LCTC

Less Commonly Taught Languages

1. Generalities.

The main foreign languages taught in American universities and colleges are Spanish-an American language for many-, French, German, Italian, Portuguese ... Other languages tend to fall in the category of less commonly taught languages. There is a discussion group where instructors communicate and exchange ideas. Depending on the size of the institution, the interest and the resources, the learning of these languages is more and more requiring a different approach centered on the learner. Some fully developed programs could be found at the following institutions:

Stanford University. Languagages that are not part of the general curriculum could be taught if there is a demand. Kiswahili is taught following this format.

University of Minnesota: There is an ongoing project for many other languages as diverse as Yiddish, Polish, Classical Tibetan, Tongan, Malay, Macedonian ...

Michigan State University. Although Kiswahili is taught in a traditional format, other African languages "on demand" use the self-paced format. According to the program: "This program is a learner-oriented, on-demand program of languages for the student or the research scholar, ensuring the availability of languages needed for all major regions of Africa. From the approximately 200 African students in the MSU community, native speakers are recruited to serve as tutors in the program." Twenty-nine African languages are taught at MSU using this format. MSU also offers intensive summer programs every three years and plans one in 2000

There was an important symposium for the Less Commonly Taught Languages that took place in Hawai in October 1996. Papers deal with pedagogical issues common to this individualized approach. Also under this page, see an example of a course in Turkish at this site. More names of colleges and universities using this format will be added.