About the Foreign Language Program
The Rice University Foreign Language Program offers non-credit classes in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. The small group classes, averaging ten students per class, are designed primarily to develop conversational skills. (See course descriptions.) All languages and proficiency levels are offered in weekday evening classes. Spanish and French classes also are offered during weekday afternoons throughout the year and during a summer daytime intensive program. The Foreign Language Program also offers on-site corporate programs. The program attracts a variety of participants, including business people, international visitors, world travelers, young adults and retirees. The program is designed for adults. Persons applying for these courses must have graduated from secondary school.
Foreign Language Program instructors are experienced teachers with advanced degrees. The program incorporates the most recent advances in second language methodology in its design. Newspaper and magazine selections and videotapes that deal with cultural issues or current events are frequently employed to supplement regularly assigned materials.
Weekday Evening Program
Four sessions of evening classes, including all languages and proficiencies, are offered yearly. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall sessions are eight weeks long with three hours of class per week. Classes meet either Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:45-7:15 p.m. or 7:30-9:00 p.m. on the Rice campus. (See the foreign language program calendar and evening class schedule.)Placement of non-beginning students is determined by testing and/or interview. Spanish and French testing dates are listed in the program calendar. Students of other languages will be contacted by their teachers for an interview to determine placement. No testing is necessary for beginner-level students.
Weekday Afternoon Classes
(Spanish and French)
Four sessions of afternoon classes in beginning and advanced levels of Spanish and French are offered yearly. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall sessions are eight weeks long with three hours of class per week. Beginning classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Classes may be offered at other levels if demand is sufficient. (See the foreign language program calendar and afternoon class schedule.)
Placement of non-beginning students is determined by testing and/or interview. Spanish and French testing dates are listed in the program calendar. No testing is necessary for beginner-level students.