Espace interculturel

Consulter la version française Consultar la versión español

Espace interculturel de l'École de langues-ULaval

The Espace interculturel is a project by Université Laval's École de langues, supported by the Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines (humanities). Its vision is to offer to francophone and non-francophone students of Université Laval an accessible, attractive and well-equipped venue to ensure regular use.

The Espace can host all kind of events (conferences, workshops, meetings, etc.) for students taking second or foreign language courses with the objective to meet program requirements, to prepare for a term abroad, or to enrich their personal and professional profile.

The Espace interculturel is open to all members of the university community willing to participate in activities encouraging linguistic and cultural exchanges.

Mission

Facilitate encounters: Provide a place where non-French and French-speaking students from different cultures can meet informally or in a structured way, make personal connections and interact.
Foster understanding: Create a context conducive to mutual understanding of different cultures, values, customs and life experiences.
Promote diversity: Encourage cultural diversity and recognizes the intrinsic value of this diversity as a source of enrichment, both for the university community and society in general.
Celebrate differences: Celebrate languages, traditions, festivals, cuisine, art, music and other cultural aspects that are unique and specific to various communities.
Educate and raise awareness: Serve as a venue for educational activities, workshops, conferences, and discussions aimed at raising awareness of intercultural issues and reinforcing language and intercultural skills.
Promote inclusion: Create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and respected, regardless of their cultural background.
Break down stereotypes: Help break down stereotypes and prejudices by enabling direct, authentic interaction between people from different cultures.

Criteria for use

Accessibility: The activities offered at the Espace interculturel must be accessible to all students enrolled in a French as a second language (FSL) program and to all members of the university community. This means that the Espace will be open to anyone wishing to participate, and that the room may be shared during the activity.
Cultural inclusiveness: Activities organised at the Espace should promote cultural inclusiveness by encouraging the participation of people from diverse cultural backgrounds. This means creating an environment that respects cultural diversity and encourages intercultural exchanges.
Linguistic diversity: The Espace interculturel must be open to students taking second or foreign languages, which implies linguistic diversity. Activities may encourage language sharing.
Compliance with program requirements: Activities offered at the Espace can help students meet their academic program requirements, which means that they must be relevant to students taking second or foreign language courses.
Personal and professional enrichment: Activities can also be offered to enrich the participants' personal and professional profile. This means that they can contribute to the personal development and the acquisition of professionally useful skills.