Latest update February 14th, 2025 8:22 AM
UG Vice-Chancellor urges more use of foreign languages
A donation of some 42 Spanish-titled books by the Mexican Embassy to the University of Guyana, has led to UG officials exploring the option of making foreign language a compulsory course for students.
The books were handed over to the University’s library by Francisco Olguín, Ambassador of Mexico to Guyana during a simple ceremony held yesterday at the Turkeyen Campus. According to the UG’s Librarian, Gwyneth George, the publications cover a wide variety of topics including History, Culture, Migration and Politics.
Although he was initially concerned that the books are in Spanish print, the Ambassador expressed hope that they will introduce students to new opportunities by urging them to learn a new
Librarian Gwyneth George (left) and Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi (right) examine publications in the presence of Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Francisco Olguín.
language.
He explained that through personal experiences, he has found that learning new languages “opens new horizons to all”, since it is the window to experiencing new cultures and meeting new people in another land.
The University’s Vice Chancellor, Jacob Opadeyi agreed with the Ambassador, when he suggested that the University, in the near future, provide the basis for foreign language courses to be taken compulsorily, by every student at the facility.
Although it may present a challenge, the Vice Chancellor said that he hopes that lecturers at the University will start assigning research items to students that will lead them to seeking out information within the donated publications. He was optimistic that the challenges of the books being in a foreign language can be overridden.
Opadeyi further suggested that the nation, as a whole, should ensure that every citizen is equipped with an additional language, preferably Spanish or Portuguese, since Guyana’s neighbours are exclusively speakers of different languages.
“There is tremendous opportunity for us to integrate with the bigger countries that are our neighbours,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor also mentioned that the University is working on other initiatives, including bringing lecturers out of foreign countries to address students in the various subject areas. More information on this, he said, will be provided before the end of this year.
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