Lingua Receptiva in Higher Education

Abstract

This paper presents an exploration of lingua receptiva as a multilingual mode of communication in academic courses, based on both theoretical foundations and practical experiences from a pilot project at Utrecht University. Lingua receptiva refers to a form of multilingualism where two interactors use different languages yet understand each other through their receptive proficiency in the other’s language. Against the backdrop of evolving language policies in Dutch universities and the challenges associated with the widespread adoption of English as a lingua franca, the pilot project aimed to develop alternatives for bachelor’s programs in the humanities, with a specific focus on language and culture studies (e.g., Dutch, German, Italian, French, and Spanish). Drawing upon the experiences of multilingual universities across Europe, the success factors, possible applications, and inherent challenges of implementing lingua receptiva as a form of inclusive multilingualism were explored, resulting in a model that can be applied at other universities in the Netherlands and other (European) countries.