UB TO INTRODUCE PORTUGUESE PROGRAM The Faculty of Humanities (FOH) is in the process of implementing a Portuguese language program, the Dean of Humanities, Professor Kgomotso Moahi disclosed at the University of Botswana Library Auditorium on April 25, 2014 when she officially opened a French Department workshop. Portuguese will become the third international language taught in UB after French and Chinese. Professor Moahi told the workshop, which ran under the theme; Youth and Languages; A complete Journey into A Global World that her faculty would want to grow graduates who will fit in the global world; hence the need to introduce international language programmmes. Prof. Moahi said learning foreign languages help one to develop the attribute of learning, such as critical thinking, creativity, to mention but a few. She said languages can also benefit people as they are passports into other lands by promoting interaction and connecting people: “We live in a global world and if we have an understanding of different languages, communication will be easier.” she said. She encouraged the youth to learn foreign languages because they do not know where they will end up in life. In his key note address, the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, Regional Operations, at the Ministry of Education Skills Development, Mr. Peter Choto, also said people need other languages to communicate globally. He said French was approved to be taught in schools in Botswana in 2003. He applauded UB for opening doors to other languages and added that it proves that people need to learn foreign languages. He stated that it is important to learn these languages because they improve communication and important in research as one can find more information from foreign books. Senior Lecture in the French Department, Dr. John Mbangweta Lubinda lso spoke at the workshop; emphasing that foreign languages reduce communication barriers as people can communicate directly without translators. He went on to say that these languages widen one’s horizons and enrich one’s world view. He also mentioned that Chinese, French and Portuguese are languages that are used within the regional economic bloc; the Southern African Development Community (SADC). A third year student in Political Science, French and Portuguese, Kutlwano Outlule indicated as part of her comments that learning foreign languages has made her gain greater insight into foreign people. She learning of these languages broadens one’s way of thinking and makes people keep up with world trends and events. Others students recited poems and sung songs in different languages as part of the entertainment during the workshop.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:39:11 +0000
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