Languages

Applying the principles of immersion and constant practice to language learning, the RC offers its students the opportunity to choose from five intensive language programs: Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Japanese.

Each program takes advantage of the RC’s living/learning environment through the use of lunch tables, where students eat with other intensive learners and their faculty, a coffee hour for relaxed discussion, and, of course, the never-ending banter among students outside of class.

In the RC Intensive language program students finish the LSA foreign language requirement much faster, due to the accelerated nature of the courses.

Students take the equivalent of four semesters of language in half the time, and following a proficiency examination, enrich their knowledge of the language in a literature seminar.

If you are interested in a non-RC language, please review this list of classes that fulfill the RC's 5th semester proficiency requirement.

Benefits of Language Learning

Although it may sound intimidating, the intensive method is specifically designed to make foreign languages easier and more accessible! This is especially true when you are surrounded by a community that realizes the importance of language.

Many RC students choose to major in a language but even more use their advanced language ability to study abroad, seek internships and participate in outreach and projects abroad.

Olga López-Cotín, RC Spanish Program Head, on learning a language in the RC

Semi-Immersion & Proficiency

The Residential College's semi-immersion program is an investment that can reap great rewards in a global society. With our students' diverse academic interests, their foreign language skills provide them with an edge as they market their skills to programs, employers, and graduate schools.

Please read our Languages/Proficiency FAQ for more general information about RC languages, proficiency, and other questions you might have about foreign languages.

Review the programs below to learn more of the specifics for the RC’s five intensive languages!

The RC also offers Language Lunch Tables and Coffee Hours and Study Abroad funding opportunities.

French Instructor with Student in the Courtyard

Spanish students help a guest artist create an exhibit

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French

Learn about the sequence of courses, co-curricular activities, course descriptions and opportunities beyond the language requirement. For additional information on any of these topics, please refer to the French Program website!

Bienvenue dans le programme de français du Residential College!

For the most comprehensive information about the RC French program, please visit the RC French Program website.

Head of the French Program: Dominique Butler-Borruat (dborruat@umich.edu)

Mya Strayer, RC '22

What do RC French students say?

"I have absolutely LOVED my experience in RC French. Even after a week or two, I could easily tell that my French skills were a thousand times better and I felt so much more comfortable speaking and understanding French.

The lunch tables also allowed me to meet some of my closest friends and have genuine conversations with them...which is something that really helped me to feel at home at Umich and in the RC.

And of course, all of the staff is amazing! It's very obvious that they genuinely care about me and my well being alongside my French skills and I've never had a problem talking to them about my concerns (in and out of class)." - Mya Strayer, RC '22

Co-Curricular Activities: Lunch Tables and Coffee Hour

In the RC French Program, as is the case in all RC languages, emphasis is placed on communicative competence. The RC French program offers students the opportunity to practice the skills they are acquiring in the classroom in an informal setting by attending the French lunch tables and the French coffee hour, called Baratin. These co-curricular activities are integral parts of the RC French Program. As such, they are mandatory for students enrolled in RC French classes. Three contacts per week are required at all levels with the exception of one contact in RCLANG 320. Anyone (students, faculty, and friends) who has a knowledge of French, is welcome at these functions. Refreshments are served. There are always several teachers of French on hand, including native speakers, ready to converse.

The French Table is held in the East Quad Private Dining Room. Please see this schedule for the days of the week and times. People who do not have meal plan can bring a lunch bag.
The Baratin is held in Greene Lounge, East Quad. Please see this schedule for the day and time.

For the most comprehensive information about the RC French program, visit the RC French Program website. Do not hesitate to contact a French faculty member or the Program Director: Dominique Butler-Borruat at dborruat@umich.edu.

German

Program Head: Karein Goertz

Check out the RC German program's website for student testimonials, history of Deutsches Theater, and more.

Welcome to RC GERMAN! Willkommen!

The program offers three courses: RCLANG 191: First-Year Intensive German (cross-listed with German 190), RCLANG 291: Second-Year Intensive German (cross-listed with German 230), and RCLANG 321: Third-Year German Readings. To fulfill the language requirement, RC students must take (or place out of) the Intensive language classes, pass the proficiency exam, and complete the Readings course. All of the courses are open to LSA students, as well.

Beyond the classroom, students at all levels have the opportunity to practice their German in the more informal context of a daily lunch table in the East Quad South Dining Room and weekly coffee hour in the RC Greene lounge. See the schedule of the lunches and coffee hour here.

