Background

 
The School of Languages, Literacies and Translation was established in 2008. It began as a language unit under the School of Education in 1972. The Language Unit provided the facilities for language learning for the campus community. Bahasa Malaysia and English were the main subjects offered and foreign languages namely Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and Tagalog formed part of its offerings. Since then, Bahasa Malaysia has been a compulsory course for all undergraduate students while foreign languages have been listed as elective courses.

In 1985, the Language Unit was upgraded to the Centre for Languages and Translation (CLT). Bahasa Malaysia was made the medium of instruction for teaching and learning and English became compulsory for all undergraduates. As a result, CLT took in a more prominent and significant role.Besides offering language courses, CLT also coordinated the development of terminologies in Science and Technology as well as other relevant fields. A terminology development committee was formed in every academic school at the university and CLT, through its Terminology Unit, played and advisory role. This terminology unit also shouldered the responsibility of providing assistance to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in terminology building in Bahasa Malaysia.

 

As it range of work  and responsibilities expanded, CLT was upgraded to the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation (SoLLaT) on 19 November 2008. With its new status as a School, it has started to offer degree programmes in various languages-related specializations and will continue to provide quality language-based services. The first of its programmes is the Bachelor of Art (Hons.) English for Professional designed to meet current demands for career-oriented degree programmes. Graduates of the programmes will not only be competent in english but also equipped with the necessary skills function well in local and global workplaces. Not neglecting its role as a language provider, the School’s range of foreign languages offerings now comprises Arabia, Chinese, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Spanish, Tamil, Russian and Thai. These courses are offered as elective/optional courses as well as a third language to provide students with more opportunities to learn new languages to widen their career prospects. While bahasa Malaysia and English continue to be compulsory for graduation, the school also offers three minor programmes in foreign languages name Chinese Language Studies, Japanese Language Studies as well as Communicative Arabic Studies.

 

Graduate studies programmes by research leading to a Master of Arts (MA) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with specializations in English Language, TESL, CALL, Educational Technology, Literacy Studies, Bahasa Malaysia, Linguistics, Terminology, Translation, Interpretation and other language-related fields are also available.Besides its academics programmes, SoLLaT is also a languages-service provider to the university and external parties. Its services include translation, editing, interpreting, language consultancy and short-term and long-term language courses.

The School achieve all is sets out to do through its dedicated and qualified staff, conducive environment for effective language teaching and research, and high-terminology language facilities.