Babes-Bolyai University. Its multilingual profile Stefan Oltean Universitatea Babes-Bolyai

–Only by adopting a “multilingual ethos” and language policies can universities carry out their roles as institutions in the European Higher Education Area (Wolfgang Mackiewicz 2002)

Aims to describe –BBU’s language policy –BBU’s LSP and CLIL practices; –BBU’s multilingual structure; and –BBU’s participations in multilingual projects

Documents J.A. van Ek Objectives for foreign language learning I Scope (1986); II Levels (1987), Council of Europe Press EU Commission, The European Language Portfolio, (Brussels 2000) Mackiewicz, Wolfgang, The Bologna Process and the Issue of Languages. A note from the Conseil Européen pour les Langue/European Language Council for the attention of the authorities and organizations carrying forward the Bologna Process. Brussels: CEL/ELC (2002) Multilingualism and New Learning Environments (Berlin, 2001) The Berlin Declaration (2001) The Bologna Process and the Issue of Languages. A note from the Conseil Européen pour les Langue/European Language Council for the attention of the authorities and organizations carrying forward the Bologna Process (Brussels, 2002) Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai Carta Universităţii Babeş-Bolyai (“Charter of Babeş- Bolyai University”), (Cluj-Napoca, 2000) Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai, Pentru o politica lingvistica europeana in Universitatea Babeş- Bolyai. (“For a European Language Policy at Babeş-Bolyai University”), (Cluj-Napoca, 2001) Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai, Hotarâre privind reactualizarea politicii lingvistice a UBB (“Resolution for updating BBU’s language policy”), (Cluj-Napoca 2006) Babeş-Bolyai University, The Multicultural Profile. A new and open system (Cluj-Napoca, 2007)

The European Context These documents highlight the importance of languages in European HE: –the need to improve student mobility, teaching staff mobility, mobility of researchers; –the need to promote the European dimension of HE through interinstitutional cooperation, curricular development and joint degrees; and –the need to create HE programs that enhance employability on the European labour market.

Guidelines for a language policy teaching foreign languages at BA level and MA level; teaching specialized topics in foreign languages (Content and language integrated learning - CLIL ); Teaching the official language of the state to international students; The formula recommended to HEI’s: (language A [mother tongue] + language B and C)

The Romanian Context Romanian = a “small” language language policy at national level provided by Romanian legislation: ► two modern languages in schools in addition to the state language or mother tongue; ► one or two languages at the university. multilingual and multicultural traditions in Transilvania (Romanian, Hungarian and German)

The regional context BBU embodies the academic traditions of Transylvania: ► is one of Romania’s largest and oldest universities ► it has more than 50,000 BA, MA and doctoral students, enrolled in 21 faculties; ► organizes programs along three study-lines (Romanian, Hungarian, German) and defines itself as a multilingual and multicultural HEI;

BBU’s Language Policy BBU language policy (2001) – the first in a Romanian HEI – Pentru o politica lingvistica europeana în Universitatea Babes-Bolyai (“For a European Language Policy at Babeş- Bolyai University”) formula (mother tongue + two modern languages);

BBU’s Language Policy First foreign language (Language B): English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian; –sets level B1 upon entrance to the university; –sets level B2 (20 points out of 30) as the proficiency level for acceptance to the BA exam; –sets European type language certificates for admission to MA and doctoral programs, for tenure and for promotions at BBU, as well as for mobility grants abroad

BBU’s Language Policy Second foreign language (Language C): any foreign language (including non- European languages) –Is obligatory at MA level –Is obligatory at some faculties –Sets the level of 15 points out of 30

BBU’s Language Policy It contains provisions for the development of communicational competences and (inter)cultural competences; It makes references to foreign languages for special purposes (LSP).

BBU’s Language Policy It defines the activity of the Alpha and Lingua language centers of BBU; they shall –carry out language testing and issue language proficiency certificates: the Alpha and Lingua language certificates –teach foreign language classes for various purposes: ►reach the proficiency level for BA exam: B2: (min. 20/30p) ►improve proficiency level ►develop speaking skills ►culture and civilization, etc.