Intensive German

Both of the 8-credit pre-proficiency Intensive German classes meet for two hours a day, four times a week (M,T,Th,F). Instruction is exclusively in German and follows the communicative approach based on interactive and meaningful communication. Classes strike a balance between mastery of grammar and development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

RCLANG 191/German 100 Intensive German covers the first year of German language study in one semester. The Fall semester class is intended for students who have had some high school German and/or who place below the second-year level. The Winter semester course is geared to students who have little or no prior exposure to the language. The goal of 191 is to provide students with a basic but solid knowledge of grammatical structures and syntax, a functional vocabulary, familiarity with intonation patterns and native pronunciation, and practice in speaking and writing. Emphasis is on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, and leisure, and an awareness of German-language culture. By the end of the semester, students have reached the “low to mid intermediate” level (see website for more detailed explanation of target skills).

RCLANG 291/German 230 Intensive German covers the second-year of German in one semester. It is intended for students who have had four years of high school German or the equivalent and place out of the first-year, or who have successfully completed RCLANG 191/GERMAN 102 or 103. The goal of the course is to expand on the grammar presented in the first-year, to build a more complex vocabulary, and to further develop skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking that meet “advanced intermediate” standards for proficiency. One class hour is dedicated to grammar, the other to discussion/writing about topics in literature, culture, history and current events. At the end of the semester, students take the proficiency exam which also serves as a qualifying exam for the next required course in the sequence, RC Lang 321 (German Readings).

Proficiency Exam

The Proficiency exam is held at the end of the Fall and Winter semesters, and is administered by the instructors. Students who take the LSA placement exam and place out of the second-year must take the exam before Fall semester begin to be able to proceed on to Readings. The exam consists of five sections: grammar, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, essay, oral interview. With the exception of the 15-minute oral interview, each section is 60 minutes long and the entire written portion of the exam is completed during one 4-hour long session (with an hour break for lunch). The proficiency exam reflects the cumulative grammar and skills attained in the classroom and, more informally, from the speaking and listening practice at the co-curriculars. Students become familiar with the format of the exam during the midterm exam and through targeted review sessions in the weeks leading up to the exam.

Students who do not pass proficiency (i.e. fail the grammar section and receive a "low pass" on a skills section, or receive three "low passes" on any section) must retake the failed sections at the end of the following semester. They may proceed to the German Readings course with a "provisional pass", but proficiency will not be posted until they have retaken and passed the sections. While most students do pass proficiency on the first attempt, there have been students who have needed try once or several times again. Students come to language learning with different educational backgrounds and levels of natural aptitude. We strongly believe that, with hard work, perseverance and patience, every student can learn German and we try our hardest to support them, no matter how long it takes.

German Readings

RCLANG 32 German Readings is a post-proficiency, third-year level course. It is the last in the sequence which RC students must take to fulfill their foreign language requirement. It is open to RC students who have passed the proficiency exam and to LSA students who have successfully completed their second-year courses. RC Lang 321 may be retaken when the topics change. The goal of the course is to improve all of the skills, with a particular emphasis on reading and writing. Students delve into a particular topic in the German-speaking world and, by discussing complex texts on compelling subjects, they strengthen their analytical and critical thinking skills. Past German Readings courses have included: “Berlin: Representations of the City in Literature, Film and the Arts,” “Friends, Lovers and Enemies in German Literature, “Multicultural Germany” “Introduction to 20th Century German-language Literature,” and “Narratives of Transformation: Childhood, Youth and Adulthood.”

Travel Abroad

Depending on student interest, funding, and in coordination with the LSA Center for Global and International Study (CGIS), students who have completed the German Readings course may in some years travel to Germany with their instructor.

Click here for the RC German Program’s Facebook page.

Click here for the 2017 UMRC Berlin Study Trip Blog

Click here for the 2014 UMRC Berlin Study Trip Blog

Japanese

Head of the Japanese Program: Tomoko Okuno (okuno@umich.edu)

Students who wish to fulfill the RC’s language requirement with Japanese must complete RCLang 196 Intensive Japanese I and RCLang 296 Intensive Japanese II (or demonstrate an equivalent level of skills), and pass the Japanese Proficiency Exam (listening comprehension, reading comprehension, mastery of Japanese grammar, writing ability, and speaking ability) at the end of Intensive Japanese II.
The Japanese program offers Japanese lunch tables (Ranchi Teeburu) and Japanese coffee hours (Kaiwa Teeburu) to provide students the opportunity to develop Japanese communication skills they are acquiring in the classroom in an informal setting. Anyone (students, faculty, and friends) who has knowledge of Japanese is welcome. These co-curricular activities are integral parts of the RC Japanese Program; they are mandatory for students enrolled in RC Japanese classes. Students should plan their course schedule accordingly.
 The Japanese Lunch Table is held in South Dining Hall, East Quad. People who do not have meal contracts can bring a lunch bag. Please see the schedule here.
 The Japanese Coffee Hour is held in Greene Lounge, East Quad. Please see the schedule here.

