BA/BS in Languages and Cultures

General Description: Objective(s) of a study programme: The aim of the study programme Foreign Languages and Cultures is to train well qualified bachelors in the Humanities with a broad range of knowledge and competences, who have a good basic knowledge of Italian, French or German (C1 level) and an additional foreign language (B2 level). Graduates will grasp the fundamentals of linguistics, literary studies, translation, intercultural communication, and production of spoken and written texts, and will become familiar with the culture of a chosen country, its history, political and economic situation. Students will be able to translate from source into target language and vice versa, interpret and analyse different countries’ cultural phenomena in the European and global context. Graduates will be able to apply their linguistic, communicative, cultural, social and other competences in professional and academic areas. Learning outcomes: 1. Knowledge and its application: 1.1. A graduate is able to understand and describe language and literature as phenomena, define and use basic linguistic and literary terms, describe the main trends and methods of linguistics and literary studies, explain the peculiarities of the system of the language under study and its variants, the socio-cultural context, the particularities of the literature in the language under study, the prominent authors and their works, and identify and describe the different varieties of spoken and written language (styles, genres, and registers). 1. 2. A graduate is able to understand and analyze main translation theories and their methodologies, recognize, and explain problematic phenomena in the translation of artistic and disciplinary texts at different levels and make decisions based on a knowledge of translation studies, intercultural communication, linguistics, literary studies, and is familiar with and is able to use the most up-to-date translation technologies in translation. 1.3. A graduate is able to describe the historical facts, political and economic, social and cultural phenomena of the countries where the languages under study are spoken. 2. Special abilities: 2.1. A graduate is able to analyse the phenomena of the language under study at various levels – phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, etc. – using appropriate linguistic methods. 2.2. A graduate is able to compose, refer to, translate and interpret texts independently, considering the particularities of the source and target languages, stylistics, and intercultural communication, edit texts of various genres in the language under study and Lithuanian, communicate orally and in writing in the language under study (C1 level) and the second foreign language (B2 level), taking into account the intention of the communication, addressee, social environment, etc. 2.3. A graduate is able to describe and analyze the main particularities of specific literary genres of the literature under study, to interpret and critically evaluate literary texts from a variety of periods, genres, and styles applying appropriate methods of analysis. 2.4. A graduate is able to use modern information technologies, data resources and sources, particular translation, and text editing software, creatively apply media technologies in the analysis of the language, literature, and translation analysis texts of the language, literature, and translation analysis under study, and to choose appropriate sources of information search and terminology. 3. Research skills 3.1. A graduate is able to collect and organize material, to carry out and describe linguistic, literary, translation, and interdisciplinary research by applying acquired knowledge and practical skills using the newest information technologies, modern databases, historical and current editions of scientific texts, library resources, etc. 3.2. A graduate is able to identify a linguistic (interdisciplinary), literary, or translation problem, select appropriate empirical material, research methods, and bibliographic sources, formulate hypotheses and research questions. 4. Social skills 4.1. A graduate is able to interact with representatives of his/her profession and the public by solving particular issues and presenting individual knowledge and performance to different audiences. 4.2. A graduate is able to work constructively as part of a team, carry out tasks, motivate team members to achieve common goals, and be accountable for and evaluate the quality of personal work. 4.3. A graduate is able to communicate and collaborate in an interdisciplinary and intercultural environment, openly embracing a diversity of traditions and viewpoints. 4.4. A graduate is able to apply the principles of professional ethics and citizenship. 5. Personal skills: 5.1. A graduate is able to plan and organize professional and learning activities independently and choose appropriate strategies to achieve personal goals. 5.2. A graduate is able to think critically and creatively and respond flexibly to change and innovation, to understand and take moral responsibility for personal performance and its impact on society. Activities of teaching and learning: These teaching and learning activities are used in lectures: Presentation, explanation, exemplification, asking and answering questions, watching videos, summarizing information, discussion and others. These teaching and learning activities are used in seminars: Analysis of problematic examples and questions, carrying out and generalizing tasks, consultations, analysis of specific examples, discussion, debates, preparing and presenting projects as group work and others. These teaching and learning activities are used in practical tasks: Observation, formulating practical tasks, explanation and carrying out the tasks, analysis of professional work, literary studies; solving problems, consultations, debates, discussions, oral self­ analysis, preparing and presenting reports, and others. Methods of assessment of learning achievements: Evaluation of the case study, tests or written examination, assessment of problem-solving tasks, observation of the performance of practical tasks, evaluation of problem-solving tasks, observation of discussions and debates, evaluation of essay, project, report, observation of the presentation of an essay, project, report, etc. Framework: Study subjects (modules), practical training: General university study courses: Foreign language Artes liberales subjects Study courses for all specializations (compulsory for all students): Fundamentals of Linguistics Basics and Development of Translation Theories Introduction to Literary Studies Language Standards and Principles of Editing Term Paper Intercultural Communication Bachelor Graduation Paper Elective study courses for all specializations (4) (students can choose any language except the main language of his/her specialization): Spanish Language and Culture I Spanish Language and Culture II Spanish Language and Culture III Spanish Language and Culture IV French Language and Culture I French Language and Culture II French Language and Culture III French Language and Culture IV Italian Language