For a European Language Policy in the "Babes-Bolyai" University

The context which defines today a language policy of a university, within a society that seeks to be one of education and knowledge, must take into account  the essential points in the development of the concept of a European higher education area, and namely those included in: the Sorbonne Declaration (1998), the Bologna Declaration (1999), the Salamanca Message (2001), the Prague Communiqué (2001), in agreement with the references regarding the field of languages: the Resolution of the EU Council of Ministers (1995) regarding the improvement of quality and diversification of language teaching and learning within the educational systems of the EU; the White Paper Teaching, Learning: Towards a Society of Knowledge, the European Commission, 1995, Recommendation R(98)6 of Council of Ministers from the Member States regarding modern languages, Council of Europe 2000, the European Language Portfolio, Council of Europe, 2000, The Common Reference Framework for Languages, Council of Europe, 2000, Multilingualism and the New Educational Contexts: University and Language Council, 2001 (of which Babeş-Bolyai University is a member).

After the Berlin Conference, which had taken place during the 28-30 of June 2001 – dedicated to the European year of language – the Senate of the Babeş-Bolyai University has adopted at the December 2001 reunion the document For a European Language Policy in the BBU, published in the BBU’s Informative Bulletin no.21/ 2001 which stipulates the passing to the formula 1+2 (mother tongue A + two modern languages B and C).

• We have to mention that by modern languages we are referring to the modern languages applied to the study fields, other than mother tongue.
• We also mention that LB (the first modern language) refers to one of the following six modern languages studied at pre-university level: English, French, German, Italian Spanish, and Russian;
• LC (the second modern language) refers to any other modern language, other than Romanian or the mother tongue.

Considering the reorganization of the higher educational studies in consensus with the Bologna Declaration,and with the recommendations of the European Council of Languages, this policy had to be re-actualized.
The re-actualization process had several stages, each of them incorporating the new European tendencies regarding language policies (ex. The Bologna Process and the Language Policy. Notification of the European Council of Languages addressed to the authorities and organisations involved with the implementation of the Bologna Declaration, Brussels, 30th September 2002, or the Nancy Declaration, April 2006. )

This context is completed and redefined at Babeş-Bolyai University by its multicultural features: the actual structure comprises three study lines -  Romanian, Hungarian and German -,  the Judaic Studies Program, and by its plurilingual features: study lines in international languages - English, French, German and Italianand language programs: Spanish, Norwegian, Danish,  Swedish, Polish, Finnish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese etc.

Considering the facts mentioned above, BBU’s language policy recommends to its students and faculties the following linguistic approach for all the study cycles, leaving however complete freedom to its faculties as to the ways in which the policy should be implemented.

The linguistic approach of the BBU student:
LA = mother tongue
LB = the first modern language studied at the faculty
LC = the second modern language studied at the faculty (if any)
CEFL = the Common European Framework for Languages

CEFL Levels:
Beginner: A1 = 5 points; A2 = 10 points
Intermediate: B1 = 15 points; B2 = 20 points
Advanced: C1 = 25 points; C2 = 30 points

According to the regulation of the European Committee, when entering university, the candidates must have a level of competence in a modern language as to correspond to 15/30 points (in accordance to CEFL). Taking into account the recommendations of the European Council of Languages, Babeş-Bolyai University establishes a linguistic approach for its own students, illustrated bellow:

I. Graduate Level

The students enter the faculty at the B1 level (minimum points 15/30 - general language), but when graduating, they must prove their competence in a foreign language (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) according to the B2 level (minimum points 20/30 – specialized language).

