The Center for Language Studies (CLS) offers a rare summer opportunity for intensive beginning, intermediate, or advanced study of critical languages under the close supervision of an expert language team. Students receive individual attention in a demanding program that requires a high degree of motivation. The classes are small and personal, with two instructors for every 12 students.

The center offers seven-week intensive language programs in Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. Successful completion of one level of the language program normally constitutes 2 Beloit College units (8 credit hours) for approximately 150 hours of instruction. Total classroom and other supervised instruction averages 25 hours per week (Monday through Friday). Students also attend tutorial sessions.

After successfully completing the beginning-level program, a student should be able to enter intermediate-level courses in the language at virtually any college and university. The student also will have a working foundation of the language that can be used during residence abroad. Students who successfully complete the intermediate program will be able to begin advanced coursework at the upper division level.

All programs are open to undergraduate and graduate students, advanced high school students, elementary and secondary school educators, members of the business community, and adults who are interested in language study for academic purposes, career or personal enrichment, or preparation for travel or residence abroad.

The Beloit program is concerned not solely with the skills of speaking, reading, writing, and oral comprehension of a language, but also with understanding the relationship between language and culture.

The Center for Language Studies is administered by the Global Experience Office.

Center for Language Studies Courses

CHIN 100A, 105A. First-Year Chinese I, II (1 each). Students of first-year Chinese receive an intensive introduction to Mandarin. Class sessions establish a solid foundation of conversational, reading, writing, and listening comprehension skills. Traditional characters will be taught. A cultural component is interspersed with daily language studies. (1S)

CHIN 110A, 115A. Second-Year Chinese I, II (1 each). The second-year intensive course is designed for students who have completed one year of formal training (or its equivalent) in both written and spoken Mandarin. Through oral/aural exercises and graded reading sections, the course amplifies the material taught at the beginning level. After a thorough review of basic Mandarin grammatical structures and vocabulary, students add more traditional and simplified characters to perfect reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. In the process, students transfer knowledge gained from the character-pattern learning approach of first-year Chinese to work with original Chinese texts drawn from literature, history, politics, and business. (1S)

CHIN 200A, 205A. Third-Year Chinese I, II (1 each). A course in conversation and composition, third-year, intensive Chinese increases proficiency in the four language skills by developing fluency in expression through reading, writing, and speaking Chinese. The course introduces students to a range of authentic materials, including essays, short stories, and newspaper articles in both simplified and traditional characters. The course also provides personalized instruction through selected readings in literature and the social sciences. (1S)

CHIN 220A, 225A. Fourth-Year Chinese I, II (1 each). With selected review of grammar and development of vocabulary, this course develops fluency of expression through reading, writing, and speaking Chinese. The class uses Advanced Chinese, Intention, Strategy, and Communication. Authentic supplementary texts from a variety of genres (literary, journalistic, etc.) are used where appropriate. Taught in Chinese. (1S)

JAPN 100A, 105A. First-Year Japanese I, II (1 each). The first-year course provides a solid foundation in basic Japanese. Students learn the two phonetic alphabets—Hiragana and Katakana—as well as approximately 150 Chinese characters (Kanji) and basic Japanese grammatical patterns. Through texts and supplementary materials, the course offers thorough instruction and rigorous training in all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Practice in the language laboratory and individualized study sessions outside the classroom supplement the formal instruction. A cultural component is interspersed with daily language studies. (1S)

JAPN 110A, 115A. Second-Year Japanese I, II (1 each). The second-year course presents a review of basic patterns of Japanese and covers the essential Kanji characters. Classes and many cultural lectures are conducted in Japanese to stress training in comprehension (both reading and aural), speaking, and composition. Special emphasis is placed upon the development of free conversational skills. (1S)

JAPN 200A, 205A. Third-Year Japanese I, II (1 each). Third-year Japanese continues to develop more complicated and enhanced communicative abilities in all four language skills. Students develop an awareness of different styles and levels of speech, such as written and spoken styles, formal and informal speech, men’s and women’s speech, and especially Keigo, so that they can communicate appropriately in both written and spoken forms of the language. In addition, the ability to read and write about more complicated ideas and the expansion of knowledge of Kanji and vocabulary are also emphasized. The course uses selected literary works that vary from year to year. (1S)

JAPN 220A, 225A. Fourth-Year Japanese I, II (1 each). This course covers advanced practice in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension in Japanese. For the oral component, students practice both formal and informal registers through conversation, performances of one-act plays, oral presentations, and interview tests. In addition, by writing essays and translating passages from newspapers and novels, students develop reading skills and strategies. To improve listening comprehension, students listen to audiotapes, as well as watch movies and TV programs. (1S)

JAPN 227A. Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation N3/N2 (1). The fourth-year Japanese curriculum is built around preparation for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The first session is aimed at reaching level N3/N2, depending on the needs and background of the student. Customized coaching and mentoring is complemented by reading and writing assignments, in a supportive immersion environment. This course is being offered virtually. Prerequisite:3rd Year Japanese 2 or Permission of Instructor.

JAPN 228A. Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation N2/N1 (1). The fourth-year Japanese curriculum is built around preparation for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The second session is aimed at reaching N2/N1 level, meaning high-advanced to near-native-speaker
proficiency, depending on the needs and background of the student. Customized coaching and mentoring is complemented by reading and writing assignments, in a supportive immersion environment. This course is being offered virtually. Prerequisites: JAPN 227 or permission of instructor.

RUSS 100A, 105A. First-Year Russian I, II (1 each). First-year Russian develops the “four skills” (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) in the context of a communicative-based text. The language is standard contemporary spoken Russian, and the reading texts, examples, and exercises are designed not just to inculcate the word order and intonation of contemporary Russian, but also to teach the students skills needed to speak Russian freely, beyond a mere copying of pattern skills. (1S)

RUSS 110A, 115A. Second-Year Russian I, II (1 each). Second-year Russian offers a comprehensive review of basic Russian grammar in the context of everyday situations and further develops students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Russian videos, podcasts, cartoons, and other Internet sources are used as supplementary materials. Classes are conducted in Russian. (1S)

RUSS 210A, 215A. Third-Year Russian I, II (1 each). The task of third-year Russian is to master vocabulary and language skills by concentrating on oral communication and self-expression. The course increases proficiency in the “four skills” by developing fluency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening to Russian. Language acquisition and cultural awareness are integrated through the viewing, discussion, and analysis of classic and contemporary Russian films without subtitles. Classes are conducted in Russian. (1S)

RUSS 310A, 315A. Advanced Russian I, II (1 each). Students who complete the course successfully reach Advanced High or higher proficiency and establish solid advanced speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Students acquire a strong basis in political vocabulary as they continue developing the four skills. The course also provides an intensive review of Russian grammar in the context of current events and international relations. Throughout the course, students participate in class discussions, debates, and presentations. To learn about further topics for discussion, students view daily news in Russian. Video materials and authentic readings introduce aspects of everyday Russian life, figures, events, and issues that are crucial to an understanding of cultures from across the Russian-speaking world. Language acquisition and cultural awareness are also integrated through the viewing, discussion, and analysis of classic and contemporary Russian films without subtitles. Students learn to develop an idea and support their point of view in paragraph-length discourse, in addition to developing their own style of self-expression. Each student meets with the instructor once a week to work on his/her individual topic of interest, e.g., history, military, translation, sociology, etc. All classes are conducted in Russian.