Learning outcomes - Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English

The challenges which students on the Master [120] in Modern Languages and Literature: German, Dutch and English prepare for are those of becoming an expert in two foreign languages and a responsible person capable of contributing to the main issues and challenges of a contemporary, multicultural society.
At the end of their course, students on the Master [60] in Modern Languages and Literature: General, will demonstrate expertise in the two foreign languages studied, chosen from English, German and Dutch. This expertise relates to very high level communication competencies, characterised by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages as those of the “advanced user, C1”.
Students will be able to manage scientific research in order to critically analyse and interpret discourse at a linguistic, literary and cultural level.
Students will also be able to transfer their knowledge and implement it in a specific way in different professional contexts depending upon the type of discourse in question, such as the learning and teaching of languages, editing, culture and continuing education, business, communication, new technologies or scientific research. Their training enables them to adapt in a flexible and dynamic fashion to new challenges in the world of work and continuing development.
With these qualities, students of modern languages are therefore intellectuals in the field of humanities, able to adopt a critical posture (as regards third parties and themselves) and have a proactive attitude which will enable them to contribute to the significant issues and challenges of a contemporary multicultural society.

On successful completion of this programme, each student is able to :

A. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary skills

1. In linguistics, to rigorously situate, analyse and interpret linguistic output in-depth (from different genres, registers and approaches) from two languages from amongst English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Dutch from a textual, historic, stylistic, rhetorical and thematic point of view.

1.1. English
1.2. German
1.3. Dutch

2. Recognise, from within the literature of at least two modern languages (set out at 1 above) and within European and non-European literature, links relating to circulation, similarities and also differences and specific features between different authors, works and general historical and literary trends.

2.1. Recognise the similarities and differences between works from two Germanic languages.
2.2. Recognise the similarities and differences between works relating to the general history of literature.

3. Describe and examine the theories used by the literature under consideration as a tool for anthropological exploration and a preferred method of gaining access to another culture.

4. Understand questions of literary theory and produce a critical reading (description, analysis and interpretation) of a text by employing specific methodological and conceptual tools (such as, for example, narratology, poetics, dramaturgy, semiotics, psychology, psychoanalysis or sociology).

5. Describe and analyse the specific status of literature throughout history and in contemporary society, in the different forms it can take (essay, novel, poetry, graphic novel, cinema, theatre, opera, etc.).

6. Become highly expert in two modern languages (from those referred to at 1 above), in the different levels of linguistic analysis (phonetics and phonology, vocabulary and phraseology, syntax, semantics, text and speech).

1.1. English
1.2. German
1.3. Dutch

7. Analyse oral and written output in the two modern languages (from those referred to at 1 above), taking into account historical, regional, social and stylistic variations (linguistic varieties). (…)

1.1. English
1.2. German
1.3. Dutch

8. Develop and implement appropriate methods for the creation and management of a corpus of linguistic data, problematize a research question concerning the relationship between language and context, and successfully complete linguistic analyses in the different theoretical frameworks studied during the course and seminars.

8.1. Compile and adequately manage a corpus of linguistic data.
8.2. Compile and adequately manage a corpus of literary data.
8.3. Problematize a research question considering the relationship between language and context.
8.4. Problematize a research question adapted to the corpus of literature studied.

9. Become expert, at least to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in the two modern languages both orally and in writing, on normative and argumentative levels, achieving excellence in the formulation of thoughts, reading ability, comprehension of different types of text and composition.

9.1. Contribute with ease to interactive communications in the area of social, professional and academic life;
9.2. Express their thoughts in writing on complex subjects in a clear and well-structured way, master academic vocabulary and the tools necessary for organised and cohesive speeches as well as the components of scientific discourse;
9.3. Easily understand complex presentations in foreign languages, even if they are given in language which differs slightly to the standard version;
9.4. Understand and analyse a range of long and demanding texts and oral output, as well as grasping the implicit meanings and scientific arguments found in the details.

10. Develop, on the basis of language and literature and culture studies, reflective and critical knowledge and approaches allowing students to become an actor in modern society, an intellectual in the area of humanities, critical (towards third parties and themselves), and open to a dialogue between language, literature and other artistic and scientific knowledge.

10.1. Contribute to different professional environments where a specialist in discourse and culture can provide expertise.
10.2. Contribute to the scientific creation of theories of language.
10.3. Contribute to the scientific creation of theories on literature.

11. If the research focus course is chosen

11.1. Take part in education, in partnership with different parties.
11.2. Teach in authentic and varied situations.
11.3. Reflect upon and progress through the usual stages of continuing development.

12. If the business language elective is chosen

12.1. Communicate orally with ease and in a strategic fashion in the languages studied within a business or organisation in a multicultural and national and/or international context;
12.2. Integrate themselves and collaborate within a team in a multicultural and national and/or international context;
12.3. Understand and draft a wide range of texts relevant to economics and/or commerce in the languages studied;
12.4. Comment upon the economic, judicial, social and political realities of the countries whose languages are being studied and accurately describe their political institutions, their different social actors (employers, syndicates etc.) and the significant societal questions being discussed there.

13. If the research focus course is chosen:

13.1. Develop specialist, expert knowledge in linguistic and literary theories;
13.2. Contribute to the production, critical analysis, evaluation and diffusion of new and complex knowledge;
13.3. Resolve problems in the areas of research and or innovation;
13.4. Integrate multiple theories and develop a critical an creative relationship to knowledge.