BBU’s Language Policy

Web site: > Centrul de limbi moderne Alpha > modele de teste

BBU’s Language Policy Defines the role of the specialized departments of the university in this language policy (teaching, testing) The Department of Foreign Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP; culture, civilization); The Department of Applied Modern Languages for Economics and Business Administration (LSP; culture, civilization); and the foreign languages departments of the Faculty of Letters (language structure, literature, culture)

BBU’s Language Policy Romanian as a foreign language is taught by the Department of Romanian language, culture and civilization, and the Alpha language center: ►teaching intensive courses for EU translators and interpreters ►teaching Romanian language classes to foreign students

BBU’s Language Policy

Study-lines at BBU BBU’s multilingual profile is defined in Carta Universitatii Babeş-Bolyai - “Babes-Bolyai University Charter” –The university is organized along three study-lines Romanian, Hungarian, and German, in which complete educational programs at BA, MA and PhD levels are offered.

Sudy-lines at BBU –each study-line is headed by a vice-rector; enjoys autonomy by making its own decisions with regard to human resources, research, publishing, international relations, development and study programs.

Sudy-lines at BBU German at BBU It is a regional and an international language, –since the German study-line is attended by native speakers as well as by students for whom German is a foreign language; this status is the result of the language policiy;

Sudy-lines at BBU Figures (2006) –21 faculties, 15 provide a curriculum in both Romanian and Hungarian, 9 provide a curriculum in Romanian and in German, 2 faculties (the Faculty of Reformed Theology and the Faculty of Roman-Catholic Theology) teach exclusively in Hungarian; –172 programs (BA, MA, PhD) 105 are in Romanian, 52 full programs in Hungarian and 13 full programs in German, at BA, MA or doctoral level. –students registered 37,711 students in the Romanian study-line, 6,672 in the Hungarian study-line, and 1,779 in the German study-line (Babeş-Bolyai University. The multicultural character 2008).

CLIL at BBU BBU promotes programs in widely spoken languages – CLIL (English, French, German). BA programs in English (examples)  Computer Science;  Chemistry;  Physics;  American Studies;  Environmental Science;  Finances and Banks;  Political Science;  English Language and Literature;

CLIL at BBU MA programs in English (selections) “Carbonate Rocks: Facies and Technical Use” – Faculty of Biology and Geology; “Public Administration” – Faculty of Political Science “Intercultural and Communication Philosophy” – Faculty of Political Science; British Studies; Irish Studies; Current Trends in Linguistics; Conference Interpreting – Faculty of Letters; (there are more than 50 MA programs in English)

CLIL at BBU Programs in French (selections)  Études europénnes comparées: L’Intelligence de l’Europe (MA)  Philosophie française (MA)  Langue et literature française  Belgian studies  Conference Interpreting (English, French, German) (MA) Programs in German: 13 full programs at BA, MA or doctoral level

BBU’s language policy lives up to the requirements of bilingualism / multilingualism by promoting an education in (1) the national language, (2) a regional language, or (3) an international language.

Participation in European Multulingual Research Projects BBU is member of ELC/CEL BBU is represented in the board of ELC/CEL BBU participates/participated in European projects on multilingualism: –TNP2, TNP3, TNP3-D –DYLAN (“Language Dynamics and Management of Diversity”) – FP6 Project –LANQUA – EU project on quality in language teaching –MOLAN – EU project on motivation in language learning –MULTICOM – EU project on multilingual communicatin

Participation in European Multulingual Research Projects within DYLAN the BBU team has assessed attitudes, representations and multilingual practices at BBU, by –conducting interviews, –administering questionnaires and –video-taping activities in foreign languages

Participation in European Multulingual Research Projects –Provisional findings: Students, teaching staff and academic leadership endorse the multilingual and multicultural profile of the university; English is at the top of preferences for LSP, followed by French and German (slim differences between French and German); Spanish, Italian + Polish, Japanese and Norwegian are among the preferences

Participation in European Multulingual Research Projects –English is at the top of preferences for CLIL specializations, followed by German and French. –impact of practices on language practices: New LSP textbooks, usable for distance learning, too: new forms of language testing (constantly adjusted formulae for testing specialized language proficiency, or general language proficiency); Updatings of the language policy (2006, 2008)