Stellenbosch University Language Centre

21/10/2026

“In just six weeks, you’ve helped me improve my writing significantly and I truly appreciate the guidance and support.” – Leanne De Lille, Communications officer at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on the PR LIKE A PRO: WRITING FOR THE MEDIA short course.

Elevate your writing of promotional material, in-house publications, news stories, media releases and social media posts with our PR LIKE A PRO: WRITING FOR THE MEDIA short course.

Are you ready to refine your PR writing skills? Join 2027’s intake: 21 September – 26 October 2027

📩 Contact Michelle Pieters at [email protected] to apply.

19/10/2026

Masiqale ngesiXhosa!

Here’s your chance to learn isiXhosa and connect with people, communities and a rich part of South Africa’s cultural heritage in 2027.

Our IsiXhosa 123 course helps you develop practical isiXhosa language skills for everyday communication while building your confidence to use the language in real-life situations.

Whether you’re learning for personal interest, professional communication or simply want to connect more meaningfully with those around you, learning isiXhosa can open the door to new conversations and experiences. Start planning now for a great learning experience next year.

🌐 More information: https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/product/isixhosa-123/

📩 For 2027 course date and other enquiries, contact Helga Sykstus at [email protected].

16/10/2026

Kom ons praat saam Afrikaans!

The SU Language Centre offers an Afrikaans 123 course designed to help you develop practical language skills in a supportive and engaging learning environment. You’ll build your vocabulary, strengthen your everyday communication skills and gain a better understanding of how Afrikaans is used in real-life settings.

Whether you’re learning Afrikaans for personal interest, professional communication or simply want to add another language to your skill set, the courses provide a practical starting point for putting your new knowledge into use.
With interactive lessons and guidance throughout your learning journey, you can build your confidence one conversation at a time.

Get ready to start learning Afrikaans in 2027!

🌐 More information: https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/product/afrikaans-123/

📩 For 2027 course date and other enquiries, contact Helga Sykstus at [email protected].

14/10/2026

💼 Take your business communication to the next level!

At the Stellenbosch University Language Centre, our Comms Lab offers a variety of short courses designed for professionals in business, administrative and corporate environments. Whether you want to sharpen your writing, enhance your presentations or improve workplace interactions, there’s a course for you.

Here’s a taste of the short courses we offer:

✨ COMMUNICATION PAR EXCELLENCE - Elevate your business writing and make every word count.

🎤 CRAFTING CONFIDENT PRESENTATIONS - Tackle presentations with ease, clarity and confidence.

🗣️ COMMUNICATE AS A PROFESSIONAL - Learn the four-sides model of communication with Prof Carel Jansen and enhance your interpersonal skills.

🔄 CONVERSATIONS TO ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE IN THE WORKPLACE - Gain techniques to motivate and guide change effectively.

📊 CUTTING-EDGE BUSINESS REPORT WRITING - Learn to select key information and craft engaging, high-quality reports.

💻 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN THE DIGITAL WORLD - Get an introduction to the sales funnel and digital marketing channels.

✉️ EFFECTIVE OFFICE COMMUNICATION AND DOCUMENTATION - Brush up on emails, minutes, telephone management and workplace problem-solving.

📰 PR LIKE A PRO: WRITING FOR THE MEDIA - Learn how to write effectively for the media and strengthen your PR skills.

📌 Looking for something tailored? We also offer customised courses for corporate clients.

📘 More info: languagecentre.sun.ac.za/commslab/

📩 Contact Michelle Pieters: [email protected] | 021 808 2812

13/10/2026

📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵: 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩.

Have you ever read several pages of a textbook or an academic article, only to realise that you can’t quite remember, retain or recall what you’ve just read?

One way to make reading more active is to read with questions. Questions operate like road signs and help you to navigate your way through a text. There are less chances for you to get lost, and more opportunity to stay on track.
Before, and while you read, ask yourself:

• What is the author trying to tell me?
• Why is this important?
• What evidence supports this idea?
• Do I agree? Why or why not?
• How does this connect to what I already know?

You don't need to have all the answers. In fact, good questions can be more valuable than immediate answers. They give your reading a purpose and help you notice what matters.

So, next time you open an academic article, don't just pick up your highlighter. Pick up a few questions too.

Get more reading tips here: https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/reading-lab-monthly-reading-tips/

📚 📚 📚

📖 𝗟𝗲𝗲𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗻𝗸 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗱: 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗺 𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝙬𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚̂ 𝗻𝗶𝗲. 𝗟𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗴𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲 𝗸𝗼𝗺 𝙬𝙖𝙩 𝙟𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙠.

Het jy al ooit ʼn hele paar bladsye van ʼn handboek of akademiese artikel gelees en dan skielik besef dat jy eintlik geen benul het van wat jy nou net gelees het nie, om nie eers te praat van onthou of memoriseer nie?

