Alternative Language Study Option (ALSO)


Program Description

In the 2013-2014 academic year, the Alternative Language Study Option (ALSO) will offer students the opportunity to study Arabic, Korean, or Italian outside of the traditional language curriculum currently offered at St. Olaf.

The program is administered through Interdisciplinary and General Studies and supervised by the World Languages Center/ALSO program director. The WLC is the main hub for the ALSO program. It offers the necessary space, technology, and instructional materials for language study to be pursued. Any courses taken under the ALSO option cannot be used to fulfill the FOL (foreign language requirement) at St. Olaf; rather, they are intended to serve as an additional option for language study.

Language sessions take place 2-3 times per week (see schedules below). In each language session, students will work with a native-speaker learning facilitator. This facilitator will simplify 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. Students are required to attend weekly tutorial sessions with a native speaker and one language table session per month.

Throughout the semester, students will complete an oral and written midterm and final exam developed by an outside examiner. Grades will be determined through evaluation of student work by the outside examiner and program director. Periodic meetings with the ALSO program director are recommended, to discuss students' progress in the course.

Language Session Schedules

Fall 2013
Arabic 100A Beginning 1 MWF 12:55-1:50 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Arabic 100B Beginning 1 MWF 2-2:55 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Arabic 200 Intermediate 1 T 8:00-9:25 AM, Th 8:00-9:20 AM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Korean 102 Beginning 1 T 1:20-2:45 PM, Th 2:15-3:35 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Italian 104A Beginning 1 MWF 10:45-11:40 AM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Italian 104B Beginning 1 MWF 11:50-12:45 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)


Spring 2014
Arabic 100 Beginning 1 MWF 2-2:55 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Arabic 101 Beginning 2 MWF 12:55-1:50 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Arabic 201 Intermediate 2 T 8:00-9:25 AM, Th 8:00-9:20 AM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Korean 103 Beginning 2 T 1:20-2:45 PM, Th 2:15-3:35 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Italian 104 Beginning 1 MWF 10:45-11:40 AM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)
Italian 105 Beginning 2 MWF 11:50-12:45 PM
(TOH 153/WLC Resource Room)

Eligibility

Eligibility for participation in the ALSO program is determined by previous language performance. Interested students must have:

  • Successful completion of the college's FOL (foreign language requirement)
  • 2.75 minimum GPA
  • Two faculty references, one of which must be a former language professor
  • Demonstrated evidence of serious motivation and the ability to work independently

Information Sessions

Students interested in this program should attend one information session before applying. Information sessions regarding the 2013-2014 ALSO program will be held in the WLC (TOH 150) on the following dates:

  • Arabic Information Session: Tuesday, March 5th at 4 PM
  • Italian Information Session: Wednesday, March 6th at 7 PM
  • Korean Information Sesson: Thursday, March 7th at 4 PM

Application Process

Interested students who fulfill the eligibility requirements listed above should attend an information session before applying.Applications for studying Arabic, Korean or Italian during the 2013-2014 academic year can be submitted electronically using the forms below:

Arabic ALSO Application

Korean ALSO Application

Italian ALSO Application

The application deadline is Friday, April 5th, 2013 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/ALSO Director
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
Sylvia Carullo
Professor of Spanish
ALSO Italian Consultant
 507-786-3470
TOH 344
carullo@stolaf.edu