UNIFR Language Policy A Brief History

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UNIFR Language Policy A Brief History
1889 Foundation, bilingual administration, teaching in German, French, Latin
1980 Bilingual Diplomas Law, Economics
1995 Revision of the bilingual diplomas
1997 Commission for bilingualism
2005 Written language policy
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UNIFR Language PolicySome Basic Facts(not
included in the Language Policy)

• Administration completely bilingual
• Meetings (Faculties, Senate, Institutes,
  Departments) bilingual
• No translation during meetings

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UNIFR Language Policy Bilingualism

• The University of Fribourg
• offers the opportunity for studies in one of the
  two languages or bilingual studies
• promotes bilingualism in research and
  professional development(new professor for
  research in multilingualism from 2006)

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UNIFR Language PolicyOther Languages - English

• The University of Fribourg
• in addition to courses offered in French and
  German there are also courses given in English
• English as an academic lingua franca

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UNIFR Language PolicyEnglish

• On the Bachelor level there are occasional offers
  in English
• On the Master level we prepare Master degrees
  completely in English (Faculty of Sciences
  100)(other Faculties special Masters)

Problem the balance between bilingualism
French-German and the importance of English!
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UNIFR Language Policy Bilingual Degrees

• The university of Fribourg offers

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UNIFR Language PolicyBilingue plus
Degree Bilingue plus
C
B
courses in languages for specific purposes and
culture
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UNIFR Language Policy Models - Objectives

• Given that the students have covered part of the
  curriculum in a second language, they are deemed
  capable of understanding specialised texts in the
  other language. In addition, they have some
  cultural grounding in the two languages.

A
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UNIFR Language Policy Models - Objectives

• are capable of understanding complex texts
  (oral and written) and can discuss specific
  issues in the second language, as they have
  covered a large part of the syllabus in the
  second language. In addition, they have gained an
  insight into both academic and general culture in
  the two languages.

B
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UNIFR Language Policy Models - Objectives

• Students who have obtained this degree have
  acquired a high level of linguistic competence
  and deepened their cultural knowledge, allowing
  them to work in the two languages.

C
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UNIFR Language Policy Advice concept

• Students can at the beginning and during their
  studies
• have an assessment of their language level
• realize language projects suggestions, planning,
  learning contract, logbook continuous evaluation
• obtain certification with ECTS

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UNIFR Language Policy Support

• The University of Fribourg has

• representatives for bilingualism from each
  Faculty
• information about Faculty specifications

• a commission for bilingualism
• advises the Rector
• makes suggestions to promote bilingualism
• supports the Rector / the Faculties

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UNIFR Language Policy The European Language
Portfolio

• Provides the basic framework for learning in the
  Language Centre.
• It offers descriptors of levels and skills with
  clear comparisons across languages.
• These descriptors can be used both in preparing
  study plans with students and for autonomous
  learning, in addition to (self-) assessment of
  language skills.

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Language PolicyGeneral Rules

• More than one language in the administration?
• Meetings with two and more languages?
• Concept of bi-/multilingual studies?
• Bi-/Multilingual degrees with defined objectives?
• Supporting measures Language Centre?
• Official body to promote Bi-/Multilingualism
  (Commission)

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UNIFR Language Policy

• Thank you for your attention!
• Merci pour votre attention !
• Danke für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit!