In 2018, Stellenbosch University (SU) launched a new Language Learning Hub to support the multilingual aspirations of individual students and help promote cultural diversity.
A year later the Hub continues to thrive as more and more students want to learn about each other's language and culture.
“Through the Survival Afrikaans and isiXhosa courses we've offered, we have seen the need from students who really want to connect with each other through language learning. Especially the number of students who want to learn African languages for social purposes is increasing by the day," says Helga Sykstus, a coordinator at the Language Learning Hub.
The Language Learning Hub is part of the University's Language Centre, which provides language and communication support to SU students and staff and external clients.
The Hub aims to create a one-stop service where clients are assisted according to their language-learning needs. This year it mainly focused on providing opportunities to students and external clients to acquire Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
According to Marli van Eeden, one of the students who completed the eight-week Survival isiXhosa course, she was pleasantly surprised by the level of detail that went into the course. “I was trying to find the right isiXhosa course for so long and was really happy I finally discovered this one. Even though it was only eight weeks, it really met all my expectations."
Arné Binneman, also a coordinator of the Language Learning Hub, hopes to build on the success of the Hub and promote the unique services on offer more widely to students and external clients. “Throughout this year we've seen the immense need for alternative language learning. The success of our customised language courses and workshops for external clients has also proven that," says Binneman.
Earlier this year Binneman and Sykstus had the opportunity to create a customised short course, 'Afrikaans language and culture for Dutch speakers', for a Dutch businessperson living in Aix, France, who specifically travelled to and stayed in Stellenbosch for three months to learn Afrikaans.
“The idea of this custom-made course was to make sure that language and culture were covered throughout the learning process. For the Dutch businessperson's course, we made sure to expose him to the cultural aspects of Afrikaans as well. While working with him, we took him to 'Die Taal Monument' in Paarl and the District Six Museum in Bo-Kaap. We also facilitated and helped him become involved in book clubs and other activities to help him learn the language and culture of Afrikaans," says Sykstus.
They also believe that the Hub can make a valuable contribution to quality language learning, by integrating virtual and physical spaces with various learning opportunities outside of standard learning environments.
The opportunities on offer at the Language Learning Hub include:
- a free consultation to explain the various autonomous learning opportunities;
- informal Survival Afrikaans and isiXhosa sessions offered to residences and Listen, Live and Learn houses, using a blended approach;
- short courses for the acquisition of Afrikaans and isiXhosa;
- customised language courses and workshops for external clients;
- conversation partners (unidirectional learning) and tandem language learning; and
- book and film clubs
For more information on the services and the costs involved contact:
Helga Sykstus at hbuys@sun.ac.za / languagelearninghub@sun.ac.za or 021 808 4004
Arné Binneman at arne@sun.ac.za or 021 808 9731
