Support for Success

The UMONS Faculty of Translation and Interpretation organises a wide range of activities to help its students succeed.

FTI-EII courses are taught in small groups in order to facilitate students’ learning and their contact with teachers.

Technological Tools

UMONS provides students with a range of technological tools, such as the Moodle e-learning platform, which gives them direct access to the teaching staff’s course materials, as well as the opportunity to study independently. Throughout their studies, students can therefore benefit from a wide range of personalised tools tailored to their learning needs, enabling them to progress at their own pace with regular feedback.

Remediation

There is one hour of remediation in each language course, so that students can revise the concepts covered as needed.

Tutoring, Discussion Forums for Students and Student Assistants

The Faculty strongly encourages interaction between new students and those in higher years to further develop skills. Examples include tutoring activities and pedagogical discussion forums on topics such as “Strategies and Tools for Success” and “Managing Your Study Leave”, where BAB1 students can reflect on their working methods and seek solutions to the difficulties they encounter, all the while benefiting from the support and advice of more experienced students.

Teaching Assistants

The Faculty also has two teaching assistants, who are responsible for remedial work and helping students to pass their courses. For example, these assistants organise one-to-one sessions with students, as well as remedial activities in the French and English departments, where demand is greatest given the number of students. The main objective is to provide them with the means to succeed in their university studies.

• The French Department has set up a remediation programme designed primarily for Bachelor’s students (French courses are integrated into the Bachelor’s programme). Face-to-face sessions are held in addition to the exercises offered on Moodle. Essential for the professions of translator and interpreter, the skills targeted are note-taking, oral presentation of speeches, and the composition and argumentation of written speeches. For more information, contact Tiffany Jandrain at tiffany.jandrain@umons.ac.be
• The English Department offers remedial courses for 1st year Bachelor students. Essentially based on oral practice and the integration of grammar points covered in the “self-study programme”, the English Workout course is included in the course timetable and enables students to improve their command of the English language in small groups. The course content, as well as numerous tests and practice tools, are available on the course’s Moodle platform and can be accessed by any student who wishes to do so, throughout their studies. There are also many fun activities organised to encourage students to practise English, such as workshops where they can meet native speakers. In the run-up to exams, group and individual coaching sessions (oral exam coaching – individual 30-minute sessions by appointment) are also available to students.

Lastly, an external platform (MOOC) enables those preparing to join the FTI to work on their English independently. t can be accessed free of charge via this link: https://umooc.umons.ac.be/. Course name: English Workout. For more information, contact Pierrette Schütz at pierrette.schutz@umons.ac.be.

The SAP

The Educational Support Unit (SAP) works with the Faculty to offer students a range of activities to help them acquire the working methods they need to pass their exams, and to think about their performance. More specifically, students are encouraged to reflect, with guidance, on their motivation and personal organisation in preparation for their exams. A good example of this is the annual mock examination held in the first few months of the first year, which gives students direct, practical feedback on their work.

Remedial Support

The Faculty is particularly keen to support all its students, from Bachelor’s to Master’s level, by adapting its remedial programmes as required.