The Bachelor's programme of Modern Languages and Literature comprises two orientations : a general orientation on the one hand, (combining a Romance language and a Germanic language ), and a Germanic orientation on the other hand (combining two Germanic languages to be selected from German, English and Dutch).

The bachelor studies in Modern Languages and Literature (Germanic orientation) pursue a four-fold objective : (a) they aim to develop oral as well as written skills in two modern languages (listening and reading comprehension ; oral, written and interactive communication) ; (b) they aim to ensure the kind of linguistic training which will provide a framework for reflection on language in general and on the languages being studied in particular ; (c) they set out to confront the student with analysis of literary texts in both modern languages and to introduce the history of their literature and (d) they aim to open the student's mind to the socio-economic, cultural and political realities of the countries of the languages being studied.

In the case of the Germanic orientation, the major of the bachelor's of Modern Languages and Literature is divided into general course studies and specific course studies which focus on two Germanic Languages.

The basic "foundation studies ", covered by the general courses, consist of the study of the foundations of Western Civilisation Foundations and the Arts in general, Literary Theory and European Literature in particular, Language Science, Linguistics, Knowledge of French at university level and Philosophy.

The programme pertaining to each of the two modern languages is conceived along parallel lines, thus placing the two languages studied on exactly the same level.

The specific course studies aim to develop (and evaluate) skills in four main areas :

• communication skills (oral and written)
• linguistic skills (study of grammar)
• literary skills (history of literature, critical analysis and interpretation of literary texts)
• cultural skills in the large sense of the word (study of the " civilisation " of the countries of the languages being studied; historical data and contemporary realities).

First quadrimester :

Common general courses in the Faculty of Arts : Historical Foundations of Western Civilisation (5 credits), Arts and Civilisations (5 credits), Introduction to the Principal Works in European Literature I (5 credits), Practice in French at university level (5 credits), Modern Languages (5 credits) Ancient Languages (5 credits).

Second quadrimester :

General courses : Introduction to Philosophy (4.5 credits), Introduction to Language Science (3.5 credits).

Introduction to the discipline : minimum 22 credits.

The student will choose two languages (11 credits per language) from the following : English, German, Dutch.

For each Germanic language, the following course matter will be included : audio-oral skills, written skills and basic grammar as well as history of ideas and literature.

General courses (14 credits) : Theory of Literature, General Linguistics, Critical Analysis of Information, Anthropology and Psychology, Logic and Reasoning in the Human Sciences.

Specialisation courses (76 credits) : Modern Languages 1(19 credits in the 2nd year, 19 credits in the 3rd year) and Modern Language 2 (19 credits in the 2nd year, 19 credits in the 3rd year).

The programme of the major must be complemented by an option (= minor) of 30 credits. This minor option which completes the programme of Modern Languages and Literature, may be chosen either from the Faculty of Arts or from another faculty, and maybe subject to possible prerequisites determined by the bodies responsible for managing the programme in question.

The evaluation will comply with the detailed description on the programme specifications, c.f.: http://www.ucl.ac.be/etudes/programmes/germ1.html
Some courses will involve traditional oral and/or written evaluations, whilst the evaluation of seminars will involve more substantial participation on the part of the student as well as assessment of individual course work. Those exams relating to courses on communication skills will evaluate the level of performance attained by the student, i.e. the practical use of the language in relevant situations.

The conditions and general admission requirements are specified on the web page "Access to Studies": http://www.ucl.ac.be/etudes/libres/en/acces.html

An intermediate level of language knowledge (referred to as " B1 " on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, c.f.: http://culture2.coe.int/portfolio/documents/cadrecommun.pdf
) is required as a starting point in English and in Dutch. In fact, the courses in Dutch and English are delivered in the target language right from the beginning of the programme (1st year). German, on the other hand is accessible to all students, be they complete beginners or more proficient students. Special support is provided for beginner students. Extra effort is called for on the part of the latter who will need to ensure that, by the end of the year, they have attained a level very close to that required for English and Dutch. The best way to prepare for these programmes is most certainly through regular practice of modern languages at secondary school (for instance, via the media - both in the form of newspapers and televised news to improve both reading and listening skills - and via the internet and regular contacts with native speakers). This language acquisition can be usefully complemented by various other forms of learning such as intensive reading, complementary courses or, yet again, thanks to exercises available on internet (in particular those sites dedicated to learning, such as :

http://www.gramlink.com
and http://pot-pourri.fltr.ucl.ac.be

In the context of the summer courses in Human Sciences, it is worth mentioning yet again that UCL organises language courses at different levels in English, Dutch and German, at the end of August. These are highly recommended.

The bachelor's degree in Modern Languages and Literature, entitles direct access to three different masters : the master's of Modern Languages and Literature, the master's of Multi-cultural Communication and the Master's of Linguistics.

The bachelor's degree in Modern Languages and Literature entitles access to the masters organised by other UCL departments or faculties and maybe, subject to respect of any conditions and prerequisites determined by the bodies responsible for organising the programme in question.

Anne CASSART (cassart@sflt.ucl.ac.be) - 010 / 47 48 57

President : Paul-Augustin DEPROOST (deproost@egla.ucl.ac.be)

Secretary : Guido LATRE (latre@licg.ucl.ac.be)

• Minor in Theology
  
• Minor in Philosophy
  
• Minor in Law
  
• Minor in Criminology
  
• Minor in Information and Communication (*)
  
• Minor in Political Sciences
  
• Minor in Sociology and Anthropology
  
• Minor in Human and Social Sciences
  
• Minor in Economics (opening)
  
• Minor in Business Studies
  
• Minor in Dutch Studies
  
• Minor in English Studies
  
• Minor in German Studies
  
• Minor in Linguistics
  
• Minor in Hispanic Studies (*)
  
• Minor in Italian Studies (*)
  
• Minor in French Studies (*)
  
• Minor in Latin Studies
  
• Minor in Greek Studies
  
• Minor in Oriental Studies
  
• Minor in Literature Studies
  
• Minor in History
  
• Minor in Medieval Studies
  
• Minor in History of Art and Archaeology (*)
  
• Minor in Musicology
  
• Minor in Psychology and Education (*)
  
• Minor in Human Nutrition (*)
  
• Minor in General Biomedical Sciences (*)
  
• Minor in Clinical Biomedical Sciences (*)
  
• Minor in Medication Science (*)
  
• Minor in Physical Activity, Health and Culture of Movement (*)
  
• Minor in Geography (*)
  
• Minor in Statistics
  
• Minor in Urban Architecture
  
• Minor in Mathematics and Mathematical Applications
  
• Minor in Scientific Culture
  
• Minor in Gender Studies
  
• Minor in Culture and Creation
  
• Minor in European Studies
  

(*) Minor with access criteria