement hosted an energetic online event where we, as SU students and staff, could share the opportunities and possibilities multilingualism gives us.
Language Day 2021 took place on 30 September, and provided an opportunity for academics, students and professional academic support service (PASS) staff to learn from each other in re-imagining conversations around language at SU. We had positive and inspired conversations about integrating a multilingual mindset into teaching, learning and assessment, and into social life outside the lecture halls.
The theme for the day was Language, learning, life! Implementing multilingualism @SU in academic and social spaces, and was explored by means of two panel discussions with three sub-themes each:
Multilingualism in (augmented remote) learning, teaching and assessment
Assessment – Prof Christa van der Walt and Jarryd Luyt
A new kind of intentionality is required to make multilingualism part of the fabric of all the various spaces at SU, from teaching and learning to living spaces. All of the aspects of multilingualism need to be recognised – individual, institutional and societal multilingualism.”
All involved were willing to work together to realise this, to invoke multilingualism as an attitude, and there was strong support for the recommendation that multilingualism be made more visible as part of graduate attributes in the new SU Teaching and Learning Strategy.
Watch the video playlist capturing the essence of the day below, from the multilingual mindset video, the opening session by the Rector, the panel presentations to concluding remarks by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching).
The contributions were short and punchy, keeping the online attendees engaged, and the 11 breakaway sessions after each panel discussion provided opportunity for attendees to conduct lively, positive discussions and to share their perspectives.
We use a few words on this page that could do with some more explanation. Have a look at our clarifications below to make sure that you don’t miss out on some of the meaning.
The Language Centre’s mandate to the University is to promote multilingualism and provide language support. We therefore strive to embody a multilingual mindset and to share this mindset with the…
The Language Centre’s mandate to the University is to promote multilingualism and provide language support. The Language Centre therefore strives to embody a multilingual mindset and to share this mindset…
We celebrate International Mother Language Day on 21 February each year. It is appropriate to take time on that day to celebrate that first language; the one that allowed…
Most of us don’t think much about language in the abstract as we go about our everyday lives. And yet, the language we use in our studies, in work contexts…
Imagine a world without language. Is that even possible to imagine? Isn’t language so intertwined with thinking that it’s no use trying to think if you don’t think in language? How would you access your own thoughts and communicate them if it’s not encoded in some kind of language?
It’s most probably the language in which you’d swear when you get a very sudden fright. Chances are that you also dream in this language. If you’re lucky, you’ll know nursery rhymes in it, and maybe even a few archaic idioms and made-up words…
We use information collected from cookies and other technologies to improve your user experience and the overall quality of our website. We use anonymous cookies to collect data about how you use our website, so that we can improve and optimise your website experience. For more details, click here.
By clicking 'Accept', you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Our quarterly newsletter, Dialogos, draws its articles from the Newsroom. Read the latest edition of Dialogoshere or sign up for our newsletter below.
