Study objectives
The bachelor's programme of Modern Languages and Literature comprises
two orientations
: on the one hand, a
general orientation
(combining either (a) one Romance language with one Germanic language or (b) Arabic with one of french, Spanish or English) and on the other hand a
Germanic orientation (combining two Germanic languages to be selected from : German, English and Dutch).
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Whichever orientation is chosen, the bachelor's programme of Modern Languages and Literature has a four-fold objective :
(a) to develop both oral and written skills in two modern
languages (listening and reading comprehension, oral and written production, and
interactive communication) ;
(b) to putin place a training in linguistics that provides a
framework for reflection on language in general and on the languages
studied in particular; (c) to provide a framwork for the analysis of
literary texts in both modern languages and to introduce the student to the
history of these literatures and (d) to introduce the student to
the socio-economic, socio-cultural and political context of the countries
where those languages are spoken.
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In the case of the general orientation studies, the
major in the bachelor's of Modern Languages and Literature consists of general
courses and, more specific courses which focus on the two languages being studied.
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The "common core", which is covered by the general
courses, consists of the study of the Foundations of Western Civilisation
and the Arts in general, the Theory of Literature and of European
Literature in
particular, Language Science, Linguistics, Knowledge of
French at university level and Philosophy.
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The programmes for each of the two modern
languages run parallel, placing
both languages on the same footing.
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These specific programmes aim to develop (and evaluate) skills in four main areas:
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communicative skills ( both oral and written)
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linguistics skills (the study of the grammar and its component parts)
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literary skills (history of literature, analysis and
interpretation of literary texts)
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cultural skills,
in the broad sense of the term (studies of the "civilisation" of the
countries where the languages in question are spoken : historical background and
contemporary reality).
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General presentation of the programme
Principal Subjects - Majors (150 credits)
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Foundation studies (1st year) (60 credits)
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First quadrimester :
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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).
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Second quadrimester :
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General courses
: Introduction to Philosophy (4.5 credits), Introduction to Language Science (3.5 credits).
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Introduction to the discipline
(minimum 22 credits) : the student will select two languages
(11 credits per language) from the 7 following languages : English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, French, Arabic.
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For each of the Germanic languages, the following course content will be covered : aural/oral skills, writing skills
and basic grammar of the language, the history of ideas and literature.
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In the case of Spanish and Italian, the programme focuses on oral and written language skills.
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In the case of French, the programme approaches
literature from a three-fold point of view: methodology, history and explication of authors.
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In the case of Arabic, the programme focuses on the
language in its diverse forms (classic, modern and dialectal) and
is complemented by an introduction to History and to the Arab-Moslem
Civilisation. Arabic may only be taken in combination with one of the
three following languages : French, English or Spanish.
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Specific courses (2nd and 3rd year) (90 credits)
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General courses
(14 credits) : Theory of Literature,
General Linguistics, Critical Analysis of Information,
Anthropology and Psychology, Logic and Reasoning in Human Sciences.
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Specialisation courses
(76
credits) : Modern Language 1(19 credits in the 2nd year and 19 credits in the 3rd year) and Modern Language 2
(19 credits in the 2nd year and 19 credits in the 3rd year).
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Minors or available options (30 credits)
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The programme in the major must be completed 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, subject
to respect of possible prerequisites determined by the bodies responsible for
organising the programmes in question.
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Evaluation
Admission to the programme
Conditions of admission
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The conditions and regular admission requirements are specified on the web-page "Access to Studies":
http://www.ucl.ac.be/etudes/libres/en/acces.html
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An intermediate level of language knowledge (referred to as " B1 " in the
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, Spanish,
Italian and Arabic, on the other
hand are accessible to all students, be they complete
beginners or more proficient students. Special support is provided for
the 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
by
consistent ongoing practice of modern languages at secondary school
(among other means, via the media - both in the form of newspapers and
the televised news to improve both reading and listening skills - and
thanks to the use of internet and regular contacts with native
speakers). This language acquisition can be usefully complemented by
various other forms of learning such as by 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
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In the context of the summer courses in the 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.
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Positioning of the programme
Positioning of the programme within the University cursus
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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.
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Other studies accessible upon completion of the programme
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The bachelor's degree in Modern Languages and Literature entitles
access to the masters organised by other departments or faculties of
UCL, subject to the conditions and prerequisites determined by the bodies
responsible for organising the programmes in question.
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Useful contacts
Programme management
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ROGE Commission de gestion du diplôme en Langues et littératures modernes
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Academic Supervisors : F. Thyrion (ROM), P. Godin (GERM) et G. de Calattay (ORI)
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Contact persons :
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- for the department of Romance Studies : N. Coisman and C. Detrixhe, Tel. : 010474920, email : romanes@rom.ucl.ac.be
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- for the department of Germanic Studies : A. Troost, Tel. : 010474940, email : troost@germ.ucl.ac.be
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- for the Orientalist Institute (ORI) : M.-A. Jacquemin, Tel. : 010474958, email : jacquemin@glor.ucl.ac.be
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Study Advisor
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Anne CASSART (cassart@sflt.ucl.ac.be) - 010 / 47 48 57
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Exam Jury
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President : Paul-Augustin DEPROOST (deproost@egla.ucl.ac.be)
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Secretary : Geneviève FABRY (fabry@rom.ucl.ac.be)
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List of accessible minors
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Minor in Theology
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Minor in Philosophy
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Minor in Law
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Minor in Criminology
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Minor in Information and Communication (*)
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Minor in Political Sciences
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Minor in Sociology and Anthropology
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Minor in Human and Social Sciences
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Minor in Economics (opening)
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Minor in Business Studies
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Minor in Dutch Studies
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Minor in English Studies
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Minor in German Studies
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Minor in Linguistics
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Minor in Hispanic Studies (*)
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Minor in Italian Studies (*)
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Minor in French Studies (*)
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Minor in Latin Studies
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Minor in Greek Studies
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Minor in Oriental Studies
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Minor in Literary Studies
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Minor in History
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Minor in Medieval Studies
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Minor in History of Art and Archaeology (*)
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Minor in Musicology
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Minor in Psychology and Education (*)
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Minor in Human Nutrition (*)
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Minor in General Biomedical Sciences (*)
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Minor in Clinical Biomedical Sciences (*)
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Minor in Medication Sciences (*)
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Minor in Physical Activity, Health and Culture of Movement (*)
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Minor in Geography (*)
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Minor in Statistics
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Minor in Urban Architecture
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Minor in Mathematics and Mathematical Applications
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Minor in Scientific Culture
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Minor in Gender Studies
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Minor in Culture and Creation
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Minor in European Studies
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(*) Minor with access criteria
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