Another successful edition of the Taaltrek project!
Over a two-month period, more than 80 students from IHECS and UCLL Hogeschool shared linguistic and cultural experiences through paired exchanges. This hands-on immersion allowed them to practise Dutch and French whilst discovering each other’s daily lives and cultures.
Run as part of the Language Projects for the Dutch course in the third year of the PUB programme by Cécile Gaspart and Catherine Lycops, the Taaltrek project offers a practical and lively way to practise a language: by going out to meet others.
This latest edition began on 24 February in Leuven with an initial meeting between the pairs. Over the following weeks, the students then devised and organised their own activities: attending lectures at one of the two institutions, going on a cultural outing, visiting an exhibition, taking part in a cookery class, making a vlog, playing sport or exploring a city by bike. Simple yet precious moments to practise a language outside the classroom.
On 7 May, the participants gathered for a closing evening marked by a spirit of camaraderie and sharing. With an interactive, bilingual quiz on Belgium, a festive atmosphere and a pitch competition, the evening celebrated the creativity and camaraderie of the pairs formed throughout the project. Congratulations to Alix Latour (IHECS) and Bart (UCLL), the quiz winners, as well as to the pair made up of Ludivine Lipsin (IHECS) and Grim (UCLL), who won over the jury with their original and humorous project.
This third edition confirms the relevance of a project based on meeting others, curiosity and openness to different cultures. An enriching experience that allows students to practise a language in a different way, whilst discovering a new cultural reality.
Thank you to Cécile Gaspart and Catherine Lycops (IHECS), Hannah Severijns and Timothy Sirjacobs (UCLL) for their support throughout the project, as well as Elisa Pomponio, Etienne McGrath, Kim Sa Tran and Mathieu De Smet Van Damme (IHECS)
And above all, well done to the students for their enthusiasm and commitment.