and Culture I Italian Language and Culture II Italian Language and Culture III Italian Language and Culture IV Contemporary German I Contemporary German II Contemporary German III Contemporary German IV Contemporary English (1) Contemporary English (2) English Morpho-Syntax Academic English C1/C2 English C1/C2: Business English Practices (compulsory for all specializations): Career Planning Practice in Foreign Philology Qualifying Practice in Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication Compulsory courses in the specialization of Francophone Studies: French Language and Culture I French Language and Culture II French Language and Culture III French Language and Culture IV French Grammar I French Grammar II Text Grammar of French French Phonetics Introduction to Francophone Studies Basics of the Latin Language Academic Writing in French Tradition of Literary Genre of Francophone Countries Business French Applied Linguistics and Translation Translation of Specialised Texts Intermedial Analysis of Literary Texts Economics and Politics of Francophone Countries Diplomatic French Analysis of Spoken Language Linguistics of Romance Languages Cultural Analysis of Literary Texts Interpretation Historical Contexts of French Speaking Countries Compulsory courses in the specialization of Italian Studies and Romance Languages: Italian Language and Culture I Italian Language and Culture II Italian Language and Culture III Italian Language and Culture IV Italian Language and Culture V Italian Language and Culture VI Italian Grammar I Italian Grammar II Italian Grammar III Basics of the Latin Language History of The Mediterranean Region Academic Writing in Italian Survey of Italian Literature I Survey of Italian Literature II Translation from Italian I Translation from Italian II Linguistics of Romance Languages Contemporary Italian Literature Bachelor's Paper Writing Seminar Interpreting Elective courses in the specialization of Italian Studies and Romance Languages (1): History of Italian Art Classic Lithuanian and Western European Literature Modern Social and Cultural Life in Germany Compulsory courses in the specialization of German Language and Communication: Contemporary German I Contemporary German II Contemporary German III Contemporary German IV Contemporary German V German Grammar I German Grammar II German Sounds and their Pronunciation Text Grammar of German German History German Economic System Academic Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Literature of German Speaking Countries in European Context German Business Language and Communication Analysis of Spoken German Translation of Subject–Specific Texts Contrastive Text Linguistics and Pragmatics German Politics in a Global Context Modern Social and Cultural Life in Germany Recent German Literature and Book Sector Lithuanian-German Relations: History and the Present Elective courses in the specialization of German Language and Communication (2): Legal German Language and Communication Media Language and Communication Language of Advertising and Marketing Communication Technical Language and Communication Tourism Language and Communication Specialisations: Francophone Studies; Italian Studies and Romance Languages; German Language and Communication Optional courses: Students may choose: 1. Courses from the General university A and B group study courses, 56 credits. 2. A second foreign language (English, Italian, Spanish, French and German), 24 credits in the 5th to 8th semesters. 3. In each specialization, one of several courses offered each semester according to the direction of studies. Distinctive features of a study programme: The study programme of Foreign Languages and Cultures is distinguished by a wide selection of study courses, learning of the studied languages from the basics (level A1), as well as the inclusion of learning a second foreign language from the basics (24 ECTS), taking into account the labor market and the demand of specialists who know several foreign languages. Each specialization also has its own uniqueness: 1) The Francophone Studies specialization emphasizes the spread of the French language in the world, its geolinguistic variants, culture, and literature, historical contexts of francophone countries, studies of politics and economics, translation of literary and subject-specific texts, etc. 2) The specialization in Italian Studies and Romance Languages emphasizes studies of the Italian language and culture (cinema, theater, literature, etc.), the history of Italy and the Mediterranean countries, translation studies, etc. 3) The German Language and Communication specialization emphasizes business German, the culture of German-speaking countries, study of the history, politics and economy of German-speaking countries, studies of social and cultural phenomena of German-speaking countries in the context of Europe and the world. Access to professional activity or further study: Access to professional activity: Graduates of the Francophone Studies specialization can work as specialists of the French language, consultants and translators in various scientific, cultural, business, translation, educational, and tourism companies, as well as researchers in intercultural projects related to the French language and Francophone countries. They can also work as translators and experts of culture of French speaking countries in state and EU institutions and non-governmental organizations. Graduates of the German Language and Communication specialization can work as specialists of the German language and politics in German speaking countries. They can work as experts in economy and society in state institutions of EU and other countries as well as in private companies as they are able to prepare and implement international business, media, marketing, cultural and other projects. They can also work as cultural, educational, scientific, and public communication experts of German-speaking countries in public companies or cultural centres. They can teach German in informal language schools or work as translators or specialists in tourism companies. Graduates of Italian Studies and Romance Languages specialization can work as experts of either Italian, Spanish or French languages. They can be consultants, translators in various educational institutions, translation offices, cultural centres, and publishing houses. Graduates can work as experts of Italy and other Mediterranean countries in travel agencies, state and EU institutions as well as private companies whose activities are associated with Italy and other Mediterranean countries. They can work in branches of those companies located in Lithuania or abroad as well as teach the language in informal language schools. In addition to the study programme, upon completion of minor studies in pedagogy, graduates can also be granted a teacher's qualification, which gives them the opportunity to work as teachers. Access to further study: Graduates of this study programme can continue their studies in the fields of linguistics, translation, literary studies, journalism, educology, political sciences, law, and other second cycle study programmes in Lithuania or abroad.