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Language Program
239 Cowell College
(831) 459-2054
http://lang.ucsc.edu/
Program Description
| Faculty | Course
Descriptions
Understanding how language works is a crucial part of comprehending
human consciousness and communication. Language is an intellectual
tool basic to all disciplines. And in today's communities, multicultural
and global, learning a second language is not a refinement but a
necessity-the key to understanding and communicating with others
near and far. The goal of the Language Program at UCSC is to allow
students to achieve a substantial level of proficiency in languages
other than English. Since such proficiency always includes cultural
as well as linguistic comprehension, the program requires investigating
the complex relationship between language and culture.
The Language Program offers rigorous language training by professional
language instructors. Most courses are taught in the target language
from the very beginning. In 2004-05, languages offered are Arabic,
Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese,
Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Spanish for Spanish speakers.
Students with previous language preparation who wish to continue
in that language take a placement examination to determine the course
level appropriate for them. Each language's placement examination
format is described in the quarterly Schedule of Classes,
along with the time, date, and location of the examination.
Language learning at UCSC is supported by a variety of technologies.
There is a campus language laboratory in the Media and Electronic
Resource Center (MERC) at McHenry Library; the library also houses
an abundance of print and audiovisual material in the languages
taught at UCSC, including music recordings and videos. Television
programs are received from countries around the world. In addition,
the Computing Laboratory at Cowell College has the capacity to process
texts in non-Roman alphabets. Faculty in the Language Program are
incorporating new technologies into their teaching on an ongoing
basis, including computer software, CD-ROMs, Internet resources,
and web pages.
In addition to language courses, the program offers upper-division
courses exploring history, sociology, literature, art, film, and
other manifestations of culture. Many of these course are taught
in the target language.
Students who wish to concentrate on language study have the choice
of various majors. Students can major in language studies (below),
which combines courses in language proficiency and culture with
general and applied linguistics. The Literature Department offers
courses in French, German, Spanish, Latin American, and Italian
literature. The Literature Department encourages all students to
study a second language and requires two upper-division courses
in a non-English literature for the intensive literature major.
The History Department encourages students of Asian, Latin American,
European, and classical history to study a second language and provides
a variety of opportunities to make use of language skills in their
studies. Latin American and Latino Studies focuses on the Hispanic
culture of the Americas and requires all majors to read, speak,
and write Spanish or Portuguese. Other area studies majors involving
language study include classical studies, German studies, Italian
studies, East Asian studies (Chinese emphasis), and global economics.
Study abroad is an important component of language study at UCSC.
Language students have various opportunities for studying abroad,
including one-quarter programs in Siena, Italy, Japan (global economics
taught in English), and Costa Rica (tropical biology taught in English);
semester programs in Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany,
Italy, or Mexico; and the yearlong UC Education Abroad Program,
with centers in Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain, and Taiwan.
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