23 June 2023
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Story EDZANI NEPHALELA
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Photo EDZANI NEPHALELA
Left to right: Dr Rosaline Sebolao, Teaching and Learning Manager for the Faculty of Humanities; Prof Langa Khumalo, SADiLaR Executive Director ; Dr Tholani Hlongwa, Deputy Director of the Academy for Multilingualism; Dr Nomalungelo Ngubane, Director of the Academy for Multilingualism; Prof Angelique Van Niekerk, Associate Professor: Afrikaans, Dutch, German, and French; Dr Elias Malete, Senior Lecturer in African Languages; and Prof Mogomme Masoga, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities were part of the leaders spearing the multilingualism project at the UFS.
Driven by its commitment to fostering transformation and social justice, the University of the Free State (UFS) recently conducted a Language Resource Audit. This audit, which took place on 2 June 2023 at the UFS Academy for Multilingualism, involved collaborative efforts from several organisations, including the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and Universities South Africa (USAf).
Language remains a barrier to effective participation and learning for many students in higher education. Multilingualism, on the other hand, is seen as a tool for removing barriers to access and success in multilingual university contexts. Multilingualism practices promote linguistic inclusion and embrace diversity in academic and social spaces.
Alongside its Language Resource Audit, the university also hosted two related seminars, in May and June. These seminars aimed to further the objectives of Vision 130 by emphasising the significance of language diversity and its role in promoting academic access and success for students.
The second UFS Translanguaging Seminar and the UFS Language Policy Strategy and Practice Seminar showcased distinguished speakers. Their primary objective was to adopt a comprehensive approach to evaluating the university's language policy. The seminars successfully fostered active participation from both students and staff members, offering them a platform to express their perspectives and provide valuable insights. This collective input will be crucial in the forthcoming approval and implementation of the policy, particularly in incorporating isiZulu and Sesotho as academic languages.
Language Resource Audit
The Language Resource Audit assessed the language-related resources available within the institution, including evaluating language courses, language support services, language learning materials, and faculty expertise. By identifying strengths and gaps in language resources, institutions could make informed decisions to enhance language provision, support multilingualism, and cater to the diverse needs of their students.
“Significant progress has been made by our institution in its quest to promote multilingualism and enhance language development,” said Dr Engela van Staden, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic. “The establishment of the Academy for Multilingualism stands as a testament to our commitment to catering to the diverse needs of our stakeholders.”
Dr Van Staden cited a memorandum of understanding entered into with the University of KwaZulu-Natal as one notable initiative, aimed at adopting its isiZulu resources. “This collaboration enables us to focus on advancing isiZulu and Sesotho as academic languages. Similar to the successful development of Afrikaans as an academic language, which marked its centenary milestone in 2014, we are striving for excellence in these languages to achieve international recognition.”
According to Mmasibidi Setaka, Digital Humanities Researcher at SADiLaR, the purpose of the audit was not to identify faults but to find ways to assist and improve collaboration and avoid duplicating resources.
“Other universities have already developed certain languages, so instead of reinventing the wheel, the UFS can collaborate with those institutions,” she said. “Accuracy in this survey is crucial to understand the UFS’s current position better, emphasising the need for a comprehensive and precise picture.”
2023 Translanguaging Seminar
In pursuit of promoting multilingualism in teaching and learning spaces, the UFS hosted its second Translanguaging Seminar, on 23 May 2023, titled ‘Translanguaging in Higher Education: Insights, Challenges, and Opportunities’.
Translanguaging refers to the dynamic and fluid use of multiple languages in teaching, learning, and communication. The seminar aimed to provide a platform for participants to share insights, experiences, and research findings related to translanguaging. It focused on exploring the benefits and challenges of translanguaging practices in higher education and identifying opportunities for its effective implementation.
The seminar brought together over 100 renowned scholars, educators, and researchers from diverse linguistic backgrounds to explore the concept of translanguaging in the context of higher education. Attendees came from the Universities of Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, South Africa (Unisa), Texas, and the Witwatersrand, as well as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, the Central University of Technology, North-West University, Rhodes University, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and the Vaal University of Technology.
During her welcome and opening Dr Nomalungelo Ngubane, Director of the UFS Academy for Multilingualism, expressed the importance of embracing and encouraging diverse linguistic abilities among students. “By employing translanguaging practices, we aim to empower students, unlock their full academic potential, and enhance their understanding of the subjects they learn. At the UFS we are committed to promoting multilingualism, fostering a positive attitude towards linguistic diversity, and nurturing students’ pride in their native languages,” she said.
The UFS Language Policy Strategy and Practice Seminar
The UFS Language Policy Strategy and Practice Seminar on 6 June aimed to gather input from diverse stakeholders regarding the ongoing review of the UFS’s existing language policy. It sought advice on the policy format and aimed to address concerns raised by the UFS’s Senate, staff, and students.
SADiLaR Executive Director Prof Langa Khumalo made a presentation titled ‘Educational Requirements of Our Times: The UFS Language Policy Strategy and Practice’, in which he said language and knowledge are closely intertwined, and therefore policies need to be formulated so that these languages are reconnected to the pursuit of knowledge.
“We can re-intellectualise African languages so that, again, we can begin to contribute meaningfully to the knowledge economy by innovating. Universities should declare African languages as official languages,” he said. “Regardless of the Higher Education Policy Framework that fosters access and equity, the plan remains on paper if there is no declaration for official languages to ensure a proper implementation plan. There is no ‘Primary Language’ and ‘Other Languages’; all UFS languages should be declared as ‘Official Languages’.”
This seminar provided participants with valuable insights into the UFS Language Policy. It also covered the Higher Education Language Policy Framework, opportunities in promoting multilingualism, and discussed strategies for ensuring the effective implementation of policy.