Modern European Languages Undergraduate Programmes

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
Programme Philosophy
The philosophy of the Department is to promote fluency and competence in foreign languages, as the ability to communicate fluently is an asset which opens doors to all occupations. For Nigeria’s teeming youth population, the future in the world of international relations, business, diplomacy, as well as in the public and private sector lies in competence in foreign languages.
It is a proven fact that the knowledge of one’s own mother tongue is a solid base for easy acquisition of other languages. Therefore, part of the philosophy of this programme is to encourage students to make comparative analyses of their mother tongue with one or more foreign languages.
Culture and literature are not only embodiments of language, but are windows into the history, civilization and psychology of a people, that is, the totality of their being. It is in this regard that the programme of the Department also encourages the study of foreign cultures, literatures and history.
Mission and Vision
French, Spanish, and German languages are spoken all over the world outside their countries of origin, and also within the African continent. A good number of Francophone African countries, former old German colonies in Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara, and Latin America where these languages are spoken, share common interests with Nigeria. For instance, Nigeria shares common boundaries with a good number of French-speaking countries; hence, the overriding interest in studying French in Nigeria to facilitate communication with our French-speaking neighbours.
Germany’s presence in Nigeria is evident in strong bilateral trade relations as well as in collaborative research fellowships and grants. While homogeneity in art and culture evinces historical relations between Nigeria and many Afro-descendants in the Lusophone and Hispanic worlds, a lack of knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese means these links remain unexplored. Therefore, the acquisition of French, German, Spanish and other foreign languages opens vistas to economic, social and cultural relationships with the worlds where these languages are spoken.
Goals
The goals of the Department of Modern European Languages are centred on the imperative need to equip young Nigerians with the necessary linguistic tools for the 21st century. This, it undertakes by familiarizing the students with the rudiments of French, German and Spanish, as well as other modern European languages that will be taught in the department in the future. These students will become world citizens and torchbearers of the future. Therefore, the department is geared towards producing linguistically fluent and competent future ambassadors, who can face challenges in the academic, professional and private sectors through effective communicative use of foreign languages.
Objectives
The objectives of teaching these languages therefore are:
  1. To equip students with oral competence in the spoken and written forms of foreign languages.
  2. To expose them to the culture, civilization, history and literature of foreign languages.
  3. To enable them effectively employ their acquired language skills in their future careers.
  4. To encourage comparative study of Nigerian languages, cultures, literature and history with their foreign counterparts for those students who would like to pursue academic scholarship in these areas at the Postgraduate levels.
Scope
Presently, the Department of Modern European Languages offers a degree programme leading to the award of B.A. (Honours) with French as stress area, while German and Spanish are taught as electives.
In future, however, the department hopes to offer programmes leading to more degree options such as are indicated below:
  • A. (Combined Honours) in French/German, French/Spanish, Spanish/German, German/Spanish.
  • A. French/Linguistics; Spanish/Linguistics; German/ Linguistics (Combined Honours).
The department also offers prescribed French courses to students with the Combined Honours, B.A (Ed) French. These students actually belong to the Faculty of Education, where the final degree results are computed; and only about sixty percent (60%) of the courses are taken from the Department of Modern European Languages as specialization courses.
Job Opportunities
The programme is designed to equip successful graduates for careers in translation and interpretation, publishing, tourism and aviation industries, diplomatic corps, and civil services, banking, customs, immigration, military, teaching profession, etc.
Admission Requirements
NOTE: Previous knowledge of French is an advantage, but not a prerequisite for UTME admission. The following are the admission requirements for the various categories of candidates:
Four-year Degree Programme
University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME): In addition toobtaining  the   minimum   university   entry  requirements,    prospective candidates should have:
  • The Senior School Certificate (SSC), NECO or the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level, or its equivalent, with 5 credit passes in English Language, Literature in English and three (3) other subjects at not more than two (2) sittings.
Or
  • Credit passes in English Language and four other subjects, including preferably, any one of the following subjects: Literature in English, any Nigerian Language, History, Government, Geography at SSCE, NECO or GCE O/L or its equivalent at not more than two (2) sittings.
  1. Three-year Direct Entry Programme
  • JUPEB Certificate or NCE or its equivalent with at least a pass grade in French or in a relevant major language.
Or
  • Two passes at GCE Advanced Level, one of which must be French, and at least three other subjects at Ordinary Level.
Or
  • Baccalauréat de l’enseignement secondaire for candidates from Francophone countries.
Or
  • DELF B-Level
Duration of Study
The duration of studies also varies according to the chosen programme:
  • Four years for students who gain admission through JAMB entrance examination (UTME), leading to B.A in French.
  •  Direct Entry: Three years for those who secure admission by direct entry (DE) leading to B.A in French.
  • The third year of the four-year programme (UTME) and second year of the three-year  programme (DE)  are entirely spent  in a  francophone setting, where the relevant language is indigenous or used as the official means   of   communication.    This    is   known   as   the   Year    Abroad Programme.
