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- Elementary Language Program
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About the Elementary Language Program
The Elementary Language Program (ELP) in RLL offers elementary language instruction in French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Through coordinated four-semester course sequences, the ELP helps students develop language proficiency while engaging with new cultures, perspectives, and ways of communicating.For many students, the ELP serves as a gateway to further study in RLL, providing the linguistic and cultural foundation for advanced language study, literature and culture courses, study abroad, and interdisciplinary learning.
Teaching and Learning
ELP courses are grounded in the principles of communicative language teaching (CLT). Across French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, instruction is guided by four core principles: student-centered learning, meaningful interaction in real-life contexts, use of the target language as the primary language of communication, and active learning. Within this framework, students develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills while engaging with diverse cultural perspectives and opportunities for critical reflection.
Course Offerings
In addition to the standard four-semester sequence (101, 102, 231, and 232) offered in each language, the ELP provides a variety of course options designed to meet students’ diverse backgrounds and academic goals. These include accelerated first-year courses (103), as well as intensive first-year (100) and second-year (230) courses in French and Spanish.Topics courses are unique second-year offerings that allow students to continue developing their language proficiency through the exploration of a specific theme. Recent topics have included environmental issues, contemporary music, comics, and children's literature. Depending on the language, Topics courses may be taken as alternatives to the standard third- or fourth-semester course.
Program Scale
Each Fall and Winter semester, approximately 2,500-3,000 students enroll in ELP courses across French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. This scale makes the ELP one of the largest university-level language programs in the United States. Instruction is provided by a community of dedicated lecturers and graduate student instructors who collaborate across languages to support student learning and success.In addition to its extensive Fall and Winter offerings, the ELP regularly offers a variety of courses during the Spring and Summer half terms, providing students with additional flexibility to begin or continue their language studies throughout the year.
The Elementary Language Program is guided by the following mission statement, which reflects our commitment to meaningful language learning, intercultural engagement, and student success.
The Elementary Language Program (ELP) views language learning as a collaborative, reflective, and transformative practice that connects students to others, to the world, and to themselves. Guided by this vision, the ELP is committed to:
