Alternative Language Study Option (ALSO)

 

Program Description

In the 2012-2013 academic year, the Alternative Language Study Option (ALSO) will offer students the opportunity to study languages outside of the traditional language curriculum currently offered at St. Olaf. In this second year, Arabic and Korean languages session will be offered.

The program is administered as an independent study program through the faculty for Interdisciplinary and General Studies. The World Languages Center (WLC) is the main hub for the ALSO program. WLC will offer the necessary space, technology, and instructional materials for language study to be pursued. WLC Director is the main coordinator for the program. Any courses taken under the ALSO option cannot be used to fulfill the foreign language GE requirement at St. Olaf; rather, they are intended to serve as a supplementary option for language study.

Two sessions of introductory Arabic, one session of intermediate Arabic and two sessions of introductory Korean will be offered:

Arabic 100A MWF 12:55-1:50 PM
(TOH 175/WLC Lab)
Arabic 100B MWF 2-2:55 PM
(TOH 175/WLC Lab)
Arabic 200 T 8:00-9:25 AM, Th 8:00-9:20 AM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Korean 102 T 1:20-2:45 PM, Th 2:15-3:35 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)

 

In each of these sessions, students will work with a native-speaker conversation partner. This conversational partner will facilitate the learning process of speaking, reading, writing, and general language content, including grammar. Outside of these class sessions, students will work on homework assignments to continue learning content that will be practiced in class. Throughout the semester, students will complete an oral and written midterm and final exam developed by an outside examiner. Tutorial sessions and language tables will be also offered. Students are also expected to meet with the ALSO program coordinator regularly to discuss their progress in the course. Grades will be determined through evaluation of student work by the outside examiner and program coordinator.

Eligibility

Eligibility for participation in the ALSO program is determined by previous language performance. Interested students must have successfully completed the college's foreign language requirement within the existing curriculum, must demonstrate evidence of serious motivation and the ability to work independently, and must meet the 2.75 minimum GPA requirement. In addition, students are required to provide two faculty references, one of which must be a former language professor.

Information Sessions

Students interested in this program should attend one information session before applying. These sessions will occur on Tuesday, March 13 from 4-5 PM and Thursday, March 15 from 4-5 PM. All information sessions will take place in the WLC Resource Room (TOH 153).

Application Process

Interested students who fulfill the eligibility requirements listed above will attend an informational session in the semester before the semester in which the ALSO option is to be pursued. As more languages are offered, students will apply to study a particular language from those available.

Applications for studying Arabic during the 2011-2012 academic year can be submitted electronically using the these forms below:

Arabic ALSO Application

Korean ALSO Application

The application deadline is Monday, April 2 at 5 PM. Applicants will be notified about the status of their application by April 9.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about the program and/or the application process, please contact any of the following people:

Phyllis Larson
Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary
and General Studies		 507-786-3744
TOH 351
larsonph@stolaf.edu
Renata Debska-McWilliams
WLC Director
ALSO Coordinator and Faculty of Records		 507-786-3239
TOH 151
mcwr@stolaf.edu
Amine Bekhechi
Professor of French
ALSO Arabic Consultant		 507-786-8043
TOH 327
bekhechi@stolaf.edu
Jennifer Kwon Dobbs
Professor of English
ALSO Korean Consultant

507-786-3264
Rolvaag Library 503
dobbs@stolaf.edu