We’re a click away.
This is how we can connect with lecturers to create an even better online learning experience for students.
Editing and translation: Use the Language Service to edit and translate any lecture material – for example, your slides for lectures, SUNLearn content, lecture notes or instructions to students. We could also help with information design: presenting the information in your documents to the best possible effect for your students, which could include improving layout and readability. We translate into 15 languages, including isiXhosa.
Marguerite van der Waal | 021 808 3096
Interpreting: While we do not interpret in ‘real time’ for online classes, our Interpreting Service has an experienced team of professional interpreters who will make sure that those requiring our services will have access to their lecture content online through audio translation of lecture podcasts. All lecturers of modules that would have been interpreted during the second term qualify for this service. Audio translations of recorded lectures can be made in either Afrikaans or English, depending on the language of learning and teaching, and sometimes in isiXhosa. For more information, click here. We can also do subtitling for lecturers: Video clips can be processed in order to add subtitles and/or translated text to make them multilingual.
Juanli Theron | 021 808 4183
Terminology: Check out the trilingual terminology tool on our website for subject terminology in Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa – www1.sun.ac.za/languagecentre-terminologies
Writing consultations: Students and staff can discuss their own writing with a trained consultant through the Writing Lab. They can make an appointment on KENAKO for an online writing consultation via MS Teams (a Teams meeting request will be sent after the appointment has been made), or they can e-mail us for an appointment:
Anne-Mari Lackay | Vinelene Hartley | Rose Richards
Writing workshops for postgraduates: Postgraduate students can attend an online Writing Lab workshop to help them write their research proposal, literature review, thesis or journal article. If you are working on your own studies, you can join as well! You could even form a writing support group through the Writing Lab. Contact us for our list of scheduled workshops, which will roll out late April/early May.
Selene Delport| 021 808 4307
Reading consultations and workshops: This online service helps students to read more strategically and competently. Our Reading Lab offers a visual and cognitive processing program to optimise students’ reading. Please contact us for an assessment if a student requests extra reading time for an exam.
Marisca Coetzee | 021 808 2811
English courses
Shannon Bishop | 021 808 2167
- Online English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Programme: Staff and students who would like to improve their academic English can enrol for this programme, which offers a choice of either or both EAP modules: Reading & Writing, and Speaking & Language. The EAP programme, funded through the University, is aimed at extended degree programme (EDP) students in particular, but is also open to other SU students and staff. This blended learning course will run from the second semester.
- Online Intensive English Programme (IEP): Students who need to improve their functional English language proficiency can enrol for the IEP to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. We assess students’ proficiency level online using a valid, recognised test before placing them in a class that best suits their needs. Teaching is interactive and fun, and classes are small for optimal language learning. Please contact us for course fees and dates.
- Blended learning TEFL course: Anyone wishing to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) in future can do a course with us to qualify. Please contact us for course fees and dates.
- IELTS preparation course: Anyone wanting to study or work abroad in future can sign up for this course for developing the strategies to write the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam. Please contact us for course fees and dates.
Afrikaans and isiXhosa courses: Learn Afrikaans or isiXhosa and deepen your connection with people. We now offer Afrikaans for Beginners semester courses online via SUNLearn (for registered international students) and via SUNOnline (for members of the public and staff). We have also taken our Afrikaans for Dutch and Belgian students course online. We prefer face-to-face teaching, but will be developing other online offerings in future, in line with demand. For social language skills, try tandem learning with a buddy, survival sessions or group learning through our Language Learning Hub.
Afrikaans courses: Vernita Beukes
isiXhosa courses: Zandile Kondowe
Language Learning Hub: Helga Sykstus
General enquiries: Jeanene Olivier | 021 808 2167
Academic Literacies: These credit-bearing modules embedded within faculties aim to equip students for strategic communication – in an academic setting and in their occupation and industry. The focus is on professional, business and scientific communication, writing skills and skills for academic discourse. Course coordinators are continuing to support students via SUNLearn and other online tools to ensure that the relevant academic outcomes are reached.
Jeanene Olivier | 021 808 2167
Transcriptions: Our experienced team of transcribers can process audio recordings of any kind of proceedings expediently and accurately. For example, you can get a professional transcription of your research interviews so that you can get on with the research itself.
Tania Botha | 021 808 4182
