University of Graz
Department of Translation Studies (ITAT)
The Department of Translation Studies of the University of Graz trains translators and interpreters for twelve languages including so-called lesser used languages such as Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Slovene and Hungarian as well as Austrian Sign Language. The integrated approach of teaching language and culture forms the basis for successful intercultural and transcultural communication.
Philological Departments
The three Institutes of English and American Studies, Romance Language Studies and Slavic Language Studies provide an education in language studies, linguistics literature and cultural studies at Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level. In addition, a large minority of students are trained as future teachers at secondary schools. In recent years, cultural studies in particular has gained in importance and has established itself as a discipline alongside linguistics and literary studies. In order to stress a plurilingual/pluricultural approach the recently reformed teacher education curriculum includes a translingual dimension by allowing future teachers of more than one language to take selected courses at any of the three institutes. Courses at all institutes are enriched by a considerable number of students from neighbouring countries (the former Yugoslav states and Hungary in particular) and by students undertaking an Erasmus programme.
Centre for Teaching Methodology and Research of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
The Centre for Teaching Methodology and Research of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Fachdidaktikzentrum der Geisteswissenschaftlichen Fakultät Graz, FDZ GEWI) is a centre of competence at the University of Graz dedicated to promoting research into teaching, professionalising pre- and in-service teacher training, as well as fostering close links with all stakeholders in secondary pre-service teacher training.
treffpunkt sprachen
Constant change and increasing complexity in the modern workplace are two new challenges facing students of the University of Graz. To help students meet these challenges, treffpunkt sprachen, the University of Graz Language Centre, offers courses tailored to individual students' needs. treffpunkt sprachen actively promotes the development of plurilingual skills and aims, through the courses it offers, to support students in successfully coping with these changes. For the past seven years, treffpunkt sprachen has been gradually expanding and improving its range of courses through a variety of projects in order to meet the needs of students.
In the interest of ensuring high-quality language courses, treffpunkt sprachen enjoys links with a number of educational institutions at university level. Since the 2008/2009 winter term, treffpunkt sprachen has offered intensive and beginners courses in French, Italian and Spanish for students of Romance Studies. There are also beginners courses for students of Slavic Studies and for those studying at the Department of Translation Studies, as well as advanced courses in morphology and syntax aimed at students of Classical Philology. These synergies provide important impetus for improving foreign language teaching, both in terms of quality and content, and have led to a lively exchange of expert knowledge with the University of Graz’s Philological Departments.
more information