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).
General Language courses (service courses) ……………………
0
Oral courses………………………………………………………
1
Grammar and Linguistics ………………………………………..     2
Composition and Stylistics…………………………………………. 3
Literature and Comprehension ……………………………………  4
Civilization and Culture …………………………………………..  5
Translation …………………………………………………………. 6
Research Method/Project………………………………………….. 7
Course Registration
All courses offered in the Department are available online. It is mandatory that students register all first and second semester courses at the beginning of the academic session via the student portal. No course registration is possible as soon as the portal is closed. Unregistered courses are written as fresh courses. Students are also duly informed of the Rules and Regulations of the University with regard to their study, as well as the consequences and penalties of misconducts. The excerpts from the GAR of the University extracted below are also made available, and explained to students of the Department.
From the UNIZIK General & Academic Regulations (GAR)
  • Workload for Students (GAR 4.3.2)
  • The total workload required for any given degree shall be the same for part-time as for full-time.
  • Every full-time student shall register not less than 15 (fifteen) credit units and not more than 24 /twenty four) credit units per semester, except for students on field experience/industrial attachment or as provided in (iv) below.
  • Every part-time student shall register for not less than 10 (ten) credit units and not more than 16 (sixteen) credit units per semester.
  • A final year student, who has exceeded the minimum number of years allowed for his programme (4, 4), may register for less than the minimum credit allowed for a semester but not more than the maximum.
Grading System (GAR 4.6.3)
I
II
III
V
V
MARKS
LETTER
GRADE
FINAL
CLASS OF
(%)
GRADES
POINTS
CGPA
DEGREE
70-100
A
5.00
4.50-5.00
1st Class
60-69
B
4.00
3.50-4.49
2nd Class Upper
50-59
C
3.00
2.40-3.49
2nd Class Lower
45-49
D
2.00
1.50-2.39
3rd Class
40-44
E
1.00
1.00-1.49
Pass
0-39
F
0.00
0.00-.099
Fail
Academic Standing (GAR 4.7)
There shall be only two classes of students: students in good academic standing and students on academic probation.
4.7.1 Good Academic Standing
  • A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 1.00 shall place a student in good academic standing.
4.7.2 Academic Probation
  • A student whose CGPA lies between 0.60 and 0.99 shall be placed on academic probation in the following session:
  • Such a student shall either:
—re-register and repeat the failed courses and any other course, subject to a maximum of 15 (fifteen) credits or
—transfer to another programme (…)
SUMMMARY OF ACADEMIC STANDING
CGPA
EFFECT
CGPA
EFFECT
1.00-5.00
Good Standing
0.60-0.99
Repeat the Year
≥ 1.00
Good Standing
OR Change Dept.
< 1.00
Withdraw from University
0.00 – 0.59
Withdraw from University
Withdrawals by Students (GAR 4.8)
Withdrawal from the Department/Faculty
A student may transfer out of his present Department/Faculty on academic grounds if his CGPA falls between 0.60 and 0.99 while in good academic standing.
Withdrawal from the University on Academic Grounds
  • A student shall be required to withdraw from the University on academic grounds at the end of each session if:
—his CGPA is below 0.60
—his CGPA is below 1.00 while on probation
—he has spent more than 150% of his minimum time required for his programme … for reasons other than ill-health
  • A student who has withdrawn from the university on academic grounds shall apply for re-admission through JAMB
Voluntary Withdrawal
  • A student of the university may withdraw voluntarily at any time on completion of a voluntary withdrawal form and on approval of the Senate.
  • A student granted voluntary withdrawal shall retain all the grades he made in the courses he had taken so far.
  • A student who had withdrawn voluntarily may be considered for re-admission on application to Senate.
Withdrawal from the University on Health Grounds
  • A student shall be allowed to withdraw from the University on Health grounds if the recommendation for such a withdrawal by a medical officer is authenticated by the University Director of Medical Services.
  • On production of a medical certificate of fitness authenticated by the Director of Medical Services, such a candidate shall be considered for re-admission only by Senate.
  • A student who has withdrawn on health grounds shall retain all the grades made in the courses he has taken before his withdrawal.
Withdrawal from the University for Disciplinary Reasons
  • The Senate shall order a student to withdraw from the University on disciplinary ground such as forgery, fraud, examination misconduct, membership of secret cults etc.
  • A student required to withdraw from the University for Disciplinary Reasons shall neither be issued with a transcript nor be considered for admission into any of the
University’s programmes, for any job or contract with the University.
  • The particulars of such a student shall be circulated to all other Nigerian universities.
Unauthorized Withdrawal from the University
  • A student of the University who fails to register without prior authorization from the University shall be deemed to have ceased to be a student of the University for that session.
  • A student who leaves the University as in (i) above for more than 2 (two) sessions shall apply for re-admission through JAMB