EMERGE Alliance: Université Bretagne Sud welcomed two lecturers from EMERGE partner Matej Bel University in Slovakia

EMERGE Alliance: Université Bretagne Sud welcomed two lecturers from EMERGE partner Matej Bel University in SlovakiaAs part of the European EMERGE Alliance, Université Bretagne Sud (UBS) welcomed two lecturers and researchers from Matej Bel University (Slovakia) to its Lorient campus this week for an Erasmus teaching exchange, thereby strengthening academic ties between partner institutions.

A lecture on the etymology of American place names

Jana Javorčíková, a specialist in American and Canadian English-speaking cultures, gave a lecture entitled “The USA Etymologically: What the Name Reveals”, focusing on the origins of the names of states, regions and major cities in the United States and Canada. She demonstrated how these names “reveal key cultural and historical aspects of the country’s history, politics and culture”.

The event, held at the Maison de la Recherche, was attended by around thirty students from the Faculty of Arts, Languages, Humanities & Social Sciences – an encouraging turnout, particularly as they had no classes that week.

Visits to the Lorient University Institute of Technology (IUT) across two departments

Her colleague Petra Strnadová, an expert in professional linguistic communication, visited several departments at the Lorient University Institute of Technology (IUT). In the QLIO department (Quality, Industrial Logistics and Organisation), she delivered a business English class and gave a presentation on Matej Bel University, as well as provided a general overview of Slovakia. In HSE (Health, Safety and Environment), she offered an introduction to the Slovak language, enabling students to discover the basics of this Central European language.

A visit combining teaching, observation and co-teaching

The second part of their mobility programme was devoted to job shadowing: The two teachers accompanied their French colleague in class, observed teaching practices and took part in certain co-teaching activities.

A collaboration born out of the EMERGE Language Forum

This visit is the culmination of a collaboration initiated within the framework of the EMERGE Alliance’s Language Forum. This key advisory body within the alliance provides expert advice on language use and accessibility in the alliance’s teaching, research and communication activities. It is tasked with supporting the nine partner universities in developing a common language policy that promotes multilingualism.

 “Their visit is a direct result of my participation in the EMERGE Language Forum,” explains Suzanne Lannurien, who initiated the project. Last October, she met Petra Strnadová in Cyprus during a Language Forum workshop held at Neapolis University Pafos.

A strengthened European dimension

This exchange programme demonstrates UBS’s commitment to playing a full part in EMERGE, by promoting educational, linguistic and cultural exchanges. New partnerships may develop in the coming years as a result of this fruitful cooperation.

To find out more about EMERGE. 

To find out more about Matej Bel University.