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 rest of the University. At the same time, we acknowledge that the whole of the SU community shares responsibility for creating an inclusive and multilingual environment, and we’d like to inspire both staff and students to find practical ways to implement multilingualism.
This document contains practical information to help you along on the way to a multilingual mindset in your environment at SU – from brochures to links to websites, videos, podcasts and blogs.
Brochures on a multilingual mindset are available in the three languages used at the University:
A multilingual mindset (English)
Visit the Language Centre’s trilingual terminology portal for subject terminology in Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa here.
There are also a multitude of language resources available here, among others, an Afrikaans-English translation equivalents list curated by the Language Centre’s Language Service.
Quick contacts for assistance with multilingualism
The Language Centre is here to support you:
- Make a conference multilingual (interpreting): Nanette Nortje, nanettevdb@sun.ac.za
- Have material translated and/or edited: Marguerite van der Waal, mvdwaal@sun.ac.za
- Learn IsiXhosa for staff members: Stembele Johnson, ssjohnson@sun.ac.za
- Learn Afrikaans for staff members: Helga Sykstus, hbuys@sun.ac.za
- Learn isiXhosa or Afrikaans for students (Language Learning Hub survival courses): Helga Sykstus, hbuys@sun.ac.za
- Contact the lecturers involved with academic and professional literacies offering courses in collaboration with the faculties. Academic literacies focus on bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary education, and professional literacies focus on the transition to the world of work: Faika Haroun, faika@sun.ac.za
- Get assistance with all aspects of professional communication, from presenting an inaugural lecture to report writing (Comms Lab courses or one-on-one coaching): Michelle Pieters, mpieters@sun.ac.za
For broader discussions about implementing multilingualism in a space or environment, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Dr Kim Wallmach, kimwallmach@sun.ac.za, Susan Lotz, slotz@sun.ac.za or Sanet de Jager, sdejager@sun.ac.za.
This post is also available in: English