Een manier waarop jy aktief kan lees, is deur vrae te vra terwyl jy lees. Vrae werk soos padtekens en help jou om jou pad deur ʼn teks te navigeer. As jy dié tegniek gebruik, is die kanse groter dat jy jou bestemming sal bereik sonder om langs die pad te verdwaal.
Vra jouself hierdie vrae af voor en terwyl jy lees:

• Wat probeer die outeur aan my oordra?
• Hoekom is dit belangrik?
• Watter bewyse steun hierdie gedagte?
• Stem ek saam? Hoekom, of hoekom nie?
• Hoe sluit dit aan by wat ek reeds weet?

Jy hoef nie al die antwoorde te hê nie. Om die waarheid te sê, kan goeie vrae van meer hulp as onmiddellike antwoorde wees. Hulle gee jou ʼn leesdoelwit, hou jou gefokus en help jou om dit wat belangrik is, raak te sien.
Wanneer jy dus volgende keer ʼn akademiese artikel oopmaak, moet jy nie jou glimpen dadelik optel nie. Kry eers jou vrae reg.

Kry nog meer leeswenke hier: https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/?p=37344&lang=afr

12/10/2026

Did you know the Language Centre’s Comms Lab offers workshops?

Our Comms Lab Workshops are aimed at working professionals who’d like to strengthen their professional communication skills.

The workshops are shorter and more flexible than our short courses, with a strong focus on practical skills. There’s no assessment or certificate, but you’ll receive a letter confirming that you completed the workshop. They’re a good place to start if you want to explore a new area, connect with others and gain hands-on skills without a big investment.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳:

▶️ Academic English Workshop
▶️ Classroom Management for Academic
▶️ Facilitators
▶️ Creative Writing Workshop
▶️ General English Workshop
▶️ Make amazing presentations
▶️ Plain Language Writing Workshop
▶️ Report writing in a nutshell
▶️ Stories that connect us - a story circle experience
▶️ Admin essential - from inbox to minutes
▶️ Working with AI

📌 Looking for something tailored? We also offer customised courses for corporate clients.

For more information, contact Michelle Pieters at [email protected].

09/10/2026

Your English journey starts in 2027 🌍

We welcome students from South Africa and around the world to join a vibrant community of learners at Stellenbosch University.

The INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAMME is designed to develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills through interactive, small-group classes across six levels, from beginner to advanced.

With six eight-week blocks throughout the year, you can choose the intake that works for you while experiencing student life in the beautiful Stellenbosch and Cape Town regions.

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗜𝗘𝗣 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:

📅 Block 1: 11 January – 5 March
📅 Block 2: 8 March – 30 April
📅 Block 3: 3 May – 25 June
📅 Block 4: 28 June – 20 August
📅 Block 5: 23 August – 15 October
📅 Block 6: 18 October – 10 December

The IEP is also offered as a credit-bearing programme, with results added to your academic transcript.

Find out more: https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/product/intensive-english-programme-iep/

For more information, email us at [email protected].

08/10/2026

07/10/2026

We know that academic language is no one’s mother tongue. Our ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES offering focus on expanding your academic English vocabulary and teaching you the skills to understand content and express yourself with confidence in the academic world.

If you would like to improve your vocabulary and public speaking skills, if you find reading with comprehension challenging, or if it’s hard for you to write essays and assignments in an academic way, these modules will be really useful. We offer them as five-week online offerings, four hours per week.

We offer this programme as a credit-bearing programme (usually great for students, as your results are added to your academic transcript) OR a workshop (no credits, but you get a Certificate of Competence on completion). The content stays exactly the same.

📅 2027 EAP dates so that you can plan:
1st semester: 8 Feb 30 – April 2027
2nd semester: 13 Sept – 30 Dec 2027

🌐 For more info, visit https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/product/english-for-academic-purposes-eap/

OR send an email to [email protected], stating that you’re interested in the ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES offering for 2027.

05/10/2026

📢 Good news! The application deadline for the Plain Language Writing Workshop has been extended to 9 October 2026.

Good writing doesn’t need to make information complicated. It should make information easier to understand, use and remember at all times.

The SU Language Centre’s Plain Language Writing Workshop will help you write clearer, more accessible documents for the people who read them.

Through practical, interactive sessions, you’ll learn how to simplify complex information, structure documents more effectively and communicate key messages without losing meaning or accuracy. You’ll be able to apply these skills to policies, compliance documents, HR communication, public-facing content and other professional documents.

The workshop is facilitated by Liezl van Zyl, co-founder of Hey Plain Jane and co-creator of the . Drawing on her experience in plain language and legal design, Liezl will share practical techniques for turning technical and regulatory information into communication that people can understand and use.

Join us to strengthen your writing and make your professional communication clearer.
📅 Dates: 22 and 23 October 2026
⏰ Time: 09:00 – 12:00
💻 Format: Online via Microsoft Teams

📝 Apply by: 9 October 2026
👉 Apply here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Azv6pjwKWEKEM6Eg3_zTSKbNVXqMFe1KjmcgnG0D9FFUNDBZWjU0OU5LRlpTVkVVTkkyOUhEVFJVMi4u&route=shorturl

📘 More information:https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/WPLA-Plain-Language-Writing_Eng.pdf
📩 Questions? Contact Michelle Pieters at [email protected] or 021 808 2812.