• At BBU there are faculties which require a Linguistic Competence Certificate to admit the student: The Faculty of European Studies, The Faculty of History and Philosophy (The Department of Contemporaneous History and International Relations), and the specializations taught in foreign languages. As a consequence, the candidate who has not graduated from a high school where a foreign language was used in teaching, must present the following when applying:
  - either a Certificate of Linguistic Competence issued by the ALPHA or LINGUA Centres of the BBU, as a result of passing the linguistic competence test, which should prove the knowledge of  a foreign language at a level B1 (minimum 15/30 points).
  - or an equivalent certificate.
• The Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration offers a bonus to those candidates who, on admission, already have a certificate of linguistic competence. The bonus will be added to the final grade of the student.
  We mention that at the end of the graduate cycle, regardless of their skills, the students have to reach the level B2 (with a minimum score of 20/30 points specialized language), choosing a foreign language – LB – from the ones below.
• At the beginning of the graduate cycle the students will have to study a foreign language LB being also able to choose from one of the two options:
  - continuing the first foreign language studied in high school
  - studying a foreign language from beginner level.
• In order to reach level B2 minimum 20/30 points (specialized language) at the conclusion of the bachelor level, it is recommended to establish the following number of semesters for the study of foreign languages:
  - 5 semesters for the study of a modern language LB, with two hours per week at the faculties where only one foreign language is studied: Biology-Geology, Chemistry, Law, Physical Education, Physics, History-Philology, Letters*, Mathematics-Informatics, Psychology and Educational Sciences, Sociology and Social Assistance, Science of the Environment, Political Sciences and Administration, Theatre and Television, Greek-Catholic Theology, Roman-Catholic Theology.
  - 5 semesters for the studying of each modern language LB an LC, with two hours per week at the faculties where two modern languages are studied at the same time: Business, European Studies, Economic Studies and Business Administration and at the Faculty of Geography for the specialization Geography of Tourism, only.
• At graduate level, students – including those who choose to study a language ‘ab initio’ at their faculty will need to make proof of a level of linguistic competence corresponding to a score of 20/30 points level B2. Hence, they will take a test of linguistic competence for degree access, for which they have two options:
  - Taking the linguistic competence test organized by the ALPHA or LINGUA centers, which issue certificates of linguistic competence with a validity of two years. The evaluation of the test is based on CECR, and the minimum level and score are B2-20/30 p (specialized language).
  - Taking, for free a test of linguistic competence organized by the Departments of Languages to which they belong: the Department of Foreign Languages for Specific Purposes, or the Department of Modern Languages and Communication in Business. The test can only be taken once, is evaluated with grades, but does not count as an exam, and passing it (minimum grade 5 of 10) is a pre-requisite for the student being accepted for the final examination.

II. The Master Level

In order to be admitted to a master’s program, the students will have to present a certificate of linguistic competence issued by the ALPHA or LINGUA Centres. The necessary minimal level and score are B2= 20/30 points - specialized language. It is recommended to test the language studied at the university, meaning the LB. When graduating from the master’s course the master students will present a linguistic competence certificate issued by ALPHA or LINGUA Centres at BBU, or any equivalent certificate. During the master’s course, the second foreign language will be studied in a self-taught regime, with the possibility to require the services of the ALPHA or LINGUA Centres at BBU in this respect.

* The specializations at the Faculty of Letters which do not comprise the teaching of English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish.

III. The doctoral cycle

When admitted to doctoral studies, the candidates will present a linguistic competence certificate released by the ALPHA or LINGUA Centres at BBU, or any equivalent certificate. The level is B2 (20/30 points).

IV. Foreign students

In the case of foreign students, BBU offers special programs of Romanian as a foreign language: curricular courses (preparatory year, for young adults wishing to pursue higher education in Romania; Romanian culture and civilization modules; semester practical courses, for ERASMUS students; and modules of Romanian as a foreign language, as a part of MA programs); as well as extra-curricular courses (international summer courses, intensive courses for ERASMUS students).

The main role to ensure the application of this complex policy (of teaching and testing) belongs to the specialized departments of the University (The Department of Modern Languages and Business Communication, and the Department of Specialized Foreign Languages) as well as to the foreign language departments at the Faculty of Letters, along with the two language centres, ALPHA and LINGUA.