Course Descriptions:
RCLang 196: Intensive Japanese I (10 credits)
This course meets two hours a day, five days a week and covers in one term the equivalent of a first year non-intensive study at the college level. It is designed for students with little or no understanding of Japanese to achieve novice-high (or above) level Japanese language proficiency. Through extensive communication practice in classroom activities, students will develop all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and three kinds of Japanese orthography (hiragana, katakana, and 161 kanji) along with understanding of both traditional and modern Japanese culture. Students will learn to acquire a sentence-level command in limited topics around everyday life for college students. Thus, students will be able to understand and use the most basic grammar structures and vocabulary to participate in basic oral and written communications. Daily attendance to class is required. In addition, students must attend co-curricular activities at least three times a week. In order to receive credits for the course, students must pass the final exam, which tests the four skills (writing, speaking, reading, and listening) and mastery of Japanese grammar.

RCLang 296: Intensive Japanese II (10 credits)
Pre-requisite: RCLang 196 or equivalent
This course meets two hours a day, five days a week and covers in one term the equivalent of a second year non-intensive study at the college level. It is designed for students to achieve intermediate-low (or above) level Japanese language proficiency. Through extensive communication practice in classroom activities, students will develop all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and cultural understanding. Students will also learn approximately 350 kanji (Chinese characters). Students will be able (1) to understand everyday conversation, (2) to have the ability to handle various topics and speech styles, (3) to understand written materials on non-technical subjects, (4) to write non-technical topics with ease and precision, and (5) to understand Japanese culture and perspectives. Students will learn to acquire a sentence/paragraph-level command in various topics around everyday life for college students and beyond. Daily attendance to class is required. In addition, students must attend co-curricular activities at least three times a week. In order to receive credits for the course, students must pass the Japanese Proficiency Exam, which tests the four skills (writing, speaking, reading, and listening) and mastery of Japanese grammar.

Spanish

The RC Spanish Program is the largest of the five intensive language programs; not surprising considering the rising prominence of Spanish in American culture and society.

Program Head: Olga Lopez-Cotin (olcotin@umich.edu)

The Residential College Spanish program offers the Spanish lunch table and Spanish coffee hours (Tertulia) to provide the opportunity to practice Spanish in informal situations. See this link for the days and times of the Tertulia and lunch tables. Anyone—students, faculty and friends—who can say something in Spanish are welcome. The Spanish table is held in the South Dining Hall. There are always several teachers on hand ready to converse with students. On occasion, we invite special guests to join us.

The Tertulia is held in the Greene Lounge. Casual conversation and other forms of cultural exchange take place. Occasionally guests also visit the Tertulia. Both activities are excellent opportunities for students to practice the skills they have been acquiring in the classroom. Both activities are integral parts of the R.C. Spanish Program and enrolled students are expected to participate in them on a regular basis.

More information on the Spanish Language program procedures and requirements.

"Learning and growing as a Spanish speaker through the RC has opened my eyes to an unimaginable array of opportunities and interests I would otherwise have not discovered. I point to my time in RC Spanish as a major contributor towards my decision to pursue a degree in International Studies, with a focus in Latin America. As I now enter into the working world searching for opportunities in international relations and nonprofit work, the linguistic tools and cultural knowledge I acquired though the RC have given me confidence in my ability to make meaningful contributions in the field. While at U-M, developing my Spanish speaking abilities allowed me to become an asset to my student organization BLUElab Sa' Nima', and I was fortunate enough to travel to Guatemala working as a translator and ambassador for the organization in connection with community partners. In short, this program provides students with not only with the skills they need to succeed, but also an invaluable space for self discovery and reflection."

