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"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." - Nelson MandelaStudying Germanic languages and literature offers you much more than mastering communication in Dutch, English or German.It also offers you a "journey" through the linguistic, literary, cultural, socio-political and media landscapes of Dutch-, English- or German-speaking countries, and enables you to acquire intercultural skills in high demand on the Belgian and international job markets.

Studying English: "Why, do I already speak it?" Is it true that everyone speaks English? Yes and no. Certainly, English is everywhere and inescapable, with at least two billion speakers worldwide, the majority of whom do not have it as their mother tongue. As the international lingua franca par excellence, English no longer belongs particularly to the English, but serves as a tool for intercultural communication on a global scale. However, when you decide to study English at university, it's because you want to go beyond the simple tool of communication - useful, ubiquitous, but not necessarily loved - to discover the historical, linguistic and cultural nuances that arouse the passion of Anglophiles. Studying English at the University of Namur also means listening to accents from all over the world, immersing yourself in the history of cultures and language, opening up to other worlds imagined through literary productions, learning to appreciate and analyze films, sketches, Internet memes and many other artistic productions... all the while working to make progress in mastering the language in both written and spoken form. The teachers and researchers in the English Unit who accompany you in your studies have, in their day-to-day work, a wealth of international experience in the world of English studies. In this way, your teachers enrich their courses and exercises with new perspectives, methods and ideas emerging from the vast world of scientific research. And some of you will take the step into the international arena yourselves in the third year of undergraduate study, by going away for a semester on an Erasmus trip to Canterbury or Cork, for example! If this appeals to you, come and discover our programs and our team, and take your place in the driver's seat of your apprenticeship! See you soon? Teaching Research Activities Contact Faculty of Philosophy and Letters - English Unit Emma-Louise Silva + 32 81 72 41 76 emma-louise.silva@unamur.be Faculty of Philosophy and Letters - English Unit Lieven Vandelanotte + 32 81 72 41 73 lieven.vandelanotte@unamur.be

As a language learner, and a fortiori of English, in the 21st century, we're spoiled: we can create a kind of "immersion" at home and tailored to us by listening to target-language radio channels on the internet every day, watching series and films in their original version on Netflix or on TV, reading articles about anything that interests us online, or communicating with people all over the world on social networks. It's a good start, but to get regular feedback, improve, deepen our knowledge, and open up to sometimes little-known cultural horizons, we need guidance provided by pros. As the poet D.J. Enright wrote, "It takes a long time to learn a new language; / But one almost gets there in the end". There are no short cuts, but we can get you on the right track! So, in the Germanic Languages and Literatures program at UNamur, we organize lots of course-related exercises in small groups, encouraging interactivity and dialogue, with a particular emphasis on conversation. We also try to build a cultural space of our own on our "fifth floor", where our department is located. Examples for English include:sessions devoted to the screening of English-language films in Block 1 and Block 2;a monthly "book club", in a convivial atmosphere (teatime!), in Block 2; workshops and didactic projects linked to the various courses, such as the series of presentations around "keywords and icons of Anglophone cultures"; visits to exhibitions or evenings at the cinema; theatrical performances; our traditional "Christmas party"; didactic trips every two or three years, to London, Edinburgh or elsewhere still. To give you an initial idea of the course content, take a look at the first-year course descriptions... ... in the 1st term: English Language Proficiency History of English Literature and Civilization I ... in 2nd trimester: English Linguistics Analysis of English-language literary texts I For the complete program in Germanic languages and literatures, see this page. Erasmus Research Activities

The visibility of the English Unit's research on an international scale is high, thanks to our publications and other scientific activities.

A language and culture can't just be learned, they have to be experienced! To bring the English language and culture even more to life, the English Unit offers you a range of activities, some more recurrent and structural, others more according to the opportunities that arise - exhibitions, films in their original version or even plays organized in Namur, Brussels, Ghent, Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve...

Dutch, more than just the language of Kevin, Bart or Marina The Dutch is not only the language spoken in northern Belgium and Brussels... It's also the official language of almost 18 million people in the Netherlands, Suriname and even the West Indies. Often misunderstood and unloved, this language is the bearer of a culture as rich as it is varied. Knowledge of Dutch outside Dutch-speaking regions offers real economic, cultural and diplomatic added value. It is the multiplicity and dynamism of the Dutch language and culture of yesterday and today that are at the heart of our training. Teaching Research Activities Contact Faculty of Philosophy and Letters - Dutch Unit Elisabeth Leijnse +32 (0)81 72 41 77 elisabeth.leijnse@unamur.be Faculty of Philosophy and Letters - Dutch Unit Laurence Mettewie +32 (0)81 72 41 70 laurence.mettewie@unamur.be

Willkommen, Welcome, Welkom! The Bachelor's degree in Germanic Languages and Literatures is defined by the transmission and development of a whole range of linguistic, analytical, critical and communicative skills. These skills are not only highly valuable on the job market, but also have a significant human value. The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures is a department apart, in a university apart: human-sized, human-centered, friendly and family-oriented, qualitative, competitive and immersive: it's made for you!