The strategy of applying the Senate’s Decision regarding the Linguistic Policy of BBU which we bring forward is balanced and flexible, not only from the point of view of the students and the weight of the subjects within the new university plans, but also from the point of view of the costs for the University. This strategy is meant to motivate and stimulate the students to perfect their knowledge of foreign language in order to form competences based on handling the specialzsed language in intercultural communication, which is required for a future career in the multilingual and multicultural Europe of the future.

The LINGUA Centre FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNICATION IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE

Cluj-Napoca, 58-60, Teodor Mihali Street, Campus, 1st floor, B4 / 115,
400591, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA
Tel.: 004 0264 418663
Fax: 004 0264 418656
E-mail: lingua@personal.ro
Web page: http://lingua.econ.ubbcluj.ro
Director: Assoc. Prof. Felicia-Delia Marga, PhD

Contact person: Emilia Trîncă
E-mail: etrinca@econ.ubbcluj.ro

The LINGUA Centre for Modern Languages was established within the “Babes-Bolyai” University, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, in 1999. The mission of the center is to respond to the student and community needs related to extracurricular training and testing, while being in line with the European requirements and the Linguistic Policy of the “Babes-Bolyai” University.

The LINGUA Centre is affiliated to the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education – CERCLES.

The centre is mainly oriented towards undergraduates and graduates in the following fields:
● Economic Sciences ● Business ● European Studies ● Political and Administrative Sciences ●

As a result of the LINGUA Test, the LINGUA Centre issues the Certificate of Language Ability – general/ business, a precondition for the BA, MA and PhD examinations, as well as for employment, promotion, scholarships etc.

I. The LINGUA Centre OFFERS:

1. Courses
• Courses of  modern languages at three levels (general/ business), (Romanian, English, French, Italian, Spanish and German)
• International examination courses (Cambridge, TOEFL, DALF, DELE, CELI, etc)
• Preparation courses for the LINGUA Test
• Courses of Romanian for foreigners at three levels
• Courses preparing students for the language requirements at the university entrance examination
• Summer courses of Romanian language and South- Eastern  culture and civilization
• Courses upon request/tailor-made courses

2. Tests of language ability: general/ business
• Tests of language ability for university entrance, BA, MA and PhD examinations
• Tests of language ability for employment, promotions, scholarships
• Placement tests
3. Translations
• Translation services

II. Journals:

• Starting with 2002, the LINGUA Centre has been publishing the LINGUA Journal in two volumes per year: A. Linguistics and B. Culture and Civilization

III. Programs:

• The “Lorenzo Renzi” Lexicography Centre
• The Cultural Project “Veneto- North-Western Europe”, in collaboration with the University of Padua (Italy)
• The LINGUA International Summer School of Romanian Language and South-Eastern Culture and Civilization, the 9th edition in 2007, in collaboration with the Arizona State University (USA)
• The LINGUA Literature Circle of the “Babes-Bolyai” University Students
  

The ALPHA Centre

Address: 31, Horea st., 400 202, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Telephone/Fax: +40 264 434 164
E-mail: alpha@lett.ubbcluj.ro
Web page: www.alpha.ubbcluj.ro
Director: Associate Prof. Victoria Moldovan, PhD

Contact person: Norica Naşca
E-mail: nonasca@yahoo.fr

The ALPHA Centre for Modern Languages has been functioning within the Faculty of Letters at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca since 2002. Its language programs are varied, as it sets out to offer services related to language learning and testing to both students and university staff as well as to a broader public from outside the academic medium.

The programs offered by the ALPHA Centre include:

• Language courses:

• Three-level courses in the following languages: English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian, Finnish, Norwegian, Irish, Japanese, Polish, and Dutch.
• Preparation courses for the ALPHA language test.
• Preparation courses for international tests: Cambridge, TOEFL, DALF, Sprachdiplom.
• Three-level courses in Romanian as a foreign language.

• Language tests formatted and conducted in accordance with the specifications of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Successful candidates are granted certificates that have a broad national and international recognition.
• Translation and conference-translation services.