Michael Orrange, RC Class of 2019

Russian

Program Head: Alina Makin (resco@umich.edu)

Students who wish to fulfill the RC Language Requirement with Russian must complete RCCORE 193 Intensive Russian I and RCCORE 293 Intensive Russian II (or demonstrate an equivalent level of skill in the language). Each course carries eight credit hours, students must then pass a proficiency examination. In addition, all students must take a readings course in the Russian language. Students who pass the readings course have completed the RC’s language requirement.

In addition to the classroom experience, the Russian Program offers numerous opportunities for students to apply and practice their language skills. Regular weekly Russian Teas take place in the Greene Lounge and daily lunch table conversations (please see the schedule here) as well as a special section in the Benzinger Library that contains Russian language videos, journals, and other published materials ensure that students are exposed to multiple opportunities for engagement with the language. The Program also stages Russian language theatrical productions, in which students participate in all aspects of the performance.

American Sign Language (ASL)

American Sign Language (ASL) in the RC (Note: ASL cannot be used to satisfy the RC Language Requirement)

Why study American Sign Language?

American Sign Language (ASL) is the language of the Deaf community in the United States and much of Canada. ASL uses a gestural-visual modality in which manual signs, facial expressions, and body movements and postures all convey complex linguistic information. It is a fully developed language, with its own systems for articulation, forming words and sentences, and meaning. ASL is separate from English, and is also distinct from other signed languages. An excellent example of the separateness of signed languages from each other and from the surrounding spoken language(s) is that, although English is the shared spoken language of the U.S. and Britain, speakers of ASL do not understand speakers of British Sign Language.

ASL is estimated to be the fourth most commonly used language in the U.S. Through learning the preferred language of the Deaf community, students who study ASL gain access to the rich cultural heritage of that community, which includes a distinguished tradition of visual poetry, narrative, and theater. Students of ASL also learn about other aspects of American Deaf culture, including the values and outlooks of Deaf people, and social and educational aspects of deafness.

Students of ASL may find that they gain a new perspective on how human languages are structured. Through learning a language that uses a different modality of expression than the oral-auditory modality of spoken languages, students begin to discover properties that are common to all languages. Linguists' research on the commonalities between signed and spoken language provides strong evidence that all languages are governed by the same basic properties.

Finally, study of ASL also provides practical training for students entering a range of professions in the field of deafness, and may strengthen students' qualifications for various non-deafness careers.

The ASL Program at Michigan

The Residential College offers a 5-course sequence in American Sign Language. Introduction to Deaf Culture (RCASL 100) serves as a pre- or co-requisite to beginning the language courses. The fourth semester language course (RCASL 202) may be used to fulfill the undergraduate language requirement of the College of Literature, Science, and Arts.

RCASL 100: Introduction to Deaf Culture
This course introduces students to Deaf culture within the United States, and focuses on the link between culture and language (in this case, American Sign Language). An analysis of medical and cultural models of perceiving deafness is investigated to familiarize students with the range of perceptions held by members of the cultural majority and the effect it has on the Deaf community. The influencing factors of educational systems on deaf children are reviewed to understand the link between language systems used in the classroom and the development of a Deaf identity. The historical roots of American Sign Language and the value of language preservation provide for additional overview of attitudes in American society. Social adaptations to deafness and individual factors of communicative and linguistic development are analyzed for understanding the implications of family and social systems on deaf children and adults.

RCASL 101 and 102: Elementary American Sign Language
These beginning courses in American Sign Language (ASL) introduce students to basic grammatical structures and sign vocabulary through intensive classroom conversational interactions involving everyday topics. Emphasis is on practical communicative functions as students learn how to communicate in a visual-gestural channel. Classroom work is supplemented by videotaped workbook and laboratory exercises to facilitate development of receptive language skills. These courses are conducted exclusively in ASL and regular attendance is essential.

RCASL 201 and 202: Intermediate American Sign Language
Students in the intermediate courses in ASL learn more advanced communicative forms including understanding the essential role of facial communication (non-manual behaviors) in forming expressions. Additional vocabulary including idiomatic expressions, are introduced to expand students' abilities to understand and converse appropriately in various settings. Through a conversational approach, students also continue to study selected literature, history, culture, and outlooks of Deaf people in order to develop an understanding of appropriate standards of communicating in ASL. Students completing RCASL 201 and 202 will have acquired a basic understanding of how to communicate in a visual-gestural channel in order to receive and express ASL sentences in everyday conversational interactions.

RCASL 100: Introduction to Deaf Culture is a prerequisite for any and all RCASL language courses.
To be placed on the waitlist for this course please complete this form:

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