Department of Modern European Languages

PHILOSOPHY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MODERN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES

Modern life can generally hardly be contemplated without the instrument of language as a means of communication. Hence, the possibility of coming to terms with the communication demands of modern life is strongly hinged on the ability to use language. This ability however, also contributes to defining the personality of the human being for, irrespective of his/her professional training as a teacher, diplomat, businessman, civil servant etc., his/her credibility is almost entirely anchored on or measured against his competence to effectively communicate his ideas through the use of language. This applies generally to the speakers of any language. It is however the ability to speak more than one’s mother tongue that marks a human being as being communicatively competent in today’s modern world where the ability to communicate in more than one language has become the norm. Communicating in more than one language also means being able to access other world views, political formations and aspirations, cultures and civilizations, etc. which would otherwise have remained closed to one. This is why the study of more than one language also facilitates insights into the cultures, history, civilizations and literatures of others.

GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MODERN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES

The Department of Modern European Languages aims at producing modern, educated citizens that are capable of communicating effectively in French, German, Spanish and other modern European languages that will be taught in the department. The citizens with such training will facilitate Nigeria’s full participation in international events without any linguistic inhibitions.

OBJECTIVES

Apart from France, Germany and Spain, the French, German and Spanish languages are spoken in other parts of the world, including Africa. The knowledge of these languages can therefore enhance our economic, political, social and cultural links with all the countries of the world where these languages are spoken. The objectives of teaching these languages therefore, are:

To prepare students to perform competently anywhere in the spoken and written form of their chosen foreign language.
To expose them to the culture, history, civilization, language and literature of their chosen languages.
To prepare them as efficient citizens in whatever career they will find themselves in life.
To prepare those who would like to further these languages up to doctorate degree.

SCOPE

The Department offers courses in B.A. (Honours) in French, German and Spanish, and combined honours degree involving French, German, Spanish, English and Igbo. In addition it also offers courses for Education students whose major teaching subjects are French, German or Spanish.

In addition, the Department offers courses in French, German and Spanish respectively at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. These are service courses for students from other Departments of the university, who need any of these foreign languages as Faculty or Inter-Faculty Electives or required Departmental Electives.

DEGREES OFFERED

A. (Hons) French
A. (Hons) German
A. (Hons) Spanish
A. (Hons) German/Spanish (Combined)
A. (Hons) German/English (Combined)
A. (Hons) German/Igbo (Combined)
A. (Hons) Spanish/German (Combined)
A. (Hons) Spanish/English (Combined)
A. (Hons) Spanish/Igbo (Combined)

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

FOUR YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMME

Candidates for admission need not have any previous knowledge of French, German or Spanish languages, although they must have at least a credit in English and any other four subjects preferably history and or English Literature at S.S.C.E. and an acceptable score in JAMB.

DIRECT ENTRY

(i) French

Candidates for Direct Entry must have two Advanced Level GCE passes including French, or equivalent qualification and a credit in English and in any other two subjects different from the A Level subjects, at the S.S.C.E. or equivalent. The NCE is acceptable as an A-Level equivalent.

Diploma in French. In addition to a diploma in French, candidates must have a credit in English and in any other two subjects different from the subjects of the Diploma, at the S.S.C.E. or equivalent.

Baccalauréat de l’enseignement secondaire for candidates from francophone countries.

German

Candidates for Direct Entry must have two Advanced Level GCE passes including German, or equivalent qualification and a credit in English and in any other two subjects different from the A Level subjects, at the SSCE or equivalent.

(b) Diploma in German. In addition, candidates must have a credit in English and in any other two subjects different from the subjects of the Diploma at The SSCE or equivalent.

(iii) Spanish

(a) Candidates for Direct Entry must have two Advanced Level GCE passes including Portuguese, or equivalent qualification and a credit in English and in any other two subjects, different from the A Level subjects at the SSCEor equivalent.

Diploma in Spanish. In addition, candidates must have a credit in English and any other two subjects different from the subjects of the Diploma, at the SSCE or equivalent.

Graduation Requirements

a) Year-Abroad

Students majoring in French, German or Spanish will spend both the First and Second Semesters in a location in which the language studied is spoken, within or outside Nigeria. Those combining any two of the languages will spend a semester for each language in the location as and when possible. Otherwise, two semesters in the country of the Major language is acceptable. Courses taken during this stay will count towards the award of the B.A. Degree.

COURSE CODING

A course code is normally made up of three digits. The first digit indicates the level or year of study. The middle digit indicates stress area, while the third or last digit indicates the semester (odd number for the first semester and even number for the second semester).

TABLE OF MIDDLE DIGIT INDICATING STRESS AREAS

General Language courses (service courses) ………………….0

Oral courses ………………………………………………………..1

Grammar…………………………………………………………….2

Composition &Reading Comprehension…………………………3

Literature…………………………………………………………….4

Culture and Civilization ……………………………………………5

Linguistics……………………………………………………………….6

Research method……………………………………………………7

Translation ………………………………………………………….8

Long Essay/Project…………………………………………………9