The department's three units develop joint research as well as more specific research in each of the languages. In all cases, the department's researchers aim for international excellence and visibility.

In addition to the courses and exercises given within the Department, activities are routinely organized.

International mobility, ERASMUS+, ERASMUS Belgica Different opportunities are available to students at a partner university: Erasmus+ in Europe Erasmus Belgica in Flanders International mobility: "outside Europe" What to choose? Why leave? This is a unique opportunity to discover other cultures, adapt to another environment, and meet new people. Such a stay enables you:to deepen your language skills, to take on challenges both academic and practical, to create an international network, to boost your future CV : 64% of employers consider international experience to be a recruitment factor; 92% of employers are looking for transversal skills like those acquired on mobility (openness, curiosity, problem-solving, decision-making, self-confidence); we observe less unemployment for those who have gone away. This is an opportunity not to be missed! Read more Destinations For Germanic languages and literature, the University of Namur offers several destinations in Europe, the United States and Asia:Germany: Köln, Münster, TrierJapan: TokyoAustria: InnsbruckBelgium : Antwerpen, Gent, LeuvenIreland : Cork Find out more about the department SVG .cls-1 { fill: #323232; stroke-width: 0px; } Studies See content SVG .cls-1 { fill: #323232; stroke-width: 0px; } Research See content SVG .cls-1 { fill: #323232; stroke-width: 0px; } Activities See content SVG .cls-1 { fill: #323232; stroke-width: 0px; } Contact See content Useful links for an international stay International mobility UNIVERSEH Alliance Contact Faculty coordinator Valérie LEYH Faculty of Philosophy and Letters (5th floor) Rue de Bruxelles, 61 B-5000 NAMUR BELGIUM+ 32 81 72 41 75valerie.leyh@unamur.be on appointment (via email - face-to-face or on Teams)

Creating links, building bridges to Germanic culture with rigor and passion: this was the major objective of the "Founding Fathers", Professors Martien J.G. de Jong, Michel Hanot and Léo Somers, who created the Germanic section in September 1961. A lot has changed since then, in academia as in the world at large, but no matter where our lives take us, we always retain this part of our Namur and German identity: "I'm from Namur", "Were you at the Facs too?", "Ah, we miss the 5th floor!"On this webpage, we'd like to share with our alumni a few tributes to our founding fathers and their successors. We also offer a look back at our 50th anniversary celebrated in 2011, and some photos of our more recent activities. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to add your contact details so we can get in touch with you about activities, and/or if you'd like to help us organize activities in the future! Read an Alumni testimonial 50 years of Germa Join my alumni association

Why German? Studying German at the University of Namur means studying a language that is used worldwide as a first or second language by over 100 million speakers, mainly in Europe, but also in Africa (for example, in the Namibian city of Windhoek), South America (in the Brazilian region of Rio Grande do Sul) and Australia. It's studying a language that allows you to discover German-speaking cultures and literature, rich in original versions. It's also studying a language that gives you direct access to one of Europe's strongest economies, and whose knowledge - like the intercultural and communication skills you'll learn - will boost your chances on the job market. Concerned with capitalizing on students' different basic skills, the young and dynamic team at the German Unit offers its students rich and varied teaching of the German language, cultures and literatures. Through the many activities - readings, colloquia and conferences, visits to museums and archives, cultural evenings hosted by students and annual didactic trips (to Berlin, Vienna, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, etc.) - that the German Unit organizes as part of its courses and research projects, all students acquire (socio)linguistic, (inter)cultural and transversal skills that are both in-depth and diversified. The German Unit's contacts with partner institutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland enable students studying German to spend a semester abroad during the third year of their bachelor's degree. Don't hesitate to come and visit us during one or other of our open course weeks. In the meantime, the site can already help you get an idea of the team, the program and the various activities we offer. Anyway: Herzlich willkommen! Teaching Research Activities APAW The Association for the Promotion of the German Language in Wallonia (APAW) was created at the turn of the century. The aim was to develop strategies to promote German, the official language of the Walloon Region, in education and the economic sector in Wallonia. The German language is an integral part of the Walloon Region, which is therefore officially bilingual. Contacts: manfred.peters@unamur.be or apaw.namur@gmail.com Read more Contact German unitJeroen DARQUENNES+ 32 81 72 41 71 - jeroen.darquennes@unamur.beValérie LEYH+ 32 81 72 41 75 - valerie.leyh@unamur.beon appointment (via email) Faculté de Philosophie et LettresRue de Bruxelles, 61 B-5000 NAMUR